Bacchus Marsh Lions have found momentum at the right time of the Basketball Victoria Country Basketball League women’s north-west season.
The Lions have built into the season and are now firmly in the top four with their sights on finals with two rounds remaining.
Coach Monique Caparello said things were starting to fall into place.
“We are definitely finding some form,” she said. “We’ve got some momentum going for us and going really well.
“I think we all know our roles within the team now and doing all the little things. We’ve kind of focused on the foundations and the playing style and trying to identify what we want to stand for.”
A win against Melton Thoroughbreds in the previous round further cemented what the Lions were doing was on the right track.
The Thoroughbreds, who are also in the top four, beat the Lions the first time round.
“We played exceptionally in that game and it brought the group even closer,” Caparello said. “The momentum has been great.”
The Lions were in action on Sunday against the Mildura Heat.
Caparello said the side was really relaxed heading into the match.
The Lions took an early lead in the first quarter and were able to win every period on the way to a 76-60 win.
“We weren’t as on as we would have liked to have been,” Caparello said. “We’re trying to find form for finals and hopefully we will go deep.”
Olivia Ogston top scored for the Lions with 22 points.
She’s scored double figures in every game and at least 16 points a game since round two.
Caparello was full of praise for Ogston.
“She is doing a really good job on the offensive end,” she said. “She brings energy and physicality on the defence end which is what we needed at that point.”
Caparello said the focus for the group was to stay focused in the final two rounds ahead of finals.
The Lions sit in third spot.
“We want to build form heading into finals,” Caparello said.
The Lions face Castlemaine Cannons on Saturday in round seven.
In other north-west matches, the Thoroughbreds had an 86-51 win against the Heat on Saturday night.
A 22-9 first quarter set the tone for the Thoroughbreds who went on to win, 86-51.
Ella Price top scored with 20 points.
The Thoroughbreds sit in second spot with just one loss for the season.
In the men’s north-west, the Thoroughbreds were also on the winners list, beating the Heat, 93-79 on Saturday night.
Aduto Chipuowuop top scored with 24 points.
The Lions were unable to get over the Bendigo Braves on Sunday, losing 84-72.
Seth Wall with 15 points was among the standouts for the Lions in the loss.
The Thoroughbreds sit in third spot and the Lions in fourth spot with two rounds remaining.
