Two-time premiers Natimuk won comfortably over Swifts in Saturday's Horsham District League's A Grade round one clash.
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Natimuk started off strong, piling on quick goals to take a comfortable lead of seven by the first break.
Natimuk extended each quarter lead before running away with the game, 64-37.
The Ewe's goal shooter Shannon Couch was on fire under the basket, a tough task to stop for the Baggie's defence.
Swifts new recruit Tayla Lembo was an inclusion to the side, as key defender Tara Long, unavailable for round one.
Coach Courtney Morrow said despite the loss, the team as a whole learnt a lot from the day.
"Natimuk is a great side who have been playing as a team, together, for a long time," she said.
"I thought we showed some real determination and I don't think the scoreline really showed the performance on the day.
"We are a new team and it will take us some time to put together what we have been doing at training - once you are on the court it is different all together."
Despite the 27 point margin, Morrow said the players dug deep late in the game.
"We knew the score and despite how far back we were we managed to slow down their scoring in the last quarter compared with the first three," she said.
"We also kept our heads up and still attacked the ball and scored ourselves."
Swifts changed their combinations around during the match.
"Despite the changes the girls were accepting and were up for the challenge," Morrow said.
"We identified we need to work on our fitness and it will be our focus in the coming weeks."
Natimuk coach Cheryl Sudholz said she was delighted with the win and round one was out of the way.
"You never know how under prepared or prepared you are until the first game of the season," she said.
"It felt like we hadn't finished from last year - our timing was really good.
"Due to the heat, we made quite a few changes around the mid-court to keep those fresh legs rotating."
No new players were added into the Natimuk side - despite some players recruited and added into the squad.
"We bought some players up from juniors but unfortunately they were injured," Sudholz said.
"We are hopeful to add them back into the side as they come back from injury."
Swifts turn their attention to round two as they travel to take on Noradjuha-Quantong while Natimuk host Jeparit Rainbow who in round one, had the bye.
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