By David Nagel
The Pakenham Warriors have recovered from a deplorably slow start to score an important 70-56 road-trip victory over Bellarine in Big V Division One Women’s basketball.
The Warriors left their intensity on the team bus, with the Storm ravaging the visitors with a 20-8 first quarter onslaught, before the Warriors returned fire to move to fourth place on the league table.
The experience of Sarah Slater proved invaluable for the Warriors, with her 18-point, 10-rebound double-double providing the platform for recovery and then victory.
Slater received great support from Keeley Patterson, who scored a game-high 22 points to go with six defensive rebounds.
The Warriors cut a 12-point deficit at the end of the first period back to just two at the half, before lighting things up with 48-32 second half.
The Warriors next assignment is a 4pm showdown with Warrnambool on Anzac day, Sunday, 25 April at Cardinia Life.
Pakenham’s Division Two men’s team scored a peculiar 56-53 victory over Wangaratta-North East at Cardinia Life on Sunday.
An aggressive first-half shoot-out turned into a defensive war in the second half, with the Warriors scoring 13 points to 8 in the second stanza of the match.
The scoring of Alistair Parker (15 points) and Josh Dow (12 points) was important in a low-scoring affair, while assist-king Trent Lee brought his team mates into the contest.
The Warriors hit the road this Saturday to take on Mornington.
Pakenham’s Youth League Two men rode a fast start to a 79-62 win over Albury/Wodonga on Sunday.
The Warriors used their home court to full effect in a 25-15 start that set the tone for the contest.
Henry Ward (19 points) led the scoring for the winners, while the rebounding of Josh Norton and Dylan Jenkinson (11 rebounds each) was super-important to the end result. A trip to Mornington this Saturday is a tough next fixture for the second-placed Warriors.
The Pakenham Youth League women had the weekend off in preparation for this Sunday’s home clash against Wallan. The big game kicks off at Cardinia Life at 2pm.
