WERRIBEE Devils have put a 13-game losing streak in the Victorian Basketball League Big V women’s division 2 behind them.
They were light on for players and underdogs against Mornington Breakers at Mornington on Saturday night but came away with a 54-45 win to end a losing run dating back to last season.
A relieved Devils coach Brant Lowry said he had never been so nervous in a basketball game.
“Even when we were up by seven points with 19 seconds to go I was still nervous,” he said.
“You never know what could happen.”
What happened was a remarkably good close-out from his players -he only had seven available and two were hardly used in the second half.
Jasmine Silcock did not return after an accidental poke in the eye two minutes into the third period and all youngster Aliyah Paraha’s eight minutes were logged in the first half.
He would not want to test the theory every week but Lowry said lack of substitutes might not have been the worst thing in the world.
“The fact that we didn’t have as many players, I think they concentrated a bit more.”
Three Devils came away with double doubles – Tenielle Brown (14 points, 13 rebounds), Tahrnie Brown (12 points, 11 rebounds) and Jacqui Silcock (10 points, 11 rebounds).
Playing assistant coach Sarah Truman had 11 points and four rebounds and Taylah Lea was important in defence, restricting Teegan Rolfe to just seven points on 3-of-22 shooting.
“She’s very athletic,” Lowry said. “She got out to a lot of their shooters and made it hard for them.”
The Devils will be closer to full strength for Saturday night’s clash with Melbourne University at the Werribee Sports and Fitness Centre.
The Werribee Devils continued a top streak in the Big V men’s division 1.
They made it seven in a row with a 75-67 win over Warrnambool Seahawks on Saturday night.
Jordan Hughes was cool under pressure with 10 of 24 points from the free throw line.
Men: Warrnambool 67 lt Werribee 75.
Women: Mornington 45 lt Werribee 54.
