By JARROD POTTER
BIG V – ROUND 13
CLINCHING top spot, Casey women stormed past Coburg to claim a 66-59 BIG V nail-biter.
Even with nothing going their way – getting out-shot on the back of 28 per cent shooting, outrebounded 45-57, making less field goals and having players in foul-trouble early – the eight-available Cavaliers managed to overcome the odds and savour the seven-point victory.
Former Cavalier Natalie Dowdy (nine rebounds), Lyndsey Hoogenhout (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Kendall King-Hawea (16 points, nine rebounds) made life tough for the Cavaliers under the ring.
It took a superhuman game from centre Tarryn Wilkin (26 points, 20 rebounds) to keep the Cavs alive.
With her usual defensive mainstay – skipper Ruchelle Mccracken (11 points, seven rebounds) – getting into foul trouble early, the burden was thrown on Wilkin’s shoulders, and she delivered.
The only time she sat was at the time-outs and breaks as she put in an immaculate 40-minute performance to drag the Cavaliers across the line.
Coburg threw everything at Casey down the stretch, but the visitors put an old hoodoo to rest with the victory at Coburg Basketball Stadium – the place of its 2012 BIG V grand final series defeat.
“Tarryn was just switched on from the start,” Casey coach Michael Davies said. “She was the one player who was there to play and she woke up saying she thought it would be a good day and had this great feeling from the start.
“To have Ru (Mccracken) playing beside her, she didn’t have that last year, but this year there’s Ru beside her that will take another big match-up off her and free her up a little bit.”
Davies praised the team-wide defensive performance – especially Cristin Daly’s role sticking alongside Rachel McKeown.
While the numbers beyond the final score line don’t make for great reading, Davies said they were just part and parcel of a tough clash against a strong line-up.
“A lot of that is how Coburg plays as well – strong, physical team and have two or three ladies in particular that can nearly score at will,” Davies said. “They shoot a lot of shots and crash the boards hard, so our whole focus was to shut them down.
“Look at the stats and thought we didn’t win a single thing here, but took the win anyway – we lost the boards, turnovers and I don’t give a stuff,” Davies said. “It was just one of those games and I think confidence-wise for us, it was huge and it’s placing us into a great position – to be two games clear of them.
“I wouldn’t have expected to be where we are this year – expected to be in the top group, top four or five , but to have only two losses against the name this season, is a pretty amazing time.”
Casey’s men are licking their wounds after a 71-100 thrashing at the hands of high-flying Blackburn.
The Vikings unleashed their greatest fury in the final term, knocking down 33 points to run up the margin and leave the Cavaliers shell-shocked.
Shooting at only 31 per cent, Casey was left in Blackburn’s wake as the ladder leaders flexed their might against the visitors on Sunday.
Matt Witherden (20 points, nine rebounds), Brent Hobba (14 points, nine rebounds) and Dean Johnson (16 points, 10 rebounds) did most of the heavy lifting in the key.
The Youth men were bested 88-96 by Craigieburn, despite the best efforts of David Gormlie (17 points) and tall tandem Sam Pike (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Nathan Dodgson (14 points, 10 rebounds).
In the return-leg of the age-old BIG V grudge match, Casey will host Keysborough on Saturday evening – starting with the women’s clash at 5.30pm before the men’s sides battle it out at the Fortress. Casey’s juniors battle Maccabi on Sunday afternoon.
