Tara Murray
Altona Gators are starting to believe that they belong in the Big V women’s division 1 competition.
A new side in this division, the Gators have now levelled the ledger heading into the Easter break.
On Sunday, they came away with a big win against the Chelsea Gulls.
The first quarter was the key to the match, with the Gators jumping out of the blocks
The Gators led 25-7 at quarter time and increased the lead by a further three points in the second quarter.
The Gators remained in control of the game, with the lead increasing in both the third and fourth quarters on the way to a 74-46 win.
Trinity Steele and Kayla Salmons top scored with 16 points apiece, as every player got court time in the win.
The Gators are now 2-2 heading into the break.
Gators coach Randy Shanklin said the group was starting to realise that they are good enough to play in this competition.
“Definitely happy,” he said. “It’s pretty more for the girls realising it, I know they were there.
“That was probably the difference in the two games we lost. The difference was the confidence was quite there, we could have won both games.”
Shanklin said the result gives the group plenty of confidence heading into the next part of the season. He said for them it was focusing on their game, knowing they can play at a level above other teams.
Shanklin said it was good to get everyone some court time. The one downside was a knee injury to Maya Ganzon in the opening minutes of the game.
While the competition has a break for Easter, Shanklin said his group would continue to work hard.
“Unfortunately they don’t have a break, they still have work to do,” he said. “We set our standard on Sunday, we have to get better every week.
“We’ll do some fitness stuff and some of the girls are learning our system still.”
The men’s side suffered its first loss of the season on Sunday against a strong Whittlesea Pacers side.
Both sides were missing key players in the match and it was the Pacers that adjusted first.
The Pacers led by three points at quarter time and that was increased to seven points at the main break.
The second half was all the Pacers.
They won the third quarter 29-16 to take control of the game, before a 24-17 final quarter cemented the 94-67 win.
Adam Anderson and Jovan Bojanic top scored with 15 points a piece, as the Gators bench got a run late in the piece.
The loss was the Pacers first and has them sitting 2-1 at the Easter break.
The Gators men’s next match is on April 16 against Maccabi, while the women’s next match is April 15 at home against Warrandyte.
The Gators youth championship women had a mixed weekend.
They won their match on Saturday night against the Melbourne Tigers, 73-52. Jordan Wilson top scored with 18 points.
On Sunday, the Gators lost to Ringwood, 71-62. Alana Sciberras top scored with 22 points in the loss.
In the youth league men’s division 1 side, had a big loss against Geelong United, losing 99-52.
Geelong dominated throughout building the lead. The Gators didn’t give up without a fight, with the last quarter their best quarter.
Alex Formosa top scored with 13 points for the Gators.
