You wouldn’t have had to wait for nightfall to go stargazing in Shepparton on Saturday.
Deakin Reserve had a wealth of blindingly-talented players hit the court during the 2.15pm timeslot as Shepparton knocked Mooroopna off its perch at the top of the ladder by 19 goals.
The Bears, featuring Victorian Netball League (VNL) talents Jane Cook, Kim Borger and new inclusion Sophie Hanrahan, took on the likes of college basketball headliners Shelby Britten and Ella Ogier in a game which may repeat come finals time.
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On guard: Shepparton’s Madelyn Gray. Photo by Megan FisherImage 2 of 8
In her grasp: Mooroopna’s Shelby Britten. Photo by Megan FisherImage 3 of 8
On the scan: Shepparton’s Tanner Edwards. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 8
Locking it down: Mooroopna’s Maddison Wong. Photo by Megan FisherImage 5 of 8
Go for the jugular: Shepparton’s Jane Cook. Photo by Megan FisherImage 6 of 8
Ticking over: Shepparton’s Ella Sidebottom. Photo by Megan FisherImage 7 of 8
Battle for the ages: Shepparton’s Jane Cook andMooroopna’s Maddison Wong. Photo by Megan FisherImage 8 of 8
Barking instructions: Mooropona’s Asha Gray. Photo by Megan FisherWith a host of defenders out through injury, Shepparton coach Tracey Brereton applauded her side’s resilience in a tight-fisted clash.
“In terms of the girls’ performance, Mooroopna are one of the benchmark teams and to think we probably held pace and kept the game in control I was pretty happy,” Brereton said.
“The margin doesn’t represent what the game was ― it felt a lot closer than 20-odd goals.
“It was quite an intense game, then you add the rain in and it changes it again. It’s not really about all these coaching tactics, it’s about hanging on to the ball and concentrating.
“I was proud that we could chuck out a lot of different combinations and still get the same result.”
Shepparton was light on in the defensive department heading into the game against first-ranked Mooroopna, enlisting the services of 2022 VNL division one most-valuable-player Hanrahan in goal keeper.
She fastened the clamps inside Mooroopna’s goaling circle, while Cook and Ella Sidebottom were busy at the other end aiding the Bears to a 12-8 buffer at the first break.
Then Borger entered the fold.
An ex-Melbourne Vixen, Borger teamed up with Cook to supply the towering presence with a further 14 goals, while Ash Lancaster and Ogier matched their own first quarter efforts for the scoreboard to sit at 30-16 by the half.
Shepparton kept the rotations rolling as the rain pelted down on the asphalt, but a key match-up remained as Bree Robinson, playing her 200th club game, used all her defensive guile to try and best Britten in wing attack for Mooroopna.
A 17-goal third stanza from Shepparton then ripped the game from out of the Cats’ reach, though Mooroopna pushed back to win the final term 11-9.
Hanrahan was bestowed a special accolade for best-on-court during the Indigenous round barnburner, catching the eye of Brereton in the 52-33 victory.
“You couldn’t go past Sophie Hanrahan, she was outstanding, a quality player and lovely girl, she just reads the ball, has a crack and I think she fitted into our team really well,” she said.
“I was also really impressed with our young kids, Eliza Bicknell and Caitlyn Tuohey, they played a really important role for us.
“They were so composed when they came on, you wouldn’t think they were juniors.”
The complexity of the top four changes completely in the wash-up of round 12, with Euroa sliding into pole position after polishing off Benalla 70-16.
Seymour moves into third after its 33-goal beating of Mansfield, while Echuca trails the Lions by two points as it overcame Tatura 38-22 in greasy conditions.
Lastly, Rochester and Kyabram split the points with the final score reading 32-all at Moon Oval.