GRILL’D POST-GAME REPORT ROUND 14
The Deakin Melbourne Boomers headed up north to take on the Townsville Fire in a round 14 clash to determine which team would stand alone on the top of the WNBL ladder. With both teams being level on 12 wins and four losses, there was a real sense of urgency prior to the game. This was only amplified by the reality that finals start in less than a month and home court advantage was on the line in what is an extremely crowded top four.
Mia Murray returned to the squad after missing the last three games. The Boomers went 1-and-2 during her absence, so needless to say Murray’s injection into the starting line-up was welcomed by Coach Chris Lucas and the team.
The game also commemorated Indigenous Round, with both the Boomers and Fire wearing their Indigenous uniforms celebrating the rich culture of our First Nations people.
The game got off to a frenetic start, with both teams coming out the gates strongly. An early steal and score by Kristy Wallace set the tone for the Boomers, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa was also influential early, showing aggression on both ends. Hot shooting by the Fire, which made 4-for-7 from three in the first quarter, kept them in touch, however the Boomers forced key turnovers and converted on the offensive end to keep their noses in front. They led at the end of one, 21-18.
Townsville came out firing early in the second, taking the lead through more hot shooting from deep. Wallace levelled the score mid-way through the quarter with a three, and the game was an arm-wrestle for the remainder of the half with neither team gaining any ascendency. A three at the end of the second by Townsville looked to be the difference, but a foul at the buzzer put Nelson-Ododa at the line with no time on the clock to bring the Fire’s lead back to two – Fire 37, Boomers 35 at the half.
Both teams came out shooting in the third, with Cayla George hitting a corner three to reach double figures despite a quite first half by her standards. Mitchell also started to find her stride on offence, helping the Boomers wrestle back the lead, but yet another Fire deep ball levelled the score, and Shyla Heal added a three of her own soon after to give Townsville their biggest lead of the game with a five-point buffer. Despite losing momentum, the Boomers scrapped and kept in touch with the Fire, but the home team just kept making almost everything they took from three (66% three-point percentage by late in the third quarter) and held a seven-point lead at three-quarter time – 65-58.
Townsville continued to make shots to start the fourth, and extended their lead to 11 as Melbourne failed to find the bottom of the net. A George three with three minutes to go gave the visitors hope, but time was against the Boomers as they struggled to get stops on the defensive end. A Mia Murray three made it seven with two minutes remaining, and two free-throws by Mitchell cut it to five as the Boomers applied the pressure to the Fire.
A second Murray three brought it back to a two point lead with 1:10 left on the clock after she forced a clutch turnover. Wallace then took the ball to the basket after a Boomers defensive stop to level the game with only 28 seconds left. Townsville was unable to hit the final shot, and the game headed to overtime.
OT was a tight affair, with both teams trading baskets. Wallace and Heal each hit threes for their respective teams, and Mitchell stayed aggressive going to the hole, but the teams were unable to be separated, and a second overtime was required with the score locked at 86.
2OT was again a see-sawing battle at the start, but Townsville broke the deadlock to string back-to-back baskets together to lead by four after a Hawkins drive and score. With the momentum clearly swinging to the home team, the Boomers were running out of time, and a Taylor Ortlepp three came too late as the Fire withstood a gutsy Boomers charge to win by 5 – 101, 96.
Tiffany Mitchell was characteristically tough, contributing 21 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists to be Player of the Game. Kristy Wallace and her trademark tenacity also featured heavily with 26, 6 and 3. Olivia Nelson-Ododa come up with 17, 10 and 4 blocks as she continued to grow in her role.
The Boomers drop to third on the Cygnett WNBL Ladder with tonight’s loss. Townsville and Southside take up the top two respectively, however the Boomers can have an immediate say in how this will look come the end of round 14 as they have a trip to Sydney this Sunday to take on the Flames.
The next Boomers home game, which is also the final home game of the season, is March 5 at the Boom Box in Parkville. Tickets are available by clicking here.