LCFNL – A Grade netball
AFTER an arm wrestle for three quarters, Casterton Sandford upped the ante in the final quarter, turning a three-goal final change deficit into a five-goal victory at Island Park.
The 17 to nine final quarter stunned the Demons, with the Cats hitting the lead within a couple of minutes into that last quarter and they never looked back.
The Cats can thank the relentless defensive efforts of Caeleigh Humphries and Ebany Jarrad for the victory, as the duo created a stock of turnovers across all four quarters and were the main culprits at the beginning of that pivotal last quarter as they continually won the ball back.
Shooter Danielle Tooley was back on court and she was a strong focal point and she dominated the final quarter with 15 from 16 as the Cats pulled ahead.
Scores were all tied up at 12-apiece in the opening quarter, before South got the better of the second, on the back of a strong shooting performance from Ruby Richter and Gracie Dalton – netting 18 from 19 – and led by five at the main break.
Those opportunities were built off the back of a strong defensive effort from Brandi Bouchier and Mykaela Thiele, with Ella Jolley and Imogen Walker making life tough for the Cats feeders.
In the end, it was the composure of the Cats that got them over the line and the Demons would love that first three minutes of the final quarter back.
Humphries, Jarrad and Tooley were standouts for the home side, with Indi Longhurst having a great battle with Walker and Chelsea Hulm finding good space and stepping up in the shooting circle when required.
