It was a mixed weekend for Wallan Panthers in the Basketball Victoria Country Basketball League.
First up it was a disappointing loss for the women’s side against Wodonga, losing 78-59.
A side which the Panthers struggled against last season, the Panthers were again on the back foot early on Saturday.
A slow start proved costly for the Panthers, as they played insipid stagnant basketball for the first six minutes of the game.
The Panthers found themselves down 16-1 when coach Warren Taylor started to ring the changes.
Nat Dowdy and Erin Mifsud got the offence going for the Panthers, but they still had a lot to do in the last three quarters.
Taylor said for the rest of the match it was pretty even, but the first quarter deficit was too much.
“We actually pulled together some great defensive efforts through the second quarter and only lost those last three and a bit quarters by four points,” he said.
“While that sounds like not much given the early deficit, Wodonga are a team that plays to crush teams and they didn’t back off at all.
“It was a credit to our girls to not let the game blow out from a point it looked like it was going no other way.”
Dowdy with 11 points and 14 rebounds along with Mifsud (eight points) were the best for the Panthers.
Jayda Hunter scored 12 points.
The men’s side has a better night with a massive win against Wodonga.
The Panthers smothering defence and a team contribution on the offensive end were the keys to the 108-71 win.
Five players scored double figures for the Panthers with Michael Perkins (13 points) and Jordan Paul (16 points) the side’s best.
Both Panthers sides have the bye this week.
The club is holding tryouts for its three Big V sides. Details at http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-4058-0-0-0
