BASKETBALL
BIG V Division One competition was headlined by a top of the table clash between Shepparton Gators and Chelsea Gulls this Saturday.
The two sides lined up against each other at Shepparton Sports Stadium in a matchup between two sides considered among the favourites to take out the championship at the end of the season.
It was a slow start for the Chelsea Gulls though, who found themselves in an uncomfortable position down by 14 points at the conclusion of the first quarter of play.
With their backs to the walls, Chelsea showed their quality to fight their way back and whittle back the lead and only found themselves behind by a couple of points going into the final quarter.
A final quarter blitz in which Chelsea outscored their opponents by 11 points, the Gulls were able to grind out a hard-fought victory, with the scores finishing Shepparton (83) to Chelsea (91).
Corey Standerfer and Matthew Brasser again led from the front for the Gulls, scoring an astonishing 61 points between the two of them to help drag their side over the line.
Elsewhere in Division One, Western Port Steelers secured 4th place on the table after a thumping win over the Sunbury Jets.
The 11th placed Sunbury Jets went into their clash at home as underdogs but were helped by their decent record at Boardman Stadium.
Western Port Steelers were relentless in their dominating victory with Dylan Travis being the standout performer with 28 points, shooting at 80 per cent.
Helped by a handy 36 points by players off the bench, Western Port ran away with an easy victory by a whopping 46 points, Western Port (107) to Sunbury Jets (61).
In the Big V Division Two Women’s competition, the Mornington Breakers were faced with the mammoth task off knocking top placed Cragieburn Eagles from their perch and handing them just their second defeat of the season.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, Mornington showed they were not to be taken lightly in the first quarter, going into the first break with a five-point lead having put their highly fancied opponents on the back foot.
Cragieburn fought back to take the lead from Mornington, but the 8th place Breakers kept within reaching distance of the victory.
Mornington Captain Fiona Darnell led from the front with an admirable 13 point performance, but ultimately the Eagles proved just too strong for their brave Mornington opponents.
The Mornington Breakers fought valiantly but just fell to Cragieburn with the final scores Mornington (49) to Cragieburn (55).
