A TEENAGER is playing a major role in Warrnambool Mermaids’ unbeaten run.
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Molly McKinnon top-scored with 17 points as the Louise Brown-coached side extended its Big V division two winning streak to eight on Saturday night.
The Mermaids cruised to a 75-44 triumph over North East Bushrangers at the Arc with McKinnon influential.
“I’ve been riding her pretty hard lately and it’s nice to see things are paying off,” Brown said.
“She is looking to score more.”
Another young player, Annie O’Brien, also impressed Brown, scoring five points from 17 minutes on the floor.
“She worked hard defensively and made good decisions,” Brown said.
Brown used the opportunity against the youthful Wodonga-based side to run all 12 players.
Maddy White, who scored 16 points, had the most game time.
“Maddy had the most minutes with 30 and everyone else was between 12 and 25,” Brown said.
“Everyone got good minutes.”
Brown is pleased with the Mermaids’ return to the statewide competition but stressed they are yet to hit their peak.
“After last week’s game against Wallan, I said to the girls ‘don’t get complacent with where we’re sitting because complacency will get us beat pretty quickly’,” she said.
The first-year mentor is still noticing lapses defensively.
“Our defence I think is pretty patchy – when we play as a team we’re very good but we are yet to put four quarters together defensively,” Brown said.
The former WNBL-listed guard, who prided herself on her pressure, said offensively players could be hot and cold but defence was effort-based.
“I don’t think there is any excuse for not playing good defence,” she said.
Warrnambool Seahawks stumbled on the road against lowly Shepparton Gators, losing 86-78.
Seahawks coach Matt Alexander said a slow start put his roster on the back foot as Gators import Justin Patton, who finished with 33 points, ran amok.
“We were down by eight (at quarter-time) and to lose by eight, we battled hard,” he said.
Import Xavier Johnson-Blount top-scored for the Seahawks with 27 points but it was teenager Brock Carter (17) who caught Alexander’s attention.
Josh Dean also put in a strong display at the main point guard and James Mitchell was busy in his 20 minutes on the court.