ANOTHER massive performance from Daniel Raber has helped the Cockburn Cougars claim a spot in the National Basketball League (NBL)1 West Women’s preliminary final after defeating the Warwick Senators in a qualifying final.
This past weekend marked the commencement of the 2024 finals series, with several sides right in contention for the Championship. The Senators finished higher on the ladder and earned home court advantage, hosting the Cougars at Warwick Stadium on Friday night.
It was as tightly contested a match as everyone expected, with both sides going on runs throughout the first three quarters. It was a one-point game heading into the last, but in anticlimactic fashion, the Cougars dominated the final term 33-15 to storm home to a 16-point win.
Raber was an influential figure in the match, stamping her authority as one of the key players in the 2024 finals series with an emphatic showing.
Warwick Senators (72) def. by Cockburn Cougars (88)
Daniel Raber – 28 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, two steals
Raber has carried her regular season form into the finals, after playing a crucial role to help the Cougars put themselves one step away from the Grand Final.
The Israeli forward has posted some impressive performances in the past month to close out the fixture, and continues to lead Cockburn towards the ultimate prize.
She was one of the biggest reasons the visitors did so well in the final period, pouring in 15 points in 10 minutes, while also setting up her teammates with some crafty passing.
When it came to shot selection, Raber did most of her best work close to the basket, rolling to the hoop to finish as close to the rim as possible. However, she was still capable of knocking down jumpshots further away from the paint.
She shot 11/16 from the field, with all 11 makes coming from inside the arc as she looked to get the best possible shot.
Raber’s ability to recognise when the defence was collapsing in on her was crucial, as she made the right passes and showcased her impressive decision making skills with seven dimes for the match, falling just short of a triple-double.
Raber is one of the key players throughout the 2024 NBL1 West finals series, and is clearly capable of dragging her side to a title in the coming weeks.
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