First-year Storm on course for finals

BELLARINE Storm’s women are one game from booking a maiden finals campaign after overcoming Latrobe City Energy, 97-76.

With one game left in the Big V Division 1 season, the first Storm outfit scored its 12th win in 23 matches to maintain its hold on fourth spot.

Olivia Fuller continued her outstanding form, recording 23 points, 18 rebounds, three assists and three turnovers in 33 minutes on court to lead her side to an emphatic win.

Jessica Scannell (16 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists), Raini Matthews (11 points, five rebounds, seven assists), Olivia Virt (17 points, five rebounds, six assists), Laney McFadyen (18 points, five rebounds), and Kim Hammond (12 points, eight rebounds) also contributed in an even team performance.

Storm travels across the bay to Somerville to face seventhplaced Western Port Steelers on Sunday and a win should be enough to secure fourth place and a semi-final three-game playoff against likely minor premier Hawthorn Magic.

In Division 1 men’s, Bellarine Storm’s finals hopes are almost shot following a 97-77 loss to the Shepparton Gators.

The Gators dominated the boards 44-30 and attracted 29 free throws.

Storm scored 12 threepointers in the away trip, but the Gators’ work in the paint made them unstoppable.

Storm has 10 wins and sits eighth, making their top-six chances unlikely with one game to go.

In Championship men’s, Corio Bay Stingrays’ form slump continued in a 125-93 loss to Werribee Devils.

The Stingrays, who have lost their past six, shot seven three-pointers from 35 attempts and conceded 24 free throws in the big loss.

Ivory Young did most of the heavy lifting, scoring 31 points in 33 minutes of court time.

Lachlan Headlam (eight points, five rebounds) and Jacob Pupavac (six points, eight rebounds) contributed.