POST-GAME REPORT – NOVEMBER 4 V SOUTHSIDE FLYERS
The Deakin Melbourne Boomers have secured their second win in as many games to start the Cygnett WNBL season hot, takin down their cross-town rivals, the Southside Flyers, 77-70. It was the seventh meeting against the Flyers over the past 12 months with Southside proving familiar foes – Sara Blicavs, Aimie Rocci and Monique Conti traded teal for purple by moving across in the offseason, whilst Lou Brown and Leilani Mitchell travelled in the opposite direction.
The Flyers knocked the Boomers out of the semi-finals by one point last season, and with Southside holding the Michele Timms cup, the Boomers had all the motivation they needed.
It was another slow start for the Boomers, and Southside jumped out to a 9-0 start forcing Coach Lucas to call an early timeout. It was Naz Hillmon who opened the Boomers’ account at the 6:30 mark, which sparked the team into action and cut the lead to four. Jordin Canada came to life with a signature steal and layup, and another basket made it a one-point game. It was Southside however which went into the first break up 18-16.
Canada was hot to start the second,, quickly forging her way to 10 points. Sara Blicavs finally found her range with a key basket to put the Boomers up by five, and an excellent give-and-go saw Tera Reed score an easy two to further extend the lead. Reed went back for more soon after, with a three giving the Boomers a 10-point lead with 90 seconds left in the half. Canada’s mid-range two saw the Boomers head into the big break up 14 – 40-26.
The third started with a well-executed play giving Hillmon an and-one. Reed kept her hot shooting streak going with another three, bringing her to ten before a Canada highlight-reel assist gave her two more and the Boomers a 20-point lead. This forced the Southside Flyers into a timeout to gather themselves, and they came out forcing stops and converting on the offensive end to reduce the lead to 13. Bec Cole splashed from deep to make it a 10-0 run and cut the lead to 10. Froling restored to the balance for the Boomers with an and-one, however the Flyers kept it to a single-digit lead – 56-47 at three-quarter time.
Southside came out firing to begin the fourth, and it was only a five-point game with plenty of time remaining. But some high-low action from Blicavs to Hillmon steadied the ship. Lilly Rotunno drove and finished with class, however a Cole three for Southside reduced the lead to three with only 3:42 to go. Canada scored her first points of the second half with an and-one, putting the Boomers up by six with time ticking down. The Boomers recognised the foul count and managed clock while drawing fouls to keep the Flyers at arm’s length. Two free-throws and a flop from Maddy Rocci gave Southside hope, however the Boomers played the game out to come away with a seven-point win – 77-70.
The Boomers are now 2-0 on the season and have a handy eight-day break until they head to Sydney to take on some familiar faces in Cayla George, Tess Madgen and Guy Molloy.
Then it is back to Melbourne for their first home game of the season on November 19 against the Bendigo Spirit at The Boom Box. Tickets are available by clicking here.