THE MELBOURNE Tigers have defended home court advantage well, defeating the Bulleen Boomers by 11 points in the Big V Youth Championship Women’s competition at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Saturday afternoon.

The competition had a week off for the long weekend, but returned over the past few days with the clash between the Tigers and Boomers kicking off the action for the round. Melbourne has been the best side in it throughout the 2025 season, and came into the match as heavy favourites, especially considering Bulleen had won just four of its 16 clashes.

Although the Boomers put up an admirable fight, the Tigers were simply too much for the visitors, claiming a double-digit win to remain championship favourites.

Melbourne Tigers (73) def. Bulleen Boomers (62)

The Tigers started the match like a side on top of the standings, proving a class above the Boomers in the opening 10 minutes to truly snatch control of the match and put proceedings on their terms. With their offence as potent as ever, Melbourne took a 10-point buffer into the first changed and showed the Boomers exactly why it is the side to beat.

It was a strong response from Bulleen in the second term, putting the foot down defensively to restrict the Tigers to just 13 points for the quarter. Although the Boomers could only manage 16 points themselves, the deficit was cut down to seven points at the main change and most importantly, they remained in the game.

The third quarter again saw the Boomers continue to scrap their way into the match, remaining within striking distance of the Tigers coming out of half-time and made the game contested through the penultimate frame. With the margin sitting at six points at the final change, the Boomers were still in it, but the class and talent of the Tigers continued to linger around the match.

Melbourne’s true form came out in the last frame, with the Tigers getting back to their best when the game was on the line. The home side snuffed out any hope of a comeback from the visitors, and cruised home to an 11-point triumph in fitting fashion.

Tigers star Leila Davis was immense for the victors, proving a force to be reckoned with in the paint and dropping a huge double-double of 20 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block for the match in a heroic effort. The company of Hayley Cumming (15 points), Josie Agnew (15 points) and Tayli Dimarco (14 points) all proved influential as well.

For the Boomers, Sarah Dorrington was the best, dropping a double-double of her own by pouring in 12 points and 11 rebounds, as did Hayley Letts, who finished the contest with 10 points and 13 rebounds as the duo proved crucial in the middle periods of the match.

ACROSS THE COURTS

Sandringham (66) def. Keilor (62)
McKinnon (80) def. Ringwood (77)
Nunawading (51) def. by Altona (73)
Pakenham (52) def. by Waverley (74)
Altona (107) def. Pakenham (61)
Bendigo (41) def. by Sandringham (82)
Dandenong (70) def. by Casey (77)
Kilsyth (84) def. Nunawading (49)
Diamond Valley (84) def. Bulleen (69)
McKinnon (69) def. Frankston (56)