THE warning bells were ringing all week for Werribee Devils women’s head coach Lloyd Klaman.
A meeting of two sides at opposite ends of the Big V basketball women’s division 2 ladder it might have been, but the undefeated Devils would not take the struggling Mornington Breakers lightly, based on their recent history.
“Mornington haven’t been travelling too well, but we played them twice in the pre-season tournament and won both games by just one point each time,” Devils coach Lloyd Klaman told the Weekly.
“We knew we were going to be in for a little bit of a battle.”
The Devils took nothing to chance and won 56-50 in front of a big crowd at the Werribee Sports and Fitness Centre on Saturday night.
This came on a significant event for the club, their annual pink uniform night where they raise funds and awareness about breast cancer.
“Although we only won by six, the game really wasn’t in doubt after half-time,” Klaman said.
“We were up by about 11 with a minute to go and then they hit a three and a two-pointer on the buzzer. It kind of made it look a lot closer than what it was.
“It was a good win for us.”
The Devils’ victory came at a cost.
Inspirational captain Emma Coyne suffered an ankle injury early in the third quarter and did not return.
She is in serious doubt for this week’s home clash with the Melbourne University Black Angels.
“It could be a game or two before we get her back,” Klaman said.
Lisa Troyahn came up big in Coyne’s absence.
The centre posted 18 points, nine rebounds and four steals.
Troyahn’s ability to get her teammates into the game was perhaps the most valuable aspect of her performance.
“She played a good all-round game,” Klaman said.
“She could’ve got a lot more points, but she really likes to get everybody else involved and that’s a good thing.”
When Coyne went down, it was young Alex Moss (four points and seven rebounds) who stepped into the point guard role and did it with aplomb.
Morgan Owen was one of the few Devils to have success from the field.
She shot at 50 per cent to finish with 10 points and six rebounds.
The Devils managed to escape with a victory despite a bad shooting night, which included failing to hit a three-pointer all night.
“It was probably our worst shooting game for the season,” Klaman said.
The Devils have coasted to 7-0, but they confront top-four sides Melbourne University (4-3) and Southern Peninsula (7-0) in the next two weeks, which will provide a massive test.
BIG V SCOREBOARD
Women: Werribee Devils 56 Mornington Breakers 50
Men: Werribee Devils 81 Melbourne Tigers 77
