Sport
5 November, 2024
Blazers enjoy stellar weekend run
An unbelievable weekend of action yielded two wins from three games for the Maryborough Blazers.
Top of the agenda was Mary-borough’s men pulling out an incredible victory against Bendigo in a game where they trailed by as many as 19 points, before launching a comeback bid which ignited the home crowd at the Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre.
Bendigo got out to an early nine-point lead midway through the first term before the Blazers settled, going on an 11-0 run, with Ollie McCarthy, Brady Neill and Bailey Jacobs doing the damage, before Bendigo eventually finished the quarter leading by two points, 20-18.
Maryborough were putting up a good level of effort, and their interior defence was telling. In particular, it was the likes of Matt Johnston and Tyson Iglesias who were cutting off passing lanes and clamping their opponents, which allowed the Blazers to stay in the game.
In a tight second quarter, Bendigo cleared away late with seven of the last eight points to move seven points clear at the main break, 44-37.
The first six minutes of the third quarter was all Bendigo as they went on an 18-6 run to look winners as they moved 19 points clear.
However, Maryborough soon saw fit to tear up whatever script was being written as, out of nowhere, they found their shot and roared back into the game.
It was the three-point shooting of McCarthy which ignited Maryborough, as they closed to within six points before a late foul allowed Bendigo to lead 64-56 at the final change.
For much of the first three minutes of the final term, it still looked as though Bendigo had all the answers, but inexplicably, the Braves would fall into foul trouble, sending the Blazers to the line thanks to their ability to get into the paint, and it yielded 13 straight points.
Suddenly, it was the Blazers ahead by five as they turned for home with five minutes left.
In a frantic finish, the Braves went on a 7-0 run to snatch back the lead, before Jacobs soon turned the game on its head for one last time with a gigantic splash from three-point land, before following up his own shot to give the Blazers a three-point cushion.
They would keep it.
It was a memorable victory, not least after turning around a 35-point loss in their last meeting, and one which sees them still in the hunt for a finals berth.
In an even performance, Jacobs would score 17 points, Lachlan Drummond 16, Neill 15, McCarthy 11 and Johnston 10.
Not to be outdone, the Lady Blazers kept their slim chances of finals alive with a strong 26-point victory over Swan Hill on Sunday.
A dominant start from the Lady Blazers allowed them to dictate the pace of play, going on a quick 11-3 run where they were able to drive to the paint with ease, while also forcing the Flyers into settling for outside shots.
Indeed, it was a case of Swan Hill literally living and dying by the three — their only three shots of the quarter they hit coming from beyond the arc.
Meantime, Faith McKenzie and Maddy Egan’s size meant they would be eating alive the Flyers in the paint, allowing the Lady Blazers to open up a 19-9 lead at the opening change.
The second quarter was utter dominance from the Lady Blazers as they made scoring in the paint look like a cakewalk.
This time, Aislinn McCarthy was getting in on the act, scoring 14 points for the quarter to help assist Egan and McKenzie’s dominance, while Demi Thompson was also scoring with ease.
The result saw Maryborough go on a tear, leading by as much as 27 thanks to a 26-9 run, before settling on a 46-22 lead at the main break.
To Swan Hill’s credit, they asked plenty of questions in the third term and did what they were unable to throughout the entirety of the first half, in being able to create their own shot within the arc.
As a result, the Flyers were able to win the quarter, reducing the margin to 21 by three-quarter-time, 47-68.
But it was the Lady Blazers’ day as they took control once again in the final quarter, ensuring they would have a little bit of a percentage boost on top of moving off the bottom of the ladder, taking a 91-65 victory.
McCarthy had a great outing, finishing with 25 points, while McKenzie (20 points), Egan (19 points) and Keisha Tonzing (14 points) also contributed heavily.
It was a result that was much-needed after a second-quarter Bendigo barrage the night before meant that the Lady Blazers went down by 29 points.
In a competitive opening term, it was a high-scoring affair as the Lady Blazers kept in touch with a full-strength Bendigo lineup, with the Braves leading 30-25.
But the second quarter was all the Braves as they utilised some impressive three-point shooting to allow them to take complete control of the game, going on a 30-9 run to make it a 26-point lead at the main break, 60-34.
The Lady Blazers fought hard in the third quarter, and were able to reduce the margin to 24 points on a couple of occasions, yet Bendigo just had all the answers, and led 87-57 at the final change.
The final term was bucket-for-bucket as they ran out time, with the Lady Blazers winning the quarter by a point in what was a better second half.
McKenzie again showcased her scoring, finishing with 21 points, while Tonzing and McCarthy scoring 15 each and Egan 12.
Maryborough will now have a double-header as their final home games for the season, with clashes against Swan Hill and Mildura pivotal in both men’s and women’s chances of making the finals.