Sport
4 November, 2025
Cracknell’s 30 keeps Lady Blazers unbeaten
It’s six of the very best for the Maryborough Lady Blazers, keeping their unbeaten start unblemished on Saturday with a convincing 83-44 victory against the Macedon Ranges Rockies.
Player-coach Millie Cracknell starred with 30 points, including 19 in the second half, ensuring her team capitalised on a superb defensive showing in the first half, where the Blazers conceded just 15 points.
Heading into the currently scheduled back-to-back byes, the victory gives the Blazers a four-point cushion at the top of the CBL North West Women competition as the last undefeated team in the league.
After missing Maryborough’s 78-point demolition of Castlemaine last week, the experienced Maggie Tranter came into the side alongside Bridget Allan and Remi Baker, replacing Heidi Plim, Rhylie Jones, Kesh Wallace and Louise Coppock.
Maryborough wasted no time asserting its dominance, starting the match with a 12-0 run thanks to buckets from Maddy Egan, Aislinn McCarthy and Brodie Hillier.
Eleven first-quarter points from McCarthy, coupled with the Blazers’ maximum security defence locking up their opponents to three field goals for the period, allowed Maryborough to take a commanding 27-6 lead into quarter time.
Cracknell and Hillier boosted the margin out to 31 points early in the second period, with the duo combining for a quick 10-point blossom.
Even as the Rockies forced the Blazers’ offence to run cold midway through the term, McCarthy and Cracknell’s surveillance of the perimeter, and the presence of Egan and Azalea Wighton inside, ensured every Macedon Ranges possession was a rocky endeavour.
Despite entering half time with a 32-point advantage, the Blazers weren’t keen to rest on their first-half work, with Cracknell leading by example to start the second half.
The crafty guard was a human highlight reel in the third quarter, scoring from all areas of the court on her way to 11 points for the term, keeping the Blazers 34 points ahead.
A 16-2 run to open the fourth quarter was the icing on the cake of another remarkable performance from Maryborough, with the final buzzer signalling their win by 39 points.
While Cracknell led the way with 30 points and an astounding six three-pointers, McCarthy (19 points) and Hillier (10 points) helped the Blazers build their sizeable lead quickly with their shooting. Egan was another valuable option on offence, finishing with 10 points.