By Nick Creely
WNBL GRAND FINAL
GAME ONE REVIEW
One thing is for certain, the electric crowd packed into Brydens Stadium certainly got their money’s worth, because the Rangers and Flames sure played out an epic.
In game one of the WNBL grand final series on Saturday night, the Dandenong Rangers threw everything they had at Sydney, but were ultimately overcome by a narrow margin.
The final score-line read 82-91 but it was a game that was never over until the last 20 seconds, such was the turns and twists that usually accompany a grand final.
It was an action packed an exciting opening term, with the Flames taking a narrow four-point margin into the first-break.
The occasion didn’t seem to unsettle either side, who were playing quality basketball and at a fast-pace.
The second-term saw the first twist of the night with the Rangers wrestling back some control, mostly through the exploits of their star Sara Blicavs, and took a narrow lead into the major-break.
A bit of cat-and-mouse started to creep into the tactics of both sides, with scoring slowing down slightly after the major break, but it was the Flames who were able to convert some ice-cool three-point shots to gain some ascendency.
And in a pulsating last-term, in which time seemed to be slowing down, both sides traded blows, fatigue set in but the will to win never diminished.
The Flames burnt the court early in the final-term, with back-to-back baskets showing signs they could potentially run amok and strip the game away from the grasp of the Rangers.
But that’s when things tightened up defensively from the Rangers, who chipped away at the slender deficit and started to once again find it on their terms.
But ultimately the Flames found a way to win, with Leilani Mitchell draining an incredible three-point shot with just 40 seconds left to play.
And despite a late scramble, the Flames were just too strong on their home deck.
Sara Blicavs was a dominant force, finishing with 25 points and eight rebounds in another commanding display, while fellow teammates Steph Cumming (16 points) and import Nat Novosel (14 points) had strong showings.
But it was the class of Alex Wilson (22 points, six rebounds and five assists) that shone brightest for the Flames, while a strong all-round game by Mitchell (15 points and six assists) was vitally important.
Rangers coach Larissa Anderson said despite the loss, they felt like the two sides matched up evenly and that the race for the flag is still wide-open.
“I was really proud of the girls – with all the travelling we’ve done, they did an exceptional job and came out really ready,” she said.
“There were lots of things we could have done better defensively, and if there was any doubt we couldn’t match them, that has certainly put that to bed – It’s now about bouncing back on Friday night at home.
“It felt like we were there all-abouts throughout the game – we had a few mental lapses throughout and if you take that out it may not have been that result, but it’s easy to say that in hindsight.
“Not a lot separated the two sides, but we will tweak some things but not much because we weren’t far off the mark.”
Anderson said the atmosphere at Brydens was electric, and that it certainly felt like the crowd was a major influence in dragging the hosts over the line, but conceded that Sydney are a model side for the competition.
“The crowd was huge – very loud – so credit to them for getting that grand final atmosphere – I think our girls did well to rise to the occasion and we really enjoyed it,” she said.
“Every-time we play Sydney, they show how poised and experienced they are, and that was probably the difference to be honest – they made some big three’s and we missed some wide-open threes.”
Game two heads down to Dandenong on Friday night, with the Rangers looking to put behind their disappointment of the loss.
The Rangers have a strong home-ground record, and will be desperate to ensure the grand final stays alive until game three, which would be played back at Sydney only two days later.
