MCKINNON Cougars have sent a message to the rest of the Victorian Junior Basketball League Under 18 Girls competition with a commanding 90-32 domination of Westgate in Round 2 on Friday night. The Cougars lit up the league at Bentleigh Secondary College, piling on 78 points across the first three quarters before capping off the night with a 58-point triumph.

The damaging duo of Meg Cooper and Daisy Nousis shared the load with 27 points apiece in the demolition, as McKinnon won all four quarters fairly convincingly. However despite the scoreline, credit has to go for the gallant Westgate side who fought hard defensively in the final term by only conceding 12 points, while also showing some offensive flair in the second with 18.

Unfortunately aside from that last quarter, Westgate conceded scores of 27, 27 and 24 across the first three quarters to be 30 points down at half-time and 51 down by the final break. While Cooper and Nousis were the main scorers, Maia Mottram chipped in with 12 points, while Clea Clark and Adrienne Ho managed the seven apiece.

Mikayla Stasey tried hard for Westgate putting up 13 of her side’s 32 points in the loss, while Chiara Sultana (seven), Niamh McHardy (six) and Marnie Rowe (six) were the other scorers. The result brought the team back to earth after a spirited win over Sandringham Sabres’ second side at Braybrook the week before, while for McKinnon, it was easier viewing than the Cougars’ five-point win over Casey in Round 1.

McKinnon’s main threat to the title at least from the VC Ashe group is the top ranked Sandringham Sabres side, after a similar demolition job over Frankston at home, 86-31. While their second side went down by 40 points up at Keilor against the Thunder, the top ranked team ran out 55-point victors. Madeline Angus (17 points), Makayla Craven (15), Madison Ryan (15) and Dakota Ibbott (14) all put up big numbers on the night.

In the other two results, Casey Cavaliers bounced back from that heartbreaking loss to McKinnon last round to post a nail-biting one-point victory over Melbourne Tigers at home, while Eltham Wildcats took home the points against Surf Coast with a 60-36 win.

In the VC Watson grade, Dandenong Rangers made light work of Melbourne’s second side with an 87-22 victory. The Rangers were one of three sides to top the 80-point figure as Geelong United defeated Bendigo Spirit 85-52 and Kilsyth Cobras took out Casey’s second term, 81-62. In the other two matches, Bulleen Boomers won in a 52-48 thriller over Diamond Valley, and Nunawading Spectres toppled Ballarat Miners, 65-55.