By Jonty Ralphsmith
Pakenham’s youth women and men team have both started their seasons on the right foot with comfortable round one wins as Big V basketball returned to Cardinia Life on Saturday night.
The women kicked off the night with a 73-57 win over a new-look Craigieburn in Rhiannon Gallagher’s 150th game before a vibrant crowd.
Stella O’Loughlin brought spark and energy early which gave her team an immediate buffer, one which Craigieburn was never able to rein in.
Having juggled several other basketball commitments and despite having played senior minutes last season, the match was O’Loughlin’s youth league debut.
The rising star scored a team-high 18 points to go with six rebounds and four assists with her speed in transition a nightmare for the visitors’ to defend.
“Her change of pace and speed is phenomenal so having her out there is awesome,” coach Ben Gaze said.
“She is able to generate something out of nothing and the minutes she got with the women’s last year has certainly helped, and now she has a main role in the youth league team.” O’Loughlin was one of four players making their youth women’s debuts alongside Isabella McEwan, Keauna Mills and Amber Bareira.
After a confidence-boosting finish to last year, Dakota Blacka was exciting off the bench, finishing with 15 points, while Gallagher landed a trio of threes and Chloe Zielinski’s strength showed as she won a game-high 11 rebounds.
Pakenham was never quite able to completely able shake Craigieburn, with the visitors remaining gritty every time the Warriors looked to ice the game.
Craigieburn closed to within eight late in the third stanza, before O’Loughlin lifted either side of the break with a pair of layups and an assist giving Pakenham breathing room once more.
Gallagher also finished the night well, scoring nine of her last 12 points in the last quarter, including six in the last three minutes.
Gaze praised the impact of the previous captain and reigning MVP, set to play a prominent role in the senior team this season, around the club following her milestone night.
“Rhiannon has been a stalwart for the team so it was great to have her out there,” Gaze said.
“I think she was really nervous in the first half coming back down not knowing how everyone plays because we have quite a different team this year compared to last, but it was good to have her out there.
“She can take feedback on like no-one else.
“I’m frank with her and she understands that which is good.”
Pakenham will look to address its concession of offensive rebounds when it travels north to face Albury Wodonga this weekend, with the Warriors giving up 34 and winning only 18.
“Giving up offensive rebounds is a big issue so that is always a massive focus which comes down to some of the guards hanging around a little bit rather than running off trying to get a fast break.
“We changed our defensive rotation over the preseason so we’ve been heavily focused on that every session.”
Albury-Wodonga won its first game 125-65.
