The Werribee Devils had an unwelcome up-close viewing of an excellent shooting display by Diamond Valley in their high-scoring men’s Big V state championship encounter.
The Devils’ score of 94 would have been enough to win most matches, but the Eagles shot 50 per cent from the field to win easily, 121-94, at Community Bank Stadium.
The teams traded baskets in the first term, entering the first break with scores level.
In the second, the Eagles started to take control, shooting at a brilliant 65.2 per cent from the field to jump out to a 17-point lead at the main break. Any hopes the Devils had in the second half were quickly dashed as the Eagles hit 42 points for the quarter to extend their lead to 35.
As small consolation, the Devils won the final term 32-24.
They had only three players hit double figures.
Rustin Dowd top-scored with 30 points for the Devils, while Aaron McCuin had 25 and 18 rebounds; Jordan Hughes scored 24 points.
The Devils women’s division 1 side went down to Craigieburn, 64-56, at home on Sunday.
The Devils started in the worse possible way, hitting only two field-goal attempts in the first term. In the second term, the Devils had more attempts from the field but couldn’t reduce the margin.
In the third term, the Devils finally started to hit some baskets, levelling the scores going into the final stanza.
But despite having more field goals in the final term, the Devils were unable to secure victory, being outscored 19-11 in the final quarter.
Lisa Troyahn was the only player in double figures for the Devils with 26 points, and she had 13 rebounds.
