AFTER a two-week break, all 20 teams in the Melbourne United Victorian Junior Basketball League (MUVJBL) Under 16 Girls are back into the action. For some teams they went into the break with a long-awaited win, while for others, they have not been able to break a losing streak which they will hopefully do refreshed and ready to go in Round 6.
Ashe Pool:
Waverley Falcons (7th, 2-3) vs. Hawthorn Magic (9th, 1-4)
Diamond Valley Eagles (2nd, 4-1) vs. Ballarat Rush (3rd, 4-1)
Dandenong Rangers (1st, 5-0) vs. Keilor Thunder (4th, 3-2)
Kilsyth Cobras (8th, 1-4) vs. Ringwood Hawks (6th, 2-3)
Sunbury Jets (10th, 0-5) vs. Bellarine Storm (5th, 3-2)
In the Ashe Pool, the rampaging Dandenong Rangers are yet to lose and will be tested against fourth placed Keilor Thunder. The Thunder are the only top six team coming off a loss in Round 5 and will be keen to make up the ground lost from the defeat. It will not be easy though, as the Rangers have the most points for and the second least points against. Alongside that clash is the massive second versus third duel between Diamond Valley Eagles and Ballarat Rush. Both sides are 4-1 for the season with the Eagles having won their past three games and Rush their past two. Kilsyth Cobras hope to break their three-game losing streak when they take on sixth placed Ringwood Hawks at home, while Hawthorn Magic have lost four on the trot since a Round 1 win, but are only a win behind their opponents, seventh placed Waverley Falcons. In the other match, Sunbury Hawks sit bottom of the table without a win and by far the lowest percentage, something they hope can change now they are refreshed, taking on fifth placed Bellarine Storm this round.
Watson Pool:
Bendigo Braves (6th, 3-2) vs. Nunawading Spectres (4th, 3-2)
Altona Gators (10th, 1-4) vs. Southern Peninsula Sharks (7th, 1-4)
Melbourne Tigers (5th, 3-2) vs. Eltham Wildcats (8th, 1-4)
Sandringham Sabres (3rd, 3-2) vs. Knox Raiders (2nd, 4-1)
Bulleen Boomers (1st, 5-0) vs. Frankston Blues (9th, 1-4)
In the Watson Pool, by far the match of the round is third placed Sandringham Sabres taking on second placed Knox Raiders. The Sabres won their third game last round in what has been a yo-yo season for them thus far, while Knox dropped its first game to top-of-the-table Bulleen and hope to bounce back and gain some breathing space on the Sabres. The undefeated Boomers mathematically have an easier match-up, going head-to-head with ninth placed Frankston Blues, however the Blues are fresh off their first win of the year. Cellar dwellers, Altona Gators also won their first game of the season last round and will look to make it two on the trot against Southern Peninsula Sharks in this game. A match which is ladder-defining at this point in the season is sixth placed Bendigo Braves hosting fourth placed Nunawading Spectres with both sides keen to avenge their loss in Round 5. Right in between those two teams is Melbourne Tigers who face eighth placed Eltham Wildcats in the final game of the pool.
