BULLEEN Boomers and McKinnon Cougars could provide a pre-finals showcase in the highlight of Round 18 of the Big V Championship Women’s division. The second placed Boomers host the third placed Cougars on Sunday in what is both side’s final matches of the regular season. The Boomers also have a game tomorrow against the last placed Southern Peninsula Sharks and will be expected to win that, while the Cougars need to win to lock up third spot focusing purely on the Sunday fixture.

Bulleen Boomers sit two wins behind Wyndham with the two matches remaining, though with Wyndham playing bottom two side Chelsea Gulls, it is expected the top of the table side will finish on 18 wins. The Boomers cannot drop out of the top two given the Cougars only have the one remaining spot, but they would like to finish on a high given the possibility of facing the Cougars in the first week of finals.

McKinnon Cougars are third currently with a 13-7 record, but are in danger of dropping to fourth given Sunbury has two games for Round 18. The Jets take on fifth placed Hume City Broncos and sixth placed Pakenham Warriors, and back-to-back wins will allow the Jets to overtake the Cougars if McKinnon drops its match to Bulleen. If the Cougars win or Sunbury lose, McKinnon will grab third spot on the table and play Bulleen again the following week.

Bulleen Boomers have a trio of consistent performers in Olivia Bontempelli, Louella Tomlinson and Annabel Deerbon. Bontempelli leads her side in points with 17.1, while also amassing 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 2.7 assists in season 2022. Tomlinson has provided that big body off the boards, with a massive 2.9 blocks and 9.8 rebounds per game to accompany her 13.9 points and 4.38 assists. Deerbon is the third standout with 11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

McKinnon Cougars are a side that is very capable off the boards, and one that shares the points around. Four players average at least eight points and five rebounds per match, lead by Morgan Ili (13.5 points, 6.7 rebounds). Ili also has 2.5 steals and 2.2 assists per game, with Claire Ioannidis the best passer in the side thanks to her 4.2 assists, 12.2 points and 3.3 rebounds. Emily Suckling (13.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists) is more than capable across the board, while Jacinta Vandenberg (8.4 points, 9.0 rebounds) is leading the rebounds at the club.

Aside from the Boomers other clash with Southern Peninsula Sharks and the Sunbury Jets doubling up against Hume City and Pakenham Warriors, top of the table Wyndham face seventh placed Chelsea Gulls tomorrow at home. Though there are five games remaining in the regular season, the finalists are set, with Wyndham to take home the minor premiership.

BIG V CHAMPIONSHIP WOMEN’S ROUND 18 FIXTURES:

Saturday, July 30:

Southern Peninsula Sharks vs. Bulleen Boomers @ Hillview Stadium
Hume City Broncos vs. Sunbury Jets @ Broadmeadows Basketball Stadium
Wyndham vs. Chelsea Gulls @ Eagle Stadium

Sunday, July 31:

Bulleen Boomers vs. McKinnon Cougars @ East Doncaster Secondary College
Pakenham Warriors vs. Sunbury Jets @ Cardinia Life