Youth League Women’s game one – Ballarat 71 def by Geelong 109
What Worked Well: The girls again showed moments of strength on the offensive glass, creating multiple second-chance opportunities. Offensively, there was greater balance in scoring contributions, and defensively, the group had strong patches of intensity where they were able to apply pressure and generate stops. The team also demonstrated improved ball movement with multiple players recording assists and being involved in the offence.
Focus Moving Forward: As the group continues to gel, the focus remains on consistency across four quarters and maintaining composure under pressure. Improving transition defence and limiting opponent scoring runs will be key to taking the next step forward.
Coach’s Comment: “This was a challenging game against a well-drilled Geelong side, but it was another important step in our development. We’re still building chemistry and learning how to play together under pressure, and I’m confident those connections will continue to strengthen with each outing
Standout Players:
Nethmi Rodrigo played a solid game at the point guard position, leading the way with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, showing strong decision-making and composure under pressure.
Lilly Impey (C) contributed 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. She led with grit and resilience, consistently fighting at both ends of the floor and setting the tone for her teammates.
Brooke Egan had a strong all-around performance, adding 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and a block, making valuable contributions on both sides of the ball
Azalea Wighton continued to impact across multiple areas, adding 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals, showing her versatility.
Abbey Wiedermann brought energy off the bench, chipping in with 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals, making the most of her time on court.
Youth League Women’s game two – Ballarat 32 def by Albury Wodonga 79
Ballarat took on Albury Wodonga on Sunday afternoon at Wodonga Sports & Leisure Centre, rounding out a tough double-header weekend. Despite a competitive start, the Miners were overrun by the Bandits in the second half, eventually going down 79–32.
What Worked Well: The girls showed moments of strong defensive presence, particularly in the first quarter where they held the Bandits to 10 points. Stella Roberts’ effort on the boards and shot-blocking stood out, and the team showed glimpses of their defensive structure beginning to take shape. The group also showed resilience backing up from Saturday’s road trip in Geelong with a determined attitude.
Focus Moving Forward: The focus now shifts to improving offensive execution and building confidence with the ball in hand. Stringing together consistent patches of scoring and continuing to develop communication at both ends will be key. Fatigue and back-to-back fixtures presented challenges, but the team will take valuable lessons into the next block of games.
Coach’s Comment: “This weekend was a real test for us physically and mentally, coming up against two quality opponents on the road. We’re still finding our rhythm as a group, and while the scoreboard didn’t fall our way, there were still a lot of valuable learning moments to take from it.
There were some really promising signs again this week. All players contributed, and while there’s plenty we’ll review, there’s just as much to be proud of. This is a young group, and we’re committed to the process—this group will continue to grow and improve every week.”
Standout Players:
Stella Roberts was a standout performer, finishing with 14 points and a dominant 17 rebounds. She also added 7 blocks and a steal in a huge defensive effort and showed strong leadership throughout the contest.
Haylen Gill gave a solid contribution with 6 points and added 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, showing her ability to impact in multiple areas.
Abbey Wiedermann worked hard defensively and contributed 5 points and 6 rebounds, continuing to bring effort and hustle to the floor.
Emily Smyth was efficient in limited touches, finishing with 2 points, 1 rebound, and 2 steals.
Brooke Egan battled hard defensively, recording 5 rebounds, 5 steals, and 2 assists, continuing to show tenacity and a team-first mindset.
Youth League Men’s – Ballarat 94 def Blackbrun 65
The Ballarat Youth Men’s team started the game against Blackburn very well, jumping out of the block early and finishing the first quarter with a solid 12-point lead, 29-17. On the back of a good defensive effort, we were able to keep the experienced Blackburn team to 31 points at the half, while extending our lead out to 20 points, leading 51-31. By the end of the game, we we’re able to come away with a quality win over Blackburn 94-65, Ethan Fiegert lead the way for Ballarat with an almost triple-double, 22 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists.
Full box score here