Melbourne take revenge on Townsville Fire with a nail-biting win
SUNDAY 30 JANUARY 2022
The Deakin Melbourne Boomers were hungry for redemption against the Townsville Fire after a two-point loss last week. The Boomers were able to control the heat from the Fire and walk-away will a nail-biting win, 66 – 59.
Melbourne got off to a hot start, with Tiffany Mitchell scoring the first shot inside the key. Cayla George followed by hitting from outside the arc within the starting minutes, whilst Townsville was struggled to capitalise on their opportunities. Two and a half minutes into the first term Townsville were scoreless as Melbourne led, 9 – 0.
Monique Billings started the Townsville scoring moving into the key with an and one at the foul line. Ezi Magbegor was on fire as she continued to move athletically into the key and ending the first term with eight points.
Tess Madgen followed suit with an aggressive entry into the key and lengthening out the lead for Melbourne. George was able to continue the momentum and hit another three from outside the arc, although this was responded to by Townsville with two important threes from Mia Murray and Nadeen Payne – bringing it back to within four points with 3:45 left in the term.
Melbourne shared the court in the first term, as Carley Ernst scored her first with a left hook shot, followed shortly by Rachel Brewster hitting from outside the arc with a minute left.
Magbegor ended the term with a strong drive into the key, as Melbourne lead by 12 at the break, 25 – 13.
In the second term, Magbegor continued to show her athleticism inside the key. Although,
Townsville brought the heat in the back half of the term and began to find some momentum as Melbourne struggled to capitalise on offensive opportunities.
Payne lit it up from the arc, causing Melbourne trouble from outside the perimeter and swinging momentum the way of Townsville.
Melbourne had possession in the dying seconds, with three attempts, but were unable to capitalise. Townsville were back within touching distance and the Boomers were only just able to fight them off towards the end of the term, sustaining a three-point lead, 34 – 31.
Once again, Magbegor brought back some spark for Melbourne as she started the third term with two looks inside the key, with eight from 10 field goals so far. Both teams struggled from the perimeter as they could not get them to drop on numerous opportunities.
Allen showed her composure with a mid-range two, whilst Mitchell fired up with an aggressive drive into the key – making a three-point play and extending the lead to six points.
Magbegor continued to thrive all over the court, denying a shot from the arc by Payne.
At three minutes remaining and with a four-point lead, Melbourne continued to be challenged by their opponents. Townsville’s Stephanie Reid levelled up the score, driving into the basket and flawlessly stepping around Allen with two minutes left on the clock. Allen was quick to respond with an aggressive entry into the key, drawing a foul and capitalising at the line.
Allen followed this with a fast break from a turnover, making a three-point play in the dying seconds. With 10 seconds left, Billings responded for Townsville with an entry into the key and a potential three-point play to level up the scores, although she was unable to capitalise for her team and they trailed by one point at the break, 47 – 48.
Both teams started the final term aggressive inside the paint. Magbegor made sure to utilise her athleticism across all four quarters, providing multiple inside looks and denying yet another shot by the Townsville to cause a turnover – giving Melbourne possession in the crucial moments of the final term.
Townsville was able to stay within arm’s reach as Murray pulled up clutch outside the arch, bring the difference back to two points. Allen showed her defensive pressure with four steals, capitalising on the fast breaks, with 13 points in the last five minutes of the game.
Townsville continued to challenge Melbourne, as Billings was able to beat the shot clock with a shot inside the key, bringing the game back within two points. George hit a midrange two from the baseline followed by a good defensive set by Melbourne, as Payne missed from the perimeter for Townsville.
At 2:43 minutes remaining in the final term, Madgen extended the lead to four points with a strong drive into the key continuing Melbourne’s consecutive baskets. The Boomers were starting the regain momentum and get the game back on their terms as Mitchell followed to put two down at the foul line, extending the lead by six points.
With one minute left, Townsville responded to come back within four points, but Melbourne was able to withhold them from capitalising on their opportunities, as they escaped with a nail-biting victory, 66 – 59.
Magbegor was the difference for the Boomers tonight with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.
Allen showed her dominance with 15 points, 4 steals and 2 rebounds, whilst Mitchell finished the night with 11 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists.
The Boomers continue their WNBL campaign with 7 to 3 win-loss and will be fired up and ready to bring the boom in Gippsland next Sunday 6th February against Perth Lynx. Get your tickets here.