Sunbury Jets lift Big V basketball silverware for a second consecutive year after claiming State Championship title - Sep 4, 2017
SUNBURY Jets have created Big V basketball history, becoming the first team to claim the Division 1 and State Championship women's titles in consecutive seasons. The all-conquering Jets wrapped up the grand final series 2-0 in front of a passionate home crowd on Saturday night, defeating Bulleen Boomers. 'It feels really good,' coach Kennedy Kereama said. 'There is relief, but at the same time a certain sense of accomplishment. 'The team and coaching staff and myself, this is what we wanted to do, what we wanted to achieve. 'There is only one team that can call themselves state champions, so there are a lot of different feelings but we are very excited.' The Jets went through 2016 undefeated on their way to the Division 1 title and continued that run for 11 games this year, before dropping four of their last nine games, but still finished minor premier. They then lost the first game of their semi-final series against Knox Raiders, but bounced back to win four consecutive matches and finish off the season in style. The Jets went through 2016 undefeated on their way to the Division 1 title and continued that run for 11 games this year, before dropping four of their last nine games, but still finished minor premier. They then lost the first game of their semi-final series against Knox Raiders, but bounced back to win four consecutive matches and finish off the season in style. 'I don't think we ever got to a level of comfort,' Kereama said. 'Bulleen just kept coming back at us. It was very nervy but we held our composure and closed the season off and it was one of our strengths all season - defence - that got us there. 'It is an amazing achievement and I feel very privileged to be part of it with the club at Sunbury, the group of women and the coaching staff. 'You don't get to compete for championships every year.' Karen Duever finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, with Josie Stockill logging 16 points and seven rebounds. Fellow starters Orla O'Reilly, Monique Stevens (160-PG-91, college: NW Missouri St.) and Chelsea Burns (177-G/F, college: Utah St.) also had solid games, while Shea Crotty (165-G-92), Rebecca Van Kuyk (183-F-90) and Alex Darby played vital roles during their time on court. Courtesy of: heraldsun.com.au
Tigers claim historic championship as North lose again - Aug 20, 2017
The Southern Tigers have emphatically ended their 21-year title drought, riding on the back of a wild fan-base to defeat North Adelaide by four points at Titanium Security Arena. Mollie McKendrick (183-F-93, college: Boston U.) earned MVP honours for her efforts on the night, scoring 17 points and 10 boards, many of which coming in a decisive second half performance. The Rockets however will be left to rue missed opportunities, in what was their fourth grand final loss in the past six seasons. In their first grand final since 1996, the Tigers struggled to find their feet, as Norrisha Victrum (165-PG-93, college: Marshall) (13 points) had the favourites on the board early. North Adelaide were at their punishing best on transition, but a Tara Dodman triple calmed the nerves for Southern, as they limited the damage to enter quarter time down by four. In her 200 th match, Kirsty Williams (173-G-90) looked strong early but was left worse for wear after a sickening collision, with the veteran sadly taking no further part in the match. North consolidated despite the loss of their captain, as a tough second term saw the margin extend to six in favour of the Rockets. Jemma Thacker (12 points) cut the gap to a solitary point for Southern after two quick-fire baskets, before she rejected Victrum's weaving layup, as her side took the mantle in a frenetic championship term. As North Adelaide began to lose contact, Alexandra Green lost her contact, literally, as play temporarily halted to search for the Southern star's missing lens. Regardless, the Tigers continued to feed off of a maniacal crowd, entering three-quarter time ahead, 48-46. The Rockets seemed shell-shocked and continued to fall away in the last. Alexandra Green (16 points) hit two triples to extend the lead to nine points in a match that was fast becoming Southern's to lose. Jo Hill (182-F/G-73) (17 points, 14 rebounds) spent much of the second half being hounded by Southern fans, but - in what may be her final match - showed admirable fight and began to spark the Rockets. A crucial and-one from Tayla Corrigan brought the margin down to three, and as the tie entered its final two minutes, the opposing teams went basket-for- basket as the atmosphere continue to build. Corrigan was in the thick of the action, landing consecutive blocks before missing a routine basket to have the Rockets entering the final 45 seconds down, 61-62. In a crucial moment, Alexandra Green stood tall for the Tigers, hitting three from four from the line to extend the margin to an invaluable four points with just ten seconds remaining. Opal Mader (14 points) spurned the crucial three-point jumper that held North Adelaide's last title hopes, as the Southern Tigers saw out the clock to secure their awesome, drought-ending championship. Courtesy of: Premier League
Brisbane Spartans clinch 2016/17 QBL title - Aug 26, 2017
Brisbane Spartans - Mackay Meteorettes 70-66
Brisbane Spartans clinch 2016/17 QBL title as they swept the finals series against Mackay Meteorettes 2-0. In the second game they posted a 70-66 win to seal the title. Trailing 5 points at the halftime, Brisbane Spartans needed a strong 23-13 surge in the second period. They could not however keep the lead as the Meteorettes won the third quarter 17-10 to take the lead back. Only due to 19-13 in the last stanza, Brisbane Spartans celebrated the victory. Ashleigh Karaitiana (183-G-92, college: Hawaii) top-scored for the winners with 24 points and Aja Parham (183-G/F-84, college: Boston Coll.) netted 17. Nadeen Payne (188-F/C-93) replied with 26 points in a loss, while Micaela Cocks (174-G-86, college: Oregon) and Jacqui Zelenka (169-F-92) nailed 11 apiece.
Farnworth inspires Perry Lakes to seventh women's SBL championship - Sep 3, 2017
Antonia Farnworth wasn't going to be denied her first championship in Australia leading the Perry Lakes Hawks to a 59-48 Women's SBL Grand Final victory over the Mandurah Magic at Bendat Basketball Centre on Friday night. The Lady Hawks and Magic had been the two dominant teams in the SBL throughout the 2017 season setting the stage for a tantalising Grand Final. Mandurah was searching for its maiden championship and started promisingly with co-captain Rachel Halleen (G-90) flying under the radar and hitting three opening quarter triples. With seven straight points to start the second quarter the Magic threatened to open a big lead but it only got to seven and remained just two at half-time. A combination of Antonia Farnworth being unstoppable offensively for the Hawks and then defensive specialist Janique Kautsky (178-G/F-90, college: Tulane) only really playing in the fourth quarter and shutting down Magic dynamo Nici Gilday (174-G, college: Santa Clara) saw Perry Lakes come away with the seven-point Grand Final victory. It is Perry Lakes' seventh Women's SBL championship and first since 2008 in what was their 13th Grand Final appearance. It is the Hawks' first title since Bendat Basketball Centre was built as well. Unfortunately for Mandurah in its fifth Grand Final appearance the Magic are still yet to win that elusive SBL championship. Antonia Farnworth took out the Grand Final MVP award after her dominant performance, particularly in the second half where she had 18 of her 26 points. She shot 8-of-18 from the field, 3-of-7 from downtown and 7-of-8 at the foul line. Remarkably it is the first championship she has won at any level since coming to Australia from Christchurch in 2009. She has since played in the WNBL for the Dandenong Rangers, Bendigo Spirit, Adelaide Lightning and West Coast Waves/Perth Lynx and at state league level for the Albury Wodonga Raiders, Bendigo Braves, Willetton Tigers, Joondalup Wolves and now in her second season at Perry Lakes, she finally broke through. Lauren Jeffers (170-G-88) did a terrific job as point guard for the Lady Hawks with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Janique Kautsky's 10 minutes of defence in the last quarter on Nici Gilday was brilliant. She also had four points. Natalie Burton (194-C/F-89, college: W.Virginia, agency: LBM Management) scored her only two points in the last quarter but she fought hard for 15 rebounds and four steals. Sarah Donovan (188-F/C-93) also had seven points, eight rebounds and three steals for Perry Lakes. Perry Lakes coach Deanna Smith, in her first season in charge since retiring as a player 12 months earlier, was blown away by her team's performance. 'Oh my goodness, wow I don't know how to describe the feeling. I'm just really proud of the girls and it's not a relief now, I'm just stoked. They played their butts off, they played hard, they fought and to come out with the win was fantastic,' Smith said. 'Credit to Mandurah, they are a solid team and we've been really big on defence all season and that was our focus tonight. That was a big factor in getting us over the line.' Despite being shut down in the last quarter, Nici Gilday top-scored for the Magic with 20 points and five rebounds. Magic co-captain Rachel Halleen had 10 points on the back of those three first quarter triples while Carly Boag finished with seven points, 12 rebounds and four steals despite not scoring until there was a minute left in the third period. One of the SBL's all-time greats Casey Mihovilovich had seven points and three assists but unfortunately has now played in all five of Mandurah's losing Grand Finals in the club's history. The first score of the Grand Final came to Perry Lakes guard Lauren Jeffers but each time Magic captain Rachel Halleen a three-pointer in the first term the Lady Hawks went back in front. That happened three times and the Magic led 16-15 by quarter-time. Kasey Miegel then hit two free-throws to start the second quarter before Gilday went on an inspired run with three jumpers in three minutes to give the Magic their game-high lead of seven points. But it was Sarah Donovan who gave the Perry Lakes a spark with six points in the last three minutes to cut Mandurah's lead to two points by the main break. Remarkably star WNBL bigs Natalie Burton and Carly Boag both went into half-time scoreless for their respective sides. Gilday stretched Mandurah's lead back to four to start the third quarter but then Perry Lakes went on its best run of the game so far with nine straight points punctuated by a triple from Toni Antonia Farnworth. When Antonia Farnworth hit another three the Hawks' lead grew to six but Mandurah did stead before three quarter-time with the last six points with that run started with a triple from Boag that was her first points of the game. Boag then put the Magic back in front to start the fourth term but then Natalie Burton got her first and only points of the game level things up. A basket from Antonia Farnworth and free-throws from Janique Kautsky then saw the Hawks go up by four. Then after a basket for Mandurah from Boag, it was all Antonia Farnworth as she scored the game's next six points to put the result beyond doubt with the Lady Hawks up by eight with a minute to go, and going on to win by 11. The Men's SBL Grand Final will now take place on Saturday night between the Joondalup City Wolves and Perth Redbacks. Courtesy of: sbl.asn.au
SuperCats claim first SEABL championship with second half comeback - Sep 3, 2017
The Geelong Supercats have reached the ultimate success in their first ever SEABL Grand Final, defeating the Bendigo Braves 76-67 on the back of a 50-27 second half. Trailing by 14 at the main break, Geelong coach David Herbert implored his team to play with freedom in the second half and they came out with an 8-0 run. They were intent on getting their running game going while their defence was also exceptional, completely shutting Bendigo out of the paint and holding them scoreless for five minutes. Kelly Wilson (170-G-84) was able to break the drought for the Braves but with the Supercats owning the front court, it opened up the court and Ellen Kett (170-PG-94) took full advantage. She went on a blistering two-minute spree, scoring 11 points with three three-pointers to give Geelong their first lead of the game. Her incredible shooting also sparked the Geelong fans who had made their way down the highway and ensured the Supercats had all the momentum. A late three-point play from Jessie Rennie kept Bendigo in front by just a point a three-quarter time but the Supercats' momentum could not be slowed, hitting four of their first six shots of the final period. Ebony Rolph (181-G-94) came alive with a couple of nice jumpers but Bianca Dufelmeier (171-G-92, college: UAB) (eight point) kept touch courtesy of consecutive cuts to the basket and she then put the Braves back in front with a corner three-pointer as the game entered the final three minutes. Maddison Wild (188-C-95, college: W.Texas A&M) came off the bench with a turnaround jumper however Sara Blicavs (188-F-93) (25 points, 13 boards) would not be denied with a quick response. Isabella Brancatisano then picked up a steal and ran the length of the court, scoring a tough lay-up through contact to move the Supercats ahead by three with 1:20 remaining. Rolph (12 points, seven rebounds) drilled a baseline jumper on the following possession and Bendigo had a chance to set up a play out of a time-out but a stop at the other end of the floor for Geelong sent the bench into celebrations before Kett sealed the victory from the free-throw line. 'I was really proud of the way the girls stepped up in that third quarter,' said Supercats head coach David Herbert . 'Ellen stood tall. I was saying to the assistant coaches she's the X-factor for us, if she gets going we're in great shape and she was amazing in that quarter. 'We threw the zone out on the floor in the third quarter, that obviously changed the tempo of the game. 'We were able to get control and ascendancy from there and on the back of that I felt we were going to win.' Coming into the clash, one of the key match-ups to watch was Blicavs' battle with Chante Black (195-C-85, college: Duke) but Black took the ascendancy early with eight quick points while Geelong showed a few nerves with 1-7 shooting to start. They found themselves trailing 2-10 before Blicavs scored the first seven points for her side but Black continued to go to work, tallying 12 points and a block by quarter-time to give the Braves a nine-point edge. The first break came at the perfect time for the Supercats though who were able to re-group and start the second term with a 7-0 run as Isabella Brancatisano (eight points, six assists) knocked down a three to combine with Blicavs who had a double-double in just 16 minutes. Their momentum did not last long though with Kelly Wilson (12 points, ten rebounds, eight assists) controlling the tempo from the point guard position, penetrating with drives and dishing to her front court. With Ashley Rininger (193-F/C, college: Liberty) coming off the bench, the Braves front court were dominating down low and she added 12 points and eight rebounds for the game. Alongside Black (15 points, nine rebounds) and Carlie Smith (11 points, nine boards) who kept the scoreboard ticking over, Bendigo opened up a game-high 14-point lead at half-time but it would not be enough to contain Geelong's second half onslaught. For her inspirational third quarter, Kett was awarded the Barb Barton medal as the Grand Final MVP. She finished with 17 points, 11 of which came in the third quarter when she turned the game on its heads while also adding six rebounds and two assists overall. 'We've got a function back in Geelong so we're looking forward to getting back there and enjoying the night,' said Herbert. 'I'm so proud of these girls, they did a tremendous job.' Courtesy of: seabl.com.au
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles conquer Waratah title - Aug 14, 2017
Manly Warringah - North Bears 58:56
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are 2017 Waratah champions. They prevailed against North Bears in the title clash. Belinda Snell (180-SF-81) tallied 18 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the winners. She was trumped the MVP after the Final. Manly Warringah eked out an 18:17 lead ten minutes into the game. They boosted the gap at 4-point mark at the interval 34:30. North Bears though narrowed the deficit and eventually denied it in the third term. The teams entered the final period tied at 44. But the Sea Eagles held their opponents to just 12 points in the fourth quarter and snatched victory. Rebecca Duke (183-G/F-87) netted 12 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the winners. Kallie Hovatter (175-G-89, college: Elon) answered with 15 points for North Bears. Kate Seebohm (170-G-91, college: California, PA) had 11 points in the loss.
Mandurah's Nici Gilday wins all-star game MVP - Jun 6, 2017
Mandurah Magic star Nici Gilday (170-G, college: Santa Clara) put on a scintillating display for fans at the Women's State Basketball League all-star game on her way to claiming MVP honours for the day. Gilday tallied a triple-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for the South as they trampled the Northern all-stars 106-66. Her all-around performance comes in the midst of what has been a stellar season for the former Santa Clara University basketballer, who has been a huge part in helping the Magic to a 12-1 record through their first 13 games. Gilday is averaging 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists on the regular season. But she was not the only Magic star to shine at the all-star game, with teammates Carly Boag (188-F-95, college: Minot St.) and Casey Mihovilovich (173-G-82) putting in strong performances. Boag started at the centre position and notched 18 points, 12 rebounds and three steals for the match. She was the leading scorer for the match, along with teammate Ali Schwagmeyer (180-F-90, college: Quincy) and the North's Natalie Burton (194-C/F-89, college: W.Virginia, agency: LBM Management) who also poured in 18 points. Mihovilovich came off the bench in her seventh all-star appearance, playing just under 19 minutes for six points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals. The trio was coached by a familiar face, with Mandurah's Randy Miegel leading the South all-stars. The game is used to raise funds for Lifeline WA. Courtesy of: mandurahmail.com.au
Australian SBL All-Star Game 2017 Participants - Jun 10, 2017
North All-Star Team
Amos
Harmon
Lee
Burton
Jeffers
7 Antonia
Farnworth of Perry Lakes Hawks 8 Shani Amos (170-G-91) of Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves 9 Chelsea Belcher of Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves 11 Lauren Jeffers (170-G-88) of Perry Lakes Hawks 12 Emilee Harmon (188-F) of Perth Redbacks 15 Ellyce Ironmonger (193-F/C-89) of Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves 17 Sarah Donovan (188-F/C-93) of Pery Lakes Hawks 22 Jennie Rintala (F/C-90) of Kalamuda Eastern Suns 23 Kisha Lee (182-F-85) of Stirling Senators 24 Natalie Burton (194-C/F-89) of Perry Lakes Hawks 32 Klara Wischer (185-F-91) of Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves
