ALTONA Gators produced the kind of effort that coach Randy Shanklin could be proud of in a 83-65 loss to star-studded Geelong Supercats in the Big V basketball women’s division 1.
The Gators hung in the contest until midway through the fourth quarter to be a thorn in the side of a Supercats team that is in a different phase of its development.
While the Gators are rebuilding with one of their youngest teams in years, the Supercats have ambitions to go all the way to the title.
The star power of Anna Teague and Jessica Watson was just too much for the young Gators to contain.
Teague finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds and Watson scored 28 points with six boards.
It might have been a losing effort, but the Gators were consistent across the four quarters, super competitive, but just out of their depth.
Shanklin said the challenge for the Gators is to replicate this effort and intensity against the lesser teams in the competition.
“Geelong is one of the top teams in the comp,” he said.
“To play that kind of game against that team on the road, I was proud of that effort.
“We challenged them all the way through and didn’t get blown out in any quarters like we have against some of the weaker teams.”
The confidence gained from the Gators’ encouraging display was dented somewhat by an ankle injury to captain Ashley Patterson.
Patterson had to be carried off the court in pain during the fourth period and did not return.
The guard is in doubt for Sunday’s bout with Warrandyte Venom on the road.
Prior to the injury, Patterson had been one of the Gators’ best, leading from the front with 16 points and three assists.
“She was awesome before she rolled an ankle,” Shanklin said.
Co-captain Ashleigh Richardson was busy at both ends with 13 points, five rebounds and five steals.
Katrina Vogelezang, Amy Lawrence and Jayne-Maree Sant were the other notable Gators performers.
More basketball, page 61.
Big V
Women: Geelong Supercats 83 Altona Gators 65
