Werribee Devils can lock up a Big V basketball women’s division 1 play-off berth at their first attempt if they can overcome Hawthorn Magic at the Werribee Sports and Fitness Centre on Saturday night.
Even with a loss, the Devils may still go through on head-to-head records – but that’s not a risk coach Lloyd Klaman is willing to take.
“I just want to win on Saturday night and sit back and watch the scores from the other games on Sunday and see where everybody else falls,” he said. “I don’t care whether we finish second, third or fourth; we’ve beaten every team in the league, so we know on our day we’re good enough.”
The Devils had to snap out of a rough patch to have their destiny back in their own hands in the final round of the regular season. After losing back-to-back games, they enjoyed a 70-43 win over Camberwell Dragons in a Sunday stroll at Balwyn High School.
When the going got tough, the bigs got going for the Devils, with Lisa Troyahn and Jodi Impey propelling their team to victory.
Troyahn led the team with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Impey had eight and 12.
Elisha Burnette, having been forced to sit out all basketball-related activities for two games due to breathing difficulties, received the green light from doctors to make her return.
Burnette is one of the team leaders and a key member of the back court, so teammates and supporters were understandably chuffed when they saw her don a Devils singlet again.
She made a telling impact in each of the double-header games at the weekend. The Devils were beaten 65-54 by the Southern Peninsula Sharks in the earlier game.
In the men’s championship, Werribee Devils were beaten twice on a double-header weekend, stretching their losing streak to three.
Import Aaron McCuin had double doubles in both games, but the Devils still lost 88-69 to the Sherbrooke Suns on Saturday night and 88-82 to the Diamond Valley Eagles on Sunday.
The Devils’ final game will be at home against McKinnon Cougars on Sunday from 3pm.
