Warrnambool Mermaids pull off stunning CBL comeback against Mount Gambier

The CBL outfit outscored rivals Mt Gambier 60-27 in the final 20 minutes of their clash to turn a 22-point deficit into an 11-point victory on Saturday night.

"We regrouped at half time; I changed the defence up more into a press and zone," coach Katie O'Keefe said.

"Mt Gambier seemed not to score as easily and we could run on them."

The match, the first of a double-header for the Mermaids, was played at Portland instead of The Arc due to quarantine and Covid testing restraints for the South Australia-based Lakers.

The all-hands-on-deck conquest made for a sluggish start on Sunday against Terang, though the young line-up kicked into gear in the second stanza to walk away 30-point winners.

Running the Mermaids' offence in the opening four rounds has been Leah Bartlett (avg. 23.1 points) and Molly McKinnon (16.3) but the use of a third scorer has been critical to the team's success.

"If you have a team who has five or six players who can have six to 10 points, that's hard to beat," O'Keefe said.

"Matilda Sewell had 18 points against Horsham (in round three). She was phenomenal."

The Mermaids are back on court on January 8 against Portland Coasters, with the three-week break aiding Cigi Lual and Molly Mclaren's return from injury.

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