By Jonty Ralphsmith
Pakenham’s Ebony Sans sunk a three-pointer with a second left on the clock to win the game for Pakenham.
When Haille Nickerson scored with 94 seconds remaining, Pakenham reclaimed the lead for the first time since the second quarter.
McKinnon evened it up with 32 seconds remaining however, before Sans went bang as Pakenham won 63-60.
After a weaker second quarter, Pakenham got itself back into the game in the third, which set the hosts up to make a charge in the last.
The Warriors shot selection improved which enabled adjustments to be made defensively.
Sam Romanowski’s poise late was crucial to the result as she controlled the tempo and set them up in attack.
Teenager Hayley Letts rebounded well and played tight to give a glimpse into her talent.
Jacinta Maxwell’s defence on opponent Briana Gray was another shining light of the victory.
It’s Pakenham’s third win of the season, and next up they have Sherbrooke on the road.
The Warriors men, meanwhile, got a win and a loss from the weekend.
Against Coburg on Sunday, Pakenham won every quarter, keeping Coburg to just 19 points after the main break.
It followed a six-point loss to Warrandyte where Pakenham was always playing catch up after a 22-35 first quarter.
Pakenham got as close as three points in the second quarter before Warrandyte pulled away and led until the final 90 seconds of the game.
Michael Johns put Pakenham in front by two at the death before Warrandyte made a pair of free-throws.
That gave them back the lead with 41 seconds to go and they would not surrender it.
The Warriors will travel to Shepparton on Sunday for a game between two teams both in the upper rungs of the Division One ladder.
The youth league women, meanwhile, defeated Camberwell 89-81 by eight points before going down 80-78 to Coburg.
Ben Gaze’s team sits seventh on the ladder with four wins after 11 games and take on Geelong United next, which has the same win-loss record.
Pakenham’s youth men, meanwhile, were far too good for Warrandyte, winning 91-54.
It continues the youth’s momentum which it built up after a difficult opening to the season as they sit second on the ladder ahead of a clash with Mornington, which has six wins from nine games.
