Game preview: Grand Final decider
Grand Finals Series: Game Three Preview
Boomers v Lynx
SATURDAY 9th April 5:00pm AEST
The Deakin Melbourne Boomers and Perth Lynx will fight it out for the WNBL Championship 21/22 trophy in game three of the Grand Final series at the Boom Box.
Both teams will be hungry for the title as the series is tied (1-1), with Perth winning the first game and the Boomers taking victory in a nail-biting second game in Perth.
Lynx took the first game of the series, 98 – 71, at the Melbourne’s home court but the Boomers came back firing for round two, as they brought the pressure in defence, improved on shooting accuracy, increased ball movement, and displayed the Boomers side we have seen all season – taking victory in Perth, 76 – 75.
The second game of the series was a momentum tug-of-war as both teams were evenly matched, going bucket for bucket and at times misfiring end-to-end.
Boomers and Lynx bring a highly pressurised game, both displaying strong offensive and defensive plays.
Lindsay Allen put on another dominant point guard performance across the breadth of the court in the second game.
The Boomer’s point guard worked herself into the paint and shot from beyond the arc on numerous occasions. Allen kept her side on the board and put the pressure on Lynx to respond at their end, whilst Perth tried to increase their defensive efforts to shut her down, but she could not be stopped.
Allen ended the night with a team-high 29 points, seven rebounds, six assists and shot at 80% from the perimeter.
Boomer’s captain Cayla George, led her team to victory, ending the night with a double-double, 22 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals. George showed what she can do under pressure, pulling up clutch at the perimeter in the closing minutes of the final term.
Not only was George keeping the scoreboard pressure on the Lynx, but also made crucial defensive rebounds, forfeiting Lynx’s ability to gain second chance opportunities.
Perth’s Marina Mabrey kept her team on the scoreboard as she could not miss from beyond the arc, ending the night with a game-high 30 points. Although, Mabrey fell short on her final shot at the foul line which gave the Boomers the one-point victory, sending the Grand Final series to game three.
Alex Sharp fired up in defensive rebounds in the final term, doing a great job at trying to shut down the Boomers second chance opportunities and George’s dominance inside the key. Sharp ended the night with 12 rebounds.
Perth’s Jackie Young showed her explosiveness in transition as she worked herself into the paint on numerous occasions and maintained pressure on the scoreboard, finishing with 12 points.
The Boomers will need to keep their fire ignited for game three against Perth Lynx. Maintaining strong ball movement, critical communication in offence, and increased pressure in defence will be crucial to the Melbourne game.
Rebounding in offence cannot slip, to give the Boomers second chance opportunities, and in defence to continue the Boomers fast-paced game in transition – not giving Perth any second chances.
High pressure defence will be crucial to forcing turnovers, intercepts, and difficult shots from the Lynx, giving the Boomers more opportunity to add scoreboard pressure.
Allen and George will look to light up the stadium once again in the final game of the series alongside their team to take the win at the Boom Box.
It will be nothing short of a spectacular battle between two evenly matched teams, fighting it out to claim the WNBL Championship 21/22.
The Boomers have brought the Grand Finals series back home and want to see their fans packing the stands and lighting up the stadium with the purple haze!
It all comes down to this. This will be a Championship battle to remember that will go down in the history books. Don’t miss out and purchase your tickets here to lift the Boomers to victory!
Game details:
Deakin Melbourne Boomers V Perth Lynx
Melbourne Sports Centre, Parkville
Saturday 9th April
5:00pm AEST
Watch LIVE + FREE on ABC TV, plus LIVE on Fox Sports & Kayo