By Trevor Jackson
STILL reeling from their run-in with the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic, the Mount Gambier Lakers women chalked up yet another Country Basketball League win over the Portland Coasters last weekend.
A change of personnel included Pioneers captain Jasmin Howe at home at the Icehouse, along with some younger players keen to step up
As the game kicked off the two sides traded blows, with a late basket giving the home side the advantage but by just one point.
From there the Lakers strung two strong quarters together to throw the challenge up to the Coasters.
A 26-12 second term, followed by a 15-7 third quarter gave the Lakers a handy 58-35 advantage at the final break.
It was always going to be tough for the Coasters to close that margin and the Lakers ensured it would not happen, with a 16-15 final stanza to ice a 74-50 victory.
Howe top scored with 18 points, while Keryl Ousey chipped in with 16.
Coach Bryan Green said it was a pleasing result, all things considered.
“It was a very pleasing result considering we had four girls unable to play,” he said.
“I called up a couple of Under 16 girls, Macey Griffiths and Cara Nulty and asked if they wanted to have a game.
“They accepted and played really well.
“Jasmin Howe said she would play so that was pleasing.”
The changes stemmed from a recent Covid-19 scare at the Icehouse when the Lakers played the Warrnambool side.
Covid-19 was detected in the Warrnambool side and the concerns soon grew for the Lakers.
“When we got told about the Warrnambool girls the week before it really shook everyone,” Green said.
“A lot of people got tested and others didn’t know what to do.
“Everybody was feeling good for a few days but then we had one girl go down positive, then another, then another.
“In the end there was four and it really rocked everybody.
“Everyone else seemed to be good so how it didn’t effect everyone is beyond me.”
With changes in place for the weekend, Green said it was pleasing to beat such a strong side as Portland but moreso in the manner the Lakers achieved the result.
“Portland is a good team so to beat them the way we did was really pleasing,” Green said.
“Jas was great and Keryl (Ousey) was really good.
“Everyone else played well and we had a couple of girls who came back from isolation and they played well.”
Green said the success stems from the strength of the sport in the region for the women, with the Pioneers program and the Limestone Coast Academy both playing a major role.
“The good thing is a lot of the kids like Macey and Cara are all part of the Limestone Coast Academy and a lot of them train with the Pioneers all the time,” he said.
“They are familiar with what is expected and what offence we run.
“It is not really a massive jump for them I don’t think – it is but at least they have an idea what to do.”
The Lakers now have one game to play, after Terang forfeited its clash this weekend.
They will host the Surfcoast Chargers at the Icehouse, with the chance to finish top of the ladder with a win.
That would provide a home semi-final and a possible home final.
Now the CBL faces another issue, with some fill-in players not qualified for playoffs.
Green said he hopes the rules can be adjusted to suit all sides in contention.
