LIAM DURKIN
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<vsn:15.1><pstyle:Body copy>BASKETBALL
CBL
By LIAM DURKIN
ROUND 6 of the Country Basketball League saw Traralgon get some separation in the top two by defeating Churchill.
The T-Birds were too strong for the Blue Devils last Saturday, winning 107-74 at the Gippsland Regional Sports Stadium.
Traralgon broke the game open in the first quarter, putting up 26 points to 13, and led at every change thereafter.
Every T-Bird got in the scoring column as the baskets flowed. Christian D’Angelo led the way with 20 points, followed closely by Ben Barlow who scored 19.
Andrew Petrou did his best for Churchill, displaying that same workmanlike quality that has seen him become a consistent performer for the Maffra Football-Netball Club in winter, tipping in 18 points.
Traralgon kept the good times rolling the next day, driving home from Korumburra victorious.
The T-Birds had a hard fought 108-92 win, led by Frazar Brouns who shot 26 points.
CHURCHILL didn’t get to experience the same joy over the weekend, going down to Maffra 83-67.
Playing at home, the Blue Devils were able to work their way into the game after trailing by five points at quarter time, however, a third term fadeout in which the Eagles scored 24 points to 14 proved costly.
Ryan Canovan led the Churchill scoring with 15.
MOE was in action on Sunday against Wonthaggi.
The Meteors won 73-66 on their home court to stay inside the top four on the competition ladder.
Harry Pepper led the scoring with 17.
OTHER results from the weekend saw Sale go 50/50 with a 73-49 win against Lakes Entrance on Saturday, and a 72-46 loss to top side Warragul on Sunday.
The Warriors remain undefeated heading into the penultimate round of the season.
This Saturday sees Moe travel to Lakes Entrance, Traralgon host Sale and Korumburra play Wonthaggi.
On Sunday, the T-Birds are back in action, taking on Warragul in a battle of the top-two teams. Churchill plays Wonthaggi at home in a must win game and Maffra welcomes Korumburra.
WOMEN’S local basketball was highlighted by a one point thriller between Moe and Maffra on Saturday.
The Meteors took the points in heart stopping fashion, winning 47-46 on their home court.
Moe led 21-15 at the main break, before the Eagles took the ascendency in the third, almost doubling their opponents effort, shooting 15 points to eight.
With scores 29-30 at the final change, Moe found enough in the last stanza to put up 18 points to 16 to take the game by the barest of margins.
Carly Wood and Libby Hunter each shot 11 points for the victors. Emerson Connolly did the same for Maffra.
The Meteors then played Wonthaggi the following day, but couldn’t quite bridge the gap, going down 48-57 at home.
Just one point separated the teams at three quarter time, but the visitors brushed Moe aside in the last, shooting 12 points to four.
Libby Hunter scored 11 points for the Meteors.
TRARALGON had an easy win over Wonthaggi at home on Saturday.
The T-Birds were rarely challenged, winning 85-47.
A huge third quarter saw Traralgon score 29 points, which was followed by 24 in the last. Samantha Labros had a day out, scoring 28 points.
The T-Birds made it two wins in as many days when they defeated Korumburra on Sunday.
Momentum ebbed and flowed throughout the match, which was befitting of a contest between teams ranked one and two on the ladder, but in the end it was Traralgon that found enough to win 74-67.
Labros again led the scoring, this time with 22.
OTHER results saw Sale defeat Lakes Entrance by three points on Saturday at the Gippsland Regional Sports Complex.
Traralgon remains 10 points clear on top of the ladder, with Korumburra and Moe behind.
Moe travels to Lakes Entrance this Saturday, while Traralgon has the bye. Korumburra and Wonthaggi meet on Saturday and will then play Sale and Maffra respectively on Sunday.
