Post-Game Report January 10 v Townsville Fire
Wednesday night’s top-of-the-table match-up between the Deakin Melbourne Boomers and the Townsville Fire was poised to be a blockbuster in the Cygnett WNBL schedule. The Boomers were without Head Coach Chris Lucas and Kristy Wallace due to Covid protocols which saw Assistant Coach Kristie Harrower make her WNBL Head Coach debut. Despite the Boomers keeping a relatively close scoreline all night, they suffered their first loss of 2024, 57-69, and slipped to 3rd on the Cygnett WNBL ladder.
It was a tight basketball game to begin the first, with Jordin Canada opening the scoring for the Boomers and Naz Hillmon picking up where she left off being a dominant force in the paint. The Fire were proving quickly though why they are the front runners in the competition with their outside shooting from Steph Reid and Sami Whitcomb. The height of Amanda Zahui B and the strength of Zitina Aokuso was something the Boomers were unable to match. Poor field goal percentage (12%) for the Boomers proved costly as they trailed, 19-10 at the first break.
The Boomers looked to edge a comeback in the second as Canada began the quarter with a tough layup which saw the Boom Box erupt. Keely Froling started to find her groove in the game hitting some crucial shots to bring the Boomers within four points of the Fire early in the quarter. Hillmon continued to provide options in the paint however, as soon as the Boomers clawed at the Fire’s lead, they were quick to find answers to edge out the margin more. The Fire forced the Boomers into costly errors and were able to capitalise on these on the offensive end. This time it was Courtney Woods of the Fire who damaged the scoreboard adding 13 points to her tally in the second and gave the Fire a healthy 44-30 lead at the half.
Hillmon and Froling were consistent on the scoreboard for the Boomers to begin the third to try and cut down the Fire’s margin. The match-up under the ring was one the Fire kept winning and damaged the Boomers on the scoreboard. Penina Davidson came off the bench and splashed a huge three mid-way through the quarter to give the Boomers a much-needed burst of energy. Tera Reed was another off the bench for the Boomers who found her range from beyond the arc to bring them within 12 heading into the final term.
The momentum was all with Reed at the start of the fourth as she hit yet another bucket from beyond the arc and a silky layup which kept the Boomers in touch with the Fire. Froling lead from the front with Hillmon and Canada to try to mount a comeback however, just when the Boomers would gain scoring momentum, the Fire were quick to swing the game back on their terms. Points scored off turnovers and winning the height match-up assisted the Fire to take the win, 69-57.
The Melbourne Boomers will face the Townsville Fire again on Saturday, January 13 at 7pm at the Boom Box. A win for the Boomers is crucial to maintain their place in the top 4. Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased here.