Sport
18 October, 2024
Season-defining double-header key to Maryborough Blazers’ season path
It’s a crucial weekend for the Maryborough Blazers men’s and women’s teams, who’ll face two significant tests in order to keep their season alive.
With the men’s team currently sitting at 1-2 and the Lady Blazers 0-2, there is now little room for error given the compact nature of the season.
However, the men’s team will also have the fillip of playing their first game at home for the season on Sunday in a local derby against Castlemaine.
Before that, both teams will have to venture to Bendigo on Saturday night to take on the Braves.
It’s an assignment that won’t be feared by the Lady Blazers, given their terrific victory over the reigning premiers in round six last season by 21 points.
That night, the Lady Blazers got the jump to lead by 11 points at the first change, before Bendigo made their run to lead by two points at the main break. But a 60-37 second half meant that Maryborough dominated proceedings to eventually take victory.
The trio of Faith McKenzie, Maddy Egan and Georgia Hiscock dominated that night, combining for 67 points.
For the men’s team, it will be their first meeting with Bendigo since their home opener last season — a game that was decided in the second quarter, with Bendigo winning that term by 11 points in what was eventually a 12-point victory.
The men’s and women’s teams will both be separated on Sunday, with the men hosting Castlemaine at home, while the women will be travelling to Kyneton for a key assignment against last year’s grand finalists.
Both teams will be hoping to avoid costly lapses which has been the Achilles heel so far this season.
In particular, it was both teams’ starts last week which ultimately proved costly, and gave them too much of a mountain to climb.
In the women’s division, it was a 22-6 start to Bacchus Marsh which allowed the Lions to dictate the pace of play, and while the Lady Blazers were a lot better in the second term to close the gap to 12 points, the Lions were able to regroup and put the game away by the end of the third term.
Maggie Tranter was Maryborough’s best scorer, putting in 12 points, while Egan made a welcome return in scoring 10 points.
Similarly, it was a slow start to the men which proved costly, trailing by 11 points at the first change, before going on to lose by 14.
In many respects, it was a similar game. A slow start, followed by an excellent second quarter to close the gap, before getting blown away in the third term.
Bailey Jacobs will be hoping to continue his good start to the season, putting everything together to score 29 points last Sunday, while Angus Cumming enjoyed a good game with 13 points and Lachlan Drummond 12.