DEFENSIVE desire was the key to Newcastle’s back-to-back road victories over Sydney Comets and Hills Hornets in the Waratah Basketball League women’s championship on the weekend.
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After winning just one of their first four games, the Hunters improved to a 3-3 win-loss record by thumping the Comets 70-30 at Alexandria on Saturday night then repeating the dose with an 80-42 victory over the Hornets at Hills on Sunday.
The Hunters men’s team split their away double-header at the same venues, overcoming the Comets 65-59 on Saturday but stumbling 93-74 against Hills on Sunday.
“It was an important weekend for us,” Hunters women’s coach Shannon Seebohm said.
“We really got after it at the defensive end of the floor and were more patient on offence. It was great to get a couple of wins and hopefully that builds some confidence in the team.”
The Hunters led the Hornets 44-20 at half-time and went on with the job in the second half.
Jasmin Howe (19 points), Charlotte Bull (15), Hannah Young (13) and Cherub Lum (10) all reached double figures on an evenly balanced scoresheet.
Alison Ebzery, who missed the victory over Sydney to watch her sister Katie win a Commonwealth Games gold medal with the Opals, chipped in with nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Newcastle restricted Sydney to just seven first-half points in their rout of the Comets. The Hunters led 27-7 at half-time and 54-17 after three quarters to set up their second win of the season.
Young, who missed their loss to Norths the previous week because of an illness, returned to post 21 points and 15 rebounds – her third double-double from as many games.
She was well supported by Howe (20 points, four steals, three assists, two rebounds) and fellow guard Lauren Faulkner (11 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals).
The leg-weary Hunters, playing without Austin Thornton, Jakob Dorricott, Ben Hawkesley and Lachlan Jackson, trailed the Hornets 50-30 in the men’s game on Sunday and could not claw back the deficit after the break.
Jacob Foy poured in 30 points, including six three-pointers from 11 attempts, and added eight rebounds and four assists. American Sharif Watson (15 points, 10 rebounds) was the only other Newcastle player to reach double figures as the Hunters (5-2) had to settle for a road split.
Newcastle finished on a 7-0 run to eclipse the Comets 65-59 in a low-scoring game on Saturday.
The teams were tied 24-24 at half-time, then the Comets closed out the third quarter on an 11-0 run to level the scores at 42-42 heading into the final term.
Foy led the way for Newcastle with 24 points and seven rebounds, Watson added four assists and three steals to his 17-point, 16-rebound double-double, and skipper Josh Morgan compiled 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals.
