PORTLAND’S women’s basketballers enjoyed a dominant victory over top of the table Horsham, winning 90-62 off the back of dominant second and fourth quarters in their Country Basketball League clash at Portland Basketball Stadium.

The game started out largely on even terms, with the Coasters able to get out to a narrow two-point advantage, before asserting themselves in the second, outscoring the Hornets 20-9 to earn a double-digit lead by the break.

And while Horsham found their groove in the third term, able to get the margin back within single figures, the Coasters blew the game out in the last quarter, winning it 30-11 in a dominant display.

Their success, notably in the second half, came about from two key factors, namely their full-court defensive effort and their ball movement on offense.

Defensively, the Coasters looked to the likes of Heidi Jones, Katie Zeunert and Grace Cleaver to exert plenty of pressure in Horsham’s back court and generate easy points via turnovers.

Meanwhile, the Coasters’ ball movement was exceptional, as each player was willing to give the ball up to a teammate in a better position.

Portland was also bolstered by some long-range sniping, as all-up they drilled 11 shots from beyond the arc, as Jones, Zeunert and Tyleah Barr finished up with eight combined.

Sienna Stone also provided added 14 points on the inside, while Coasters captain Sarah Tunstall chimed in with 11 of her own.

Coach Rebel Noter said his group had shown the league and themselves that they’re capable of mixing it with the best the division has to offer.

“I think the girls are starting to realise that their path to success comes with working together as a team,” Noter said.

“What’s been really good has been the girls starting to problem solve things in game.

“It’s been good getting them all at training, and I think that work has started to show out on the court… the intensity since the Millicent game has been right up there.

“The girls that are still playing under-18s have started to adjust to CBL basketball, it’s quite a big transition that they have to make to this standard and style.”

Noter said the ball movement and team chemistry which was on display was very pleasing for him to see.

“I mean sometimes they do try to almost overpass a little bit, and give away some unforced turnovers, but in general I want to see them keep looking to find their teammates in good spots.

“It’s just a case of keeping to simple, and I suppose recognising that not every player on the team has to score the points in order to make a good contribution.”