WNBL
Semi Final Game 2: Sydney Flames v Bendigo Spirit
Minor premiers Bendigo Spirit punched their ticket to the WNBL Grand Finals with a 17 point win over a gutsy and undermanned Sydney Flames side, in a game which was in the balance until the the final quarter.
With most of their first choice starting five out injured, and import centre Yemiyah Morris suited up but ultimately not taking the court due to her own injury concerns, the Flames went into the match as the overwhelming outsiders.
However with a big, vocal home crowd behind them, the Flames started the game with high energy and the shots were dropping, seeing Sydney jump out to a 12-3 lead early, and forcing Spirit to call a timeout after just three minutes.
WNBL All-time assists leader Kelly Willson and import Veronica Burton got Bendigo back into the game with several three pointers, but the Flames didn’t back down, led by Tahlia Tupaea. The New Zealand international was sinking shots from all parts of the court, sometimes in unconventional fashion, while Isa Brancatisano was providing energy at both ends of the floor.
When 18yr old rookie Bonnie Deas (who has started the last few games of the season due to the Flames’ injury crisis) got on the end of a pass from a falling Cayla George as the clock ran down, the hosts found themselves up by eight points at the end of an entertaining first quarter, where the teams combined for 11 three pointers at over 50% accuracy, and the home crowd were on their feet.
Whatever coach Kennedy Kareama said at the break did the trick for Bendigo, as they scored the first 11 points of the second quarter to find themselves in front in relative,y no time. Recently crowned MVP Sami Whitcomb got going in that quarter, and both she and veteran Wilson had 12 points by halftime.
The Flames stayed in the contest as they battled Bendigo’s many attacking weapons, and despite not taking many two pointers field goals, were getting to the free throw line regularly to keep themselves in the game, led by Tupaea’s 18 first half points. But with Bendigo now leading by 9 points, it felt like the brave resistance of the young and short-staffed Flames would give way.
But the Flames continued to believe after halftime, and with good friend Lauren Jackson watching in the front row, Cayla George hit an early three pointer to draw the Flames closer.
The third quarter was a neck-and-neck affair, with Bendigo maintaining their lead, but Sydney remained close enough, drawing to within three points on a couple of occasions.
In a decisive moment of the match, the Flames had the last 20 seconds of the third quarter to potentially draw level. However Tahlia Tupaea didn’t keep control of the ball, and in a carbon copy of the ending to the second quarter, Bendigo secured a steal and the ball ended in the hands of veteran Kelsey Griffin, whose three pointer pushed the margin out to six and deflated the Flames bench.
Sydney kept fighting in the final quarter - Bonnie Deas was remarkable in her efforts marking the reigning MVP Whitcomb who is twice her age, while fellow young players Carla Pitman and Caitlin Martin were making the most of their opportunities against a polished side.
The experience and class of Bendigo won through in the end, with Whitcomb recording a double double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, and five Spirit players finishing in double figures.
WNBA import guard Veronica Burton told HER WAY that Bendigo were ready for an ambush:
“They were physical from the jump. That’s finals basketball, it’s what we expected, but it was a good team win.”
Burton finished with 12 points, but spent considerable time on the bench in the second and third quarters as she sat on three personal fouls in the first half. When asked whether this changed her mindset going into the second half, she replied,
“For me, it was about not getting in my own head and still being aggressive, but being smart with being in foul trouble as well.”
Bendigo will now take on Townsville Fire for the title. With Marianna Tolo joining Wilson and Griffin this season, the trio has a chance to add another title to the championships they won at UC Capitals.
The scenes after the game on Friday night were what make the women’s game special, and is the kind of thing the league’s incoming owners and management - who were all in attendance last night - will be hoping to harness regularly. There was a deep appreciation from the Sydney crowd for what this injury-plagued team has achieved. Fans hung around for selfies and autographs, and the players honoured their support by greeting those fans despite a season-ending loss.
Flames player Emma Clarke, one of those star players who was unable to play much of the latter stages of the season, was incredibly proud of the resilience of the group,
“The amount of adversity we had in the team, with players coming in and out, people having to step up every week, it’s true testament to everyone’s effort this year.”
For this Flames team, there’s some exciting things ahead. Shaneice Swain will now head to the WNBA with LA Sparks, as will import Celeste Taylor at Phoenix Mercury alongside Sami Whitcomb, and teen Deas will play college basketball in Arkansas next season.