SECOND SEMI-FINAL (Game Two)
Waverley Falcons 71 dft Dandenong Rangers 69
IT was a massive over-time thriller at Dandenong Stadium on Saturday night which saw a motivated Falcons outfit push their rivals to the limit to come away with a awe-inspiring win and impel a third semi-final game.
Despite an impressive game-high 22 points and 11 boards from Dandenong’s Faith Probst, the visitors were able to find the strength within their side to bring about victory.
After holding the lead at each change, Waverley found themselves with a fight on their hands as Dandenong came out firing in the final term.
The score-line became a see-saw, with scores locked at 62 points apiece after full minutes had been played.
An additional period was required to see who could come up with the goods, with Waverley hanging on to take the glory by two.
The Falcons were headed by superstar Kathleen MacLeod, who impressed with 18 points and four assists.
She was aided by Larissa Anderson who was good for 11 points and eight boards, with Suzi Porter (10 points and nine boards) and Lill Keane (10 points and five boards) also making solid contributions.
For Dandenong it was Probst offering which spurred the team along.
She was supported well by Fazlyn Hartley (12 points, eight boards) Amelia Todhunter (11 points, eight boards and Demelza Waixel (10 points and nine boards).
But the Rangers efforts in extra time did not get them over the line and the girls headed home for an early night with the third and deciding match scheduled in for Sunday.
SECOND SEMI-FINAL (Game Three)
Waverley Falcons 54 dft Dandenong Rangers 51
IT was a low-scoring affair in this Saturday night re-match, but with everything on the line, it was a hard-fought match which was produced.
With Waverley now proven they could take the honours against the Dandenong outfit, the confidence levels were peaking.
At the first change it was the Falcons who held a satisfying seven-point lead.
The Rangers returned to the hardwood in the second term to shake things up a bit, producing an 18-point turn around to gleefully hold an 11-point lead at the major break.
Thirteen lead changes and two tied situations later it was the final term with both sides mounting a tighter attack on the title.
In the end it was Waverley who was able to leave the court with a view to next week’s grand final series against Hume City, despite pulling in four per cent less boards and executing their shots two per cent below their opponent.
It was the work of Kathleen MacLeod which helped to boost the Falcons plight, the thrice player-of-the-week awardee notching up a game-high 14 points and dishing off three assists.
She was assisted by Larissa Anderson, who was a force under the ring snatching 12 points and nine boards, with Julie Brookhouse managing 10 points and five boards and Lil Keane pitching in with eight points and nine boards.
For Dandenong, the bulk of the work was carried out by Faith Probst (10 points, seven boards) and Amelia Todhunter (10 points, three boards) with Melissa Colcott providing assistance under the ring to notch up nine points and 11 boards.
Their efforts, however, were not enough and despite holding the lead for more than 24 minutes, it was Waverley who will face the dapper Hume City outfit next week.
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