GRILL’D POST-GAME REPORT ROUND 8
The Deakin Melbourne Boomers travelled to Townsville and showed us why they’re both teams to beat in the league. It was a tight, physical battle until the end with the Boomers heading into the New Year with the win, 86-76.
Both teams picked up where they left off the last time they faced each other and started the game off physically. Olivia Nelson-Ododa started off strong in the paint recording the Boomers first two buckets of the game. The Townsville Fire were quick to respond with Lauren Nicholson and Steph Reid firing from three. Tiffany Mitchell slotted straight back into the line-up and got straight to work, although it wasn’t quite enough to contain Nicholson and Reid. Penina Davidson made an impact off the bench and embraced the contact to head to the charity stripe throughout the quarter. The Fire didn’t make it easy for the Boomers to score, leading 22-15 after the first.
The physicality continued into the second however, Kristy Wallace, Tiffany Mitchell and Miela Goodchild worked hard to tie halfway through the second, 26-26. It was basket for basket from this point onwards with Mitchell stepping up and embracing the physicality for the Boomers, to lead the scoring at the half with 11 points. The Boomers fought back to cut the Fire’s lead to just two at the end of the second, 40-38.
Wallace started the third with a bang to hit a triple, which was quickly answered with a three on the other end by Mikaela Ruef. Wallace and Nelson-Ododa combined for a good start, and Mia Murray turned back the clock with a neat reverse lay-up. It was beginning to be quite the battle between Wallace and Reid in the third, who showed us why they’re both two of the best point guards in the league. After a time-out halfway through the third, the Boomers hit a 12-0 run. Goodchild finished the quarter off with a three on the buzzer to help the Boomers to a 5-point lead, 65-60.
The fourth started off quickly with Courtney Woods of the Fire hitting a triple however, Cayla George came to play in the last and answered on the other end from beyond the arc. After finding it difficult to find the bottom of the net, George was on fire from deep and added 11 points to her tally for the quarter. Mitchell continued to be a force on the court and her return from injury was soured by a last-second injury which saw her leave the court. The Boomers held on for victory in what was a fire fight against the Fire.
Kristy Wallace turned the game around in the third in favour of the Boomers and took out Player of the Game with 18 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds. Tiff Mitchell felt right at home after returning from injury to record 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. Cayla George finished off strongly again with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Olivia Nelson-Ododa battled it out under the rim for 11 points and 7 rebounds.
The Melbourne Boomers return to the Boom Box against the Southside Flyers in Game 2 of the Melbourne Derby & Michele Timms Cup on Wednesday 4th January at 5.30pm AEDT. Tickets are on sale now and selling quickly, you can purchase yours here.