The Boomers fall shy in opening game of the Grand Final series
Grand Final Series: Game One v Perth Lynx
SATURDAY 2 APRIL 2022
The Deakin Melbourne Boomers were unable to respond to Perth Lynx’s pressure in the first game of the Grand Final series at the Boom Box on Saturday night.
Tiffany Mitchell and Ezi Magbegor kept Melbourne on the scoreboard, with a combined 31 points and 10 rebounds.
Lindsay Allen displayed a strong performance with 13 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Perth came out firing and took the momentum in the opening term, whilst Melbourne couldn’t find their shooting rhythm and break the Lynx’s defence.
Tiffany Mitchell started the first term with a steal, resulting in a fast break into the key, getting Melbourne on the score board early.
Both teams went bucket for bucket in the opening minutes.
Tess Madgen made a strong floating jump shot and Magbegor hit a turnaround jump shot.
Perth’s Marina Mabrey was on fire, as she hit three shots from the perimeter in the opening minutes, quickly responding to Melbourne.
Allen worked her magic inside the paint, as she converted at the foul line and hit another bucket.
Towards the back end of the first term, Perth found their rhythm in offensive and defensive plays, hitting consecutive shots whilst making it difficult for Melbourne to break through their defence.
Allen kept Melbourne on the board with another pull up jump shot, although, Perth got another six on the board before Carley Ernst could next make made a strong drive to the basket for the Boomers.
Mitchell and Izzy Wright linked up inside the key with a minute thirty-five remaining, Wright finishing at the basket, to reduce Perth’s lead to 10 points.
Magbegor ignited the fire for Melbourne in the closing seconds with a massive block on Mabrey’s attempt on an explosive drive to the basket.
Mitchell ended the term as she did at the start, with a steal and fiery drive to the basket. Perth led at the first break, 27 – 18.
Perth couldn’t miss in the second term as they hit from inside the paint and beyond the arc. Melbourne struggled to respond as they misfired on numerous occasions.
Perth were too strong for Melbourne in defence as the Boomers were forced to make difficult shots and couldn’t provide themselves the second chance opportunities needed.
Perth’s Darcee Garbin and Sami Whitcomb continued to light it up from beyond the arc as they got in on the three-point action.
Magbegor broke the shooting dry spell for Melbourne with a jump shot. Cayla George broke the three-point dry spell from beyond the arc, beating the shot clock.
Mitchell made yet another explosive entry into the key in the dying minutes of the term. Perth maintained momentum in the second term and led 60 – 32 at the break.
Magbegor came out firing in the third term, rebounding a Perth misfire and hitting an explosive drive to the basket. Shortly followed by working herself inside the paint for a jump shot. Perth’s Jackie Young broke a series of misfires for her team with a strong layup.
Mitchell quickly responded with a shot from beyond the arc. George hit another three for the night in response to Perth’s Garbin hitting from the perimeter once again.
Allen brought the pressure to Perth’s offence as she forced a turnover in transition and intercepted an inbound pass, shortly followed by breaking their defence with an explosive drive to the basket. Ernst and George linked up as George hit a reverse layup inside the key.
Ernst ended the term for Melbourne with a shot at the top of the perimeter. Perth’s Lauren Scherf quickly responded inside, finishing at the basket. Perth continued to lead, 76 – 50.
Melbourne started to show their fire in the final term as they began to capitalise on defensive rebounds, converting at the other end. Madgen showed her defensive efforts as she intercepted a Perth pass, making an explosive drive to the basket.
Madgen provided her team with numerous opportunities with her defensive rebounding as Allen capitalised with a shot from beyond the arc. Mitchell ignited the team in the closing minutes as she hit two jump shots and from the perimeter.
Rachel Brewster stole the ball in a defensive rebound battle, capitalising on a fast break and executing a strong layup. Lily Scanlon followed in her teammate’s footsteps with a defensive rebound and explosive drive to the basket.
Despite Melbourne’s efforts, Perth seemed to have a response every time. Perth maintained their lead throughout the match, taking the first game of the Grand Finals series, 98 – 71.
The championship title is still up for grabs, and we are very much still in this battle. The Boomers will ignite their fire and will be ready to bounce back for the second game of the Grand Final series on Wednesday.
Melbourne will be on the road to Perth for the second game of the Grand Final series and you can watch all the action on ABC iView, Foxtel and Kayo, this Wednesday 6th April at 9:00pm AEDT.