NBL1 Women
Eltham Wildcats 80 def Nunawading Spectres 73
Top performers: A. Kunek 27 points/9 rebounds/6 assists, C. Schweers 18 points, V. Panousis 13 points
The last home game of the season saw an epic duel between Australian 3×3 teammates Alice Kunek and Maddie Garrick who both combined for 47 points.
Chelsie Schweers took control of the first quarter scoring from all over the court, grabbing steals and rebounds which both lead to assists and play making for the Wildcats. Maggie Mulligan established her self in the post with an array of pump fakes and spinning lay ups while Vanessa Panousis was the floor general controlling the tempo and game style.
Nunawading showed their star duo of Maddie Garrick and Kathleen Scheer who dominated the offence both inside and out to ensure a 25-25 scoreline at quarter time.
The second quarter was Nunawading’s most productive term with 16 team rebounds in the quarter and Scheer having 6 of them. Eltham’s second quarter was an all-around effort with Rihanna Barton and Chelsea Brook who both stretched the floor knocking down three point shots. Alice Kunek began to provide much needed offence but Nunawading’s bench countered scoring 13 points compared to our 2.
Alice Kunek took over the third quarter scoring 15 points and drawing 4 fouls but the brilliance of Garrick and Scheer kept the Spectres in the game. The fourth quarter went back and fourth with the lead changing 13 times and the game being tied 11 times. The three point shooting for Eltham was crucial with Barton, Kunek, and Schweers all making threes and Chelsea Brook hitting a corner three point basket to keep momentum and increase the lead down the stretch.
Drawing eight fouls for the game Kunek said “I had to be aggressive to the ring, draw some contact and kick to my teammates if I open them up.”
Eltham Wildcats 93 def Melbourne Tigers 72
Top performers: A. Kunek 27 points/9 rebounds/6 assists, C. Schweers 18 points, V. Panousis 13 points
Eltham travelled to MSAC for their last game of the season against the Melbourne Tigers and after a strong opening period (25-17) the Tigers dominated the second quarter outscoring the Wildcats 23-9 going into the main break with a six point lead.
Plain and simply Eltham dominated the third period with Chelsie Schweers and Chelsea Brook hitting 3 point jump shots in the opening 30 seconds that would spark a 16-2 run for the Wildcats. The 39-7 third quarter was the difference in the game as the fourth quarter was just academic.
NBL1 Men
Eltham Wildcats 94 def by Nunawading Spectres 97
Top performers: G. McKay 24 points/10 rebounds, A. Doyle 20 points, J. Sykes 13 points
The game started with captain Justin Aver making a three point jump shot off a pin down screen. Aver would say after the game “the effort of everyone was really good.”
Nunawading lead by 17 early but the Wildcats turned to great ball movement getting Adam Doyle open shots. Geremy McKay had a great night with a double-double (24 points/10 rebounds) while Spectres star Centre Simon Conn was scored 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in the quarter.
In the second quarter the Wildcats defence stepped up behind the effort of Ovie Magbegor, Geremy McKay and Josh Sykes while Dave Schaffert and Adam Doyle started knocking down perimeter jump shots.
The second half went back and fourth as the fourth quarter came down to the wire. With 9 seconds left on the clock Adam Doyle hit a tough contested long two point shot to cut the Spectres lead to only one (89-90). Nunawading then knocked down two free throws to secure a win in a highly competitive game.
Eltham Wildcats 70 def by Melbourne Tigers 82
Top performers: A. Doyle 16 points, D. Schaffert 15 points, G. McKay 13 points/11 rebounds
The Tigers took control early jumping to a 25-16 lead in the first quarter behind the talented young duo of NBL stars Pineau & Pozoglou. The next two quarters saw Melbourne win by a total of four points but the Wildcats won their final quarter of their final game of the season 25-24. Eltham struggled to make shots shooting 3-20 behind the three point line and gave up forty points in the paint but had a great all round team performance with four players scoring double figures (Doyle, Magbegor, McKay, Schaffert).
