MILDURA held off a bold challenge from South Mildura at Brian Weightman Oval court no.1 to rack up a 10th victory of the A Grade season and snap the visitors’ six-game winning streak.
In a tight encounter between combatants all but certain to see post-season action, the Bulldogs blinked first – in the third quarter – and eventually fell 57-49.
After a hard-fought first half, the Demons ratcheted up their midcourt pressure and tightened their defence in a grim battle to the finish line in fine conditions.
While Wentworth remain the benchmark of the league by a substantial margin, neither Mildura nor South would have lost any friends in one of the most enthralling contests of the season.
“They are a great team to play against and I thought the girls did well from the start of the game until the end,” interim Dees coach Jessica McNamara said of her charges after the victory.
“South were making quite of lot of interchanges, so it was just about adjusting to who was coming on and the girls changing their game for a different opponent,” said McNamara, who is filling in for Ellie Vincent during Vincent’s European sabbatical.
“Ellie should be back next week,” the paramedic said. “It’s a good little challenge for me and I love coaching and I would definitely coach if it wasn’t for my work.”
One of South’s interchangeable parts was coach-centre Tara Bate, who battled an ankle injury and then a jarred finger in the clash.
“We probably had a bit of a slump in that (third) quarter, and I think we got a little bit tired because of the two weeks we had off. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win but it just showed we have a few things we still have to work on as we go into the finals,” Bate said.
For Mildura, it was the Milli and Molly show as Seward and McDonald were nominated best in an even team performance, while bustling wing attack-centre Alyse Ross and Ellen Brewster claimed the honours for the visitors.
