Hume City Broncos are looking to turn close losses into wins in the second part of the Big V women’s state championship season.
The Broncos currently sit 3-4 after nine rounds, but could have quite easily been sitting 5-2, having lost their last two matches by a combined 10 points.
Broncos coach Michael Thomas said the results so far showed that it was an even competition.
“We’ve scratched our way to 3-4,” he said.
“It’s important we get more consistency. We lost to Waverley by seven points and Ringwood by three points.
“We just need to execute a little bit better.”
On Saturday night, they pushed second-placed Ringwood Hawks all the way, with the Hawks winning 78-75.
A 26-19 final quarter ensured the win for the Hawks. Nicole Zammit top scored with 19 points for the Broncos.
Thomas said having a core group of players who had played together for a number of years was the strength of its side.
Sophie Byrnes, Zammit, Viv Saad, Natalie Karantzoulis and Mua Laloifi have all been part of the Broncos line up for a number of years.
Nikki Spencer and Jess Azzopardi , who have been ruled out for the season with knee injuries, have been part of that group.
Thomas said their new additions were starting to settle in and have an impact.
“Both imports are starting to settle in,” he said.
“Kelly Hardeman didn’t play last season so its taken a bit of time, while Lisa Murphy has been really competitive against a number of good bigs.
“Bianca [Babic] has joined the side in the last three weeks… She’s a shooting guard.
“She’s a Melbourne Tigers junior and was part of their SEABL program, but things didn’t work out.
“We’re lucky to have her.”
Thomas said as long as they continue to play consistent basketball and manage the players right they should be in the mix come the end of the season.
The Broncos’ men also had a tough night against the Hawks losing 111-95.
It was a high scoring game, with the Hawks winning the first three quarters to set up the win.
Lee Jeka top scored for the Broncos with 29 points.
In division 1 men’s, the Whittlesea Pacers had contrasting losses. On the Saturday night, the Bulleen Boomers smashed them, before the Pacers fell one point short against the Chelsea Gulls.
The Pacers women also dropped both their matches.
In division 2, the Craigieburn Eagles men had two big wins, while the Eagles women continued their undefeated run.
