U16 Women Pool A – WA Metro vs SA Country

This game was an important one for both teams as it would pretty much decide who would finish top two for the pool and possibly give them a chance at playing for a medal in the finals. SA started strong as their defence caused trouble for the WA ball handlers. WA had several turnovers and when they were able to get a shot off they seemed to rush them. WA stepped up their defence in the last few minutes enabling them to get some steals but it made no effect on the score line as they failed to convert these opportunities into baskets. The end of the quarter saw a more dominant SA Country up by 8 points.

SA started the second quarter in the same fashion with Isabelle Daniel nailing a three. Adrienne ‘AJ’ Jones answered with a three of her own.  In stepped Jenny McKenzie who dragged back the lead with a running floater followed by a miraculous off balanced flip shot in which she was fouled and then converted. SA’s offence was fluent and patient as they were able to get good looks at the basket but they were unable to build any type of comfortable lead. Once again it was McKenzie trying to fire up WA with a steal and conversion, but Alex Wilson answered back with a massive three which got the big contingent of SA fans going.

Both teams came out ready to play in the second half but both teams still continued to turn the ball over. Another McKenzie drive brought WA to within one. And when a three point play by AJ went in, it gave the WA fans a sense that their team had finally started to hit its straps.  When AJ fed Taylor Bestry off an SA turnover, the WA Girls hit the front for the first time and it remained that way at the final break.

WA came out running in the fourth but it was an Alex Wilson three that gave SA the lead back. The lead fluctuated as Frances Theunissen put back on offensive rebound to put WA up again. Stephanie Talbot grabbed a huge offensive rebound for SA and put back to lift her team. A subsequent turnover by WA saw them off to the races but McKenzie stole the ball on the fast break to a deafening cheer from the home town crowd.  This was a nail biter with SA down by 2 with 2 minutes to go.

When Talbot hit 1 of her free throws after being fouled on a drive, SA was one down but when Bestry converted a three point play and then Theunissen stole the ball under the ring WA found themselves up by 6 with 1:15 to go.  The crowd roared as AJ stole the ball and flew down the court on the break where she rode a hard foul to still get the ball off for a three point play. Kate Jones then blocked a driving layup and WA once again had the ball.

But the SA side were not out of it yet as Gerorgie Garrard sank a huge shot to cut the lead. SA called a time out and the plans were drawn up for SA to steal a now unlikely victory. But when Kate Jones put in another 4 points in the last 25 seconds WA sealed a hard fought 12 point win.

Final Score:

WA Metro 72  def. SA Country 60

Leading Scorers:

WA Metro – A Jones 22pts 12reb; J McKenzie 14pts 12reb; T Bestry 13

SA Country - Alex Wilson 16, Isabelle Daniel 12, Olivia Thompson 10, Georgie Garrard 10.