'Flying High': Peters powers Southside past Venom

• Latest News: Read more about the WNBL here.
• Latest WNBL Scores and Schedule here
• All 92 games of the 2025-26 WNBL season

The Southside Melbourne Flyers delivered a ruthless four-quarter performance to dismantle the Geelong Venom 94–52 at the VIC State Basketball Centre on January 3, never trailing and leading for 38:44 of game time.

Southside set the tone immediately with a blistering 32–6 opening quarter, overwhelming Geelong with pace, pressure and shot-making. The Flyers’ ball movement carved up the Venom defence, and their defensive activity strangled Geelong’s offensive flow, forcing rushed looks and turnovers that fuelled transition scores. By halftime the margin had already blown out to 55–18, and the contest was effectively decided.

The dominance was collective. Haley Peters was outstanding with 19 points on elite efficiency, controlling the interior and punishing mismatches. Maddy Rocci orchestrated the offence superbly, finishing with 15 points, five assists and relentless on-ball pressure. Cayla George anchored both ends with eight rebounds and seven assists, while Nya Lok and Isabelle Bourne provided spacing and defensive versatility. Off the bench, Indiah Bowyer and Manuela Puoch added punch, ensuring the intensity never dipped.

Southside’s numbers underlined the control: 64.7% shooting inside the arc, 51.7% from three, a +13 edge in rebounds and 28 assists on 37 made field goals. Geelong, by contrast, shot just 38.1% on twos and a frigid 12.5% from deep, unable to generate clean perimeter looks or sustained paint pressure.

For the Venom, Mackenzie Holmes (17 points, seven rebounds) and Shyla Heal (15 points) battled gamely, but the lack of support and Southside’s constant pressure proved overwhelming.

Key Details

• Result: Southside Melbourne Flyers 94 def. Geelong Venom 52
• When: Saturday, 3rd January 2026
• Where: VIC State Basketball Centre, Victoria
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Haley Peters (Southside Melbourne Flyers) starred with 19 points, seven rebounds and one assist in 22 minutes.
• Mackenzie Holmes (Geelong Venom) scored 17 points and had seven rebounds in 34 minutes.

What Happened

The Flyers established complete control from the opening tip, racing to a 32-6 first quarter lead that effectively decided the contest before many spectators had settled into their seats. The home side's explosive start featured a balanced offensive attack and suffocating defence that held Geelong to a dismal six points in the opening period.

Southside Melbourne maintained their relentless pressure throughout the second quarter, extending their advantage to 55-18 at half-time. The Flyers' superior ball movement resulted in 28 team assists, with captain Cayla George orchestrating the offence with seven dimes whilst contributing 13 points and eight boards in an all-round masterful display.

Peters was outstanding in the paint, shooting an efficient 7-from-9 from two-point range to anchor the Flyers' interior dominance. Her ability to finish around the basket proved unstoppable for a Venom defence that struggled to contain the consistent offensive pressure. Maddy Rocci added 15 points with perfect shooting from downtown, connecting on both of her three-point attempts.

The Flyers' shooting accuracy was the defining factor, as they connected on an impressive 65% from the field compared to Geelong's poor 38% shooting. From beyond the arc, Southside Melbourne was stellar with 15-from-29 triples (52%), while the Venom managed just three successful attempts from 24 three-point shots (13%). The defensive intensity was equally impressive, with the Flyers forcing 18 turnovers whilst committing only 18 themselves.

Despite valiant efforts from Shyla Heal, who contributed 15 points, and Holmes' 17-point performance, Geelong never threatened to mount a comeback. The 42-point margin represents one of the most comprehensive victories in recent WNBL history, highlighting the gulf in class between the teams on this particular evening.