BIG V WRAP 18th & 19th May 2024
It was a very successful weekend for the Storm across this round of Big V Basketball, with three wins from four starts.
CHAMPIONSHIP MEN
BELLARINE 92 d SUNBURY 91
(Lewie Varley 21, Liam McInerney 17)
This game had a bit of everything and came down to the very last play of the night to sort out.
The Storm started off controlling the tempo and scoring early, as they’ve done a few times this season, however, the other feature of recent weeks has been a period of allowing the opposition to gain momentum and wipe out the early advantage built and this again happened on Saturday night, as Sunbury fought back with a 35 to 21 quarter, to have scores level at half time.
Bellarine grabbed the early advantage after half time, before both sides traded surges, the lead changing hands five times across the term before the Jets edged ahead by six points with a quarter to play.
The final quarter turned into a real battle, with neither side wanting to give way and in a game of momentum swings, there were still a couple in store, as the Storm fought back to regain the lead via a Jesse Burn three pointer. Another Jets breakaway was again halted as Rohan Jarvie and Lewie Varley again tied up the scoreboard.
Sunbury pushed again through York-Frazer before Jesse Burn intervened again to complete two successful trips to the line and a lay up in the late stages, to have us in front again, with two to play.
Just when you thought there weren’t any more twists in this game, there were a further four lead changes in the last two minutes as the game was on the line. With just seconds remaining in the game, Baker hit a three pointer to give the visitors the edge.
Enter Rohan Jarvie, who seized on a a chance to grab an offensive rebound that turned into a successful put back to have his team in front by just one point. Naturally, Sunbury called a time out, to advance the ball to their forward half in a last ditch attempt to regain the lead, needing just a score.
From the inbound pass, Weston launched a three point attempt which came off the metal, much to the delight of the Storm as they snatched a one point victory.
CHAMPIONSHIP WOMEN
BELLARINE 79 d SUNBURY 63
(Bridgette Rettstatt 21 & 15, Courtney Strait 16)
The first quarter of this game was a bit of a ‘sizing up’ exercise, as neither team forged an early advantage until Bellarine closed out the opening term with an 11 – 2 run to take an eight point lead to the first break.
From there, the Storm were in control of this contest, not surrendering the lead for the next three quarters. Bridgette Rettstatt, Courtney Strait, Olivia Virt and Georgia Varley were making life difficult for the Jets.
Rettstatt was an especially tough task for the opposition, with her pace up and down the court and presence on the boards. In a good sign for the team, Olivia Virt found her range with three of four from downtown for the match and Georgia Varley also contributed 14 points for the game.
Saturday night’s win moves the Storm into second spot on the ladder and looking in good shape a third of the way through the season.
YOUTH LEAGUE MEN
BELLARINE 74 lost to GIPPSLAND UNITED 102
(Mitch Smith 27, Bailey Goodgame 12)
Our Youth League Men ran into a juggernaut in the form of Gippsland United on Sunday afternoon, lowering their colours by the tune of 28 points in the end.
Things were looking good early for the Storm, as they seemed to be keeping pace with their opponents, until six minutes into the first term, when Gippsland let loose an amazing shooting performance, with a 17-0 run to quarter time, which included 5 successive three pointers, three of which went to the hot hand of Kody Tibballs, to which the Storm had no answers.
Bellarine were hampered further, when Mitch Smith was forced to be subbed out early in the second, courtesy of a bleeding nose, which saw United pounce, with the Storm’s leading player on the sidelines.
Having endured the hot hand of Tibballs in the opening term, Zak Bezzina decided to make the second quarter his own as he punished the Storm with a 14 point return for the term, to have his side 20 points up, with a half still to come.
The good news for the Storm was the return of Smith late in the term and immediately he attempted to help his team back into the contest, scoring seven points inside the last three minutes of the quarter and giving the home side some hope that they could fight their way back into the contest after the break.
However, despite the Storm fighting back to an 11 point deficit early in the third, the visitors had other ideas, as Tibballs and Bezzina launched a fresh barrage of scoring, to pretty much have the result in their keeping.
Sadly for the Storm, Bezzina continued to control the game and we had no answers in a below par performance. Credit to the Storm bench players who ran out the last couple of minutes of the last term and performed well.
YOUTH LEAGUE WOMEN
BELLARINE 62 d MORNINGTON 47
(Lucy Howard 16, Summer Field 15)
This game looked to offer an enthralling battle as second (Storm) took on third (Mornington).
In the end, it fizzled out to be a comfortable win for the Storm, winning by 15 points. Whilst rebounds and turnovers were relatively similar and Mornington won the rebounding count narrowly, it was Bellarine’s ability to score had them in good stead, going at 38% for the match, compare to Mornington’s 21%.
Lucy Howard showed the benefits of spending time between the Championship and Youth League sides as she was a prime avenue to score for the Storm and proved a handful for the undersized visitors. Summer Field also had a good day out with her 15 for the game and Ella Wolfenden, off the bench displayed plenty of hustle and drive for the Storm, when injected into the game.
THIS WEEK – BIG V “PINK ROUND”
SATURDAY 25th MAY 2024
Youth League Women
Bellarine v Sherbrooke @ Upwey High School 6:00pm
Championship Women
Bellarine v McKinnon @ Bellarine Sports Centre 5:30pm
Championship Men
Bellarine v McKinnon @ Bellarine Sports Centre 7:30pm
SUNDAY 26th May 2024
Youth League Men
Bellarine v Southern Peninsula @ Rosebud Stadium 2:00pm