South Spotlight | Miners hold out fast finishing Falcons

Featured image: Ian Wilson Photography

The Ballarat Miners built a 21-point lead in the third quarter on the Waverley Falcons but it took yet another massive late three-point bomb from Abbey Wehrung for them to secure the 80-79 NBL1 South victory.

Both teams arrived at Selkirk Stadium on Saturday night on 10 wins for the season so the stakes were high in the match up and the Miners made a blistering start to be leading by 19 points in the second quarter and by 15 at half-time in 19 points from Casey Samuels.

It was then a 21-point lead in the third term for Ballarat, but Waverley then came storming back and drew level in the final quarter but it was a huge three from Wehrung that broke the deadlock and ended up securing the one-point win for the Miners.

It's crucial in the context of the season too with Ballarat improving to an 11-8 record while Wavreleye are now 10-7 with the one-point loss.

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Ballarat will have mixed emotions over being happy to get the important win but frustrated to almost blow their big lead but they did end up going 10/29 from three-point range to 1/17 from Waverley where the major difference was between the teams.

Casey Samuels finished with 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds with 4/10 three-point shooting for Ballarat but she already had 19 points and 4/5 shooting from deep by half-time.

Camille Hobby also had 16 points and five rebounds for the Miners, Abbey Wehrung 15 points, four boards, three assists and three steals, Malia Fisher 14 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and three assists, and Elissas Brett 13 points, three rebounds and three assists.

The Falcons almost pulled off the miraculous fightback but it wasn’t quite to be and they just couldn’t hit a ball from beyond the arc on the night and Maddi Utti was no different going 0/3.

However, she was outstanding in every other area finishing with 31 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two steals with 11/18 field goal shooting and going 9/10 at the free-throw line.

Katelyn Shumate finished with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots, Sophia Locandro eight points and two boards, Georgia Pineau eight points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks, and Hannah Rapp six points, five boards and four assists.

It was a remarkable start on their home floor from Ballarat with a 15-point lead in the first quarter and the Miners were still up 34-23 by quarter-time with Casey Samuels on fire with 16 points with 3/3 three-point shooting.

Ballarat as a team went 67 per cent from the field to the 50 per cent from Waverley with Maddi Utti giving the visitors 11 points.

The lead for the Miners got out to as much as 19 points in the second term as well and the home team were still well in control leading 55-40 by half-time with Samuels up to 19 points and Abbey Wehrung and Malia Fisher adding 12 each.

Ballarat were still shooting at 60 per cent with 8/14 from downtown to the 50 per cent and 1/7 from the Falcons while also having 10 turnovers even though Utti was up to 17 points.

That lead was then 21 in the third quarter too for the Miners and they were still 71-58 by three quarter-time even while shooting 1/9 from beyond the arc in the period. But Waverley also missed all five of their attempts to be going 1/12.

But Utti was up to 25 points and 10 rebounds by three quarter-time and then the Falcons came roaring back in the final term with 21 points to nine and by the time Utti scored again with 3:30 to play, scores were level and Waverley had all the momentum.

They could never quite work in front, though, and it was Abbey Wehrung who again showed her penchant for the big shot and she hit a huge three in the final minute to put the Miners back up three, and they held on for the one-point win from there after two free throws to Waverley from Katelyn Shumate.

The Miners now don't play until being on the road to the Dandenong Rangers next Sunday while Waverley remain on the road to the Sandringham Sabres on Friday night.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 12

BALLARAT MINERS 80 (Samuels 21, Hobby 16, Wehrung 15)

WAVERLEY FALCONS 79 (Utti 31, Shumate 15, Locandro 8, Pineau 8)