Newcastle Hunters smothered Hills Hornets 61-29 at Broadmeadow on Saturday to stay unbeaten in 12 outings and remain on track to finish on top of the Waratah Basketball League women’s championship.
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Newcastle seem assured of at least a top-two finish in the women’s championship, which would earn them automatic entry to the semi-finals at Terrigal on August 13.
Sophie Kleeman (19 points, four assists, four steals, two rebounds) and Alison Ebzery (17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals) led the way for the Hunters, who held the Hornets to single digits in all four quarters in yet another rout.
Newcastle led 20-9 at quarter-time and 34-15 at the long break then went on with the job in the second half, allowing coach Mark Gledson to rest his starters and share the minutes around.
The Hunters men took another step towards securing a top-four berth by outlasting the Hornets 71-60.
Newcastle led 35-34 at half-time and were tied 21-21 after the first quarter but the Hunters made stops and shots when they had to in the third and fourth periods and pulled away down the stretch.
Justynn Hammond (27 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, one blocked shot) and Russell Hinder (26 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two blocks) were the dominant figures but coach Larry Davidson wants the Hunters to be more effective against second-placed Sydney this Saturday.
“There were some mental lapses that we need to address at training this week because we need to be on our game against Sydney down there,” Davidson said.
