The Forestville Eagles women have finished the 2010 ABL season with nine straight wins, on the back of their comprehensive 79-59 victory over the Norwood Flames. Jess Mahony displayed some amazing defence, finishing with 10 steals, as the Eagles held Norwood to 25% shooting and forced 22 turnovers. Mahony was also prominent offensively, with 17 points and 6 assists, to go with 7 rebounds. Alex Duncan also registered a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds), whilst Jess Fergus top-scored with 25 points and Mia Newley added 23 points and 9 rebounds. The Flames were again without Jess Foley, who torched Forestville for 24 points and 10 rebounds in the teams’ last encounter, and lacked any significant scoring threat. Rachel Herrick, who dominated the paint when the teams last met, had no impact on the game, finishing with just 6 points. Michelle Trewartha scored 12 points and Jess Smart 11; the only Flames to score in double figures. Forestville have now beaten each side in the competition by double figures on at least one occasion, and are in red hot form as they attempt to retain their title as the league’s best side. The Eagles have a week off next week, before taking on the winner of Sturt and West at Wayville on Saturday, August 7. Norwood will host Southern at Mars, who were soundly beaten by the Bearcats on Saturday night; only their second loss in eleven outings.

The tone of the game was set early, with the first basket taking almost two minutes to arrive; Michelle Trewartha knocking down a three off an assist from Rachel Herrick. Forestville got on the board immediately after, thanks to two free throws from Mia Newley, before Jess Mahony scored the Eagles’ first field goal with 7.13 to go in the quarter. The game remained tight and cagey, however, Forestville did get out to a 12-5 lead with 2.51 to go in the quarter, after a three-pointer from Newley. The Flames fought back hard, going on a 9-2 run to even the scores, before Jess Fergus knocked down two free throws with 33 seconds to go in the quarter, giving the Eagles a 16-14 quarter-time lead.

The second quarter was all Forestville. Mahony’s steal on the quarter’s opening possession was a sign of things to come for Norwood, as the Eagles lifted their intensity. The Flames were unable to get on the scoreboard until 5.23 remaining in the half, after Jess Hansberry picked off a Jess Mahony pass and converted the layup at the other end. In that time, Forestville had put up 13 points of their own, and led 29-16, with Fergus, Newley and Mahony all prominent. The Eagles controlled the remainder of the quarter, outscoring Norwood 24-8 for the term, and building a 40-22 half-time lead.

The second half began almost the same as the first; Mahony getting the first Eagles field goal and Michelle Trewartha knocking down a three-pointer for Norwood. The third quarter was basket for basket, with neither team able to string a solid run together. After trailing by as much as twenty, due to their improved defence and some good work on the offensive glass, particularly from Kate Shierlaw, the Flames were able to win the third quarter 18-15, leaving them fifteen points down at three quarter-time with a vague chance of a comeback.

A strong move from Jess Smart to start the fourth quarter was just what Norwood needed, however, Jess Mahony was immediately fouled on a strong drive to the basket, before knocking down both free throws. After Cara Boothey, who had been strong on the boards, fouled out with 7.51 to go, the task ahead of the Flames had become even greater. Neither team could gain the advantage over the following minutes, with the quiet Rachel Herrick taking a breather for a couple of minutes. Another basket from Smart cut the deficit back to 14 with 3.51 to go, however, after Mahony knocked down a free throw, Alex Duncan rebounded the second, before knocking down a three-pointer whilst being fouled, and then converting the free throw. The Eagles suddenly had the score back up to 69-50, and any hope of Norwood pulling off a miraculous comeback had been snuffed out. The teams traded baskets over the final three minutes, with Forestville winning 79-59.