Jazzy Jay Lights Up BSC

Added 30 June 2008

With the constant threat of relegation hanging over their heads, the Magic women needed a home win against the Latrobe Energy to steady the ship. Coming off a road loss in round 12 against Sunbury, the Magic were keen to get off to a good start. Not only did the Magic get off to a good start, they blitzed the Energy with a 8-0 run to start the game. But following a timeout from coach David Roberts, Latrobe responded with 10-0 to take a 2 point lead. Latrobe eventually taking the first quarter honours 17-11, finishing the quarter on a 17-3 run after their slow start. The Magic worked their way back into the match and even took the lead following a pair of Ash Fennell free throws before Latrobe scored the last 4 points of the quarter to take a 31-29 lead into the main break.

The third quarter belonged to Latrobe as they extended their lead to as much as 7 points at 3 quarter time. However the Magic made short work of this deficit and took the lead on a Malin Linblad 3 pointer mid-way through the 4th quarter. The Magic finished the game just as they had started it and closed out the match with a 27-11 fourth quarter effort culminating in a 66-57 victory.

Linblad and Lauren Killmister led the way in the scoring department with 12 and 10 respective and both shooting a phenominal 5 of 7 from the field. Emily Matheson and Anna DeAraugo both chipped in with 4 assists with DeAraugo also plucking 8 rebounds.

Having kept their playoff hopes alive with a home win against Bulleen last Sunday, the Magic men needed to back that up with a win against the visiting Altona Gators. Following their early season troubles with the departure of big man Nathan Marsh, the Gators have revived their season and have given themselves a chance at staying in Division One for season 2009.

Like the women did in their game, the Magic men came out firing and established control of the game early. Numerous deflections, steals and defensive stops heaped the pressure on the visiting Gators and led to easy fast break points. As Altona started to find their feet in the contest, Jay Allen started to find his stroke from the perimeter. When the half was done, the Magic had a 51-39 lead and Allen had 24 points.

The second half started just as the first had ended with Allen demanding the basketball as he scored the Magic's opening 7 points of the half to seemingly put the contest beyond the Gators. The Magic were cruising to victory before the Gators rallied back from a 20 points deficit on the back of consecutive 3 point buckets to Justin Schafer to reduce the final margin to 12 points, 102-90.

Allen's stat sheet made for impressive reading having finished with 43 points, shooting and incredible 17 of 26 from the field at 65% and 7 of 11 beyond the arc at 64%. Allen also added a lazy 8 assists, 8 rebounds and 4 steals to go with this. There was also a pleasant return to form for Jeremy Caust who scored 20 points in the Magic win.

Both Magic teams are on the road next weekend with the women travelling to Coburg while the men take their race for the playoffs to Mill Park to take on Whittlesea. Make sure you are at BSC on Sunday 13th July from 12pm to support the Magic in the last double header of the season against Sunbury.

Thanks to Crowie, Matt Perik and Tom Peacock for the photos. Check out the Media section and see what the Magic boys get up to in their pregame routine.

Magic Commence Customary Late Season Run
Magic Profiles: Meet Our BigV Magic Players
Magic Run Riot
Em's Blog: What A Weekend Off Can Do
Jazzy's Blog: Season on the Brink
Videos from HBA events in the Media Section
2008 BigV Season Photos in the Gallery