With their backs against the wall, top-placed Warrnambool Mermaids staged a brave victory against the second-ranked Horsham Lady Hornets.
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The Mermaids defeated the Lady Hornets 78-69 at St Joseph's Primary School in Warrnambool on Saturday night.
Coach Katie O'Keefe, who scored 24 points with two three-pointers, said it was a "super tough game".
The Mermaids' under 18 players were unavailable due to the Shepparton basketball tournament.
Louise Brown was also at that tournament and talented youngster Leah Bartlett was unavailable.
Nicole Gynes went out the game with an Achilles injury in the first two minutes.
The Mermaids found themselves down by 10 points in the first quarter.
But O'Keefe said the beauty of her 20-strong roster is that she had plenty of talent to draw on.
"Molly McKinnon had an absolute standout game," she said.
"She found a bit of confidence and had a really good game for us."
McKinnon recently returned to the court after injuring her anterior cruciate ligament in the Mermaids' 2018 Big V division one championship-winning final.
McKinnon and teammate Jae Leddin both chipped in with 14 points on Saturday.
O'Keefe said Gynes, who has a suspected Achilles strain, would sit out of game against Bellarine Storm on Saturday night.
After that she will have time to recover as the Mermaids don't play again until January 4.
READ MORE:
Warrnambool Seahawks and Terang Tornadoes had a bye in the men's competition.
The Seahawks will play Bellarine Storm on Saturday night and the Tornadoes will battle with Millicent Magic on Sunday.
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