URGENT UPDATE: The Sunbury Jets secured a hard-fought victory against the Warrandyte Venom on Saturday night, but their hopes of making the finals in the Big V women’s championship have officially evaporated. With their playoff aspirations hinging on a series of unlikely outcomes, the Jets now face the reality of their season ending prematurely.
This development follows the Sherbrooke Suns defeating the Hume City Broncos, which eliminated any chance for the Jets to qualify for the finals. The Jets needed to win all four of their remaining matches and rely on the Suns to lose all four; with the Suns currently leading the head-to-head record 2-0, the Jets’ path to the playoffs has become impossible.
In their latest match, the Jets, fielding only eight players, managed to rally from a 14-12 deficit at the end of the first quarter. A dominant second quarter saw them outscore the Venom 25-14, establishing a crucial lead. Despite a late challenge from Warrandyte, the Jets surged in the final quarter, finishing the game with a resounding 81-59 victory. Ally Stewart was the standout performer, scoring 20 points as four Jets players hit double digits.
With only two rounds left in the season, the Jets currently sit in sixth place with 10 wins. They will face local rivals, the Hume City Broncos, on Saturday night before a match against the Bulleen Boomers on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Jets men’s team also claimed victory on Saturday, narrowly defeating the Camberwell Dragons 102-99. Byron Gladden led the team with 24 points, keeping their playoff hopes alive despite sitting in ninth place with seven wins from 20 games.
As the Jets prepare for their upcoming matches, fans are left to ponder what could have been for the women’s team. The emotional weight of this near-miss underscores the competitive nature of the league and the fine line between victory and defeat.
Stay tuned for updates as the Jets continue to battle through the final rounds of the season, with dramatic implications for both teams on the horizon.
