Sport
17 October, 2025
Lady Blazers aim to continue fast start this weekend
The Maryborough Lady Blazers will aim to build from an outstanding opening to their 2025 campaign with an away double header this weekend.
After starting their season with victories against the Bacchus Marsh Lions and the Macedon Ranges Rockies at home, Maryborough will first travel up to Mildura to play the Heat on Saturday night before facing the Swan Hill Flyers on Sunday.
Following their tight round one defeat to the Rockies, Mildura responded emphatically last week with a 30-point win against the Castlemaine Cannons.
On the contrary, Swan Hill opened its season with a nail-biting one-point triumph against the Rockies last Saturday, which was slightly dampened last Sunday when they were forced to forfeit their match against the Cannons.
Even with a bye in round two, the Blazers remain atop the CBL North West Women division, with many positives coming from their first two games under new player-coach Millie Cracknell.
After allowing the second-most points in the competition last season, Maryborough’s defence suffocated Bacchus Marsh to just 46 points, the lowest score they have conceded since November 12, 2023.
The Blazers followed that up by allowing just 50 points versus the Rockies, as their opponents didn’t score more than 15 points in a quarter.
Cracknell was a pest on the perimeter in both games, swiping several steals that caught her opponents off guard and set up multiple transition baskets for her teammates.
Maggie Tranter was another key component to Maryborough’s improved defence, a Swiss army knife who can hold players on the perimeter and effectively defend the interior.
Team rebounding was also a strength throughout their season-opening double header, something the Blazers will be keen to continue during round three.
On offence, Aislinn McCarthy was virtually unstoppable, an early frontrunner in league scoring with 51 points in her first two games, including a league best six three pointers.
McCarthy wasn’t the only offensive threat the Blazers possessed, led by Cracknell running the offence smoothly with deft passing and ability to create her own buckets. Brandy Santon impressed with her three-level scoring in her Blazers return, while Tranter, Brodie Hillier and Rhylie Jones added valuable scoring that kept their opponents hands full.
Maryborough’s offence was firing on all cylinders against Swan Hill last season, averaging 93 points in their two wins versus the Flyers.
Those two victories kept Maryborough in the finals hunt in 2024, before they were officially eliminated by the Mildura Heat 54-47, something the Blazers will be keen to rectify this Saturday.