Sport
24 June, 2025
Navarre stun Carisbrook
A stunning third-quarter performance from Navarre shocked Carisbrook, earning a statement victory to their season with a 41-33 win over the Redbacks.
The result is the highest of many highs for the Grasshoppers this season, still level on points with the Maryborough Giants in fourth and reducing their deficit to the third-placed Redbacks to just four points.
Both teams entered the game with no additions following their losses to Avoca in their last match, with Navarre extra fresh after last week’s bye.
They took advantage of the week-long rest immediately, bringing lots of energy with their high tempo across the court which caught the visitors off guard, leading to the Grasshoppers taking a five-goal advantage into quarter time.
While Redbacks’ defender Finley Wagstaff kept the often dependable Erin Jackson quiet, Jackson’s shooting partner Brianna Hyslop was on fire inside the arc, scoring all 11 of her team’s goals in the first quarter.
Navarre’s defence was relentless in the opening 15 minutes, restricting Abbey Nalder and Jordan McClure to just nine shots all quarter. From those nine shots, Nalder scored four and McClure added two.
The Redbacks composed themselves at the first break, and started patiently breaking down the Grasshoppers’ defence regularly in the second quarter.
The introduction of young gun Ella Patten helped Carisbrook turn the tide in the midcourt, as the Redbacks reduced the deficit to two goals by half time.
Fresh off missing just three shots in her last two matches, McClure scored five for five in the second quarter while Nalder top-scored with seven goals.
Chloe Frank was subbed into the goal circle for Jackson, adding two goals, but Hyslop remained the star for the Grasshoppers, netting seven of her eight attempts in the second term.
Despite Hyslop’s heroics, Carisbrook grabbed the momentum late in the first half and was keen to turn that momentum into a noticeable lead in the second half.
However, Navarre had other ideas, producing a defensive masterclass in the third quarter, limiting the Redbacks’ high-powered offence to five goals.
The whole team was fantastic with their pressure, Jade Allen, Sidney Dyer and Amber Perry were the standouts in a brick wall that rarely cracked, allowing the Grasshoppers to storm away to an 11-goal lead at three-quarter time.
As Hyslop remained hot, scoring six from seven attempts, Frank provided another avenue of scoring in the third, converting seven while Jackson added one.
McClure and Nalder did their best with their limited chances, as McClure netted three and Nalder added two.
Not too keen on laying down lightly, Carisbrook started strongly in the final quarter, looking to salvage themselves from back-to-back losses.
Yet Navarre held firm, seeing out the final quarter and sending a clear message of intent with their eight-goal victory.
Hyslop had her best game of the season, scoring 26 goals from 31 attempts to play a big role in the Grasshoppers victory. Frank stepped up in the second half, scoring five in the final quarter.
McClure tried to start a comeback for the Redbacks, scoring seven goals in the last term while Nalder converted three.