We are currently keeping tabs on the form of some of the Tall Ferns trialists. Many are with Australian based clubs playing in the various State Leagues in the country.
In the Queensland Basketball League Tall Ferns captain Micaela Cocks led all scorers with 19 points but her club Townsville Flames (6-3) were well beaten 77-59 by table topping Rockhampton Cyclones (7-0).
The Kiwi duo of Jess Bygate and Natalie Taylor played major roles as Gladstone Power scored a significant 77-75 road win against Ipswich Force on Sunday afternoon.
Natalie Taylor had 17pts/7rebs/7assists and Jess Bygate 15pts/7rebs/4assists. The win improves the Power’s record to 6-1 as they leap frogged the Force (5-2) into second place on the QBL ladder.
On Saturday Bygate fouled out in just 21 minutes as the Power accounted for Bundaberg Bears 87-71. Bygate still managed 12 points and 7 rebounds and there was also a strong contribution from Taylor (15 pts/8 assists).
In Perth Lisa Wallbutton (10pts/7rebs) helped Willetton to a low scoring 63-50 win over fifth on the table Kalamunda Eastern Suns. The win keeps Willetton in second place in the State Basketball League with a 16-2 record
The top two teams clashed in the Big V League in Victoria. Many are picking the Hume City Broncos versus Ringwood Hawks encounter to be a prelude to the Grand Final for the third successive year.
Both teams boasted a 12-1 record but it was the Broncos that put a marker down early forging a 23-12 first quarter advantage. Hume still held sway entering the final period 58-43 to the good. Although scoring virtually dried up in the final period, Hume, the defending champions eased to a 67-51 win. Unfortunately we can’t bring news of individual scorers from that game but no doubt Samara Gallaher was in the thick of the action for the Broncos.
Third placed Southern Peninsula Sharks (10-3) beat ninth on the table Diamond Valley Eagles (3-9) 82-68.
Chevannah Paalvast was outstanding for the Sharks registering a double double of 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Paalvast is the leading scorer for the Sharks averaging 14.5 points per game this season.
Most of our Tall Blacks are playing in the Bartercard NBL or have returned to the country to prepare for the Tall Blacks trial following stints with European clubs.
Our sole current international playing in Australia, Everard Bartlett, celebrated his naming in the Tall Blacks training squad by scoring 16 points as the Ballarat Miners defeated Sandringham Sabres 90-79 in the SEABL East division on Saturday night. Bartlett was particularly effective from behind the three-point arc nailing 5 of his 8 attempts.
Bartlett (15 points) had another tidy outing on Sunday but the Miners were well beaten by the League leaders, Mount Gambier Pioneers 91-73.
Ballarat remain 5th on the ladder with a 6-8 record.
LACEY LOWDOWN 