With 6 lead changes and the scores tied three times, Forestville’s women managed to maintain a 3 point margin over the final 5 minutes, defeating Eastern 62-59.

The match was a low scoring affair in the first quarter, the mavericks only able to connect on 3 out of 17 shots. The Eagles didn’t fare much better with 5 of 16, however they had 5 scoring players for 13 first quarter points while it was only Shannon Tarran with 2, and Tess Madgen with 8 for Eastern. Forestville’s Mia Newley didn’t make the scoresheet with any points but was solid on the boards with 8 rebounds including 2 offensive grabs.

To open the second term Monica Bello filled up the basket with a 3 pointer for the eagles before the continuing defensive pressure slowed the game again. Madgen broke away for some fast points when she intercepted the ball at half court and ran it in for an easy layup.

Then the points began to flow as Madison Bycroft and Tenille Searl added points for the Mavs. Forestville’s Tara Robinson shot a clean three pointer and Madgen responded with one of her own from downtown.

Jamie Rock subbed on for the Mavericks and tied the scores 22 all when she scored from outside the arc. The Eagles took a timeout but Rock backed up her first with another three pointer out of the huddle, giving Eastern a 3 point lead. Newley got her first basket to bring that back to 1 before Georgia Green on debut for the Mavs converted 1 from 2 at the free throw line for her first league score.

Jess Fergus earned Forestville the lead with the 6th three pointer of the term, but Madgen had other ideas, again answering with 3 points of her own, securing her team a 2 point buffer at half time.

The third term went Forestville’s way as they outscored Eastern 23-13.

In round 6 against the Sabres, Tarran had found plenty of space to move and score in the key, but Forestville’s defence kept her to a limited role on the weekend (she finished with only 3 from 13 attempts). Amanda Macdermot had an off shooting game, making only 1 of 8, though she aided the team with seven rebounds and two assists.

Forestville’s first four scores of the quarter were all 3 pointers, 1 each to Fergus, Danielle Angley, Bello and Megan Kermond, with Newley and Sarah Petrie adding 7 later term points between them. For the Mavs, Madgen added another 7 points, Searl 4, and Rock 2. Eastern trailed Forestville by 8 points at the last break.

The final term was a thriller. Rock set the Mavericks off with her 3rd from behind the arc and when Tarran followed up with 2 from 2 at the free throw line, the difference was 3 points. Bello was carried off the court with a knee injury but the Eagles settled with 4 points to Newley.

Tarran finally found some form with another 2 baskets. Newley was having a decidedly important last term, she tacked on another 2 to keep the lead at three points. Macdermot made her only basket of the night and it was back to 1. Fergus and Madgen traded baskets before Tarran fouled out of the game with 5 personals, sending Newley to the line, and she made both important free throws.

With 26 seconds left Searl scored for Eastern, the margin 1 point again. Newley took what she hoped would be the last shot of the game, and missed, but Olivia Thompson (2/11) who had been kept quiet all night grabbed the offensive rebound and put it away. The Mavs called a timeout with 9 seconds left, Coach Nathon Jones drafting a play for the 3 pointer to send the game into overtime. Almost too predictably the ball came in to Madgen, two Eagles swarmed on her and as she let the shot off, they soared in front and made the block. Game over and the Eagles take the points with a victory by 3.

Forestville Eagles 62 (Mia Newley 14, Jess Fergus 12, Monica Bello 9)
Eastern Mavericks 59 (Tess Madgen 25, Jaimi Rock 11, Tenille Searl 10)

Stats Webcast

By Lachlan Eggers

(also published in the Courier)