Sport
14 November, 2022
Blazers back on court following bye rounds
It was a mixed afternoon for Maryborough at Kyneton on Sunday, with the men’s team getting back on track, but the Lady Blazers fell in their first loss for the season. A slow start for the Lady Blazers meant they were always playing catch-up for...
It was a mixed afternoon for Maryborough at Kyneton on Sunday, with the men’s team getting back on track, but the Lady Blazers fell in their first loss for the season.
A slow start for the Lady Blazers meant they were always playing catch-up for the bulk of the afternoon against the Lady Tigers, with a 13-6 opening quarter meaning that they would fall seven points behind at the first change.
Scoring picked up in the second quarter, with the Lady Blazers adding 15 points, however, they were unable to do anything about the Lady Tigers, who were playing well, adding another 18 points to their total to take a 31-21 lead at the main break.
Defence was the key theme of this game, with neither side being able to generate big runs. The third quarter saw a titanic battle as the Lady Blazers tried to get back into the game, while the Lady Tigers were looking to preserve their lead. In the end, the quarter was split 14-14, leaving the Lady Tigers 45-35 leaders.
With the game on the line, the Lady Tigers were able to shoot clear in the final period, scoring 21 points to the Lady Blazers’ 10 to finish 66-45 victors.
Claire Blower was the Lady Blazers’ leading scorer, scoring 16 points, while Millie Cracknell added 12.
The loss meant the Lady Blazers fell to third on the ladder, and will be looking to bounce back ahead of a big double header against the ladder-leading Bendigo Braves and Mildura Heat next weekend.
Meanwhile, the men’s Blazers were able to get a much-needed response to their first loss of the season, scoring a 75-point victory over the struggling Tigers.
The Blazers were out to get a percentage booster from the outset, scoring 32 points to eight in the opening quarter, before adding to their lead in the second by scoring 24 points to five to enjoy a 56-13 lead at the main change.
The second half was an opportunity for bench players like Angus Cumming, Kya Lanfranchi and Jake Postle to enjoy significant court time, and they were up to the challenge, increasing the Blazers lead in the third quarter thanks to a 29-13 period which saw them lead 85-26 at the final change, before a 32-16 final quarter saw them eventually run out 117-42 winners.
It was an even team performance from the Blazers, led by Lachlan Drummond who was able to get to the paint with ease, scoring 22 points.
Matt Johnston was another who shone for the Blazers, scoring seven three-pointers én route to a 21-point haul, while Rhys Brown (18), Bailey Jacobs (14), Lanfranchi (13) and Brady Neill (11) also scored in double figures.