Day 7
Day 7 - Match Reports
Women’s Semi Final – Game 99
QLD South 63 defeated NSW Country 62
Qld south made the first break away with a lead 9-2 early dropping some nice perimeter shots.
NSW were struggling to respond against the solid man defence of Qld. Inside looks were good, when they could feed the bal in their half court. Transition was a good scoring option, but wasn’t giving them scores they were needing to break away. Launching rockets, their shots were not dropping, and would rely on the offensive rebounds. When they were able to secure the rebound they would show no patience with the ball and shoot the exterior shots straight away.
In QLD end, they were efficient with their on ball screen and dribble hand off action to generate good inside position off cutters forcing NSW to decide the option to shut down. NSW dropped to a zone to slow the Qld assault and this provided the collapsing defence NSW needed to impair Qlds scoring option inside but Qld adjusted finding the shooters and NSW quickly went back to a man. Offensively NSW were running better out of their man defence and getting much better offence. NSW were relying heavily on their starters for big minutes, so whilst they were all capable players, it was clear that tired legs were having an impact with the missed shots under pressure and poor rebounding. It came down to the wire, with QLD having made a 13 point run, they held NSW to just 6 points, and now were 1 down with 35 seconds to go, QLD made a basket putting them up by one and with no scores they came out on top. QLD South progressing to the grand final and delegating NSW Country to play for Bronze.
Statistical Leaders
| Points | Rebounds | Steals | Assists | |
| E. Read (QLDS) | 12 | 3 | 2 | |
| U. Motuga (QLDS) | 12 | 13 | ||
| J. Simmons (NSWC) | 24 | 13 | 4 | |
| C. McLean (NSWC) | 20 | 4 |
Men’s Classification – Game 100
SA Country 56 defeated Vic Country 52
Vic got off to a good lead taking first quarter by 13 points, SA Country dropped a couple of shots at the start of the second but then both teams going scoreless for five minutes, as they adjusted to the differing defences. SA’s Stock setting up some good scoring options for the sac team, and on the back of good ball movement SA continued to score. Vic applying their zone to shut down the sac movement.
Coming out the half time break SA Country held the lead and were persisting with their fluid zone securing steals which turned in to steady transition offences. Vic returning to a zone and also looked tired in the fourth quarter as the transition offence of SA County looked sharp. SA Country inside penetration and rebounding of Scott was hurting VIC who were without local talent Matt Johns.
SA Country held their nerve and their lead despite a late fourth quarter fight back, but some reactive fouls gave SA the opportunity they needed to lock the game in, and come out victors.
Statistical leaders
| Points | Rebounds | Steals | Assists | |
| K. Matthews-Hampton (SAC) | 17 | 4 | 4 | |
| M. Scott (SAC) | 6 | 17 | ||
| M. Vekic (VICM) | 12 | 7 | 5 | |
| J. Nanscawen (VICM) | 18 | 12 |
Women’s Classification Game 101
Northern Territory 65 defeated Tasmania 62
NT got off he blocks first with a score from Stanislaus. Tasmania’s response was swift and NT were unable to keep up, with every two baskets ACT scored NT were only able to make one. By second quarter the pressure had risen along with the scoreline as Tasmania looked far more comfortable in their offensive movement against the high pressure defence of the NT. It was early in the second term when Tasmania had broken to an eighteen point lead with consistent leaders Able and Mole’s work, and seeing frustrations of both teams peak, with an NT unsportsmanlike foul. The game could have gone two ways after that, but the NT went into a running game and Tasmania’s outside game wasn't delivering against the very physical NT. Tasmania were racking up fouls as NTs offensive transition saw them peel the margin back to 11 points down by half time.
Tasmania were doing some sensational work defensively holding the NT away from the basket on the rebound but the physicality resulted in Tasmania clocking up fouls, and the NT going to the foul line. The NT also looked to Cubillo to run a tagging defence on Tasmania’s Abel to shut the scoring down, by taking the control away, but Tasmania still found the scores although not as much, and the NT were making their come back. Trailing by seven into the last term, the NT scored 20 points and held Tasmania to 8, and with Cubillo going to the foul line three times in the last minute, she made five shots, lifting the Territory from one down to win by 3. The NT now play off for their highest position at this level.
Statistical Leaders
| Points | Rebounds | Steals | Assists | Blocks | |
| A. Cubillo (NT) | 23 | 2 | 4 | ||
| F. Swan (NT) | 15 | 10 | 1 | ||
| T. Mole (TAS) | 21 | 14 | |||
| A.Joseph (TAS) | 10 | 4 | 3 |
Men’s Semi Final Game 102
NSW Country 72 defeated NSW Metro 47
Another physical game as you expect when state pride is on the line, and particularly a chance to make the gold medal game is on the line.
Country worked the ball efficiently in their offensive end, shifting metro to open up the scoring options inside, where Maluach was particularly good. With Metro playing a zone, Country made good use of the shot clock to find that open gap and basket, with things seemingly to fall in Country’s favour. Evidence of this was a shot Dent landed on the shot clock, adding to his 17 point total for the game.
Country’s defence was tight, suffocating the options for Metro who were unable to find space for the open shot against a man that was well executed with switching and great rotation action. Metro tried a press but was of little impact against the fast moving country players, and despite the intensity of the game, New South Metro gave the ball up far too often and the inside scores, and with a poor shooting percentage, Country outshone their state counterparts, and make it a Victoria Metropolitan v New South Wales Country Grand Final
Statistical Leaders
| Points | Rebounds | Steals | Assists | |
| L. Dent (NSWC) | 17 | 8 | ||
| J. Rauch (NSWC) | 12 | 11 | 2 | |
| J. Kalwy (NSWM) | 10 | 8 | 3 | |
| A. Waban (NSWM) | 8 | 8 |
Women’s Classification Game 103
Vic Country 53 defeated ACT 43
The women’s game was average at best, with ACT relying on their controlled offence which has held them in good stead for most of the week. This meant they looked after the ball in their end of the floor and took only the shots that needed to be taken, however, with the defensive efforts of Victoria Country, the shots were not falling in ACT favour. However, securing 6 offensive rebounds in the first quarter alone, it was clear ACT were keen to ensure that missed shots were not missed opportunities. With the increased urgency to get the job done in the second half, the pressure grew, and on the back of steals, the opportunity presented itself for easy baskets and Vic Country never looked back. Extending a lead to ten points, ACT were persistent in reducing the deficit, but in the end Vic were dominating, taking a 5 point lead into the fourth which they never conceded.
Statistical Leaders
| Points | Rebounds | Steals | Assists | |
| C. Sandiman (VICC) | 18 | 4 | 4 | |
| A. Hurst (VICC) | 11 | 7 | 6 | |
| C. Rowe (ACT) | 15 | 3 | ||
| I. Bourne (ACT) | 7 | 9 | 2 |
Men’s Classicisation 9-14 – Game 104
WA Metro 63 defeated Tasmania 57
A poor start by Tasmania making only 4 from 20 attempts, allowed WA Metro to capitalise and secure an eleven point lead into the first break. Tasmania adjusted their game to reduce the impact of WA Metro’s Hepburn on their scoring in the paint, landing extra shots outside the paint. They were still behind at the half, and trailing on quarter by quarter scoring by 4 points. The third quarter played out very similar, but it was the fourth quarter fight back by the Tasmanian’s that changed the game, but not enough to change the outcome. Holding WA to just ten points, Tasmania were converting points at their end at a rate of knots, scoring 12 points off the turnovers a lapsed WA team were giving up. A renewed sense of possibility, the gap reduced slowly, but Tasmania was still not making easy baskets and in the end, WA Metro held on to take the win.
Statistical Leaders
| Points | Rebounds | Steals | Assists | Blocks | |
| G. Ansey (WAM) | |||||
| J. Hepburn (WAM) | |||||
| B. Boag (TAS) | |||||
| K. Paul (TAS) |
Women’s’ Semi Final – Game 105
Vic Metro 48 lost to SA Metro 51
The game was in the balance from the start, with SA Metro guard Lehmann continuing her impressive week, orchestrating some brilliant offensive scores. Defensively the SA team applied a zone which allowed them to contain the Victorian bigs Magbegor and Batish, who were big offensive threats as they have been dominating the boards and stopping penetration options all week for lesser teams.
The game was never more than 4 points in any teams favour with Victoria Metro taking the lead most of the game. It was late in the fourth that SA Metro got themselves in the leading position, holding Vic Metro to only two key scorers in George and Magbegor, with George’s three point shot taking the game into overtime. A controversial finish, Vic Metro were only able to land 5 points in the overtime, while SA held a three point lead, and were going to lock the game in as won when a shot clock violation caused a 2 point score to be cancelled out and given back to SA Metro from the side line. SA took this opportunity to compose themselves and Victoria were not able change the course of the game, seeing SA Metro continue to the gold medal game.
Statistical Leaders
| Points | Rebounds | Steals | Assists | Blocks | |
| E. Fisher (VICM) | 4 | 4 | 3 | ||
| E. Magbegor (VICM) | 10 | 11 | 3 | ||
| E. Brett (SAM) | 12 | 11 | |||
| S. Simons (SAM) | 12 | 3 | 2 |
Men’s Classification 9-14 Game 106
SA Metro 82 defeated ACT 64
A game with a lot of fire, and SA Metro pulling the first points, but ACT were not far behind and pushed the ball hard to end 1 point up at the first break. SA Metro however took a stand in the second and held ACT from scoring for periods of time with their defence to have a half time lead of 12 points, after a 25 point quarter over ACT’s 12.
Into the third quarter, SA Metro were running extended defences with zone presses where they secured some steals but more importantly took time off the clock for ACT to panic in the half court, resulting ACT shooting 7 from 15 in the third, against an SA Metro 7 from 26. Showing that ACT continued to use their shot clock and offences to work the best scoring option, and their defence of SA in the third quarter held SA Metro to just 6 points in an eight minute period, that allowed them to get back to a 7 point margin. However it was the 31 point 4th quarter SA had that locked the win in, although ACT had scored as good as their third, it was SA who found range and hit 5 three pointers in the final term, helping lock the win against ACT in.
Statistical Leaders
| Points | Rebounds | |
| K. Sapwell (SAM) | 18 | 2 |
| B. Garang (SAM) | 11 | 9 |
| G. Morison (ACT) | 14 | 6 |
| A. Ophel (ACT) | 12 | 6 |
Womens Classification 9-14 Game 107
WA Country 69 defeated QLD North 44
The tough WA Country girls got off to a good lead in the first quarter, making 9 of 14 shot attempts they were not converting any better than QLD North, who were 5 from 8 shots, but WA were getting a head from quantity of shots. WA did however, wear a cost for their intensity, giving up fouls putting QLD on the foul line, but QLD were not able to make all their shots, and this resulted in QLD North being down at by eight in the first break.
A quiet quarter for both teams in the second term, WA Country were only able to add ten points to their score, and defensively leaving QLD North without a score for the last 7 minutes of the quarter, giving WA a lead of 14 points into the half time break. The game just extended from here, with another 20 point quarter, WA put QLD away in the third and while the fourth quarter was even scoring, the shooting percentage early in the game was costly for QLD including their foul shot opportunities, shooting at 13 from 26.
Statistical Leaders
| Points | Rebounds | Steals | Assists | |
| E. Burke (WAC) | 13 | 10 | ||
| C. Anderson (WAC) | 11 | 8 | ||
| H. Andrews (QLDN) | 22 | 3 | 3 | |
| R. Dance (QLDN) | 4 | 5 | 2 |
Men’s Semi Final – Game 108
Vic Metro 70 defeated New Zealand 64
A fast paced game with not just big shots, but big rebounds. The contest under the basket was fierce, as was the screen action with both teams playing a physical game, more so than we’ve seen all week. NZ having only rotated through seven players had 2 players on three fouls at the third quarter, but this didn’t slow down their contest of the ball. Victoria opting to move the ball opened up the permitter and were converting at over 50% with outstanding contributions from Bines and Barry. The Kiwis where fighting hard for a spot in the grand final, and played big, with double teaming of the Victorian shooters, but they simply couldn’t slow them down, which was lucky as NZ’s boxing out of the missed baskets was highly effective securing a massive 29 defensive rebounds holding Victoria to just 9 offensive boards for the game. New Zealand were certainly close with over ten lead changes in the game, they were real contenders, but when you give 17 turnovers to Victoria Metro, you can be sure that you’re going to feel it somewhere, and the three point line was damaging. Victoria now progress to the Grand Final.
Statistical Leaders
| Points | Rebounds | Assists | Blocks | |
| P. Bines (VICM) | 24 | 7 | ||
| M. Barry (VICM) | 12 | 3 | ||
| S. Waardenburg (NZ) | 15 | 13 | 3 | |
| M. Spooner (NZ) | 8 | 10 | 2 |
Men classification 9 -14 – Game 109
QLD North 69 defeated WA Country 44
WA Country were under pressure from the start by the North Queensland team. QLD made offensive transition difficult and the ball pressure in the half court, saw WA needing to move the ball quick. The issue with the intensity from WA resulted in them being quick to pick up fouls with their physical contest, seeing QLD go to the line a number of times.
QLD put on some tight defence which WA was able to find some great penetration options, but unable to finish, with lack of scoring from their step back and exterior open looks.
WA’s zone left them exposed at times against Froling and his fellow bigs, but the work Falco and Goff offered in the pressure, forced QLD to shift the ball quickly. As much as WA tried, the game was played in QLD’s momentum. WA tried to keep QLD under control by applying pressure in the full court, with the only real benefit of this being to slow QLD down and capture steals. The game however was 20 point the difference and half time and WA were not able to recover.
Statistical Leaders
| Points | Rebounds | Steals | Assists | Totals | |
| C. Wright (QLDN) | 12 | 2 | |||
| S. Froling (QLDN) | 20 | 6 | |||
| D. Ballantyne (WAC) | 13 | 3 | |||
| J. Falco (WAC) | 4 | 6 | 3 |
Women’s’ Classification – Game 110
SA Country 41 lost to NSW Metro 43
Two teams which should have finished higher if things had been different, they both had things to prove. SA Country took first blood and got a lead by 4 into the first quarter, making use of their offences to find the scores. Late in the first NSW pulled a press, which delivered some good stops, and provided some offensive transition baskets, NSW needed. On the half court NSW were not pulling any punches either. Deliberate running through screens to get the open man. It was evident the remainder of the game was going to be about the toughest team. The game moved in SA Country’s favour, which had built up a lead of 10 points at one point, but a turn in the fourth quarter saw NSW Metro turn the table. NSW shot six from twelve against SA Country’s’ 1 from 13 with just two points and four foul shots. SA Country were still holding a small lead with two minutes to go, and had the ability to seal the game, but an offensive foul by Thomson saw her foul out, but the SA girls were able to continue, scoring 2 free throws to have a 4 point buffer. A missed shot by SA Country and NSW transition, and Paech fouled the NSW girl to stop the score, but instead the basket was made and Paech left the game with five fouls too. Mundine made the basket and one point down they only needed to find another basket with a minute to go, and a SA Country turnover, saw NSW clinch the win. NSW delivering a 17 point quarter, they came from behind and stole the win out from SA Country’s hands. NSW Metro now play off for 5th/6th while SA Country play for 7th/8th.
Statistical Leaders
| Points | Rebounds | Steals | Assists | Blocks | |
| T. Gray (SAC) | 11 | 3 | |||
| S. Paech (SAC) | 6 | 12 | 4 | ||
| S. Calleia (NSWM) | 6 | 4 | 3 | ||
| J. Robinson (NSWM) | 10 | 3 | 2 |
