THE rags to riches tale is almost complete for the Werribee Devils in the Big V basketball women’s division 2.
The Devils are odds-on to clinch the minor premiership and take home-court advantage into the finals.
Twelve months ago, the Devils were already planning for their off-season holidays and copping hiding after hiding.
They moved two games clear on top of the ladder on Sunday, taking advantage of another slip-up by second-placed Southern Peninsula with back-to-back wins on a double-header weekend.
“It was two good results for us to put us two games in front,” Devils coach Lloyd Klaman said.
“If we can win two out of the last three games, we clinch the minor premiership and get home-court advantage for the whole playoffs.”
The Devils were made to work hard for their 73-56 win over Mornington Breakers away on Saturday night.
They led by just four at half-time, but powered away after the break.
The Sunday session was easier – a thrashing of the Warrnambool Mermaids 70-33 at home.
Elisha Burnette was the one constant for the Devils over the weekend. She had 11 points, five steals and four rebounds against the Breakers and backed up the next day with 21 points, five steals, four rebounds and three assists.
They are monster numbers for any player, let alone one who was sidelined for more than a month with cracked ribs.
“She’s come back in the last two weeks and been really important for us,” Klaman said.
Burnette is one of the Devils ‘‘big three’’, with captain Emma Coyne and centre Lisa Troyahn.
Coyne provides the defence and Troyahn offers an inside presence, but all three go better when Burnette is added to the mix.
“She’s got the good overall game,” Klaman said.
“When she’s on the court, our offence runs better and our defence runs better.
“She does all the intangibles – she’s a really smart player.”
The Devils (17-1) will take an eight-game winning streak into their visit to Melbourne University Black Angels (10-8) on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, the Werribee Devils snapped a seven-game losing streak with an 85-72 win over the Melbourne Tigers at the Oakleigh Recreation Centre on Saturday night.
