It would be great timing for the Mermaids after Abbey Sutherland played her final game for the team before heading to the United States for college basketball.

Wormald hasn't played since May due to injury.

The winless Mermaids went down 77-33 to the second-placed Hume City Broncos at The Arc on Saturday night.

Brown said Sutherland saved her best for last in the championship women encounter.

"She probably played her best game of the season to be honest," she said.

"We're obviously really going to miss her.

"We're really excited for her to head over there."

The Mermaids mentor said Sutherland had been clocking 40 minutes almost every game this season.

Brown said Grace Rodgers would play more minutes to help fill the void for the remaining four games.

The young Mermaids were no match for the Broncos in the first half and went to the main break 32 points down.

But Brown was pleased with the defensive effort in the third quarter.

The Mermaids scored 12 points and the Broncos' 13.

She said that was the type effort she would like to see converted into a four-quarter performance.

Brown said the final score also indicated that the Mermaids had improved defensively since earlier in the season.

The Mermaids lost to the Broncos 96-53 in round seven.

"The girls have definitely improved," she said.

Brown said scoring had been the challenge for her side this season.

She said her players were taking good shots but they were not falling.

The Warrnambool Seahawks made a big road trip to face the Shepparton Gators on Saturday night.

The Seahawks went down 106-93 in the division one men encounter.

Coach Tim Gainey said youngster Matt Rea sustained a bad ankle injury in the first two minutes of the game.

Xavier Johnson-Blount netted 40 points.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.