ALTONA’S Big V Division Three Lady Gators squared off against the second-placed Mornington Breakers on Sunday but could not get over the line, going down 78-68.
The Gators were looking to erase the memory of a 32-point drubbing at the hands of the Breakers in their last match, but found themselves in a hard-fought game lost in the dying stages.
Ashleigh Richardson was the Gators’ MVP with a double-double grabbing 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Jayne McKay stepped up with 17 points.
With the Gators 15 points down at three-quarter time, it was all or nothing in the final term. They threw everything at the Breakers and at one stage got the margin back to just two points.
A three-pointer from Mornington’s Rachel Wansborough sealed the game for the opposing team with a minute and 15 seconds left in the match.
“I am very proud of the team … to come out and give it their best shot and to come so close,” Gators coach David Maxwell said. “I could not have asked for anything more from my girls. Today I am proud to be their coach.”
Altona’s Division One men’s side registered its second win for the season, beating Coburg 105-92 on Sunday.
Goran Nenadovic top scored for the Gators with 19, while Adam Spence (17), Jeremy Marsh (15), Jonathan Walton (15) and Andrew Olechnowicz (14) all made solid contributions.
The win puts the Gators a step closer to lifting themselves off the bottom rung of the ladder.
