Big V Youth League Round 2 Results
Round 2 of the Big V Youth League saw both McDonalds Ballarat Youth League teams on the road. The Rush headed down the Western Highway to face last year’s champions the Melbourne Tigers.
The game ebbed and flowed throughout. The Rush started slowed giving away a 17 point lead to the Tigers at quarter time. The second quarter saw the Youth League Rush lift winning the quarter by five points, but still down by 12 going into the half time break. Another poor quarter from the girls resulted in Rush trailing by 23 points at the final break.
McDonalds Ballarat Youth League Rush Head Coach Marcus Jenkins gave his girls one final pep talk before the last quarter and urged them to stay in the contest and not drop their game. The girls responded with another winning quarter 19-13 but the damage had been done in the first quarter with the Youth League Rush going down by 17.
Statistics:
McDonalds Ballarat Youth League Rush
Points: Claire Constable – 13, Taylah Wynne, Isabel Fraser – 9 and Jade McCowan – 8
Rebounds: Taylah Wynne – 11, Claire Blower – 9, Laura Taylor – 8
Melbourne Tigers
Points: B. Babic – 14, M. Conti – 13, A.Stainer, C. Gaze and L. Purchase – 10
Rebounds: A. Stainer – 10, J. Harley, L. Purchase and G. Gaze – 6
Meanwhile the McDonalds Youth League Ballarat Miners headed down the Midland highway to face off against Corio Bay Stingrays who are new to the division in 2017. The game started at a frenetic pace with the ball going end to end with Corio getting out in front by 11 at one stage, before the Miners pegged it back, trailing by just two at quarter time.
Corio again started the second quarter fast extending their lead to 12 two minutes into the quarter. But the Miners were again able to regroup and refocus on the task at hand and went on the attack and tied the game with 55 seconds left in the half. Tristan Fisher then hit a layup to put the team up by two before Anthony Kuel provided great defensive pressure causing Corio to commit an offensive foul in Ballarat’s half with four seconds to go.
A clever time out by Head Coach Travis Hewish allowed for a quick set play which allowed Zac Dunmore to get Fisher the ball beyond the three point line to nail a buzzer beater giving the Miners a five point lead at the main break.
After the break nothing seemed to go the Miners way. They were making small errors that lead to turnovers and their shots just wouldn’t drop, Corio went on a 28-4 scoring rampage in the third quarter and took the game away from the Miners.
The final quarter was marginally better from the Miners but overall disappointing as Corio again outscored the Miners 26-11 to finish the game as winners by 34 points.
Hewish was pleased with his side’s opening “The first half we gave Corio early leads, but we were able to bring them back and that was pleasing, however our second half just wasn’t good enough. We will review the game and work on things at training to be ready for next week’s game against Whittlesea”
Statistics:
McDonalds Ballarat Youth League Miners
Points: Tristan Fisher – 15, Anthony Kuel – 12, Brandon Maplesden – 10, Jamie Constable – 9
Rebounds: Anthony Kuel – 8, Jamie Constable – 7 and Tristan Fisher – 6
Corio Bay Stingrays
Points: C. Blyth, J. O’Leary – 25, A. Ayom – 14
Rebounds: A.Ayom – 10, P. Goodier – 13
Round 3 Games
Sunday April 2nd
McDonalds Ballarat Youth League Rush vs Hawthorn Magic @ MARS® MINERDOME – Tip off 12noon
McDonalds Ballarat Youth League Miners vs Whittlesea Pacers @ MARS® MINERDOME – Tip off 1:45pm
For more information on the GMHBA Ballarat Miners, Ballarat Skoda Rush or McDonalds Youth League teams please contact Elite Teams Administrator Melissa Thomas via 5330 7604 or