Wallan Panthers’ winning run has come to an end in the Basketball Victoria Country Basketball League north-east women’s competition.
After winning their last four games, the Panthers traveled to Swan Hill full of confidence they could beat the bottom side.
Instead the Panthers were left to rue missed opportunities, as they gave up a three-quarter time lead to lose 60-55.
Panthers’ coach Warren Taylor said after being in front at each of the three breaks, he didn’t see the last quarter fade out coming.
“We were pretty insipid most of the game really, especially in the last quarter,” he said.
“We didn’t adjust well enough to the lift in intensity from Swan Hill and our work rate was nowhere near where it has been in recent weeks.”
The first quarter was very stop start, as both teams were called for several fouls. A total of 18 fouls were called for the quarter sending both teams to the free throw line on a number of occasions.
The second quarter by comparison, there was only one foul called for the first half of the quarter.
“We led by three at quarter time and six at half time,” Taylor said.
“Many times as we thought we might have broken clear, we made stupid errors and let them back in.”
The Panthers started the better of the teams in the second half and looked set to run away with the win.
“The third quarter was similar to the first time we played them as we edged out slowly to build a nine point lead.
“Unlike last time though, we dropped our usually very good defence and they hit seven points in about a minute late in the quarter.
“We were still up 40-36 going into the last and honestly I felt we still had the ascendancy.
The last quarter proved to be the Panthers’ worst defensively since round two, as they gave up 24 points.
“I wasn’t ready for how that quarter played out,” Taylor said.
“Laura Anderson had eight points and Kelsey McCoy had nine points for the quarter, and we just couldn’t find an answer for either of them.
“They hit the lead with four minutes left and we never got it back.”
Taylor said it was a struggle to find a four quarter performer.
“Alex Darby top scored with 13 points, with most of them coming in the third quarter.
“Tracy Tuesley was solid as always with 11, and Rosie Renton and Sarah Taylor were both reasonably good from an effort point of view.”
Taylor said he would take positives out of the loss.
“The silver lining is the girls probably needed a loss like that to straighten them up and there’s a big lesson in there about complacency and what it takes to stay competitive in this league.”
The Panthers have a bye this weekend.
