THAT’S more like it. Werribee Devils returned to the Big V basketball women’s division 2 winners’ circle with a six-point win over Keilor Thunder at the Werribee Sports and Fitness Centre on Saturday night.
It was not the result but the manner of the victory that excited coach Lloyd Klaman a week after their disaster in the top-of-the-table clash with Southern Peninsula.
The Devils played their style of basketball, running till they could run no more and hurting the Thunder on the break.
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And then came the surprise, the rebound count which slightly favoured the Devils.
The Thunder’s trademark is its ability to consistently out-rebound opposition with bigs Jodi Impey and Jessica Francke under the hoop.
The Devils not only won the rebound count by one, they smashed the visitors for offensive rebounds 14 to six.
“The big thing I was really impressed with is that Keilor’s a really big, strong side and we only gave up six offensive rebounds for the whole game,” Klaman told the Weekly.
“In fact, they didn’t have an offensive rebound in the whole first half, so we did a great job on the boards.
“We just worked harder and we were a bit more active.
“A younger girl like Georgia Tauschke, she’s pretty slight, but she got seven boards by working hard.”
The Devils’ ball security was much tighter this week.
That was perhaps due to the increased fitness of captain Emma Coyne, who is close to 100 per cent after rolling an ankle three weeks ago.
Coyne finished with 19 points, five assists and two steals.
“She had a fantastic game,’’ Klaman said. “Defensively, she did a lot of tough things for us; she’s a real leader.”
Elisha Burnette is another expected to improve as the season wears on.
With 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, Burnette produced her best game since giving birth four months ago.
“She did so many smart things on the court for us,” Klaman said.
Lisa Troyahn and Georgia Perry did a power of work inside the paint.
The minutes were again spread with Klaman showcasing the depth of talent on his roster.
The Devils (10-1) will need all hands on deck for the visit of Casey Cavaliers (8-4) on Saturday night.
In the men’s championship, the Werribee Devils suffered a 77-64 defeat to the Bulleen Boomers at the Werribee Sports and Fitness Centre on Saturday night. It was the Devils’ second loss in as many weeks and they will be hoping to arrest the slide when they face Waverley Falcons on the road at the Waverley Basketball Centre on Sunday.
