Trevor Jackson
SARAH Ritter was in fine form on Saturday as the Lakers women claimed a solid victory over Terang Tornadoes in Round 5 of the Country Basketball League season.
It was just the second hitout for the Lakers women, but they showed no lack of class as they ran the Tornadoes ragged for three of the four quarters.
A 22-11 point first term was followed up by 21-11 in the second and the Lakers were on their way to a strong victory.
Ritter was joined around the basket by Sophie Miles, Keryl Ousey and Olivia Wormald, all taking their chances to keep the Lakers well on top.
Despite a strong lead at the main break, the Lakers came our firing in the third quarter and banged on 26 points to Terang’s six and the game was done and dusted.
The Tornadoes found something in the final term, with both sides adding 18 points to their scoresheet, but it was all about the Lakers as they ran out 87-46 victors.
Ritter finished with a game-high 27 points, Miles with 16, Ousey 14 and Wormald 13.
Coach Bryan Green praised the whole group for the effort, considering the travel involved in less-than-ideal weather conditions.
“We only went away with seven, with a few players away for various reasons,” he said.
“It is a long driver to Terang and we got there less than an hour before the game.
“The girls had been sitting in cars for about three hours, so to walk out on the court, warm up and play like they did was exceptional.”
Terang found it tough in the first half to counter the Lakers’ defensive efforts and by the long break the margin had blown out and the Lakers had set the win up.
Green said defence was a feature of the victory.
Ritter’s performance was also one which was not lost on the coach.
“Sarah Ritter was outstanding,” Green said.
“For a 17-year-old kid who has been out of the game for 12 months, in two games she has scored 28 against Portland and 27 against Terang, so it was an exceptional job.”
It appear Ousey will be back for the season, with her university studies done for the year.
Green was clearly pleased with her inclusion.
“You can’t find 188-190cm girls around,” he said.
“But she is good.
“The 12 months she has been in Melbourne she has learned a lot.”
The season does not get much easier, with a couple of big games ahead.
“This weekend we have to play Warrnambool who will be around the mark,” Green said.
“They will be pretty hard to beat.
“Then we have Surf Coast then Millicent.
“Millicent will be the team to beat, but our goal is to make the finals and once we do that we will take it game by game.”
