THE grand final series has arrived in the Big V Women’s basketball competition, with a blockbuster finish to an entertaining 2022 season set to kick off on the weekend, with the Bulleen Boomers slated to take on Wyndham in a matchup between two of the best sides in the competition throughout the year.

The two sides finished in the top two on the ladder at the end of the home and away season, both flaunting impressive records coming into finals. It was widely expected that this would be the matchup in the deciding series, and strong semi final showings ensured it became a reality.

Both clubs have the ability to outperform the opposition on both ends, and while it may not be the highest scoring series as a result of this, there will still be plenty of action across the best of three series. Expect a hard fought matchup when game one kicks off at East Doncaster Secondary College on Saturday night.

We take a look at four players that are sure to have a big say on the result of not only the game, but the series as a whole.

Bulleen Boomers vs. Wyndham
Game one – Saturday, August 20 @ 7pm
East Doncaster Secondary College

Dyani Ananiev (Wyndham)

The sharpshooter has been a barometer of sorts for Wyndham over the course of the season, given her big offensive performances have aligned with her side’s success. For example, these two sides clashed earlier in the year, and Ananiev delivered a terrific showing with 27 points, 11 rebounds and five steals, leading Wyndham to a six-point triumph over the Boomers. She will be hoping to have a similar impact again on the biggest of stages.

Louella Tomlinson (Bulleen)

A staple for the Boomers all year, but particularly in the back half of the season, Tomlinson has done whatever the team has needed in the biggest of games. She has shown the capability to score, with an average of 14.3 points per game, and a number of big scoring performances in recent weeks. However, the game three triumph over the Jets, Tomlinson stuffed the stat sheet in other areas, flirting with a triple-double with eight points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. She can step up in a number of ways and will do what is required to get the Boomers over the line.

Amanda Paschal (Wyndham)

The rebounding machine is in the midst of a big postseason from an individual standpoint, recording a double-double in two of the three semi final outings against McKinnon. After being well held in the first clash, Paschal bounced back in the crucial final two games, crashing the boards with aplomb and helping her side control possession. The Boomers will likely have defensive plans in place to prevent her from securing the loose ball, but she has proven too strong for many sides in the past, and may do the same here.

Olivia Bontempelli (Bulleen)

The older sister of Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli has proven to be one of the most dynamic offensive players in the competition for 2022. With a season average of 17.29 points per game, Bontempelli has led the Boomers in more than her fair share of games this season, and will look to continue that trend into the big dance. In the deciding game three last weekend, she had a whopping 24 points, so expect the Boomers to get the ball in her hands as much as possible.