WERRIBEE Devils were almost untouchable in the Big V basketball women’s division 2 regular season, earning the minor premiership with a 18-2 record, with one of those losses coming when the team’s ‘‘big three’’ were rested.
That record became irrelevant when the play-offs began on Saturday night, with the Devils on the receiving end of a 73-65 defeat to fourth-ranked Keilor Thunder to trail in the best-of-three semi-final series.
PICTURE GALLERY: Werribee Devils v Keilor Thunder
Devils coach Lloyd Klaman was disappointed – not at losing to a Thunder team he respects, but because his side diverted from what made it so good in the regular rounds.
“I just don’t think we had the contributors in that game like we’ve had all year,” he said.
Lisa Troyahn has a right to be angry with her teammates. The star produced a stellar game with 21 points and 20 rebounds – a tally that should never be in a losing team.
“Our other bigs didn’t help her out at all – we left her on her own,” Klaman said. “She held down the fort all game long … we’ve got to look at supporting her a lot better.”
With a lack of production off the bench, the big three of Troyahn, Emma Coyne and Elisha Burnette were forced to log many minutes.
Morgan Owen, with 12 points, was the only effective Devil off the pine.
The Thunder beat the Devils at their own game, backing up their own dynamic duo of Jodi Impey and Jessica Francke with a support cast that turned the game in their favour in the second period.
With the Devils leading by as many as nine, it was unheralded teenager Amy Smith, daughter of former Melbourne AFL footballer Shaun Smith, and sharpshooting Sally Braybon who were unlikely heroes for the Thunder.
Games two and three – the latter if needed – will be at the Werribee Sports and Fitness Centre on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
