Wallan Panthers kicked off the Basketball Victoria Country Basketball League women’s season on fire with a 34-point win against Shepparton Lady Gators.
After a long off-season, the Panthers were raring to get on the court in the north-east division and showed they meant business against the other side knocked out in the semi-finals last year.
A 22-2 first quarter for the Panthers, built on the back of some strong defence, set the tone for the match.
The Lady Gators got the margin back to 10 points at one stage in the second quarter before the Panthers steadied and regained their offensive tempo.
With a lead of 20 points in at half-time, the Panthers were able rotate players, giving coach Warren Taylor the chance to look at different combinations.
The Panthers had four players score double figures, Jayda Hunter top scoring with 21. Alex Darby, who is carrying an injury, scored 19 points.
Speaking before the season opener, Taylor said the players knew what to expect this season after a more than promising first season in the league.
“We’ve been training together for 12 weeks and the girls have been asking to train,” he said.
“They played domestically and then have been training since August. They are a good handful of girls – a little different to last year but we’ve kept the same core group.”
Taylor said side was a smaller, faster team compared to the previous season.
Starters Hunter, Gemma Jackson, Darby and Tracy Tuesley, along with Sarah Taylor, Megan Marasco and Karina Marasco, have returned.
Development player Lily Spratling is also back for another season.
Taylor said they had added players with experience at higher levels.
“Kaitlyn Patterson played at Craigieburn a few years ago and won a most valuable player award, but she hasn’t played since 2012,” he said.
“She’s likely to be a starter and Gemma will be able to now play the small forward role.
“Erin Misfud has played with Craigieburn as well, and she’ll add something a little different off the bench.
“Nat Dowdy has played 150-odd Big V games and has now moved out this way … she asked did we have a spot. She’s tough and strong and adds a bit of experience – she’s a real plus.”
Taylor said Darby would be like a new recruit after playing Big V with the Sunbury Jets under Kennedy Kereama.
“She has grown so much under Kennedy,” he said.
Taylor said performing better than last season was the goal, with a new-look finals format meaning that the top four teams in each division would play finals.
Meanwhile, the men’s side started the season with a lost to Shepparton. It was a tough trip up the highway, with the Panthers losing 78-49.
Jack Dodd scored 13 points and Kane Molloy nine, but there were few other contributors.
Both Panther sides have double-header this weekend. They will travel to Wangaratta on Saturday night, before hosting Seymour ßon Sunday.
