Stateside too hot for Pumas while Chapman Valley fight like Warriors but go down to Olympians

Stateside Scorpions continue to lead the way in the women’s Geraldton Basketball Association after a comfortable victory over the Pumas. With just three rounds to go in the regular season, the Scorpions have a two-game lead at the top following their 71-47 win. It was a steady opening from both teams but Stateside had the advantage, with their star duo of Abbie McDonald and Charlotte Kennedy once again leading the way. McDonald hit double digits inside the first half as they outmuscled the undersized Pumas at the rim, having easier access to the basket. Sienna Forsyth, who has quietly become the Pumas’ most important player in the latter half of the season, was fighting to keep the scoreboard ticking over, but not at a rate that could match Stateside. With a 10-point lead going into the second half, Stateside kept up the pressure to double the advantage inside the opening five minutes as the Pumas were plucky but outgunned. Millie Gerreyn threatened a run with a couple of strong drives but it was Jaimee Rich, playing her best game of the season, who was the most dangerous, scoring a season-high 20 points. But the lead was always too much to overcome as Stateside tested out their bench strength with a likely eye on finals. Allee Bartlett, playing her first game this season, was impressive, finding herself in good positions on the counter with eight second-half points, while Maddy Graham also got involved late with eight points. Pumas lost Forsyth to an ankle injury with six minutes to go as she hobbled off court. But the game was gone by then, and despite Rich’s 20 points, which was the best of anyone, there were not enough points from her fellow teammates to challenge. Olympians played in the later game in the first hit-out since Christmas and it certainly looked as if the team were still recovering from the break as they were given a scare by Chapman Valley in a 63-53 win. While Chapman Valley have just one win from the season, their performances have improved as the season has gone on, and with a game already under their belt, they seemed sharper in the opening exchanges. The teams traded baskets until it looked like back-to-back threes from Gemma Dix threatened to break the game open, but Natalia Caruana (13) and Lilli Worth (10) were superb for the Warriors, able to match at their end to quickly rein the deficit back in. They even took a 29-27 lead into half-time as the Olympians cut a frustrated outfit playing well below their best, finding it difficult to get to the rim, which the Warriors crowded while struggling from the field and free-throw line. Sophie Maines, who was the Olympians’ best in the opening half, called for more aggression in their attack, and while it took a while to get going, they slowly gained the ascendancy in the second half. They started to find the baskets more often, with Dix and Maines beginning to dominate and Maines finding 14 points in the second half on her way to a game-high and season-best 23. Caruana (21) and Worth (15) both had season-best performances but the Warriors never regained the ascendancy as the Olympians ground out a 10-point win. However, they will need to be better next week when they face Stateside in a top-of-the-table clash which could see the Scorpions wrap up the minor premiership with a win or Olympians, who have a game in hand, become favourites for top spot.