BASKETBALL
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bathurst Goldminers have crept into third spot on the women’s State League Basketball division one table thanks to a 76-46 win over hosts Hawkesbury Jets on Saturday.
The big win has sent the Goldminers above the Coffs Harbour Suns and takes the Bathurst squad to a handy record of five wins from seven games.
Goldminers captain Teagan Burke was once again on target with a game-high 33 points.
Coach Jo Cafe said her depleted Goldminers side made the trip expecting a physical game.
“It was a physical game as we expected. They had a big squad too, with 12 players, and had three players from Penrith who were their strongest. I think they found it so difficult to match up with us because our bench was so strong,” she said.
“I think our fitness was the difference. Once they started subbing they found it difficult to keep up with us. Their better players had to start playing the extra minutes and it showed.
“We actually ended up taking just eight players over because Chelsea Noon couldn’t make it. I had Rachel [Murray] and Teagan [Burke] coughing along the way to the game but once they were on the court you wouldn’t have known.”
The Jets defence struggled to contain Laycee Covington-Gorst inside the key and Burke outside of it.
As a result Jets picked up 22 fouls to the Goldminers’ 13 and the Bathurst squad was able to get the hosts’ top scorer Taylah Cottees fouled out of the match.
Goldminers rarely looked troubled in their game as they built up their lead over the opening three quarters of the match.
They got out to a 30-point lead early in the fourth quarter and were able to maintain that margin as they cruised home to a comfortable win.
“Overall it was a really great game for everyone. I think Hawkesbury just lacked that experience. They’ve got a couple of older players there but you can tell a lot of the younger ones haven’t had much time playing at this level yet,” Cafe said.
“I think it’s going to take them a while to build up some consistency playing in this competition.”
BATHURST GOLDMINERS 76 (Teagan Burke 33, Laycee Covington-Gorst 11, Bronte Emanuel 9) defeated HAWKESBURY JETS 46 (Taylah Cottees 18, Danielle Schwarzer 11, Taylah Clark 10)