Huge Season For Boomers Comes To A Close

The Deakin Melbourne Boomers’ 2018 WNBL season has been brought to a close, after being defeated by the Townsville Fire in Game 3 of the Grand Final Series, 57-70.

Record membership numbers, league-best crowds and some incredible scenes at home games at the State Basketball Centre have all catapulted Melbourne’s WNBL team to the forefront of many basketball fans. It has been a season to remember.

In front of a vocal Townsville crowd of 2,200, the Boomers put forward as much heart and soul as they could muster, giving the Fire a good run for their money through all four quarters.

Liz Cambage led the Boomers in the shooting despite often finding herself triple teamed under the basket, to finish with 18pts, 9rbs and 1ast.

Jenna O’Hea once again put forward a captain’s game out on the court, helping to settle the Boomers into the match early and was a key playmaker for the Boomers throughout the game with 7pts, 6rbs and 6asts.

Britt Smart showed plenty of tenacity and also dug deep for the Boomers Family from the tip-off, getting a quick 3pts on the board within the first minute of the contest. Defensively, Smart also proved to be a threat for the Boomers, finding rebounds and steals throughout the game to finish with 14pts, 8rbs and 3stls.

In the third quarter the Boomers looked a chance with Smart and O’Hea working the ball at both ends of the court to close in to within 4 points of the Fire.

However, five points from Championship MVP, Suzy Batkovic, late in the third period blew the Fire’s lead out to 12pts and it proved to be a margin the Boomers couldn’t get back.

Sharp shooting from Batkovic and Lauren Mincey early in the fourth put the Fire beyond the Boomers reach, clinching Townsville the Championship title.

Gracious in defeat, captain Jenna O’Hea thanked the Boomers Family for standing behind the team and supporting them the entire way through the season.

The 2017/18 WNBL season had been a milestone one for the Deakin Melbourne Boomers. Breaking WNBL crowd records throughout the season and growing the Boomers Family to more than 1,300 members, it is clear the Boomers thrived on and off the court this season.

“We are just really proud and gracious for the support Melbourne’s basketball community has shown us,” said Boomers GM Justin Nelson after the game.

“Thank you to our members, sponsors and all those who have increasingly become passionate supporters of the Boomers. We look forward to breaking records again next season and continuing to grow the club into a leader across the WNBL.”