By Jonty Ralphsmith
Pakenham’s men went down in a see-sawing clash full of momentum swings against RMIT Redbacks.
RMIT got out of the blocks quickly, scoring the first eight points, with the lead sitting at about that margin for the majority of the first stanza as missed shots and turnovers haunted the Warriors.
The hosts, however, had all the play early in the second quarter to storm back into the contest in an impressive display against the ladder-leaders.
Joe Davis and Ned Weideman lifted and saw the lead stretch out to five points late in the second quarter – a lead that trimmed to two at the main break.
The Redbacks went up a gear in the third quarter, outscoring the hosts 29-22 and this time they wouldn’t surrender the ascendancy, running out victors 101-89.
Davis finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds and Joshua Dow had 18 and six.
It’s the men’s first loss of the season, with another top-two opponent, Warrnambool, next up which shapes as a game that could affirm the Warriors as a heavyweight in the competition.
Not even a Haille Nickerson masterclass was enough to give the Warriors women their first win of the season.
Nickerson scored 36 of her team’s 61 points, but her team still went down by 23 points in an away clash against Sherbrooke.
Pakenham was competitive in the first quarter and after a second-quarter lull, was able to break even in the third quarter.
Down by 15 points going into the last quarter, though, Pakenham never looked likely to mount a comeback against the third-placed team.
The women will have their best chance of the season to get on the board this weekend against Sunbury, the only other remaining winless team in the competition.
The youth league women set up their 22-point victory over Craigieburn with a rampant 42-16 first half.
Rhiannon Gallagher was at her best with 20 points and six assists while Tyla Scorah recorded a game-high five steals.
After starting the season with four losses, it’s the youth women’s second-consecutive victory, with a bye this weekend before a tough assignment again Eltham and a more winnable clash with Wyndham the following weekend.
The youth league men also clinched an important 100-68 win at home over Chelsea.
After a tight first quarter, Pakenham was able to break away in the second half of the second quarter and take an 11-point lead into half time.
The Warriors kept the foot on the throttle in the third quarter to run away with it.
Cooper Lanting’s 30 points and 10 rebounds led the victory.
It’s the team’s second win from six attempts this season with the next game against Melbourne University, which is 4-2.
