The Mermaids shrugged off early foul trouble to win 73-38 at St Joseph’s Primary School – less than 24 hours after falling seven points short of Mount Gambier.

Warrnambool coach Louise Brown said the Mermaids, with teenage guard Annie O’Brien in form with a team-high 16 points, had the Wildcats’ measure after the main break.

“The first quarter was woeful – there were four tech fouls called, all on us,” she said.

“The whole first half was very slow and they were kept in it by foul shots.

“After half-time the girls responded well and adjusted to the way the game was called. 

“We started running and scoring baskets in transition and we kept them to 14 points in the second half, so that was very promising.”

Brown said the Mermaids put in a strong performance against the Lakers on Saturday night.

Veteran guard Renee Tuck, who hurt her hamstring against the Wildcats, top-scored with 20 points in a low-scoring 57-50 game.

“It (the loss) was a little bit disappointing because in the first half we controlled the game,” Brown said.

“In the second half they played a lot better and we fatigued a bit and in fatigue made poor decisions.”

A standout Lachlan Rhook performance helped Warrnambool Seahawks shake off a plucky Stawell Wildcats in the men’s match.

Rhook sunk a game-high 29 points in the Seahawks’ 94-81 win.

Former Vic Country junior representatives Ollie Bidmade and Jeremy Bolden both contributed 16 points.

That triumph followed their gutsy 78-71 loss to Mount Gambier Lakers on Saturday night.

Warrnambool coach Jono Carroll said Rhook was influential against Stawell.

“It was probably the best game I have seen Lachie play,” he said.

“He was not only good on the offensive end but rebounded as well on the defensive end.”

Carroll said the 13-point margin flattered the Seahawks, who were challenged and took their time to warm into the contest.

“Our effort and intensity in the last quarter is what got us over the line,” he said.

But Carroll was impressed with Warrnambool’s performance against reigning champion Mount Gambier.

“It was probably the best we’ve played for the season,” he said.

“Our defence was a lot better than the previous two games we’d played and offensively we were a bit more patient in identifying what worked and what didn’t.”