The Final Score – Round 12

Photo: Fleece Visuals

NBL1 Women
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Eltham Wildcats 73 def Dandenong Rangers 71
Top Performers: L. Scanlon 20 points, S.Britten/A. Maley 14 points

The Eltham Wildcats took on the Dandenong Rangers in a special school holiday double header at Eltham High School on Friday night. The visiting Dandenong Rangers jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead behind the shooting of Makaela Zeldenryk who scored the first 8 points for the Rangers. Dandenong controlled the majority of the first quarter but a flury of Wildcat scores to close out the period gave the Wildcats a 3 point lead after the first 10 minutes of play (25-22).

Dandenong dominated the second and third periods utilising their inside precence and knocking down jumpshots outscoring the Wildcats 43-30 creating a 10 point lead going into the final 10 minutes of play.

With a potential upset brewing Eltham turned up the intensity scoring the first 5 points of the quarter cutting the deficit in half and eventually taking re-taking the lead with a Rebecca Pizzey 2 point basket in the final two minutes and thirty seconds of the game. Both teams couldn’t capatlise on opportunites to win the contest as the Wildcats held on to a two point victory.

Head Coach Grant Spencer believes the group can be better.

“Lucky win, sometimes you have to find a way to win when playing poorly. We are looking forward to na big double header this weekend.”

NBL1 Men
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Eltham Wildcats 70 def by Dandenong Rangers 81
Top Performers: Justin Aver 21 points/5 assists & Simon Bradbury 12 points/9 rebounds/2 blocks 

Eltham came out firing with 28 points through the first 8 mins of the game on the back of 10 points from Justin Aver and 6 points from Simon Bradbury which ended in Eltham taking a 6 point lead into the first break.

Eltham’s defence remained strong in the second quarter keeping Dandenong to 42 for the half but failed to capitalise, only scoring 15 points in the 2nd and holding a 1 point lead at the main break. 

Offensive struggles continued in the 3rd for the Wildcats only converting on 4 field goal attempts in the third whilst Oliver Hayes-Brown asserted his dominance for the Rangers with 9 points in the quarter.

Shots started to fall with some more regularity for the Wildcats in the fourth but unfortunately it was overshadowed by Venky Jois’ dominant last quarter performance leading the Rangers to an 11 point victory.

Another competitive game for the Wildcats who will look to redeem themselves on the road Saturday against Ringwood followed by a home match-up against the Melbourne Tigers this Sunday 18th of July at 2pm. Tickets available here: Click here.