Photo Credit – LaTrobe University Eagles Sports
3-Minute Read
Men
The AU Waatu pushed last years champions to the edge of their nest, but the LTU Eagles eventually broke it open after three and a half quarters 92-73 at LaTrobe Sports Stadium
Missing Ayual Garang the Waatu’s nemesis from their last meeting in Sam Holland (eight first quarter points from the captain) came up big in the first term but Isaac Hampel (Engineering- Electrical) sparked the Waatu back into the contest with drives, drawings and dropping a big triple to bring the margin back to 21-19 at the first change.
Thomas Mestrov (Banking and Finance) begun the term well with a quick score out of the mini break, but Sam Tresize was proving to be an issue for the Waatu as the Eagles kept their beaks in front on the scoreboard 33-27. The timeout saw West Adelaide Bearcats back up bench guard Harry Bruce (Commerce) light up very quickly as he got down to business with a quick seven points but matching him was Nick Day at the other end for the Eagles as they took the 42-40 slight edge at the half.
The issue for the Waatu at the start of third was the offensive rebounds which created opportunities for the Eagles with Matt Debney (12 points and 17 rebounds with eight offensive) once again difficult to guard against. Tresize threw down a couple of thunderous dunks for LTU but Hampel (12 for the term) once again kept their Waatu in the contest in their closest match against last years champions 62-56 with one left to play.
The Waatu kept on the heels of the Eagles containing both Holland and Day early in the fourth but a quick 8-2 run to the Eagles saw it slip out to 77-65 with coach Scott Freer taking a timeout to see of the Waatu could have another swing at the champions. Tresize, Holland (14 points, five rebounds, four assists) and Day thundering to the rim with the one-handed hammer finishing it off in style for the home side to take a solid victory but the Waatu hung hard for the full four terms in a much-improved performance from previous seasons against LTU.
LTU were led by player of the game Nick Day with 21 points and 5 rebounds while Sam Tresize compiled 27 points and seven rebounds. The Waatu got a great contribution from Hampel with one of his best for AU with 24 points and three assists backed up by Crosby (Physiotherapy – Honours) continuing to stretch his scores for the season with 16 points and three rebounds.
Women
A similar story developed in the Women with the LTU Eagles eventually seeing off the AU Waatu but not without a fight and some tres in the fourth term 89-72 at LaTrobe Sports Stadium.
It was a tight opening in the quarter with neither team able to break away from the other. The Waatu grabbed the early lead through a pair of Flames in Annika Uzcategui-Montenegro (Project Management) and Caitlin Shillabeer (Physiotherapy) as they both set the assignment for the Waatu in motion. The Eagles Tahlia Leeson with seven points including a long triple however grabbed the lead back for the home side 25-20 at the first change.
LTU the champions of 2022 and 2023 got take-off to extend their margin through Jaida Reid with three consecutive triples forcing timeout to AU Waatu and coach Lachlan Coppick down 36-23. The response was swift through Jemima Whitton (The Viticulture expert sampling six for the quarter) as they cut it back to six points 37-31 with Shillabeer and Uzcategui-Montenegro making it a one basket game 39-38. Waatu however were beaten at the buzzer on the half 42-38 by Reid again with the bank triple off the window to finish with 13 points for the term.
Reid and Eleanor Bollands kept up their scoreboard pressure stretching it back out to double figures and holding it there for multiple minutes on end. Bella Woosnam (Exercise and Sports Science – Nutrition and Food science) finished the third quarter exceptionally well serving up a tough drive and the triple to close it to 66-53 with one to go.
Reid again was the catalyst for the Eagles with another brace of points including her fifth triple of the afternoon but Shillabeer with a couple of outside hits tried to keep the Waatu in distance. Getting it back to 15 points the Waatu suddenly were not out of it but steadying hoops to the Eagles saw them take the win in the final minutes 89-72.
Jaida Reid was dangerous throughout the match with 23 points with six triples along with four rebounds – Eleanor Bollands excellent in the second half with 15 points and three rebounds.
Shillabeer was the clear standout for the Waatu again in her second match with 25 points with five triples and nine rebounds while Annika Uzcategui-Montenegro dropped 11 points and nine rebounds in one of her best early in her debut season with AU.
Men – LTU 92 (Tresize 26, Day 21, Holland 14) defeated AU Waatu 73 (Hampel 24, Crosby 16, Bruce, Mestrov 7)
Women – LTU 89 (Reid 23, Bollands 14, Poulton 10) defeated AU Waatu 72 (Shillabeer 25, Uzcategui-Montenegro 11, Whitton, Woosnam 10)
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