Though Ky was again the underdog heading into the fixture, there was cause for optimism after the Bombers put in their best performance yet in round seven against Mansfield, while Shepparton was in a rut having lost three of its past four.
Any hope that the improvement Emma Quinn’s side showed the previous week would translate evaporated from the off, the Demons scoring 11 unanswered goals to open the match, running out to an 18-4 lead at the first interval.
There was no respite for Ky as Shepparton only improved its output in the second period, piling on 22 goals, which included a run of six unanswered baskets midway through the quarter, seeing the visitors lead 40-8 at half-time.
The Bombers were able to score more goals across the third and fourth periods — adding nine in total — but the Demons continued to get better as the game progressed, scoring a whopping 48 more in the second half to win 88-17.
Lara Cunningham, Jazmin Clark and Teneisha Deery were Kyabram’s three goalscorers on the day, netting seven, six and four goals, respectively.
Shylee Donaldson, Shinae McGown, Charli Lloyd and Ada Winter-Irving all made their A-grade debuts for the Bombers in the loss, with the latter named best-on for Kyabram via its Facebook page.
Ky has a big challenge against Mooroopna next, the Bombers and Benalla being the only two winless sides in the competition eight rounds in.
