Boomers take thrilling win to bring Grand Final series to a decider

Grand Finals Series: Game Two v Perth Lynx
WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL 2022

The Deakin Melbourne Boomers battled it out to a one-point victory in the second game of the Grand Final series against Perth Lynx on the road – bringing the Grand Final series back home for the decider clash.

The second game of the Grand Final series came to a nail-biting end, as Perth’s Marina Mabrey had the opportunity to take the game to overtime with a three-point foul, missing the final shot at the foul line and giving Melbourne the victory, 76 – 75.

Lindsay Allen fired up at the Bendat Basketball Centre in Perth with a dominant point guard performance, ending with a team-high 29 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and shooting at 80% from the perimeter.

Cayla George led her side to victory, showing what she can do end-to-end as she made crucial rebounds and pulled up clutch from the three-point line. The Melbourne captain finished with a double-double – 22 points, 12 rebounds – as well as three assists and two steals.

The first term had both teams going bucket for bucket. Perth’s Darcee Garbin started the scoreboard with a strong drive into the key.

Melbourne were quick to respond, as Tess Madgen capitalised on a second chance opportunity with an offensive rebound, passing to an open Allen at the perimeter.

Perth’s Mabrey and Lauren Scherf were quick to get on the scoreboard in the opening minutes, although with the company of Melbourne’s George and Tiffany Mitchell, also hitting shots inside the paint.

Not only was Allen hitting from beyond the arc, but she also linked up with Ezi Magbegor – Magbegor finishing at the basket.

Perth found momentum halfway through the first term, although within the final two minutes, Magbegor brought the scoreboard pressure.

Magbegor gave Madgen an inside look – finishing at the basket and taking advantage of Perth’s three-quarter court press, as the key opened up for a strong drive to the basket.

George finished the term with a shot from beyond the arc and a strong drive to the basket, bringing Melbourne back within two points. Perth led at the break, 25 – 28.

The high pressure in defence forced hard baskets and saw both teams misfiring in the opening of the second term. George hit yet another three-pointer, keeping Melbourne on the scoreboard.

Penina Davidson displayed her dominance inside the key, as she brought down a crucial offensive rebound, resulting in Allen converting on a layup. This was shortly followed by linking up with Mitchell and converting on a three-point play with five minutes remaining, bringing Melbourne back within one point, 33 – 34.

The closing minutes of the second term was a possession game with both teams showing their toughness and determination. Mitchell showcased her explosiveness once again as she pulled down a defensive rebound and converted at the other end – drawing a foul and capitalising at the line for two points.

George continued to bring the pressure with an intercept on Perth’s pass, keeping the ball in Melbourne’s half and resulting on Allen hitting two from the free-throw line. A minute was left of the term, Perth’s Mabrey hit a long two-pointer bucker, evening the score (39 – 39).

Perth had the final play of the term as they forced a turnover but misfired. Allen got the rebound, exploding down the court and pulled up at the perimeter for three in the final two seconds, giving Melbourne the lead at half time, 42 – 39.

Melbourne continued to ignite their fire as George got her own offensive rebound, finishing at the basket. Mitchell was quick to capitalise on a mishandled ball, entering the paint for a jump shot.

Perth’s Mabrey closed Melbourne’s five-point lead with a shot from beyond the arc, although George was quick to respond with her own three at the other end.

Carley Ernst brought the pressure at both ends of the court, intercepting a Perth pass in transition and executing a strong drive to the basket for Melbourne.

Inside the final three minutes of the term, Allen took on three defenders with a jump shot from the foul line, extending the Melbourne lead by nine points. Perth’s Garbin kept her team on the scoreboard with two consecutive shots from beyond the arc.

Perth’s Alex Sharp brought the pressure in defensive rebounds, making Melbourne work hard and dig deep to find extra hunger for the ball in the closing minutes.

Davidson and Allen linked up, as Davidson finished at the basket, giving Melbourne a three-point lead going into the final term, 59 – 56.

Perth had the momentum in the opening minutes of the final term. Allen kept Melbourne on the board once again, with a jump shot from the foul line. Melbourne brought the defensive pressure, causing misfires, turnovers and mishandles from Perth.

Melbourne stopped Perth capitalising on second chance possessions at any opportunity, bringing the pressure on rebounds.

It was an arm wrestle for the lead all night, as a jump shot from Magbegor inside the paint brought Melbourne to within one-point, once again.

The following few minutes saw the scores continue to see-saw. With two minutes left, Melbourne were up by four, but the gap was quickly closed as Perth’s Mabrey hit from beyond the arc.

Melbourne were in the lead by one-point with one minute remaining. The pressure was high, and the Boomers were putting everything on the line.

Allen pulled in three defenders as she entered the paint, passing straight out to George, pulling up clutch from the perimeter as she hit a three with 40 seconds remaining.

Nine seconds remaining on the clock, Perth’s Mabrey responded with another shot from beyond the arc, maintaining the one-point lead for Melbourne.

George was sent to the foul line in the dying minutes, extending the lead to three points.

Perth’s Mabrey was fouled at the perimeter with 0.2 seconds left and sent to the foul line but didn’t hit on the last opportunity, giving Melbourne the win and sending the Grand Final series into game three at the Boom Box.

There were 13 lead changes throughout the game. It was a tug-of-war for all four terms, as both teams battled for momentum to pull away from the opposition.

It all comes down to game three – the decider. Can Melbourne team use the energy at home to carry them to victory? One thing is for sure, we are in for a spectacular display of basketball at the Boom Box.

Let’s lift the Boomers to victory and fill the stands with the purple haze; We are Fearless for Finals.