AFTER a two-week break from the court, Melbourne United Victorian Junior Basketball League (MUVJBL) Under 18 Girls get back into the action on Friday night as the competition returns. There are plenty of games to keep an eye out on over the state as the mid-table logjam in both pools are about to get broken up.
Ashe Pool:
McKinnon Cougars (10th, 0-5) vs. Bulleen Boomers (2nd, 4-1)
Diamond Valley Eagles (5th, 3-2) vs. Southern Peninsula Sharks (6th, 3-2)
Kilsyth Cobras (4th, 3-2) vs. Dandenong Rangers (3rd, 3-2)
Nunawading Spectres (7th, 2-3) 2 vs. Frankston Blues (8th, 2-3)
Pakenham Warriors (9th, 0-5) vs. Knox Raiders (1st, 5-0)
In the Ashe Pool, three games feature teams that are next to each other on the table, with third placed Dandenong Rangers travelling to face fourth placed Kilsyth Cobras. The Cobras have lost their past two games after starting the season 3-0, so they are keen to bounce back. Diamond Valley Eagles host Southern Peninsula Sharks in a fifth versus sixth clash with opposite form lines coming into the match. The Eagles have also dropped the past two games after starting the season 3-0, while the Sharks have won their past two matches. In the other mid-table game, Nunawading Spectres 2 take on Frankston Blues in an eight versus ninth match. Frankston have won two on the trot since losing their first three, and will leapfrog the Spectres with a win. In the remaining two games, the top two sides take on the bottom two sides in what is predicted to be one-sided contests. Bulleen Boomers have won four consecutive games since losing in Round 1 and are expected to continue that against the winless McKinnon Cougars, while Pakenham Warriors are searching for their first win, while their opponents, Knox Raiders will not be searching for their first loss and keen to take care of business in that match-up.
Watson Pool:
Bendigo Braves (4th, 3-2) vs. Geelong Supercats (2nd, 4-1)
Altona Gators (1st, 5-0) vs. Dandenong Rangers 2 (8th, 2-3)
Broadmeadows Broncos (5th, 3-2) vs. Nunawading Spectres (6th, 2-3)
Keilor Thunder (7th, 2-3) vs. Hawthorn Magic (3rd, 3-1-1)
Melbourne Tigers (9th, 0-4-1) vs. Warrandyte Venom (10th, 0-5)
In the Watson Pool, Melbourne Tigers and Warrandyte Venom are the only sides without a win, and one of them could achieve that when they go head-to-head in Round 6. Melbourne actually drew against third placed Hawthorn Magic in Round 5 so have some form heading into the break. Speaking of the Magic, they hope to bounce back with all the points against seventh placed Keilor Thunder, who will want to jump past a few teams ahead of them. One of those teams that wants to move past the Thunder is Dandenong Rangers 2 who will have trouble stopping an undefeated Altona Gators side. At the top of the ladder, second placed Geelong Supercats are ready to pounce if the Gators slip up, but they cannot afford to take their fourth placed opponents, Bendigo Braves lightly, given the Braves have scored 20 points more than them. The Supercats are on a four-game winning streak so take great form into the match. In the other clash, fifth placed Broadmeadows Broncos take on sixth placed Nunawading Spectres with the winning side able to grab a top four spot after Round 6.
