SOUTH Mildura hustled their way into the SFNL’s A Grade top five in sensational fashion at the Mildura Sports Precinct on Saturday.
In a see-sawing clash with undefeated Mildura, a pin-point pass from Bulldogs coach and centre Tara Bate found goal shooter Sophie Fox under the net and she casually made goal just as the siren sounded to give the hosts a morale-boosting 45-44 victory.
“That was an awesome win today,” a delighted Bate said.
“The girls played an amazing game.
“They held their own, they held their possessions which was what we wanted and got those small, little turnovers which made us get up in the score.
“I can’t stop smiling, to be honest, I am just so proud of them.”
The Demons were without dual sports stars Ava Zadow and Ashleigh Morello who were bound for Melbourne with the Heat basketball team as the drama was unfolding, but that is to take nothing away from South, who started the season 0-2 before levelling the ledger at home with only a small roster to call upon.
“We’ve got quite a few different age groups in our team and with those younger ones coming through and still being able to prove they can hold their own on the court is great,” Bate said.
“Mazie (Andriske) dominated in that (defensive) ring with Regan (Zaxos). They were strong in there and kept their heads up high,” said the coach, who also received solid mid-court support from Alyce Ross and Tayla Sellens.
“Each week we are slowly working on little bits and pieces and progressing those things we need to work on as a team and honing in on those areas.
“Work on our defensive ring to put a little more pressure on and just bring those basic skills back.”
For Mildura co-coach Jess McNamara, flying solo this week without Zadow, the loss after such a hard-fought battle was a bitter pill to swallow.
“I wouldn’t say it was a pleasant game results-wise, but there are a lot of things we can take from that, positives and things to work on and that’s what trainings are for,” said McNamara, who put her side up by two goals with only two minutes remaining on the clock.
“We knew it was going to be a challenge with some new girls coming up, but they played well. It just wasn’t our day today, but that’s okay, these things happen.
“South did zone in on us and that was a new thing to a lot of the girls, so that’s one thing we have to work on … what to do when those zones happen and what to do and where to go and be able to work through it.
“We were also having trouble hitting our targets and that’s another thing we need to improve on.”
Veteran player Sharon Watson was superb in defence for the Dees and centre/wing attack Molly McDonald was near best on court before crashing to the deck late in the final term.
In obvious pain and wearing a neck brace, she was taken to hospital after the game and could be in doubt for this week’s away game at Irymple.
“She banged her head on the court and hurt her neck at the same time,” McNamara said.
“There may have been a bit of a concussion, but I’m not quite sure.”
