By Jonty Ralphsmith
Pakenham Warriors women were outclassed by Hume on the weekend – extending its losing streak to eight as inconsistency plagues the young group.
Injuries and poor form have contributed to the disappointing results and promotion of youth leaguers has had to be reduced in recent weeks for various reasons.
“Our best is really good, but we just need to get to that level more often because our worst is quite poor,” coach Simo Padjic said.
“We just need to keep hanging the course and stick with what we set out to do at the start of the season.”
Import Haille Nickerson, veteran Tess Young and Stephanie Pal were typically important players for the Warriors throughout the contest, recording 38 of the team’s 63 points.
Meanwhile, the Pakenham men keep winning, their latest one coming against Wallan to maintain a top-two spot – albeit having played an extra game than the teams around them on the ladder.
It was a hard fought victory as they were up by just one point at halftime, but ground their way to an 11-point win.
Jake Spruhan made a ‘floating jump shot’ to kick start a better second half for the Warriors.
Spruhan (11 points, 7 rebounds) and Josh Dow (20 points, six rebounds) both performed well for Pakenham.
Canadian import Joe Davis scored 19 points, including two consecutive three-point jump shots at the start of the last stanza, to give the Warriors some breathing room.
The men and women have a double header at Cardinia Life on Saturday night as Pakenham solidifies its one-club, community mantra.
The action kicks off at 5.30pm when the women take on top-placed Wyndham, with the men following at 8pm, against fourth placed Altona.
The youth women were unable to reel in a 12-point half-time deficit, going down to top-placed Frankston.
Alahna Arnasson (13 points, 12 rebounds), Chloe Zielinski (9 points) and Rhiannon Gallagher (8 points), all of whom have played seniors at different stages throughout the season, had a say in the contest.
The youth men maintained top spot on the ladder with a 15 point win over Western Port, set up by a 31-13 second quarter.
The youth men have Southern Peninsula next up and youth women host second-placed Bulleen.
