By Jarrod Potter
PUSHING back into the BIG V top four with a rollicking 88-39 win over Pakenham, Casey’s women were able to get the job done against the baby-faced Warriors.
No mercy was spared for the young Warriors as the Cavaliers didn’t stop the littering the scoreboard on the back of stand-out efforts from Natalie Dowdy (25 points, nine rebounds) and Amy Mcfarlane (14 points).
Also punishing the juniors were Rebecca Magdich (13 points) and Sammy Johnson (nine points, nine rebounds).
While it’s been and up and down season for the Cavaliers, coach Tim Hewitt believes everything is meshing together now as the finals approach.
“We’ve just got to keep winning – we’re a game out and the loss last week really hurt us, so we just need to keep up the wins,” Hewitt said.“I think we’re all on the same page now and starting to play team basketball now, which is the key – not as much focused on stats, but now focused on good D and helping each other out.”
Hewitt praised Dowdy’s performance – as the free-wheeling power forward dominated under the ring from only 23 minutes court-time – as she takes on the additional responsibility of starting for the new-look side.
“Nat’s been a stand out for the last month,” Hewitt said. “She’s really embraced the extra court time, since she started off the bench at the start of the year and is now a starter for us.
“She had 25 today (Saturday) and that’s a pretty good game.”
Bridgette Jacobs (one point) – who plays local basketball Mcfarlane at Hampton Park – has been brought in to chop out Amy Mcfarlane as Cherise Jacotine – who departed from Casey recently – leaves a hole in the Cavaliers’ guard stocks.“She’s a friend of Amy’s and played juniors with us,” Hewitt said. “She’s been out of the game for a little while but we needed a back=-up point guard for Amy and we brought her in and she’s been a breath of fresh air.
The 6-4 Casey women face North East on Saturday afternoon from 5pm.
