deak
Years ago
North Women go down in National FInal
The Frankston Blues have defeated the North Adelaide Rockets to take the Australian Basketball Association's national title in Geelong this afternoon, 66-69.
Frankston outscored the Rockets 21-9 in the final period to sweep to the national crown.
The Blues were led by Fiona Hannon with 23 points while Kelly Lemezs added 18. The Rockets' top-scorer was Tania Dhu with 15 points.
As could be expected of a title game, the opening period was tightly-contested, with neither team able to make significant inroads early. It wasn't until the closing minutes of the period that Frankston were able to exert a small margin of ascendancy. Frankston mainstay Emily McInerny nailed a buzzer-beating three at the end of the first quarter which gave the Blues a narrow four-point lead, 22-18.
When Rockets star Erin Phillips limped off early in the second period following a couple of heavy knocks, it appeared that North Adelaide might be in trouble against the experienced Blues. The Rockets actually surged back instead and levelled the score at 28 apiece midway through the quarter.
Phillips returned shortly after but even her presence couldn't stop the Blues mounting a run. With former Australian national team member Fiona Robinson using her height advantage effectively in the paint, the Blues opened up a five-point lead late in the second. A pair of Rockets' threes eroded that margin before North Adelaide took the lead with a minute to go on a fast break lay-up. The Rockets maintained that buffer to the half, heading into the changerooms with a 38-37 advantage.
North Adelaide came out of the long break fired up to take the game at the Victorians and their lead soon extended out to 11 points early in the third, 51-40. By the end of the quarter, the Rockets still maintained a 57-48 edge and looked set to take out the national title.
At the start of the fourth however the Blues came roaring back. The Rockets were held scoreless for the first five minutes of the quarter as Frankston closed to within a single basket, 57-55.
The Rockets called a timeout to steady and managed to get back on track temporarily. With five minutes left, the North Adelaide lead was back out to seven and the Frankston momentum had slowed temporarily.
The Blues weren't to be denied however and soon came roaring back. A Kelly Lemezs bank shot with three minutes left in the game pulled Frankston back to within three points. Lemezs then made one of two free throws to close the gap to just two points. Kylie Jordan's long two tied the score at 66-66 with 1:45 left and when Lemezs was fouled going to the basket with 1:14 remaining and made both freebies, the Blues had the lead, 68-66.
It was Lemzs again who stepped to the free-throw line with 55.5 seconds on the clock after a Rockets' turnover. Lemezs made the first but it was waved off after she stepped over the line after the shot. She duly sank the second legally to give Frankston a 69-66 lead. North Adelaide had two shots at a tying three but neither troubled the ring and the Blues celebrated a remarkable comeback victory.
Michelle Musselwhite (Manly Warringah), Desiree Glaubitz (Ballarat), Rebecca Stephens (Southern Districts), Chelsea Burns (Frankston) and Erin Phillips (North Adelaide) were named to the tournament's All-Star Five. Phillips was also named as the Grand Final Most Valuable Player.
Personally, I would like to congratulate Mark and The Rocket girls on their outstanding season, coming so close to the National Championship. Congrats also to Erin Phillips who continues to take the Women's basketball scene by storm and furthering her resume at the Nationals.
Well Done, girls!!
