Sunday 10th of March 2013.
Bendigo edge out Townsville to win WNBL Grandfinal
What a good fast paced game it was. I think Womens Basketball is the winner.
In the lead up to the game, 38-year-old Bendigo point guard Kristi Harrower was frequently asked whether she would be ending a career that has gleaned four Olympic and two world championship medals.
Bendigo produced the fairytale ending as they defeated fellow maiden WNBL basketball grand finalist Townsville 71 to 57 at Bendigo Stadium on Sunday. Townsville, who were coming off successive finals away wins at Adelaide and Dandenong, scrapped hard defensively, but couldn't reproduce the execution and energy of those upset victories.
The game started with both teams appearing to have left any Grand Final nerves behind, but it didn’t take long for the home side to rise to the occasion in front of a packed crowd that did their best to create a cauldron-like atmosphere.
Both teams blocked well and it was Bendigo that surged ahead with a 50% scoring record compared to Townsville’s 29%.
The home team was energised by a 13-0 stretch in the middle of the first quarter led by Griffin who ran the floor and worked the boards with boundless energy, taking the Spirit to the first break with a seven point lead.
A three point bomb at the start of the second from Chelsea Aubrey extended Bendigo’s lead to ten as the Spirit looked to maintain the upper hand and shut Townsville down. A worrying sign for the Fire saw work-horse captain Rachael Flanagan earn her third personal foul and she left the court as New Zealand import Micaela Cocks took over the point guard duty.
With their backs against the wall, the lead could have got away for Bendigo who had control of most of the quarter but Townsville’s fighting spirit came to the fore. It could be coincidental but as Bendigo captain Kristi Harrower took a break, the momentum seemed to shift. Townsville’s offensive game lifted and they scored six unanswered points before Harrower returned to the court as the Fire came to within four points.
11 points from Griffin and 8 from team big Gabe Richards saw the Sprit go into the half time break with a 32-27 score line.
A frenetic start to the third quarter saw the Townsville Fire step up and reign the match to within 2 points as Bendigo surrendered three team fouls in the first three minutes. As Townsville Captain Rachael Flanagan remained on the bench it was the team’s spiritual leader Jess Foley, playing her last game in the WNBL who stepped up, scoring 7 points to take Townsville to 2 points of Bendigo 36-38.
Just when Townsville looked to start to control proceedings, the Spirit responded with back to back baskets and a run of 8 points to take the lead back to double figures for the first time since the second quarter.
Momentum then swung well and truly Bendigo’s way and was capped off by a monster three pointer from Chelsey Aubrey with 5 on the clock to take the home team into the final break with an 11 point lead.
The final quarter was going to be a tough ask of Townsville but no one would write off a team who had downed Adelaide and Dandenong on its way to the title game.
Defence was the key as both teams were determined to make the other earn their baskets. In testament to their defensive efforts, no points were recorded until four minutes into the final term.
Again it was Griffin who was tireless, scoring the first 7 of Bendigo’s points as they extended their lead to 12.
A highlight of the match and particularly on show at the start of the final quarter was the match-up between Townsville’s Jess Adair and Bendigo’s Gabe Richards who used all their strength and size in a body clash that displayed all their athleticism and talent.
As the clock counted down the packed crowd crowd rose to their feet to applaud both sides in what was an outstanding display from both teams and a wonderful advertisement for the Australian Women’s Basketball which has firmly established itself as one of the best leagues in the world.
