Central Highlands Water Ballarat Miners Rush Youth Weekly Review round 7

This week the Central Highlands Water Ballarat Miners Youth team hosted Keilor Thunder at the Minerdome on Sunday afternoon. This was a game where we had 3 of our starters available for YL due to no clashes with the NBL1 team, it was good to have them back after a few weeks without them. Their energy and enthusiasm to be back with the team must have been contagious as we started the game at an incredible rate and shot the ball extremely well (66% from the field in the 1st quarter). Our hot shooting got us out to a good lead, up 30-15 at the first break. We knew Keilor would fight and not give up as they have shown that in many games this season they fight back.

This occurred in the 2nd quarter where they increased their defensive intensity and it caused us to make rushed decisions and we ended up with too many turnovers in the quarter. Keilor took advantage of this and out scored us by 7 points in the 2nd, so we went in at half time still up by 8, but with a game on our hands.

The 3rd quarter saw a similar trend to the 2nd and we were again outscored, this time by 3 points. Our 15 point 1st quarter lead, was now cut to 5 at the start of the 4th quarter. However, we got hot again in the 4th quarter with Ethan Fiegert scoring 16 of his 24 points in the 4th quarter and helping us finish up with a 99-79 victory.

I was really proud of all our players for a few reasons, firstly our teamwork, we again had 25 assists on 32 made baskets, and when Ethan got hot in the 4th our players sacrificed their own game to ensure he got good looks. We had great screens set and unselfish ball movement. Secondly how well and mature each player is adapting to different roles, we have 4 athletes playing both NBL1 and Youth League. When those NBL1 players are missing our role players are asked to step, but then sacrifice their minutes when our NBL1 players return to our squad. It's not easy to have this variability in role, so I am just so proud of our whole squad buy in and helping our team continue to improve, develop and be as successful as we can be. Go Miners!

The Central Highlands Water Ballarat Rush Youth had a tough schedule going into this

weekend playing Nunawading and Keilor who are both second in their respective divisions.

Saturday we travelled to Nunawading with 6 players taking the court. It was always going to be difficult this one given Nunawading had a full team. Competitive for the first half seen us only 12 down at the main break. The second half showed the strengths of having a full line-up as Nunawading we able to run over us in this game. Layla Iglesias and Maisy Hammond scored 15 and 14, Emma Pedretti had 11 rebounds.

Sunday we hosted Keilor here at the Minerdome, different scenario here as we had more

players available but still on the back end of a double weekend header was going to be

difficult especially against a highly skilled team. This game was close, very close. Down 1 at three quarter time, Keilor pulled away early in the last quarter. We started to make a run back them until they got away once more. Although a disappointing loss, it was great to see we can contest with the top teams in this competition. Jemma Amoore, Milly Sharp and Millie Cracknell had really great games scoring double figures. 

This Weekend's Games

- Saturday May 8th, 5:30pm The Central Highlands Water Ballarat Rush Youth v Kilsyth at the Kilsyth Basketball Stadium

- Saturday May 8th, 8:30pm The Central Highlands Water Ballarat Miners Youth v Waverley at the Waverley Basketball Centre

- Sunday May 9th, 12:00pm The Central Highlands Water Ballarat Rush Youth v Diamond Valley at the Minerdome

- Sunday May 9th, 2:00pm The Central Highlands Water Ballarat Rush Youth v Eltham at the Minerdome