Merriment

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Sale Sonics women’s award winners Tayli Dimarco, Jemma Birss and Chloe Smith, with captain Bree Alexander (left) and coach Ryan Fraser (right). Photo: Contributed Dimarco is MVP

SALE Sonics Tayli Dimarco was awarded the 2022 defensive player of the year for the Country Basketball League Women’s Gippsland conference. Dimarco was bestowed with the honour on Saturday night during the leagues Grand Final between Korumburra and Moe. Dimarco was an integral part of the Sale women’s season, as she ran the point guard position and set the standard on the defensive end. It is an incredible achievement for such a young player who was only playing her first full season in the league, but she has put in the hours and is a deserving winner. She played tenacious, hard-nosed defence from start to finish every game, picking her opponents up full court and really making them work hard for every possession. Winning this award comes on the back of her also being named the teams most valuable player and best first year player at the recent Sale Sonics end of season awards night. Other award winners at the night for the Sonics women’s were Jemma Birss, who was named runner-up most valuable player, and Chloe Smith, who took home the coaches award. For the Sonics men, Jake Hutchins was named most valuable player, while Harper Fraser was runner-up. Lachlan Pfeiffer took home the best first year player and Bailey Harrison was recipient of the coaches award. While results don’t reflect it, both Sonics squads showed plenty of promise with a lot of youth coming through the ranks that will be in a better position next season with the extra experience gained this season. Coaches Joel and Ryan Fraser both expressed how excited they are to see the continued development of these young teams in coming years.

Sharks enjoy country week win

Liam Durkin

UNDER 15 Junior Country Week saw wins to Sale-Maffra, Bairnsdale and Leongatha on Sunday. Sale-Maffra defeated Latrobe Valley by six wickets. Latrobe Valley won the toss and chose to bat first at Stephenson Park. The visitors were soon looking at an early Maccas stop on the way home, crumbling to 3/9, 4/16 and then 5/30. The Shark bowlers were proving impossible to get away. Riley Donohue took 2/18 off eight overs and Navdeep Singh returned the astonishing figures of 1/4 off 10 overs, with seven maidens. Talk about dot ball pressure. Latrobe Valley pair Archie Norman and Darcy Walsh got together and set about fixing the damage, and batted through the rest of the innings to get the home side into triple figures. Norman showed outstanding patience, with his 26 coming off 146 balls, while Walsh made a fine 36 off 57 balls. Sale-Maffra was rarely challenged with the ball, and got the winning runs away inside 40 overs. Charlie Morris top-scored with 40, while others around him chipped in. Jacob Dunn had some success with the ball for Latrobe Valley, taking 2/8, while Walsh backed up his efforts with the bat, taking 2/21. Bairnsdale defeated Traralgon by five wicket and in the other match, Leongatha beat Warragul. Leongtatha ended up winning by 33 runs, after posting 164. Rhys Newman played a mighty hand of 70 off 107 balls, combining with Riley Harris, who made 40 opening up. Dane Hammond bowled well for the Wild Dogs, finishing with 4/30. Nate Murphy gave his opponents grief, taking 3/8 off 10 overs with five maidens. Warragul looked in a spot of bother at 3/39, but fought back well through the likes of Joe Sheehan (35), Murphy (25 off 30) and Jesse Jagoe (24), only to fall short. The Wild Dogs ended at 5/131. Bryce Riddell maintained very good discipline, with figures of 2/7 off five. Andot Mankhong did likewise, taking 2/25 off 10 with three maidens. IN the Under 13 Development League, a thrilling match between Bairnsdale and Traralgon highlighted the action. Just 11 runs determined the winner, which happened to be Bairnsdale. Lucknow synthetic was the venue, and 106 the total scored by the home side. Ollie Hudson made a good portion of the runs, making 38 at the top of the order. The Tornadoes were then bowled out for 95, due in no small way to the bowling efforts of Lucas Shanahan (2/1) and Harper Clack (2/7). Latrobe Valley found the going tough against Sale-Maffra. The Sharks bowled Latrobe Valley out for 98 on the Stephenson Park synthetic. Linc Chila played a lone hand for the visitors, making 38 opening the batting. Remy Sutton, Xavier Adam and Mac Birss all took two wickets for Sale-Maffra. The Sharks then got the required runs four wickets down, before getting some match practise in, and closing at 6/192 off 40 overs. Ryder Thomas was outstanding, retiring on 52 from 53 balls, in an effort that included five fours. Shevan Fernando didn’t muck around, smacking 39 from 42 balls, with two sixes thrown in the lot. Xavier Hurley also retired, making 28 against the new ball. They’re pretty good at cricket those Hurleys. Leongatha had too many answers for Warragul. Warragul batted first at home on Eastern Park, but had to make do with closing at 8/71 from 40 overs. Leongatha’s bowlers proved hard to get away. Cooper Newman with 2/1 did some damage, as did Ty Debono (2/4) and Louis Read (2/6). Newman and Eamon Berryman then put on 34 for the opening stand, with the latter retiring on 22. Others to help out were Read (22 not out off 24) and Max Johnston (20 not out off 23). Zak Parson experienced some success for Warragul, grabbing 2/6. LATROBE VALLEY proved too strong for Leongatha in women’s Gippsland Cricket League on Sunday. Batting first at Inverloch, the visitors from the Valley made 9/166 after compulsory close (35 overs). Bridie Kimpton was outstanding, scoring 54 off 49 balls, with her innings featuring seven fours. Others to get among the runs were Olivia Speairs (19), Stacy Rockliff (18), skipper Emily Shaw (16), Susie Blines (13) and Simone Clymo (13). Latrobe Valley showed they bat deep, with Blines’ contribution coming from number 11. Wickets were shared for Leongatha. Katrina Burgione took 2/18, while Kylie Collins (2/18) and Holly Williams 2/36 hit good areas. Leongatha made a decent start, with Collins and Amanda Linford putting on 31 for the first wicket, but after they were dismissed, the rest of the card failed to get going. Collins made 18 and Linford 16, while Gabrielle Perry scored 18, as Leongatha was restricted to 8/84. Catriona Halkett gave little away, taking 2/6 off seven overs with two maidens included. Rockliff also proved a handful, nabbing 2/31. Sale-Maffra had the bye. The next round of women’s GCL will be played on January 22, 2023. Sale-Maffra hosts Leongatha at a venue to be confirmed. Latrobe Valley has the bye.