GRAND FINAL: Game Two and Three - August 16 and 17
HUME CITY 85 dft WAVERLEY 75
IT WAS going to be a show down from the tip-off - last year’s Champion’s heading into the match-up one game down and desperate to send their retiring coach out in style.
A packed crowd at the Broadmeadows Basketball Stadium ensured the atmosphere was electric.
Riding the momentum from last week’s victory, Waverley came out of the blocks strong, posting a convincing 24-18 first term.
The momentum continued to swing the way of the visitors, as they got busy cleaning up the second quarter to finish at the major break with a handy six-point buffer.
It was from here the Broncos turned the ball game around, the end of the 2008 campaign in sight, and an impressive 28-point quarter from Hume City saw the pendulum swing in their favour, finishing up with a 16 point buffer, 66-50 at the third quarter break.
It was from here on the home side controlled the game, relinquishing just six points to finish on top, 85-75, and set up an absolute thriller Sunday clash for the title.
It was a team effort which saw the Broncos get over the line, with Elyse Penaluna (18 points, eight boards, three blocks) and Sharin Milner (18 points, nine assists) spearheading their attack and Tennille Cann (hitting 16 points at an impressive 78 per cent from the field), Naomi Pedro (13 points, 14 boards) and Lauren Bennett (13 points, four assists) showing credible form.
Larissa Anderson blitzed the floor for the Falcons, posting a game-high 31 points and 11 boards with Kathleen MacLeod hitting a respectable 19 points and giving off seven dimes and Julie Brookhouse showing her presence to snag 14 points and five boards.
It was the Broncos accuracy which secured the win, hitting 53 per cent from the field compared to the Falcons’ 41 and their ability to pull in 59 per cent of the boards, which set up game three on Sunday.
HUME CITY 88 dft WAVERLEY 79
Hearts were pounding even heavier as the series entered the third and deciding match.
With everything on the line, the intensity was again lifted up a notch.
Hume City took the floor firing, securing a 10-point buffer in the first term to finish the break 20-10.
It was this blistering start which set the scene for the game with the Falcons unable to swing the game back in their favour.
At the major break, Hume City had propelled the lead out to 18 points, with most pencilling in the Championship to the home side.
Although Waverley’s played the game out, the margin set by Hume City was too much to overcome with the Bronco’s snaring back-to-back victories.
Again Cann was dynamite for the home side, hitting a game-high 25-points at an impressive 78 per cent from the field.
Can also bagged nine boards, and dished off four assists.
Penaluna continued her stellar season form to hit 16 points and pull-in 10 boards, with Naomi Pedro backing up her Saturday night efforts with 15 points and five dimes.
Ellie McLean showed her presence to hit a handy 11 points, whilst Lauren Bennett was good for 10 points and Sharin Milner showed leadership on the hardwood to hit nine points, pull-in three steals and dish off five assists.
For Waverley, it was Kathleen MacLeod who stepped-up with the goods, hitting 19 points and giving off an unselfish 10 assists, with Melanie Fraser stepping up to snag 15 points and Lill Keane making a fine contribution with 14 points.
Renay Bresnan showed her presence for the Falcons, hitting 12 points, with Carleigh Egan managing 10 points.
For her consistency throughout the three matched, Hume City’s Bennett was awarded the Most Valuable Player award for the grand final series, hitting a combined 33 points, snagging 11 boards and dishing off seven assists.
Hume City coach Glenn Milner was pleased to finish his coaching career on such a high note.
“The girls were pretty fired up and focused for the game,” Milner said.
“Yesterday (Saturday) was probably the hardest game we had to play.”
Milner said once his side had placed 20-points in between them and their opponent, he knew it would be difficult for Waverley to get back in the game.
“Tennille (Cann) and Sharin (Milner) worked very well together, running the right plays,” he said.
“To win back-back-to-back at this level propels our team in the realms of a great team.”
Milner added that six of his girls were “home-grown Broadmeadows juniors” making the victory an even sweeter one for the side, indeed the Hume City basketball community.
“It certainly was a great way to go out,” Milner smiled.
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