THE MELBOURNE Tigers hit their straps in the final term of their clash against the Casey Cavaliers in Round 15 of the Big V Youth Championship Women’s over the weekend, sneaking away with a four-point win.

The Tigers have been the team to beat throughout the 2025 season to date, entering the 15th round of action atop the standings with just two losses to their name. It meant the Cavaliers had a tall task on their hands, slowing down the best team the competition has seen this year, but Casey has put together a solid campaign itself.

Although the Cavaliers managed to keep the game close throughout the first three quarters, the Tigers showed why they are the title favourites in the fourth quarter, putting the foot down to defend Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

Melbourne Tigers (47) def. Casey Cavaliers (43)

The Tigers were unable to find their offensive groove to start the contest, being pressured defensively by the opposition and not finding scoring as easy as they had in the past. The Cavaliers had a clear mindset to make life extremely difficult for the opposition, and although their own offensive work was struggling as well, the visitors led 9-7 at the first change.

Both sides were more productive in the second quarter, finding a bit more success overall on the scoring front but still unable to break away. The lead changed hands on multiple occasions, but as the buzzer sounded for halftime, the Cavaliers still held a two-point buffer, which was an impressive feat against the championship heavyweights.

The third quarter was more of the same from the two sides, trading blows in back and forth action as the score remained extremely tight coming out of half time. Every time the Tigers looked like making a run, the Cavaliers had the ability to answer back, and still led by three points at the final change, in a promising position for an upset.

Although tamed for the first three quarters, the Tigers roared in the final 10 minutes of the contest, reminding everyone why they are the side to beat with an emphatic fourth period. In the final frame, Melbourne outscored the opposition 16-9 in the most one-sided patch of play for the contest, eventually holding on for a four-point triumph.

In a low-scoring affair, Tigers skipper Hayley Cumming was a huge factor in the match, proving the difference with the game on the line. She finished the match with 12 points and seven rebounds to be the only double-digit scorer for the victors.

On the other side, the Cavaliers were well-led by Katelyn Field, who was a huge part of the visitors being in the contest for the first three quarters. She led all comers for the match with 14 points, largely due to her work from behind the arc, where she shot 4/7.

Across the courts

Dandenong (70) def. McKinnon (62)
Kilsyth (94) def. Pakenham (35)
Waverley (58) def. by Keilor (81)
Diamond Valley (71) def. by Dandenong (81)
Pakenham (57) def. by Sandringham (90)
Casey (105) def. Bendigo (50)
Altona (99) def. Waverley (59)
Frankston (93) def. Nunawading (82)
Keilor (56) def. by Kilsyth (65)
Bulleen (48) def. by Ringwood (74)