Woodville Warriors conquer NBL1 Central championship title

The Woodville Warriors for the first time in their history have conquered SA basketball everest storming to a maiden NBL1 Central title against the Sturt Sabres 73-65 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. The Warriors and Sabres went head to head early on in a tight opening with the Sabres leading after the first few minutes 6-4 with an AAMI timeout to the Warriors. Coach Vicki Daldy elicited the response as Grand Canyon Lopes power forward Laura Erikstrup (188-F, college: GCU) took it on herself to get the green and gold moving. Her impact on the glass was telling in the contest as she helped the Warriors to multiple second chance opportunities with a couple of putbacks of her own. Jordan Hunter (172-G-1990, college: SEMO) experienced in her play from WNBL down to NBL1 finals steadied from the free throw line as the Warriors took a 16-10 lead at quarter-time. The second term began disastrously for the Sabres as Erikstrup and Jasmin Fejo (177-G-2000) freely scored at will with the Warriors production of points a swelling force in the floor - forcing an AAMI timeout to Tim Shortt with the Sabres giving up 16-4 since the Warriors timeout in the first term. It continued to stagnate for the Sabres as Erin Phillips (173-PG-1985) inserted her influence on the contest. The margin was further stretched with the reliable Naomi Allotey extending it out to 29-15 and another AAMI timeout headed the way of the Sabres - struggling to put a score on the board. The Warriors made rebounds a priority but with Fejo (Nine points and nine rebounds) struggling with a knock sustained in the term - Daldy turned to her other import who has played an important role in the season. Having shown glimpses in her two seasons here Ida Andersson (173-G-1996, college: Barry) found an open look and unlocked all her ability with back to back triples then making the jumper. Erikstrup dealt out even more pain for the Sabres as the Warriors lit their way up to a 40-21 lead at the half and in control after a 25-12 stanza. Out of halftime the Sabres naturally rallied knowing the history on the the line for both sides led by Sydney Mech and the courageous captain herself Nicola Mathews (173-G, college: App State) - the Warriors however kept answering by committee with Erikstrup and Andersson striking again to force another AAMI timeout and alarm bells ringing for the Sabres. One of the recruits of the year Katia Stamatelopoulos (173-G, college: Colorado St.) answered the call of Shortt with some heads up plays as well as some attack at the rim with the Sabres steadily chipping away at the margin to cut it back to 57-43 with the momentum suddenly shifting to the team in blue. It became a cause for concern as Mech (Nine points, eight rebounds and three assists) and Mathews (13 points and six rebounds) with her outside bomb forced Daldy into the AAMI timeout. Immediately Andersson responded with a triple then Hunter pushed it back out to 64-50 as the Sabres called for one right back. The Walker-Roberts of Mia and Zoe (Eight points and four rebounds) motored their way into the game as did Stamatelopoulos (22 points including 18 in second half with seven rebounds) to bring it back to single figures with a few minutes left. Steading again was Hunter (10 points, eight rebounds and five assists) and Erikstrup as they’d done throughout the night as Erikstrup’s final deuce nailed it shut for the Sabres as the Warriors conquered their mountain for the first time in their history 73-65. Championship coach Vicki Daldy spoke to NBL1 Media after the game about how the reality of what they achieved hadn’t really sunk in yet. “It’s an amazing feeling to win. We've got some of the old girls here that lost the final (back in 1997) so it’s great we can bring it home for them and the club.” When the Sabres challenged - Vicki went back to her old playbook that she had the whole finals series when the game was on the line in the final term. “Just to be calm as we were playing like we were down so we knew they’d make a run at us so we had to get our excitement and energy up again and we were able to do so.” Vicki was full of praise for her two imports who led the way in their respective roles with Ida Andersson (14 points with four triples at 50 percent) and Laura Erikstrup keys in the contest. “I think we were telling her she should’ve put more shots up - Ida was big for us, Laura is a team player and was such a big player for us.” When putting together the roster and changing the style of play the Warriors had played previously Vicki shared what has and continues to be successful for the teams she’s been a part of and coached to the ultimate - and it really was no secret. “Defence was the big difference for us - when I was at Norwood Jessica Foley (182-G-1983, college: Duke) was the biggest advocate that you may not shoot well but you could control your defence.” With Erin Phillips sailing off into the professional sports sunset - Vicki and her tight as ever also had conquered that final mountain of her sporting accolades to complete the Opals, WNBA, WNBL and State title brace. “Its so good - we were together at the Lightning and when she came back here that was our goal to get it done again” “No one thought we could do it so it was very satisfying to get that win” Laura Erikstrup was MVP putting together four quarters of dominant hoops with 23 points at 50 per cent, 13 rebounds including eight offensive which helped the Warriors yield 17 second chance points in 40 minutes was elated after the game. “This one's up there too (with her undefeated GCU season), my sister Sydney said to me if you win today this is going to be your second championship, to have this opportunity with these girls is amazing. Vicki reached out to me at the start of the season with her vision - I knew Vicki was a legend as were some of the girls themselves I'd be coming to play with and she saw me as a player and a person.” “The maturity of our team and our strength we had was a huge attribute in our finals run and it's been a team effort as every single game someone has gone off so to have so many different weapons and it might not be a shooting night but you can impact in so many other different ways.” Laura also praised her teammate Ida for changing the game with her minutes. “She’s been knocking them down every single day in practice” Ida added being ready for her moment at any time has been a big part of her second season with the club. “I needed to be ready for the moment to fight for this club which I love so much and this is the way - I’m happy that we were able to win.” Erin Phillips also shared how the Warriors wanted to play their way in the finish to her professional career with an important Seven points, five rebounds and four assists. “Super proud to wear this Woodville Warriors jersey we came from a long way back but massive belief from Vicki and Kaye-Lee (Stuart) - we just wanted to keep playing our way our basketball.” In the end the way of the Warrior prevailed, paving again the blueprint for championship women's teams in the league for many seasons to come.
Courtesy of: nbl1.com.au