The Easter break is over, so we jump straight back into the action with Round 4 tipping-off this weekend. Check out our Games of the Week previews below:
CM
Wyndham v Hume
An early season top-of-the-table clash has the undefeated Hume Broncos travelling down to Eagle Stadium to face reigning champions Wyndham. Both teams have had outstanding starts to their 2023 campaign, displaying outstanding depth across their rosters. With the additions of Troyce Manassa and Chris Kaba, the Broncos have taken their game to the next level alongside Chris Elder, Mackuei Puondak and Max Viitala. This has made for a firepower offensive unit averaging over 100 points a game as a team with 5 players averaging doubles figures. For Wyndham, they have brought back the same Championship winning team led by star guard Maurice Howard who is averaging 33 points per game. Huge improvements out of Oskar Jones and Adetomi Ayilara has given Maurice Howard added support this season with Ayilara arguably the best centre in the competition at the moment. Will Puondak be able to curb his influence in this one? Head down to Eagle Stadium to check out this blockbuster.
CW
McKinnon v Sherbrooke
The last time these teams met, it was Sherbrooke who got the wood over the Cougars led by Alicia Carline’s 11 points and 29 rebounds as they took this one out by 16 points. McKinnon will certainly be looking for bigger performances out of their star players Emily Suckling and Briana Gray to try and turn this game around whilst needing to generate some additional bench points. In Round 3, it looked as though the Cougars had turned a corner with a 7-point win over Pakenham with huge performances from Briana Gray and Emily Suckling, but it was the additional support off the bench that proved to be the difference with 24 points coming from the bench rotation. The Sherbrooke Suns on the other hand have added star player Porche Poole to their squad since Round 2, she debuted with an amazing 38 points despite the heavy loss to Championship favourites Wyndham. What are the Cougars going to do to curb her influence on this one?
D1M
Chelsea vs Pakenham
Chelsea hosting Pakenham on Sunday afternoon is this week’s Game of the Round for Division One Men. Whilst Chelsea hasn’t had the start to the season they would’ve been hoping for we anticipate with the additional time over Easter for cohesion, they will be gearing up to face Pakenham who will be on the back end of a double-header. The addition of Elijah Davy has added much-needed scoring for the Gulls to put alongside stars Aaron Frost and Tom Bottrell, once these three click they will be one of the most feared 3-headed monsters at this level. For Pakenham, it has been led by stars Joe Davis and Josh Dow who are averaging 26 and 19 points per game respectively. Chelsea’s challenge will be how they slow down the scoring of the Warrior's dynamic duo. We are looking forward to seeing the rebounding battle between two of the best rebounders in the league in Frost and Davis going head-to-head, could this impact the result of the game? Find out at Patterson River this Sunday!
D1W
Western Port v Warrnambool
What appears to be a top-against-bottom clash at this stage of the season has much more weight behind it after some close battles in the 2022 season. Western Port has started the season extremely well, placing themselves alongside Bellarine as early favourites to take out the Championship. Led by Player of the Month for March, Rachael Wansbrough, they have looked unstoppable with Rachel Winters and Jenna Mastellone by her side. A new-look, less experienced side from Warrnambool has put up some good battles this year. The next crop of Mermaids including Dakota Crichton, Matilda Mills and Matilda Sewell going to battle alongside stalwart Amy Wormald has made for an incredibly exciting group to watch. We expect this one to be a close battle the whole way!
D2M
Sherbrooke v Melton
An incredibly important weekend for the Sherbrooke Suns as they face Melton at home on the back end of a double-header. With two games this weekend, the Suns could put their season back on track to where they were expecting it to be. A fresh Melton side will not be an easy task to overcome with the like of Liam Allison, Koby Skenderis and Blake Allison leading the charge. With all 3 players scoring 20 points or more in their last outing, the big 3 will be looking to take over again. Sherbrooke are the worst defensive team in the league at the moment, and to ensure that they stay relevant come finals conversations they are going to need to tidy it up on that end. With the scoring firepower of Soderholm, Tarrant, Treweek and Lokan they find themselves with no trouble putting the ball in the hole, they will need to find the same passion defensively to take it to Melton this week.
D2W
Surf Coast vs Gippsland United
The biggest trip across the entire division takes place this weekend as Surf Coast host Gippsland United on Saturday night at Wurdi Baierr Stadium. The battle of these two undefeated teams going head-to-head is set to be the most exciting game of the season thus far. Surf Coast has been tracking nicely thanks to the leadership from Jessica Scannell who has been averaging 14 points per game to go with 12 rebounds. She has been well supported by Kim Hammond and Cortney Hollowood who have dominated on the offensive end. For Gippsland, they have been making some large statements with their results. With some big wins, they have been able to share the scoring load, making them very difficult to scout for opposition teams. We are certainly looking forward to this one!
VYCM
McKinnon vs Frankston
A big game for these two as Big V pushes on after the Easter Break with both groups hovering down the lower end early in the year. McKinnon looks to get on a winning streak after a win in Round 3 whilst Frankston looks to steady themselves after a rocky start in VYC. The Cougars have retained their core with Vadas and Fullagar taking on more responsibility with Simos unleashed yet again becoming a force in the league. A lengthy group at the wings, the Cougars have shown glimpses as they took down Knox in round 3 with Simos, Fullagar and Booth all over double figures. Frankston have proven to the league they’re deserving to be in VYC with Perry and Jackson at the helm. Struggling with injuries throughout the weeks and bodies moving in and out of NBL1 the Blues are looking to get on a roll moving towards the middle of the year.
VYCW
Waverley vs Dandenong
Youth Champ Women we have a 5th vs 5th his out across conferences with the Waverley Falcons host the Dandenong Rangers. Same record of 3 and 2 it has been an up-and-down start to the year for both outfits, the Rangers able to head into the Easter break with 2 on the trot and Waverly dropping their last in Round 3. Liana Kinkela has been dominant finding herself in the Starting Five in Rounds 2 and 3 proving to the league she is a force to be reckoned with averaging a massive double-double in her 4 games. With a relatively tall team playing through Kinkela, Griffiths has been heaving up 3’s early with no sight of slowing down stretching the defence out. Dandenong had a very tough loss to a strong Tigers team in round 2 yet was able to roll over Frankston and Nunawading gaining momentum leading into a long season stretch. Wickstrom and Taylor are growing into a troublesome duo for the league as they both are very well-rounded players on the court able to do it all on both ends of the floor. Both needing this win, can the Falcons hold on at their home?
YL1M
Bendigo vs Geelong United
A country hit out in Youth One Men with the 8th placed Bendigo Braves hosting Geelong United sitting 5th. Only one game behind United, the Braves have had 2 tough losses falling to Sherbrooke and Bulleen, both teams staring at that grading process and hoping to move up to VYC in 2024. With a good win in Round 2 over Craigieburn, O’Brien and Somerville will have to be the main guys to go to with Billy Smythe moving in and out due to NBL1 helping them notch their first win for the year. Not a massive 3pt shooting team, but they’ll have to keep battling on the glass as they as are one of the better offensive rebounding teams in the competition. Geelong also having Jack Terrill and Marach Marach possibly moving up and down from NBL1, Jay Posterino and Seth Garcia are going to have to be the two to step up in this United unit. Defence is looking like their strong suit as they’ve got the lowest point against margin for the competition sitting at just 206, can they continue this, or will Bendigo explode offensively?
YL1W
Pakenham vs Warrandyte
Back from our Easter break and we have an exciting game in Youth One Women on Saturday night as one will walk away with their first win for the 2023 season. Pakenham Warriors will host the Warrandyte Venom in a fight off the bottom of the ladder after an 0-4 start for both groups. It hasn’t been an easy start for either team thus far having a tough draw to begin the year taking some tough losses. Tylah Scorah and Rhiannon Gallagher both returning from 2022 are fighting week in and week out needing all the help they can get. Ruby Pantisano and shooter Monique Smith are in a very similar boat, looking to put the Venom on their shoulders and snatch their first W for the season. Pakenham got close in Round 3 to McKinnon yet fell short as they just couldn’t find the bottom of the bucket. Can they find a way this week or will Warrandyte take it away from them?
YL2M
Surf Coast vs Melbourne University
We finally arrive at Round 4 where we see the clash of the two new teams for Youth League Two as Surf Coast host Melbourne University down in Wurdi Baierr Stadium. Some impressive and almost startling starts for both sides as they’re hovering at the top of the table for both Terril and Watson conferences. Surf Coast come in 3-0 scoring over 100 points in 2 out of their 3 games! Jesse Ombega, making the Starting Five in Rounds 1 and 2 has been dominant averaging 27ppg shooting almost 60% from the field with teammate Ryan Drinkwater averaging an 18-point 11-rebound double-double in the 3 games. Ben Fewster, also a Starting Five acknowledgement has been very consistent along with Josh McNally and Nickolas Kiefer. Expect some big numbers to come out of this game with the total margin reaching for the moon.
YL2W
Blackburn vs Whittlesea
Here is where the tables can turn for one of these sides as we move on from the week break refreshed and ready to go. Blackburn Viking who are yet to get a win for the year hosts the Whittlesea Pacers who are also having a rocky start to the year with just one win sitting just one place above. Both have had extremely near losses thus far, Whittlesea especially in Round 2 by a last-second heave by Bellarine to win the game. Blackburn got ever so close to Albury but fell just short. Jasmine Greenwood continues to be the backbone of the Viking playing great basketball on both ends of the floor with Santosh and Ziebell both almost averaging double-doubles to start the year. Isabella Ryan is scoring at will sitting second on the scoring list with 17ppg with her teammate Indiana Bodley every so close behind in 16ppg. Can these two combine for another big game and earn the Pacers their second win or will the Vikings strike down and seal their first win for the year?
