The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 69

Kpauaspiir Saints crash to their biggest loss FfehtiMg Gkinite Scorers: Debbie Slimmon 20.7, Carolyn Watts 14.3. Rebounders: Slimmon 1 1.8, Watts 7.0. Canberra THE Capitals' wins have all been at home, so If they can get some road successes they, -too, could still be a playoff threat Whatever, their effort Is a big improvement on last season. nr0rft nonno Voeont 19 7 By Michael Lovett Rebounders: Foley 7.3, Smith 6.9. Perth THE Breakers have surprised many with their rapid Improvement- The recruit- ment of Tlmms has been the cornerstone of the revitalised program, and the play of tall Fiona Massara has given Perth another dimension.

If Natasha Bargeus and Tanya 1 Fisher- continue their pro- gress the Breakers will shape 4 the playoffs and perhaps even be part of them. Scorers: Michele Tmms 17.4, Fiona Massara 14 2. Rebounders: Massara 11.1, Tanya Fisher 6.7. North Adelaide THE Rockets, last year's champions, made the four for the first time two weekends ago and looked set to stay there. Lowly Adelaide City i.

surprised them seven days later and out they tumbled; a win over the Boomers on the road last night put them back k. In what next with the Spec- tres today? Now national r. team commitments are out of the way for Vickl Daldy, Marina Pearce and Rachael Sporn, and with the players adjusting to a less-structured offence, the Rockets should 4 be title chances, but it may take a while to cement a play-, off spot Scorers: Rachael Spom 15.0, Jennifer Brown 13 0. Reboundersr Pearce 7.4, Spom 7.3. Brisbane THE Bullets, with new coach Robert Wood and new stars Anne Robilllard and Sandy Brondello, could still be the finals dark horse.

Since a disastrous weekend In Can- berra they have won four on -1 the trot at home. Scorers: Anne RobiQiard 16.6, i Sandy Brondello 13 S. Rebounders: Trtna Roberts 10.9, RobiUiard 6 8. Bulleen THE Boomers, pre-season started poorly as they took time to absorb Caro-: lyn Watts, Sharon Simons, Gaylene McKay and Kate Cohen, much to the worry of By Stephen Howell- rTHE Women's National I Basketball League I ladder shows remark-able similarity to its male counterpart (see This week, next week'). After last night's games a couple of teams have a break and seem certain to make the playoffs.

Next come a log-jam of clubs fighting for the other playoff positions. And then there is a small group of also-rans. At the halfway mark of the WNBL season, one team is unbeaten (Melbourne East on 10-0); its main threat at this stage (Hobart) is on with Its only upset a surprise loss to Canberra In the ACT; Perth (7-4) and North Adelaide X.7-5) make up the A Just outside the top bracket are Brisbane and Melbourne, both on 6-5. Canberra is 7-6 and Melbourne Tigers 5-6. The Australian Institute of Sport (54) Is sUU In the running.

Last year the make-up of the playoff (our depended on the final round, and It could be "same Meanwhile, the following mid-term reports have been issued about each team Melbourne East THE Spectres, tipped by all to struggle this season, have gelled as a team despite losing Michele Tlmms and others. Coach Lori Chlzik Is delighted with the teamwork and dedication of a group thai is far more together this year with only two national team members and, therefore, far less disruption than last sea-son when there were five. Scorers: Samantha Thornton 222, Shelley Gorman J62. Rebounders: Thornton 12.2,' Hamilton 7.4. Hobart Zir'fS'rfi-'i: THE Islanders, runners-up for the past two seasons, are giving themselves a big chance to go all the way under new coach Jim Pappas.

Losing one KF (Kathy Foster) might have been, a death blow, but gaining another KF (Import Kim Foley from Melbourne) has ensured that It wasn't Karen Smith has also improved to national team standard and Robyn Maher is, well, Robyn Maher she has said it is her last season in Tasmania and will be determined to win another championship before she moves on. Scorers: Kim, Foley 17.1, i Robyn Maher 13.8, Karen Smith 12.1. it 1 us I' More than a handful: the Spectres' Bruce Bolden, soars above the Giants' Paul Matey. netm mn kemhs NORTH Melbourne Giants withstood a spirited second-half fightback by arch rivals Eastside Melbourne I Spectres at the Glasshouse last night to move back to sec- ond place on the National -Basketball League ladder. In a typically 'emotion-charged battle between the two heavyweights of Victorian basketball, the Giants held on to win 114-104 but not before Eastside's flurry.

When the Giants produced the first basket of the third term to lead by 25, the game appeared as good as over. But Eastside had other ideas, turning up its running', game, which resulted in a sue- cession of baskets to Bruce Bolden, Kent Lockhart and Scott Nlnnis. The Spectres had reduced the half-time deficit (65-42) to just eight points. (88-80) and were on a roll that threatened to blow the Giants apart But North Melbourne, after successive losses to Perth and Adelaide, withstood the pres-sure magnificently in the final term. At one stage, Eastside nar- rowed the -margin to five before the Giants once again i took it back to double figures.

But Bolden, whose outside -game has become a legitimate threat, nailed successive three-pointers in the final two minutes to reduce the lead to Once again, the Giants had -to summon alt their defensive intensity and they came up trumps as Eastside's brave challenge faltered. The Giants established their superiority in the first half through American star Scott Fisher, who finished with 29 points, 19 rebounds -and six assists. The Giants also cashed In on a first-half shooting percentage of; 54 compared with Eastside's paltry 32. While Eastside was certain- ly far from disgraced, the loss once again raised doubts about the Spectres' ability under pressure. More impor-tent, it dropped them from -fifth on the ladder to seventh with a 7-6 win-loss record.

THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK LADDER I 6 6 Finn vvHocsis 10, 1 MtHMMfiW QltMltS mm 9, MttMMfn TlfCfS minMmi Oold Cont RoHen Brlebene Bulletl Oaslong Super cata Eastside Melb Spectres .10, 7, 7, canoerra cannons Sydney Kings Adelaide 36ets Southern Melb Saints Hobart Devils Illawana Hawks Newcastle Falcons (Last night's games Included) 6, 6 6, 7 6, 7 4, 9 3,11 2,11 THIS WEEK -7V. rrlday night: Perth 1 16 (Grace 25, Vlahov 20) Sydney 107 (McClem 38, McCLary 15), Meiboume 1 14 (Gaze 41, Simmons 24, Colbert 19) Adelaide 108 (Corkeron 28. Davis 22, Bradtka22) Lett night: North Melbourne 114 (Fisher 29, Maley 22, Clarke 18, Leader 16, Bomer 16) Eastside 104 ,1 Trudi Hopgood 12.5. Rebounders: Fegent 9.6, Tra-cey Dyt 5.2. Melbourne THE Tigers have been a disappointment after Just missing the playoffs last season.

Import uncertainty has been the main problem original-: ly waiting for them to arrive, now settling In Marti Lelben-guth as Reglna Kirk goes. Only Jo Moyle has been a constant plus. Scorers: Jo Moyle 22.4,Ker ryn Henderson U.S. Rebounders: Moyle 9.0, Kirk 8.0. AIS THE Pumas have the young talent to beat anyone but probably not the maturity to win a spot In the playoffs.

Still, simply developing young players as it does makes the Institute a winner you will bear a lot more of a lot of these girls. Scorers: Trisha Fallon 16.2, Jodie Murphy 11.8.. Rebounders: Jenny Whittle ailon 7.7. Sydney THE Flames have struggled on court while winning plenty of publicity off It as part of the Wrublewskl-Kings stable. Import Jean McNulty going home has not helped.

Scorers: Annie Burgess 153, Karen Dalton 12.1. Rebounders: Dalton 8.9, McNulty 6.2. Adelaide City THE Tigers got a great boost with their win over North Adelaide, which shows that they will be nuisance value for the rest of the season. Scorerx Sue Collins 16.5, -Michelle Brogan 14.8. Rebounders: Brogan 7.6, Sue Becfeer6.6.viv West Adelaide THE Bearcats really are struggling, but they are at' home to Adelaide City today and get their best chance of the season to win -Scorers: Demetra Johnson 18.2.

Merrvn Jenkinson 11.4. Rebounders: Jenkinson 7.4. Mil nnH mam 01 vkhiw lui Newcastle 71 (Ryan 18), Kilsyth 86 (Nordstom25)dBroadmeado's81 (Shaw 14), Dandenong 108 (Days 28) Knox 64 (Rayment 18), Woodvtlle -68 (Bruce 14) Baysldo 57 (Jacobsen 22) Today; Sturt Bayskte. NEXT WEEK SwiUi CunhMrcnfi Friday: Dandenong Launceston, Bendlgo Hobart, Mt Gambler Adelaide Satardayi Shepparton Launceston, Knox Hobart, Bayslde Devonport Sunday: Kilsyth Launceston. Bulleen Devonport i East Conference Frtdayt West Sydney Sydney City, Broadmeadows Grafton Satardayt Ballarat Grafton, Afbuiy- tanday: North East Melbourne Grafton, Glppsland AIS, Nunawadlng Canberra i a Woman' Confaranc Friday: Broadmeadows Sturt, Knox Sydney City letmiteii fijtvlri Rwlniw PHv WoodVWavMtGajT.Daitdenongv Sturt Kilsyth Svdnev Cttv.

North coach Paul Deacon. Despite last night's setback, recent wins (and the overtime loss to i the Spectres last weekend) show that Bulleen is still a chance of living up to expectations, especially If recuperating point guard i. Cheryl Chambers (knee) can contribute. North Melbourne 114 (Fisher 29, Maley 22. Clarke 18.

Leader Borner 16) d. Eastside 104 (Bolden 33, Lockhart 25. Uthofl 13. Nlnnis 13, Lucas -K-iV; In Canberra, the Southern. Melbourne Saints crashed to.

a 51-polnt defeat, their blg- gest in the NBL the previous record being 45 against Eastside this season. Canberra 136 (Thomas 30. Atkinson 30, Smyth 20) d. Southern. Melbourne 85 (Stokes 26.

Tucker 19. Adams 11). At Carrara. Perth Wildcats 95 (Grace 25, Crawford 2S, Hansen 14) d. Gold Coast Rollers 69 (La 22.

Mitchell 20, Kuiper in Hobart, Hobart Tassle Devils' 114 (Reese 27, Engelstad 21. Dennis 18) d. Adelaide 36ers 112 (Davis 32. Hays 31, Corkeron, IS). THIS WEEK-- '-v.

Friday: Canberra 63 (Cheesman 16, Dyt 16) Sydney 61 (Burgess 12. Landon 10, Ward 10), Metooume 64 (Moyle 23, Heal 10) AIS 62 (Murphy 13, Fallon 12), Perth 73 (Tlmms 23, Massara 15) Adelaide Ctty 70 (Marsh 22, Becker 18) Lart nl Brisbane 74 (Brondello 22) Canberra 58 (Hopgood 13), Hobart 58 (Maher 23) AIS 54 (Whittle 18), North Adelaide 80 (Spom 20) Bulleen Melbourne 66 (McKay. 21)- Today: Melbourne East North Adelaide, West Adelaide Adelaide NEXT WEEK -1 Friday: AIS Perth, Hobart Brisbane Saturday: Melbourne Brisbane, Adelaide City Sydney, Canberra Perth, Bulleen Melbourne West Adelaide Sunday: Melbourne East West Adelaide, North Adelaide Sydney SOUTH CONFEREMCE LADDER I S. 2 KnexRaMara The match produced the biggest crowd in Melbourne this season with all but a handful of seats sold. "I was pleased with the way our guys kept their composure," said North Melbourne coach Bruce Palmer.

"We came out relaxed and played instinctively, which was important after our last two efforts." Eastside coach Brian Goor-jian was disappointed with the way his side performed in the first half. "We looked flat and was lacked, a lot of. intensity." (Bolden 33, Lockhart '13, Nlnnis 13), Canberra 136 (Thomas 30, Atkinson 30, Smyth 20) 'J' Southern Melbourne 85 (Stokes Tucker 19), Perth 95 (Grace 25, Crawford 25) Gold Coast 89 (La -Fleur 22, Mitchell 20), Hobart 114 (Reese 27, Engelstad 21, Dennis 18) Adelaide 112 (Davis 32, Hays 31, Corkeron 15). B)rr Bnsbane, Newcastle, lltawarra, Geekxig NEXT WEEK Friday; Southern Melbourne Eastside, Geekxig Brisbane Saturday; Perth Adelaide, Newcastle Sydney, Illawana Hobart, Melbourne Canberra, Gold Coast North Melbourne LADDER I 10, 0 10, 1 :7, 4 7, 6, 5 6. 5 7, 6 5.

6 5, 8 3, 8 2. 10 0,10 Melbourne East North AdelaMa Rockets Brisbane Bullets Bulleen Boomers Canberra Capitals Melbourne Tigers i AIS Pumas Sydney Flames Adelaide City Tigers West Adelaide Bearcats Bulleen Boorners 4 Hobart Hornets 8,, Adelaide 6, 5 Devonport Wanton 5, 7 Baystde Blues 6, 8 Bendlgo Braves 4, 8 Kilsyth Cobras 4, 8 Shepparton Giants 2, 10 WcodvWe Warriors 1.10 (Last night's games Included except tor WoodvHtev Adelaide) EAST CONFERENCE -LADDER I BeNnrat Mlnars ,10, 1 2 7. 4 8. 4 7. 6 i 6, 6 5, 6 Sydney Ctty Comet West Sydney Steamers KeNor Thunder Canberra Gunners Albury-Wodonga Bandits fit.

Meiboume Arrows 5, 7 Australian Institute of Sport 6,11 Glppsland Lakers 3, 10 3, 9 3,12 orarton vikings Newcastle Hunters (Last night's games Included) WOMEN'S CONFERENCE LADDER Dandanong Ranger I 0 Broadmeadows Broncos 2 Mt Gambler Lakers 1, 3 Newcastle Scorpions 1, 3 NW Tasmania Traders 1, .4 Sydney City Comets 1, 4 (Last night's games Included) -1. THIS WEEK Soatfi Conterenc Friday night: no games Last night WoodvWev Adelaide, Bendlgo 137 (Sanders 41, Beks 41) Shepparton 1 14 (Williams 43), Knox 104 (Howell 40) dDandenong 92 (Cooper 37), Bulleen 109 (Blair 30) Kilsyth 107(Enge39) Today: no games Bye Mt Gambler, Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, Bayskte East Conf eranc Friday rdght: Nunawadtng 124 (Delaveaga 41) AIS 100 (Blakemore'' 22), Ballarat 1 19 (Cooks 32) Grafton 101 (Hart 39) La night: Nurwwadlng 116 (Delaveaga 35) Canberra 92 (Monck 104 (Cooks 43) Newcastle 97 (Ramey 37), Keikx 121 (Epperson 33) Glppsland 116 (Glpson41) 'v Today: West Sydney Nunawadlng, Sydney City Ballarat, North East Meiboume Albury-Wodonga WOHMHl'S COflfWMIC Friday: Bayslde 78 (Barton 22) Mt. Gambler 68 (Nyklel 33) ajfawaiia Klltytiawk (Last night's gams Included) 1 1 3, 2 3, 3 1. 2 WoedvM Warriora Day aid Slua Knox Raiders Kilsyth Cobras Sturt Spartans LaunoMton Ocelots 9, Mt SaniMer Ptonaara DandanonS Rangers 4. West Tasmania Sturt.