ALTONA Lady Gators had a costly stumble in the penultimate round of the Victorian Basketball League Big V women’s division 1 on Sunday.
The Gators lost a nail-biter, 65-60, to the Warrnambool Mermaids at the Altona Sports Centre and coughed up top spot and home-court advantage in the finals.
The only way for the Gators to reclaim No.1 ranking is to snap their two-game losing run against Warrandyte on Sunday and hope a miracle occurs and the Mermaids lose to Keilor Thunder a night earlier, which is unlikely.
Click on the image below for our gallery of the big game.
The Gators might live to regret their dismal second quarter, where they lost control with a terrible three-of-16 from the field to trail by 13 at half-time. The Mermaids were never going to let that kind of lead slip in the second half.
Brigitte Ardossi tried her best to keep the Gators in the contest with a double-double 17 points and 10 rebounds. Louise Johnston was again a tower of strength with 20 points and six boards.
Meanwhile, Altona Gators put up a real fight for three quarters but unravelled in the last period of an 80-61 loss to Warrnambool Seahawks on Sunday.
SCORES
Men’s division 1: Altona Gators 61 lt Warrnambool Seahawks 80
Women’s division 1: Altona Lady Gators 60 lt Warrnambool Mermaids 65
