ROUND two of the junior season brought a thrilling win to the Warriors’ Under 16 Boys Gold side while the Under 20 Men were convincing winners.
The Under 16 Boys Blue had a solid win while the Under 14 Boys won an entertaining game.
WOMEN
Playing Melbourne University at Coburg the Warriors were missing players and Alison Neil played to make up the starting five and worked hard in defence.
The game was tight all the way and the Warriors up 2423 at halftime.
The lead changed many times, but in the end not having substitutes on the bench took its toll on the Warriors and University edged ahead in the final minutes to win by four points.
Natalie Sallai (17 points) was outstanding under the boards with help from Liesl Holmes (nine points) while guards Laura (12) and Gemma Craven (10) hit some clean shots.
The Warriors remained confident that with a full squad they would be competitive in Premier League this season.
Scores: Melbourne University 52 d Warriors 48.
UNDER 20 MEN
The Warriors travelled to Eltham and began strongly, scoring the first three goals of the game.
At halftime the Warriors were up 3223.
The side lost its way at the beginning of the second half and fillin coach Gary Hart called a time out and got the players settled and they never looked back.
The team also welcomed back Justin Vaux.
Scores: Warriors 61 d Eltham 47.
UNDER 16 GIRLS
The Warriors travelled to Frankston and from the outset struggled to run their offence.
The Blues, playing a fierce style of basketball, were fouling heavily but Pakenham was unable to make them pay by sinking foul shots.
The halftime score was Pakenham 8 to Frankston 18.
In the second half the Warriors improved with good rebounding and tighter defence but were unable to make up the deficit.
Scores: Frankston Blues 40 d Warriors 22.
UNDER 16 BOYS GOLD
Playing at home against Knox 4, Pakenham made a confident start led by Nathan Page and James Bridgett, who scored eight points each.
Tom Lorimer made the most of his opportunities, adding four points, and goals by Chris Williams, Steven Luxford and Zach Money sent Pakenham into the second half with a narrow 2620 lead.
In the second half a determined Knox fought hard to make up the deficit.
Tight defence by Knox, combined with Pakenham’s foul trouble, allowed Knox to challenge for the lead.
Money worked hard for his six points.
James Bridgett’s five points, along with baskets by Page, Luxford and Justin Smaluch were just enough to enable Pakenham to hold on to win by a point
Scores: Warriors 43 d Knox 42.
UNDER 16 BOYS BLUE
The Warriors hosted the Mornington Breakers and came away with another hardfought victory.
The Warriors started slowly and could not find a steady rhythm until Dale O’Callaghan broke free from some good defence by the Breakers to quickly add five points.
This seemed to settle the Warriors, who started to take control.
Threepointers by James Flannery and Jake Heyen closed the first half with the Warriors leading 2215.
In the second half Jason Budge and Daniel Jeavons exerted their authority on the game by adding 14 points between them and dominated the rebounding at both ends of the court.
Andrew Rigby and James Dobson each finished with two points each and when Jackson Fromhold landed a threepointer and backed that up with a highspeed layup, the Breakers’ fate was sealed.
Scores: Warriors 52 d Mornington Breakers 32.
UNDER 14 BOYS
Against Nunawading Spectres the game started at a furious pace and the Warriors played solid defence, forcing turnovers that turned into scoring opportunities.
Brendan Gillen (19 points) moved the ball up the court quickly, making the matchup on Sean Armstrong difficult for the opposition.
Armstrong made the most of his opportunities in the first half for 15 of his 17 points.
Joey Sweeney and Matt Jeavons played solid defence and chipped in for four points each and the Warriors were up 3222.
In the second half Nunawading shut down Armstrong, which allowed Gillen to drive and score 14 points for the half, Mark Nicosia and Adam Young, while playing great defensive games, contributed two each.
First gamers Tim Millier and Ashley Beck worked hard in defence and Millier finished off his hard work driving into the key well with four points.
Both Jeavons and Armstrong fouled out in the last minutes of the game but the Warriors won comfortably.
Scores: Warriors 56 d Nunawading Spectres 47.
