IN A tightly contested battle for the second instalment of the Michele Timms Cup, the Melbourne Boomers produced a second half comeback, defeating the Southside Flyers by six points last night, 67-61. 

With the Flyers looking to build from their Round 9 victory over the Adelaide Lightning, the Boomers looked to bounce back on the winners list, after going down to the Bendigo Spirit last week.

Both teams ran in transition early, applying the pressure and doing the work on the defensive end, resulting in scores from turnovers and pushing the tempo offensively. The Boomers and Flyers were relatively even, finishing the first quarter with five assists each, Flyers scoring 16 points from points off turnovers. 

The Flyers put the tempo on their terms in the second quarter, winning the second quarter, 20-9, going on a 13-2 towards the end of the half, finding the flow offensively and sharing the ball around the open space on the perimeter, going into the main break with an 11 point lead. 

For the Boomers, Jordin Canada was a facilitator on both ends of the floor, doing the work on the defensive end getting steals and finishing the first half with nine points.

For the Flyers, Mercedes Russell made most of the opportunities with the size advantage in the post, finishing the half with 14 points and eight rebounds. Whilst both teams shot the ball relatively well from the fields 13 from 37 at 35 per cent for the Boomers, compared to the Flyers, 15 from 40 at 38 per cent. Whilst steals were relatively even, 5-4 in favour of the Flyers. 

The Boomers came out strongly in the third quarter, winning the quarter, 25-11. They were able to find a spark from Monique Conti and Sara Blicavs, finding their range from the perimeter to help give the Boomers the lead, 12-2.

The Boomers won the rebound count, 11-4, whilst limiting the Flyers flow offensively, and then went on to win the last quarter 12-9, by continuing to double team the Flyers on the inside and applying pressure around the paint to secure the win.

Canada finished as the top scorer for the Boomers, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, six steals and one block. Conti was instrumental from the field, shooting at eight from 14 at 57 per cent, seven from nine from two point range, and finishing with 17 points, four steals, one assist and one rebound. Blicavs also had a huge contribution in the second half, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds and one block.

For the Flyers, Russell finished as the top scorer for the Flyers, finishing with a double double, 17 points, 12 rebounds and two assists. Nyadiew Puoch also contributed well and recorded 11 points and three rebounds.