IF IT was not already clear, Melbourne Tigers further established why they are the team to beat in the Big V Women’s Youth Championship after a dominant 29-point victory on the road against Waverley Falcons in a top of the table Anzac Day clash.

The Tigers notched another two wins over the weekend – including a 55-point obliteration of battling Bulleen Boomers – but it was Melbourne’s comprehensive 79-50 triumph over the second placed Falcons that made the rest of the competition take note. The Falcons had only dropped one game coming into the match, and after the weekend slipped to 6-2, while the Tigers continued to roar at 7-0.

It was a complete four-quarter performance from the ladder leaders, winning each of the terms and getting stronger as the game went on. After a four-point lead at quarter time, the Tigers had more than doubled it to nine points at the main break, and had silenced the crowd heading for home in the second half with a one-sided 40-20 half. In the end, the Tigers made every post a winner and were too strong for the talented Falcons.

The match was another even contribution across the board for the Tigers, as five players hit double-digit points. Skipper Leila Davis notched up a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds as well as four steals, while Meera Coburn (18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks) was huge.

Josie Agnew (14 points, three rebounds) and Tayli Dimarco (14 points, three assists and three steals) provided support, with Neve Giddey coming off the bench to score 10 points and pull in six rebounds in just 15 minutes on court.

By contrast, Waverley largely relied on the scoring of Chrisy Triantafyllopoulos (17 points, 13 rebounds) who was a one-person show, though she did get some relief from Anika Stehbens who continued her fine form with 12 points and three rebounds. Paige Rigoni (eight points, six rebounds) was the other scorer of note.

In Melbourne’s 55-point shellacking of Bulleen, Davis put up 18 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals in just 25 minutes, while Hayley Cumming (20 points, four steals, three assists and two rebounds) and Agnew (21 points, five assists, four steals and two rebounds) were also influential. Just one Boomer – Tahlia Leeson – hit double-figure points with 12, as well as six rebounds and two steals in a tough game for the home side.

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