Wehrung Stars as Rush Defy the Odds

Integra Ballarat Rush young gun Abbey Wehrung led Ballarat’s scoring in back-to-back games over the weekend as the Rush defeated Knox 74-67 on the road on Saturday night then Kilsyth 85-80 at the MARS® MINERDOME on Sunday.

The Rush were in for a tough weekend missing captain Kristy Rinaldi through illness, Knox being near full-strength with Australian Opal Gabe Richards in the lineup, and Kilsyth sitting second in their conference.

In a rematch of last year’s Conference Final, Wehrung scored 25 points on 56% shooting, including four of seven from long range, also racking up four rebounds and two steals.

Steph Cumming and Nya Mason were a formidable duo, Cumming with 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds, and Mason with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Younger Rush players earned valuable court time in Rinaldi’s absence – Bronte Clark had seven points, Kasey Burton scored six, and Molly Mathews grabbed five rebounds. Ash Stonehouse played an important role against the Knox bigs.

The Sunday home game against Kilsyth the following day looked to be a tougher challenge as Kilsyth were looking to close the gap on top-placed Bendigo. However, Wehrung was heroic again with 30 points on 60% shooting including four of seven from deep.

Cumming was just as spectacular with 26 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Clark, Burton, Mathews and Sophie Alexander again proved the value of their development under head coach Peter Cunningham.

The Rush host Canberra this Saturday night from 6pm at the MARS® MINERDOME.