Under-16 Rush Out-muscled by Eltham Wildcats

Just one game of VJBL action on a Friday night at the MARS® MINERDOME, with the Under-16 Ballarat Rush side taking on Eltham.

The game was physical from the outset, both sides clamping down on defense, and baskets were hard to come by in the early going.

Slow out of the gates, the Rush closed out the opening period with a slim lead on the back of impressive play-making from young gun Isabel Fraser.

The Rush were comprehensively beaten to rebounds throughout the second term, allowing countless second and third Wildcat shot opportunities.

These extra possessions sent Eltham on a scoring tear, as they opened up a double-digit advantage heading into halftime.

Ballarat continued to struggle to secure rebounds and loose balls in the third, as it seemed they were being outworked on both ends of the floor.

The Rush’s Taylah Wynne had some strong contributions in the second half, but it wasn’t enough as the Wildcats’ lead ballooned to as many as 18 with one quarter to play.

Ballarat’s play lifted considerably in the final stanza, chipping away at the lead through extra hustle and effort.

However their comeback efforts proved futile, with time running short and Eltham running away comfortable victors, 53-32.

In Other Results:
The Under-14 Rush lost narrowly to Knox, 60-50
The Under-14 Miners were beaten by Diamond Valley, 43-26
The Under-16 Miners took down Collingwood in a thriller, 42-39
The Under-18 Miners were victorious over Broadmeadows, 51-39