By Tara Murray
Whittlesea Pacers showed positive signs early before fading in their battle with Werribee Devils in Big V women’s state championship.
The Pacers entered the game on the back of one of their worst performances of the season.
But that seemed a distant memory on Saturday night as they took it up to the Devils early on.
The Devils found their groove midway through the second quarter and went on to run away with an easy 109-62.
Pacers coach Damon Lowery was looking at the positives out of the game.
“There were phenomenal signs for the first quarter and a half,” he said.
“We showed what we are capable of and what we’ve put a lot of work into doing.
“It was nice to get some reward … before we returned back to the old ways and it blew out.”
Lowery said the Devils’ scoreboard pressure and defence had made it hard for the Pacers to continue to execute at a high level.
But he said there were a lot of encouraging signs.
“We got some minutes into some of the younger players,” he said.
“Demi Eastwod played her first game, while Holly Bawden, my assistant coach, played her first game after a knee reconstruction.
“Once we get everybody fit, we should be able to switch on for a bit longer.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Werribee Devils vs Whittlesea Pacers
Rachel Bell continued her good form, scoring 32 points.
Lowery said it was her scoreboard pressure that kept them in the game early.
“She came out on fire and through her own individual brilliance was keeping us in it,” he said. “Dani Reinwald worked hard, before fouling out late.”
The Pacers remain in eighth with one win for the season.
They will be hoping Saturday’s starting form will continue this week against the Warrnambool Mermaids.
The Pacers’ only win came against the Mermaids.
“We had a good win against them last time,” Lowery said. “It will be a bit tougher on the road. We want to build on what we started.”
The Pacers men’s side fell just short of a second straight win, losing to the Shepparton Gators 82-71. Dominic Bruno top-scored with 23 points.
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