Cougars Deliver Strong Wins in Busy Big V Round

The McKinnon Cougars were back in action across a busy weekend of Big V competition, with six games played across Youth and Championship levels.

Saturday night at GESAC delivered a pair of strong home wins, highlighted by a thrilling three-point Youth Women victory and a dominant 122-point offensive display from the Championship Women. On the road, the Youth Men battled Wyndham but fell short, before the Championship Men responded with an impressive 108-point win.

Sunday saw the Youth Women continue their momentum with a commanding win over Keilor Thunder, while the Youth Men closed out the round against Bendigo.

The weekend also featured a significant milestone, with Maddie Simmons and Kayla Welsh both bringing up their 100th games for the Cougars.

SATURDAY

YOUTH WOMEN – McKinnon Cougars (75) defeated Melbourne Tigers (72)

The McKinnon Cougars Youth Women opened the weekend with a hard-fought three-point win over Melbourne Tigers in a tight contest at GESAC.

Arden Bailey led the way with 22 points and 7 rebounds, providing a consistent scoring presence throughout the night. Zoe Johnson added 15 points and 6 rebounds, continuing her strong start to the season, while Kayla Welsh marked her 100th game with 10 points and 8 rebounds in an important all-round performance.

McKinnon held their composure late, making key plays down the stretch to secure the win in a competitive contest.

YOUTH MEN – McKinnon Cougars (86) lost to Wyndham (95)

The Youth Men took on Wyndham on Saturday night but were unable to contain their opponents’ scoring, falling by nine points.

Oliver Mann led the Cougars with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, continuing his strong offensive form. Oliver Ledger added 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Calvin Rama contributed 13 points and 3 assists.

Despite strong individual performances, McKinnon were unable to close the gap late as Wyndham held control down the stretch.

CHAMPIONSHIP WOMEN – McKinnon Cougars (122) defeated Warrnambool (55)

The Championship Women delivered a dominant performance in their second home game, overpowering Warrnambool with a commanding 67-point win.

Emily Suckling led all scorers with 32 points on an efficient 80 percent shooting, setting the tone offensively. Sarae Beveridge added 19 points and 5 assists, while Amy Baum controlled the game with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists and 6 steals.

McKinnon’s depth was on full display, with seven players finishing in double figures as the Cougars combined efficient scoring with relentless defensive pressure across all four quarters.

CHAMPIONSHIP MEN – McKinnon Cougars (108) defeated Wyndham (98)

The Championship Men responded with an impressive win, overcoming Wyndham with a strong offensive display.

Kierell Green was top scored with 28 points and 13 rebounds, leading from the front. Troyce Manassa outstanding adding 19 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists in a well-rounded performance, while Mitchell Barry contributed 19 points and 5 rebounds.

Josh McQueen also played a key role with 19 points and 4 rebounds as McKinnon shared the scoring load effectively to secure the win.

SUNDAY

YOUTH WOMEN – McKinnon Cougars (91) defeated Keilor Thunder (69)

The Youth Women backed up their Saturday performance with a dominant 22-point win over Keilor Thunder on Sunday afternoon.

Arden Bailey continued her strong weekend with 28 points and 6 rebounds, while Holly Miller provided a major boost with 24 points and 5 rebounds in an efficient scoring performance.

Kayla Welsh again impressed, finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, controlling the game across multiple areas as McKinnon took control and never looked back.

YOUTH MEN – McKinnon Cougars (59) lost to Bendigo Braves (72)

The Youth Men closed out the weekend against Bendigo but were unable to secure a second win, falling by 13 points.

Oliver Ledger led the way with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, setting the tone with his all-round effort. Oliver Mann added 14 points and 6 rebounds, while Charlie Watts contributed 10 points and 6 rebounds.

McKinnon competed strongly but were unable to generate enough offensive momentum as Bendigo controlled the game in the second half.