HISTORY was made on Sunday when the Swan Hill Lady Flyers claimed their first win since their reintroduction to the Country Basketball League with a 63-49 victory over Maryborough Blazers.
The result came less than 24 hours after a disappointing 81-54 loss to Shepparton in a split home game double.
Heading into the match with Maryborough, the Flyers had been close enough in most of their matches but were never able to lead at the full-time siren.
The side had suffered their biggest loss of the season thus far the night before to the Gators and came out of the blocks strong.
Leading early on in the match against the Blazers, it was all the ladies in white and blue who executed their game plan to victory.
Swan Hill Lady Flyers guard Tess Denham said her side had shifted focus after a tough loss the night before.
“At the end of the game it was pretty exciting, just to have that win, it took a while. But we have always been close, it was always tough and great to have the win,” she said.
“I think the focus was our defence in the second game because the girls we play are big, we had to learn to box out and rebound better – but that is what helped us win after not being switched on the night before.
“We put pressure on them from the get go, and our little guards put pressure on them and got massive turnovers – it was really good.”
During their match against the Gators, the Flyers faded in and out during important stages, eventually going down 81-54.
In the first quarter the side had chances to score baskets but were unable to make the shots count.
Shepparton continued to convert their opportunities and took a 21-8 lead into the first break.
A well timed three opened from guard Olivia Jones opened the scoring in the second quarter, giving the Flyers a glimmer of hope early on.
With good defensive stops at key points throughout the quarter, the Flyers began mounting a comeback.
The away side responded with their own streak of good form minutes later to take a 41-22 advantage into oranges.
It was in the third quarter when the Lady Flyers made a huge comeback.
The final five minutes of the quarter heated up for the home side as their defence became more aggressive, putting the Gators off pace.
The Swan Hill side roared back into contention to be down by 15 at the break, 55-40.
The final leg of the match could not have started better for the home side when Flyers point guard Kelsey McCoy hit a huge three pointer to bring her side into the match.
The defence stood tall and made a crucial stop, before the Flyers went back on the attack to hit another basket.
With just ten points between the sides, the home crowd of more than 100 people began cheering their local side on, but it was not to be as they took their foot off the pedal.
The Swan Hill Lady Flyers will face Echuca on Saturday night away from home.
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Wednesday’s Guardian (November 11).
