Forestville upset the Sturt Sabres by a slim 3-points with the game being decided in thrilling fashion. 

 

Aimee Brett cemented the victory for Forestville with a delicious crossover and finish leaving less than 4 seconds remaining. 

 

Oceana Paulina-Hamilton (16-points, 12-rebounds and 4-blocks) aided Forestville in the final moments of the game with two crucial back-to-back blocks with a slim Eagle lead hanging in the balance. 

 

Throughout the entire matchup, momentum and the lead swung like a pendulum with the lead changing 11-times.

 

Forestville held the lead for just under 29 minutes although Sturt were not shy of pushing for an underdog.

 

Little separated the sides with every possession crucial as time continued to wind down. Heading into the final term, Sturt lead Forestville 45-44 after a few consecutive baskets in the final minute of the third term. 

 

A low scoring third term (9-8) set the tone for what was sure to be a tight final quarter. 

 

Sturt held Paulina Hamilton scoreless in the third term, who had already made her presence known on the floor in the opening half. Paulina Hamilton ended her scoring drought mid way during the final term with a beautiful basket off the window with 4 minutes remaining. 

 

The wide spread scoring by Forestville aided their victory with 5-players either in double figures or flirting with it. 

 

Despite not getting the win, Sturt did not shy away from the competition and punished the Eagles in the paint. Outscoring Forestville 38-28 inside, Sturt put the pressure on throughout the entire outing. 

 

Elissa Brett lead the Sabres with 12-points but struggled to find some rhythm and finished with 5-13 from the floor. 

 

Sturt not only punished the Eagles on the offensive end, but also defensively. Forcing 21-Eagle turnovers, Sturt earned 20-points off these opportunities and kept the trophy in reaching distance. 

 

After trailing heading into the final quarter of 2019, Forestville fought back from a small but dangerous deficit and earned their place in South Australian basketball history.