Warrnambool Seahawks score come-from-behind win against Shepparton Gators

A Malakye Cunningham-inspired Seahawks came from nine points down in the third quarter to overcome Shepparton Gators on the road on Saturday night.

Seahawks coach Alex Gynes said James Mitchell sunk a three-pointer late in the match to put the team in front. They went on to win 70-65.

"We mixed it up on defence a bit and managed to string a few defensive stops together," he said.

"We made a few tough shots ourselves and found a lot of mismatches and started to get the ball to the right people.

"It was a gutsy win. To hold a team to 65 points, you're always going to be in with a chance to get a win."

Warrnambool, which improved its win-loss record to 4-5, plays Melbourne University at home and Bellarine away next round and will regain experienced duo Tim Gainey and Simon O'Keefe, who both missed the clash against the Gators.

"It is one of those character-building wins I think; it brings the group closer together," Gynes said.

"The spirits were high in the change rooms after the game, it was a great feeling."

Gynes said Cunningham, who dropped 21 points, stood up in the absence of Gainey and O'Keefe.

"His impact on the defensive end, and we were quite small, for him to get in there and compete against the bigger bodies and rebound really well meant he did a great job in all aspects," he said.

Ollie Bidmade also "broke the shackles" and made the Gators pay.

"It was good for him to make a few shots and see the ball drop," Gynes said.

"He rebounded really well against their bigger bodies too."

A budding 14-year-old basketballer's shut down effort on the opposition's most potent scorer was the highlight of Warrnambool Mermaids' 80-65 road loss to Bellarine.

Matilda Sewell was put on Olivia Fuller after half-time, keeping her scoreless. Fuller had 15 points to her name in the first half.

Mermaids coach Lee Primmer said Sewell stuck to her task and helped the team win the last half. Louise Brown, who gave birth to her third child in January, played 17 minutes in her return game.

The former WNBL player gave the Mermaids' options on the court, freeing up others, such as Mia Mills, to find open shots.

"It's just a whole different perspective on the game when she was out there," Primmer said.

"Going into the game there was no way known I was going to play her as many minutes as she did.

"My idea was about 10. She is a fierce competitor and was feeling OK and the game wasn't a quick pace up and down. Both teams came down and ran their half-court offence so that sort of suited her."

Brown spent time at the point guard position, allowing teenage prospect Mills to get more scoring opportunities.

Mills finished with 12 points.

"With Louise running the show, we got some people open shots that we probably haven't had previously," Primmer said.

"There was some signs there of 'oh, here's someone would can flat-out shoot it'."

Primmer, who praised Bellarine for its high shooting percentage, said there were promising signs for the Mermaids.

"I like winning, like most coaches, but there was some wins there for us," he said.

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