1st Girls Basketball Report
25 July 2009
Carey (20) 35 lost to Wesley College (18) 40
The Carey girls played their hearts out... Our toughest game for the season and without bec Allen, but we gave it a great shot. The Carey girls made an impressive start but the going was difficult as the Wesley players went ‘toe to toe’ with us. In the dying seconds of the first half we went 2 points up giving us confidence at the break. Early in the second half we snuck ahead pushing out by 5 points and the Lillis Stewart, McBean combination gathered momentum. However the Wesley girls came back; at the same time, we ran into foul troubles and our bench wasn't too strong. Despite the huge efforts of Gen Lillis and Al Stewart who gave everything they could to the game, we eventually went down by 5 points.
In the ‘washup’ we still share the Premiership with Wesley and Caulfied, which makes the loss a little easier to swallow.
Top Scorers: Gen Lillis 11, Al Stewart 9, Ash McBean 8, Steph Stewart 5
18 July 2009
Carey (34) 54 defeated Ivanhoe Grammar (19) 34
Despite the 20 point winning margin, which at first glance appears to be a comfortable margin, we had to content with appalling officiating and new line markings on the court. From the centre jump we steamed ahead with a 15 to 5 margin within the first 10 minutes of play and got a series of ‘seriously bad’ fouls called against us. Ash McBean and Sophie Richards were rock solid inside the key with Gen Lillis controlling the offense.
The second half started soundly with the Carey girls hitting the first two baskets; however, the momentum swung away from us and Ivanhoe closed the gap coming within six points in the middle of the half. At this time, and in the true spirit of this Carey team, the girls came back stronger than before and took the game to a new level, grinding their opponents with rock-solid defence and quick transition in offense through the services of Al Stewart, eventually blowing out the score for a 20 point win.
The result of this game ensures the team of at least an equal premiership. A brilliant season when all said and done. Bring on Wesley next Friday!
Top Scorers: Sophie Richards 14, Al. Stewart 13, Ash McBean 13
13 June 2009
Carey (29) 53 defeated Peninsula (17) 34
Despite Peninsula’s opening enthusiasm to take us down, the Carey girls responded through the services of Ash McBean and Al Stewart; both girls working with accuracy and assertiveness close to the basket. Gen Lillis got into the mix with some long bombs from ‘Downtown’. One of the strength of our game had been our aggressive defence and this game was no different. Steph. Stewart and Gen Lillis are ferocious holding up the opposition’s ball handlers.
The second half provided an opportunity for our other players to get into the action and Rachel Bett, Amelia Wigg, Alex Northcott, Jess Rowe and Georgia Stewart made their presence felt against a smaller and younger Peninsula combination. In the end, a comfortable win.
Top Scorers: Al. Stewart 18, Ash McBean 13, Gen Lillis 11
30 May 2009
Carey (20) 44 defeated Haileybury (7) 37
With Bec. Allen on tour with the Australian Gems, Sophie Richards stepped up big time and when it mattered. She hit some awesome shots under significant defensive pressure. The Stewart ‘duo’ of Al .and Steph. played rock solid defence, with Al doing major damage to the Haileybury defence at the other end of the court. The Carey girl’s now have a reputation as having the best defence in the competition. At the break we had cleared out to a 13 point break.
Although a little slow to find range for the first 5 minutes of the second half, we gathered momentum with the ‘ever steady’ Gen Lillis at the point and Ash McBean controlling the inside, we extended our lead to 20 points. It was now time to provide more time for our younger players, Amelia Wigg, Rachel Bett, Georgia Stewart and Alex Northcott and they combined well and worked hard to retain their more experienced opponents.
A well deserved win where our opponents never put us under pressure.
Top Scorers: Al. Stewart 16, Sophie Richards 8, Steph. Stewart 7, Ash McBeam 6
23 May 2009
Carey (20) 34 defeated PEGS (10) 17
Despite a slow start where our opponents scored the first 4 points, the Carey combination struck back through the services of Bec Allen and Ash McBeam. Once we overcame a couple of ‘obsticles’, namely the sandy/gritty court surface and the appalling officiating (got to love a home court advantage), our girls played some serious ‘shut down’ defence and finally found range at the other end of the court.
Following the break, neither team could find the basket, and it took us over six minutes to score! Fortunately, the PEGS girls struggled too and our defence was the best we’d played for the season holding our opposition to 7 points for the whole of the second half. Bec Allen blocked shots and intimidated her opponent; an amazing effort. In the second half we availed ourselves of the opportunity to run our younger players; Georgia Stewart, Amelia Wigg and Alex Northcott, who performed well for Carey !
Top Scorers: Bec Allen 12, Ash McBeam 8, Gen Lillis 6, Al. Stewart 6
16 May 2009
Carey (36) 55 defeated Yarra Valley (21) 39
Despite their small size, the Yarra Valley girls were feisty, aggressive and very quick. ... and I left out… could shoot!!! However, after a few trips up and down the court we began to take control through Gen Lillis, Ash McBean in the middle and Al Stewart weaving her magic. At the break we cleared out to a 16 point advantage.
The second half provided an opportunity to move some of our younger players into the game and Georgia Stewart, Amelia Wigg, Rachel Bett and Jess Reece held their own on the court. A well deserved win.
Top Scorers: Ash McBean 16, Al. Stewart 14, Amelia Wigg 6
9 May 2009
Carey (18) 38 defeated Caulfield (1) (21) 35
For the time being, this was to be the ‘Premiership Game’. If ever we had a chance to win a major game, this was it! This was a tight game from start to finish with neither team more than 5 points ahead of the other.
Gen Lillis gave her heart and soul, as always. She was well supported by Bec Allen and Ash McBean and despite struggling a little in the first half we went to the break well in touch with the Caulfield girls.
In the second half we made some defensive adjustments, and played more patient offence. Al and Steph Stewart were working hard at both ends of the courts and with a few minutes to go, we had a slight edge. Caulfield came back and with 20 seconds to go the score was level. We had procession, ran the ball around in offense and then Bec. Allen finished off with a sensational 3 pointer to seal the game.
Top Scorers: Ash McBean 14, Bec. Allen 11, Al. Stewart 7, Gen.Lillis 6