The Country Basketball League has tipped off, with both the men’s and women’s Shepparton Gators getting the ball bouncing over the weekend away from home.
The men handled the Wangaratta Warriors comfortably, cruising to an 82-49 victory on Saturday, October 7.
They edged ahead in the first two quarters before turning an eight-point half-time lead into a 30-point demolition with a dominant second-half performance.
Big V Gators guard Tom Frame lit it up from outside, his three three-pointers setting the tone in his 13-point outing.
Jack Threlfall chipped in with an all-around performance, getting points at the bucket, from the free throw line and outside to rack up 15.
Riley Onley led all scorers with 16, making the paint his own and scoring at will at the rim.
This Sunday, October 15, they will travel to Wallan to take on the Panthers at 3pm.
Also on Saturday, the women’s Gators fell to the Albury Cougars 104-46.
The young side (many of whom were making their debut for the Gators) struggled to keep up with a much more experienced Albury, who torched them from the perimeter.
Cougars player Timeeka Coleman poured in a stunning seven three-pointers on her way to 33 points.
Janaya Pettie was a shining light for the Gators with 12, forcing the issue with a chorus of driving layups and capitalising on her foul shots.
Despite the defeat, Shepparton finished on a high note, tallying up a team-high 18 points in the final quarter.
They will also take on the Wallan Panthers this Sunday at 1pm.