SSV Senior Girls Netball
After falling just short at the 2018 Marist Netball Carnival, our Senior Girls Netball team were out for redemption at the SSV Gippsland Netball finals. Held in Traralgon on Tuesday August 7th our team were set for three games against teams from around the region.
We hit the ground running in our first game against Warragul Regional College. Enthusiasm on and off the court was palpable, as our shooters Hayley Castle, Grace Ronchi and Ella Rendell shot at 86% accuracy for the match. After establishing a lead of 13-3 at quarter time, we were able to maintain a double-digit buffer for the remainder of the match to run away with a 35-22 win.
Game two saw us up against East Gippsland representatives in Nagle Secondary College. After a slightly sluggish start, our defensive pressure rose in the second a third quarters – Macy Gardiner, Jaz Schellen and Emma Allman were great in midcourt with ball movement in offence, and pressure in defence, while Olivia Barnett’s seven interceptions were another highlight. In the end, we secured a healthy 40-17 win.
Our final match of the day was a must-win encounter with Leongatha Secondary College, with the winner progressing through to State Finals. Scoring was neck and neck through the first half. Neither team gave an inch as we hit the main break with a 17-16 lead. The second half belonged to CCS, with terrific ball movement in offence, and tremendous pressure around the ball carrier. Alex Stephenson was a pillar of this defensive intensity, winning the ball at crucial stages to kick-start chains of possession up the court. CCS chemistry and fitness came into the equation as well, as we outscored Leongatha 25-9 in the second half (including 15-5 in the last quarter – their best scoring quarter of the day!)
An outstanding day from the girls, with three solid wins against quality opposition. Thanks to Kirralee Carstairs for coaching the team, and to Holly Hansford who did an outstanding job umpiring.
The team heads to the Waverley Netball Centre for SSV State Finals on Monday September 10th as one of the best eight teams in Victoria.
