NORTH Ballarat City produced its best netball when it had to to ensure its undefeated record in the Ballarat Netball League remained in tact.
Fourth-placed Sunbury led by five goals early the final quarter before North Ballarat City shifted the momentum in its favour to win 53-51.
Aside from its round one draw to fellow undefeated team East Point, City’s previous closest result had been a five-goal game against Lake Wendouree.
Coach Annie McCartin was extremely proud of the group’s gutsy win, saying the belief of the team was instrumental in the two-goal win.
“I was so pleased with the girls. They were really down, they had to dig deep and they did dig deep, worked as a team and we were able to come out on top,” McCartin said.
“The girls could’ve easily said “we’re doing our best but we think we’re going down in this one”.
“Two years ago, before we’d won our grand final, they would’ve panicked a bit but this time they just stayed very level-headed.
“We just kept working for that one turnover, that’s all it takes sometimes.
“We were able to get that one vital turnover, then once we got that, the girls lifted another cog.”
Trailing by four goals at the final change, McCartin tightened the defensive structures and implored her team to keep the faith in the game style that had seen it win its past nine matches.
The close encounter a positive according to McCartin who was rapt with the teams response to the final quarter pressure after a string of one-sided wins.
“If you’re winning games really easy, you just drift along.
“To have that game yesterday and to see what they can do to upset our game plan … we had to work that little bit harder, so that was promising.
In other round 11 matches, Sebastopol won every quarter to register a 12-goal win over Bacchus Marsh to keep its spot in the top six.
Lake Wendouree powered away in the final three quarters of its clash with Melton. Claiming a 37-goal win.
Ballarat were dominant against the winless Melton South, notching up a 61-28 victory and remain a game outside the top six.
Ladder leader East Point was too strong for Darley, in particular in the second half, winning 56 goals to 28.
