MONDAY night saw another instalment of the latest round of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL). Round 8 continued with the Melbourne Boomers facing off against the in-form Perth Lynx at Ballarat Sports Event Centre. With proceedings expected to result in a ripping contest, these predictions lived up to the hype, with the two sides producing plenty of entertaining action throughout the night. In the end, it was the Boomers who were able to claim their second consecutive win by three points (80-77) as they continue to deliver in close contests.

FIRST QUARTER:

The match opened with the Lynx bursting out of the gate in the first term, getting their offence flowing in no time at all. Perth has been on fire offensively in recent weeks, so it was no surprise to see them push to a strong score in the opening term. All five of their starters were able to get involved early, moving the ball with aplomb to create the ideal shot. On the other hand, the Boomers could not get things rolling at the start of the quarter, allowing their opponents to jump out to an early lead. Melbourne were able to rally towards the end of the term, with Tiffany Mitchell leading the charge. However, the Lynx were still able to lead by seven points at the conclusion of the first period of action.

SECOND QUARTER:

The Boomers produced a much stronger performance in the second term, delivering plenty of quality shots to suddenly bring themselves right back in the contest. Mitchell was once again the spark at the start of the term, sinking a three-pointer before pick-pocketing the opposition on the following possession. In the opening half of the period, the Lynx were able to maintain their lead over the Boomers, largely thanks to some impressive shooting from behind the arc. However, the final three minutes belonged to Tess Madgen, who hit some massive shots from all over the court to trim Melbourne’s deficit to just two points at the main break.

THIRD QUARTER:

The third term saw the defence between the two sides go up a notch, with scoring slowing up for the quarter. The two sides combined for just 25 points for the term, with both sides eager to prevent their opponents from breaking away in the period. This resulted in plenty of the scoring coming from the free throw line, with both teams looking to push past the strong defensive work set by their opponents. The Boomers were still able to bring the margin back to just one point heading into the final term in what was fast becoming a thrilling contest.

FOURTH QUARTER:

The final period saw the lead change hands multiple time, in some incredibly exciting back-and-forth action. There were crucial plays for the entirety of the final term. In what was a recurring theme this match, Mitchell was vital again in giving her side a slight bit of breathing room. With just 38 seconds remaining in the match, the Boomers were able to stretch their lead to nine points, and while the Lynx produced back-to-back triples to close out the contest, the damage was already done, as Melbourne claimed its second consecutive three-point victory.

CLOSING THOUGHTS …

For the victors, Mitchell was the star of the show with 22 points and two assists, playing a crucial role for her side. her offensive output proved invaluable, coming at vital stages of the contest and not only keeping her side in the contest, but driving them home to an impressive victory. Teammate Cayla George was also terrific in the win, recording a big double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds in a towering performance. For the Lynx, Lauren Scherf and Darcee Garbin each recorded 18 points, nearly giving their side another win in an encouraging outing.