IN one of the stranger momentum-swinging games to date, Adelaide Lightning produced dominant first and fourth quarters to defeat the highly-fancied Melbourne Boomers by 12 points at home. The Lightning were coming in with a 1-1 record thus far, whilst the Boomers had shot out to 3-1 having built up some momentum since their loss to Bendigo Spirit. In the end it was a tale of two halves, but not the traditional halves, with the Lightning scoring 38-11 in the first and fourth quarters, whilst the Boomers scored 42-27 in the middle two quarters. By the final buzzer, the Lightning emerged victorious, 65-53.

THE START

When Lindsay Allen scored a clean layup three minutes into the first term, the scores were even at 6-6 with both sides having traded baskets to that point. Stephanie Talbot, Alanna Smith and Kylee Shook quickly piled on baskets to double the Boomers’ score. Remarkably outside of two individual free throw successes for the Boomers, Chelsea Brook, Sam Simons and Kiana Williams all scored in the last three minutes, the last two from beyond the arc. That meant in the last seven minutes of the first term, the Lightning had SIX individual scorers, and adding in an early basket from Abigail Wehrung making it seven in the first term alone.

Since Smith started the game with the first four points for the Lightning, Adelaide had seven consecutive different scorers. Smith (six) was the standout, whilst Williams and Simons (both three) were the two from outside the arc to be the next highest point-scorers. By comparison, Melbourne Boomers’ Allen (three points) led the way, whilst Tiffany Mitchell and Ezi Magbegor (two) and Cayla George (one) had put up meagre starts.

THE BOOMERS REVIVAL

Deficit got out to as much as 16 points (24-8) with 8:25 on the clock before Magbegor scored a layup 1:44 into the second quarter. From there, the Boomers piled on 21-10 to cut the half-time deficit to just five points (34-29). Allen had scored a quarter-high nine points, with Mitchell (five), Magbegor (five) and George (two), though again the Boomers had produced just four scorers to the main break, whilst the Lightning had shared the points around.

In saying that, the second quarter belonged to Smith from a Lightning, who produced eight of her side’s 14 points, with Talbot (four) and Williams (two) rounding out the half.

In the blink of an eye, the Boomers piled on four consecutive baskets in the opening two-and-a-bit minutes of the third term to hit the front. Magbegor scored six points to edge her side in front, and then a driving layup from Allen made it a three-point lead for the visitors, 37-3. At the 6:47 mark, Tess Madgen became the Boomers’ fifth scorer of the night, whilst Penina Davidson scored a two-pointer in the final two minutes of the term.

Adelaide did have a minor purple patch in the middle with eight of 10 points, going from 39-41 to 47-43 with 3:28 on the clock. Wehrung (five points) was key in that time, and even though the Boomers finished with the last seven points of the quarter to take a three-point advantage into the final break (50-47), the Lightning were still in the contest. Smith had just shaded Wehrung with six points, whilst Williams had two.

For the Boomers, it was Magbegor (eight points) and Mitchell (five) who combined for Adelaide’s total score, whilst Allen, George, Madgen and Davidson all had two points in the quarter.

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE

With the momentum back with the Boomers having scored the last seven points of the quarter, very few would have seen the last quarter coming. From the moment Simons nailed a triple to tie the scores with only 11 seconds elapsed on the clock, it was clear the Lightning was up and about. George made one of two free throws a couple of minutes later to hand the Boomers the lead, but it would be the last time that happened. A second triple from Simons, and the sharing Lightning were back at it.

A total of 10 consecutive points dragged the margin out to nine with 3:26 on the clock. George scored what would be the last basket for the Boomers – and become the only Melbourne player to score in the final term – as the Lightning scored 18-3 in the term to win by 12, 65-53. Simons (seven points) led the way that term, with Williams (four) followed by Shook, Brook and Talbot (two each), whilst Smith had a quiet term on the scoring front with just one, but had done her good work early.

SCORING BREAKDOWN WHEN TEAMS WERE HOT & NOT

CLOSING THOUGHTS …

Smith (21 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one steal) was the sole double-double on the night despite some close calls. Talbot (eight points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals) and the Boomers’ George (eight points, 10 rebounds seven assists and two blocks) and Magbegor (15 points, nine rebounds and two steals) all came close. Williams and Simons combined for 21 points – including five of 11 from beyond the arc, whilst Shook had eight rebounds to go with her four points.

Allen was strong for the Boomers with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, whilst Mitchell had the 12 points – including an inaccurate five of 19 from the field – as well as five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Though not getting on the scoresheet, Marena Whittle managed seven rebounds and three steals in the win.

UPCOMING FIXTURES

Sunday, January 2 @ 2:30pm
The Lights

Saturday, January 8 @ 5:00pm
Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium