Geelong Venom downs Southside Flyers, 66-54, to bank second win of WNBL season
Geelong Venom made it back-to-back wins for the first time this season, as the WNBL franchise get set to head interstate for the first time. Plus, the latest status on injured duo.
Back-to-back wins has Geelong Venom back on solid footing ahead of tough three-week road trip, though an injured star could still be some weeks away from a return to the floor.
The Venom, who fell to 1-4 to start their second WNBL season, downed Victorian rivals Southside Flyers, 66-54 in front of 1264 fans on Friday night, in what was their third game in seven days.
It came after they swept past Perth Lynx by 19 points on Tuesday, though ladder-leaders Townsville did the job over the Venom four days earlier.
“To pick up two wins out of three, just really pleased for the team,” Venom coach Chris Lucas said post-win.
But after boasting a home-fixture heavy early run – six of their first seven games at Geelong Arena – the Venom must now navigate Adelaide (Nov 21), Sydney (Nov 26) and Bendigo (Dec 5) on the road, with their next home game not until December 7 against UC Capitals.
Return dates for injured recruits Shyla Heal (knee) and Alissa Pili (ankle) still remain uncertain – though the latter may still be some weeks away from taking the court for the first time since round 1.
“I think Alissa’s a little bit longer than that (a couple weeks), we’ll just have to wait and see what medical say on both of them but Alissa’s only just come out of the boot,” Lucas elaborated.
“We’ll see what medical says over the next week or so.”
While the Venom patiently await Heal and Pili’s returns, Mackenzie Holmes continues to lead the way for the franchise, the American putting up 20 points against the Flyers – her sixth consecutive game scoring 20 points or more.
“That something I kind of hung my hat on in college, being a consistent presence every single day, in my work ethic, and how I take care of my body and how I play the game, and my energy,” Holmes said post-match.
Meanwhile, guards Jaz Shelley (12 points, four assists) and Lilly Rotunno (11 and four) put up valuable points, while co-captain Alex Sharp was a strong presence on the boards with 11.
Down 20-21 at the first break, the Venom’s defensive efforts kept the Flyers to just 54 points for the game, with a 17-7 final term seeing the squad over the line.
“We held them for 33 for the rest of the game (after quarter time) we junked it up a little bit, we didn’t rotate very deep, but the team that was on the floor was doing the job,” Lucas said.
In several telling statistics, the Flyers went 1-1 from the foul line compared to the Venom’s 12-16, with fouls conceded (9-14), steals (12-5) and turnovers (12-24) also favouring the home side.
“We kept them to a losing score, that was our target … but we couldn’t score ourselves,” Flyers coach Kristi Harrower said.
“I don’t think you’re going to win many games when you only go 1-of-1 from the foul line and they go 12-of-16.
“We tried to be physical like they were and we just got the fouls called on us.”
Shelley: Why Venom can go on a string of wins this season
Jaz Shelley says Geelong Venom are “still figuring things out”, but sees no reason why they can’t go on a streak of wins when it all clicks.
Armed with a current underdog mentality as two key pieces Alissa Pili and Shyla Heal remain sidelined with injuries, the Venom got a timely confidence boost when they ended a three-game losing streak on Tuesday night against Perth Lynx, 88-69.
Crowned MVP of the NBL1 South in the WNBL off-season, Shelley and several of her teammates find themselves in a different position sitting 2-4 in the WNBL compared to their remarkable 24-game NBL1 win streak earlier this year.
“I did get used to winning, so it does suck coming in with a few losses at the Arena,” Shelley said with a laugh.
However, Shelley pointed to the increased physicality and talent within the WNBL as an entirely different ball game.
“We are learning and growing and I still feel like we’re quite a new team that are trying to figure things out,” she said.
“But once we do, I see us clicking and seeing everything go right, then there is no reason why we can’t go on a streak of wins.”
The 25-year-old praised her teammates’ buy-in and unselfish play amid their current adversities, as coach Chris Lucas is forced to move the magnets around to fill gaps.
“We have such amazing girls on our team who are super selfless and willing to play out of position, to do whatever they need to do at practice,” Shelley said.
“Our three mans are having to be fives, our twos are having to be threes, everyone is out of position, which is difficult but also really cool to show our team can come outside of themselves and do what the team needs.
“It’s a blessing in disguise, people have to step up and it provides opportunity for others.
“But it would be amazing to have Pili and Shyla back soon.”
Shelley finds herself in a similar boat when it comes to her own role for the Venom.
Having to split her time between point guard and her more natural role as a shooting guard, like she did last year, while dealing with greater attention from rivals, Shelley has battled through to average 12.5 points, 4.50 assists (ranked 7th in the league) and 2.33 steals (4th in the league).
“The point guard and two-man are pretty different roles in our system, so it’s just kind of getting used to what the team needs for each game,” she said.
“You just do whatever you possibly can to scrape out a win right now.”
The Venom is hoping to string two wins together for the first time this season against Southside Flyers at Geelong Arena tonight.
Last year’s series against their Victorian rivals proved a highlight for Geelong, who swept the series 3-0.
But Shelley and her teammates are well aware it’s a very different Flyers’ line-up arriving in town on Friday, led by boon recruits Cayla George and Isabelle Bourne – both Australian Opals.
“They look completely different to what they did last year, they’re a very dangerous team that have a lot of offensive threats and they’re bigger than they’ve ever been so we’re going to have to play a couple centimetres more than we actually are,” Shelley said.
“Hoping we can take what we’ve learnt from our last win and implement it this Friday.”
- Venom tip off against Southside Flyers from 5.30pm Friday.
How Venom players hope to inspire next gen
Imagine having a current WNBL player as your coach.
That’s the reality for several emerging basketballers, as Venom guard Jaz Shelley takes the reins of Geelong United’s U14 girls VJBL side this season.
It marks the first time Shelley, 25, has taken on a head coaching role, having previously ran individual and group skills sessions last season.
And it’s proven to be a nice balance for the guard, amid the pressure of performing on the basketball court day-in-and-day-out.
“It’s been really fun, it really takes you outside your own stuff going on, those girls don’t care that we just lost the night before,” Shelley said.
“You get to go in there and they make fun of you if you get in foul trouble after I’ve just told them off for fouling out and having no rotations … it’s been really good to have that connection with those girls.
“And they’re at most games, they’re normally floor wiping so it’s pretty cool to have them in your ear, while you play.
“It’s definitely a good little outlet away from the basketball court.”
Shelley said the Venom prided themselves on trying to inspire the next generation of basketballers, the likes of Gemma Potter and Taylor Mole also coaching in the region, with Shelley delighted by the number of kids who turn out each week for their home games.
The Venom have averaged 1150 supporters across their first fives home games this year (with a season high of 1280), up from an average crowd of 953 in their first season.
“I love playing the Arena, even if we had 500 less people, you’d never even know, just cause they’re so loud, and bringing so much energy,” Shelley said.
‘Something there’: Inside Venom rookie’s WNBL breakout
As Lilly Rotunno subbed out for Geelong Venom with a minute to go on Tuesday night, a 815-strong Geelong Arena crowd erupted as coach Chris Lucas warmly embraced his starting point guard courtside.
With the 88-69 win over Perth secured – the Venom’s second of the season – all eyes had been on the 21-year-old rookie in what was unmistakably her best WNBL game of a short career.
Finishing with 21 points and 10 assists, as well as four boards, the Queenslander was aggressive from the outset, and efficient with her shots.
Making all but one field goal attempt in the first half – and finishing with 9-14 – Rotunno scored in a myriad of ways, including lay-ups and floaters in the paint to go with three triples.
In just her sixth game as a rostered WNBL player – she spent two seasons as a development player with Sydney and Melbourne – Rotunno looked anything but a player whose go-to was to facilitate first.
“To be a genuine and good point guard for the team I need to come out and be aggressive every game,” Rotunno said post-match.
“We have such a talented team and scorers everywhere, so the more aggressive I am the more everyone else is going to open up.”
It had been building in recent games, where, despite only reaping four points against Townsville, Rotunno’s growing aggressiveness to try and score was evident.
On Tuesday night, it all came together as the shots fell.
“I feel like … in the off-season it was something I was really trying to focus on and I knew it would be the jump for me being a DP the last few years in the WNBL to jumping to a roster spot and actually making an impact, I need to be a scorer,” she said.
“I’ve always been facilitate first, but to facilitate I need to be scoring aggressively.
“The group itself, all the girls have been so supportive of me coming into the role that I’ve been playing with Shyla (Heal) out … it’s just something I’ve been working on and something I know I needed to improve on.
“It’s definitely nice to see them drop and the work I’ve put in off-court really reflect in how I played today.”
Lucas was a picture of a proud father as he embraced Rotunno, and post-match further conveyed his pride of the point guard, who he had previously coached as a development player at Melbourne Boomers before reuniting in Geelong first through NBL1 and later WNBL.
“I had Lilly at Melbourne and she was playing a bit of role there for us, when we had injuries at Melbourne Boomers, and she’s worked on her game,” he said.
“That is clearly her best WNBL game and I’m really pleased for her because of the work she’s put in, but really proud of her as well.”
It’s a performance that might not have been were the Venom at full-health, Rotunno turned to as star Opal Shyla Heal starts the season on the sidelines with a knee injury.
But Lucas said there was clearly “something there” in Rotunno to make an impact at the WNBL level.
“We actually thought she wouldn’t be playing a huge role for us in her first year as a rostered player, but she’s taking her opportunities now with both hands, and you couldn’t ask for any more,” he said.
“She’s usually the last here to shoot, doing extra shooting and working on her game, and she’s coachable … she’s a pleasure to coach.”
For Rotunno, the confidence and faith Lucas has put in has worked wonders.
“Even during NBL1, we were chatting a lot, telling me what I needed to be working on, the reads, which I really take on, Chris has so much experience,” she said.
“I only want to get better and want to continue to improve especially being so young, so my relationship with Chris is really important to me.
“I didn’t know what role I was taking on going into this team, all I knew was whatever I was given I’m going to do my best and do whatever the team needs for me to be successful.
“Chris has instilled that confidence in me off-court, at trainings and as you see opportunity on-court – without that confidence and support I wouldn’t be able to play how I play.”
Rotunno runs riot as Venom strikes back against Lynx
– analysis
It’s a game Geelong Venom simply needed to win.
Amid a three-game losing streak at home – one of those by a single point to Perth Lynx 10 days earlier – the Venom had to, and did, avenge themselves to the Lynx with a breakaway second half in Tuesday night’s 88-69 win.
Despite still being undermanned with Shyla Heal and Alissa Pili sidelined — Pili still sporting a moon boot for her ankle injury — the Venom had to strike on opportunity with top 2 Lynx faced with a brutal two-day turnaround from playing in Perth on Sunday to a Tuesday night blockbuster in Geelong.
But the first half, it seemed that chance might just go begging again for a Venom side desperate not to slip to 1-5 and further behind the chasing pack.
Perth co-captain Amy Atwell started with a bang, putting up 19 first half points to see the Lynx led 38-44 at half time, with Venom coach Chris Lucas admitting his concern post-match to his side’s standing in the game at that point.
“They were heading to a 90-100 point game, but the second half, defensively to hold that team to 25 points is a super effort,” Lucas said of the Venom’s 50-25 second half response.
“Their attitude and everything about them has just been fantastic, and under a lot of duress, and we’re just going to keep working and see if we can pick up a few more wins while we wait for two to come back.”
Execution had been an issue for Geelong heading into the game, and it again plagued the home side in the first half.
While a seesawing first quarter saw 14 lead changes, the Lynx’s composure was evident early, with two triples made in the face of great pressure, while Yemiyah Morris (10 points) was an important piece off the bench, her strength to catch and shot under the post helping the Lynx make tough shots look easy.
Down by two at the first break, the Venom let the Lynx get away, the visitors 10-0 run to open the second forcing two Geelong time outs with little effect for Venom, before Alex Sharp finally broke their scoring drought.
Venom forward Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard was a welcome return after missing two games, adding 15 points off the bench, including a monster shot from three as she was fouled to earn the four-point play.
Lucas pointed to Clinch Hoycard’s experience as vital for the Venom, while the 28-year-old’s height also gave the side a different look by stepping into the 4-spot with Mackenzie Holmes and Sharp both on the floor.
“I just like her composure with the team because we have got a young team,” Lucas said.
“I went big at one stage and Sharpy went to the 3-spot and it was interesting that was when we got a flow, so we can look at that as we’re not rotating deep at the moment.”
Rookie point guard Lilly Rotunno offered the Venom an aggressive scoring option from the outset, the 21-year-old with 13 points (6-7 from the field) in the first half to eventually cap her breakout performance with a double-double (21 points and 10 assists).
Meanwhile early MVP contender Holmes responded to a quieter first half to finish with a double-double (22 points, 12 rebounds) of her own, while Jaz Shelley (14 points, six steals) stepped up with big moment sin the second half to help the Venom regain the lead late in the third.
Tasked with trying to containing Atwell after her blistering first half saw Gemma Potter in foul trouble, the guard picking up a fourth early in the third, before returning late in the game.
Making just 10 triples in their last three games combined, the Venom proved a more potent threat from long-range, making 10 against the Lynx, though Lucas insisted there was still more that needed to cleaned up ahead of Friday night’s clash against Southside Flyers.
“We were playing from the inside out to get those shots, so they (Lynx) were junking it up a little bit, they went into a pressback in design which threw us out a little bit particular in the first half,” he said.
“We still have some execution issues which we’re working through and role changes.
“I got pretty frustrated on the sidelines at different points because we just weren’t executing what we’ve got in place, so we can get better.
“We’ll just put that in the box and move onto the next game”.
Venom eye Perth revenge, adjustments amid troubling scoring stat
Geelong Venom coach Chris Lucas says star point guard Shyla Heal was doing everything in her power to get back on court from a knee injury, as the Venom prepare to host top 2 Perth Lynx for the second time in 10 days tonight.
But the Venom will be forced to clean up their execution from the three-point line if they’re any chance of atoning for the one-point loss to the Lynx last round, the Venom sinking just 10 triples from 70 attempts across their last three games.
Unlike the 1-4 Venom, who ultimately fell short of turning a deficit around against Townsville on Friday night, the 4-1 Lynx are coming in hot off a comeback win over Southside Flyers, going from 16 points down to three-point winners.
An undermanned Venom has been challenged without the likes of Heal and US import Alissa Pili, the latter seeing less than two quarters of court time this season before going down with an ankle injury.
While Lucas said it would be up to medical staff to decide when Heal (listed on the WNBL injury list as week-to-week) and Pili (listed for return on November 14) would ultimately be fit to play, he couldn’t fault their want and work to get themselves back playing basketball.
“We’re trying to look after them, but I can assure you both of them want to be on the floor,” Lucas said post-match against the Fire.
“And Shyla … I’ve never coached her before but what I’ve seen so far, she’s one of the hardest working athletes I’ve ever worked with and she’s doing everything in her power to get back to this team.
“She’ll come back and she’ll be strong for us, and give us another focal point.”
Lucas estimated around 40 points would be missing for the Venom between Heal and Pili, the latter also a player who could help stretch the floor with fellow WNBA talent Mackenzie Holmes.
“It’s not be right now – I’ve had Pili for 5.32 (on the floor) and I’ve been chasing her for Two-and-a-half years,” he said of his recruitment of the 24-year-old.
The lack of personnel – Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard has also missed the last two rounds – has seen three development players regularly on the bench for the Venom, while Alex Sharp and Gemma Potter have played out of position in the four spot, as well as Jaz Shelley at times running point.
The Venom have struggled mightily from the three-point line in their three most recent losses to Bendigo (1-from-17), Perth (5-from-30) and Townsville (4-from-23), with Lucas conceding it had now become a pattern.
“We have great shooters, but right now we need to play from the inside out, and we let the ball do the work and take the opportunities when they’re available,” Lucas said.
“But right now, our focus is our execution and the three-balls we’re taking, we’re not making so we need to make some adjustments – we’ll be talking about that shortly.”
Well aware from “day one” of the challenges his side faced amid early injury woes, Lucas insisted his side needed to learn to stay in games longer, while showing more resilience “at the right times” in games.
“We’re getting better, but it’s tough for the girls – I don’t want to be playing Kenz (Mackenzie Holmes) for 40 minutes, even when she goes ‘I’m okay coach’, she wants to stay out there,” he said.
“We need to be able to rest people and right now I can’t … and I think fatigue played a part in that (Townsville result).
“The team, they’ll keep fighting, that’s just what our make up is, our identity as a team, I think a little bit of that came out (against the Fire) but I think we need to extend that into 40 minutes.”
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Originally published as Geelong Venom downs Southside Flyers, 66-54, to bank second win of WNBL season
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