ROUND 12 of the South East Coast Basketball League found the men record comfortable wins by Saints and Panthers.
Those two sides, with Bulldogs, are in a battle for top spot because of the two-week finals format.
There are two semi-finals comprising first team v fourth team and second plays third, followed by a grand final involving the semi-final winners.
In contrast the women’s Round 12 games resulted in single-digit margins.
It appears likely Cougars and Saints will hold on to first and second places respectively.
MEN: SAINTS 82 (J. Haggett 31, J. Bowden 16, H. Mules 16) d COUGARS 56 (O. Pohlner 16, T. deWit 15, A. Peters 12).
Saints set up a 20-point-plus break against Cougars by half time.
Jack Haggett featured in Saints’ scoring in the opening minutes and then in the minutes leading into the main break.
Oliver Pohlner and Toby deWit found touch as Cougars stemmed the Saints’ flow in the third quarter, but Saints worked as a team to regain a comfortable margin at the final siren.
PANTHERS 99 (K. Tipene 20, T. Brumby 18, O. Thomson 15, B. Jachmann 14) d ROOS 68 (M. Makoi 32, A. Noble 10, M. Hooper 9).
Mony Makoi proved to be the go-to player for Roos as he returned to the pine after a long-term leg injury.
He finished with a game-high tally of 32 points.
Consistent contributor Oscar Wilkinson and brother Jack did not suit up for Roos.
Panthers had a firm grip on the game by half time, only to see Roos outscore them 28-19 in the third quarter.
Panthers knuckled down to the task and regained control to run out winners, 99-68.
WOMEN: COUGARS 54 (M. Horrigan 20, K. Ousey 13, S. Russell 11) d SAINTS 47 (M. Burke 12, E. Easterby 9, P. Paul 8).
Defences were dominant in this top-of-the-table clash.
A total of 13 points were scored in the opening 10 minutes and half-time scores read 20-14 in Cougars’ favour.
This situation is not typical of Saints’ free-scoring style.
However, Saints lifted to outscore Cougars, 21-14 and lead by one point going into the final break.
Keryl Ousey, playing limited minutes and Michaela Horrigan, finished strongly for Cougars to record a seven-point win and seemingly secure the minor premiership coming into finals.
ROOS 53 (E. Bouchier 15, C. Nulty 14, M. Griffith 8) d CATS 47 (A. Gysbers 15, N. Facey 12, M. Lynch 9).
Cats started this game with a degree of hesitancy.
Their effort and application created many possessions, but a relatively low conversion rate allowed Roos to establish a comfortable lead by half time.
Ellie Bouchier, Cara Nulty and Macey Griffith were consistent contributors for Roos.
Cats continued to work hard and gradually managed to outscore Roos by three after the main break.
Cats then played their best quarter in the run home, recording a 19-9 result, led by Mylee Lynch, Asher Gysbers and Nikeisha Facey.
