Year 8 Girls SSV State Netball Champs

SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA – STATE NETBALL FINALS

Year 7 & Year 8 Girls

On Friday 5 September, the Year 7 and Year 8 girls travelled to Melbourne to compete in the School Sports Victoria State Netball Finals. Held at the Waverley Sports Centre, the day began with a 6.00am departure to allow time for a solid warm-up before the first game. The format consisted of four 7-minute quarters, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the finals.

Year 7 Girls

The Year 7 girls faced tough competition in their pool matches but showed great resilience and teamwork throughout the day.

Game 1 – Emmanuel College def CMCB 32-9
The girls came up against a strong and physical Emmanuel side. Despite their best efforts, they were outmatched and found it difficult to match the intensity.

Game 2 – CMCB def Diamond Valley College 14-10
A much more even contest saw the girls bounce back with a solid win, showing improved ball movement and defensive pressure.

Game 3 – CMCB def Catholic College Wodonga 20-11
Another strong performance secured their second win of the day, as the team played some fantastic team netball across all 4 quarters.

With two wins and one loss, the team finished second in their pool, which meant they progressed to the semi-final, facing the winner of the other pool.

Semi Final – CMCB vs Western Heights College Geelong
The girls gave it everything in the semi-final, but were up against a well-drilled and physically dominant team.

Despite the result, the team showed great spirit and adaptability, trying different combinations throughout the match. Emma Heitbrink and Eliza Main started in goals, while Macaila Bannan, Abby Colt and Cammie Fitzgerald worked hard in defence. Zara Greives, Colbie O’Bree and Maggie Millar battled through the midcourt to create opportunities. A change in the second quarter moved Emma Heitbrink out of goal attack and into goalkeeper, where she did a great job putting pressure on every pass. Darcy Rodda moved into goal shooter in the second and third quarters, and Colbie O’Bree stepped into goal attack in the final quarter. Western Heights may have proved too strong on the day, but the CMCB girls never gave up.

• Final Score: CMCB 11 – Western Heights 30

Reaching a School Sports Victoria State Semi-Final is a fantastic achievement; the team should be incredibly proud of their efforts. They have had an excellent 2025 campaign, playing with heart, teamwork, and determination. It has been a pleasure to coach this group, and we look forward to seeing their continued development over the next twelve months.

A big thank you to all the parents and supporters who came along to cheer on the girls at each competition.

YEAR 7 GIRLS TEAM: Darcy Rodda, Macalia Bannan, Abby Colt, Emma Hietbrink, Eliza Main, Mrs Hannah Gretgrix (Coach), Cammie Fitzgearld, Maggie Millar, Colbie O’Bree, Zara Grieve

Year 8 Girls

The Year 8 girls started strong in the pool rounds, showing great teamwork and consistency across all games:

• Game 1 – CMCB def Trinity College Colac 31-12
• Game 2 – CMCB def Viewbank College 28 to 9
• Game 3 – CMCB def Cathedral College Wangaratta 22-12

With three convincing wins, the team advanced to the semi-final against Western Heights College from Geelong. The girls came out firing, determined to build an early lead. Their dominance across the court was clear, with seamless rotations and smart, consistent play. Every player contributed to the win.

• Final Score – CMCB def Western Heights College 25-12

Grand Final
The Grand Final against Rowville Secondary College was a nail-biter from the beginning. The first quarter was goal for goal, with both teams locked at 5-all. In the second quarter, CMCB edged ahead, leading 9-8 at halftime. A tactical change in the goaling circle saw Isabella McEvoy come on, adding height and a fresh dynamic that forced Rowville to rethink their approach.

CMCB took control in the third quarter, showing great efficiency with the ball. Sharp passing through the midcourt, accurate shooting, and strong defensive pressure led to crucial intercepts and rebounds, helping the team build a 6-goal lead by three-quarter time, 18-12.

In the final quarter, Rowville lifted their intensity and physicality, but the CMCB girls remained composed and focused. They held their nerve, played smart netball, and didn’t let the pressure rattle them. Elle Gilchrist, Macey White, and Sienna Raco were instrumental in keeping the team calm and composed under pressure, helping to steady the play and maintain control in the final moments.

• Final Score – CMCB def Rowville Secondary College 21-18

This incredible result saw the girls crowned as the Year 8 Girls School Sports Victoria State Champions for 2025. It was an outstanding team effort, with every player contributing throughout the day.

A huge thank you to Forest Jackson-Leahy for scoring all the games, and a special mention to Harper Gordon, who, despite being injured, played a vital role as team manager and was a great support to coach Mrs Fennell.

TEAM: Mrs Julie Fennell (Coach), Macey White, Evie Gretgrix, Isabella McEvoy, Ava Hope, Mila Childs, Forest Jackson-Leahy (Scorer), Marlie Skinner, Ellie Macumber, Elle Gilchrist, Sienna Raco, Georgia Bray, Harper Gordon