Photo Credit – UNSW Basketball
3-Minute Read
Men
The Waatu Men put on one of the most impressive first halves in multiple seasons to down UNSW 70-98 at the City of Sydney Basketball Association Stadium to seal their third consecutive finals series appearance in a row.
It was a pair of Panthers in Curtis Scott (Health and Medical Science) attacking from beyond the perimeter and in transition as him and Matthew Thomson (Project Management) dominated the opening proceedings gifting the Waatu a strong 7-20 start. Thomas Mestrov (Mathematics and Computer Science) from mid-range and Ayual Garang (Architectural Design) with the hook from in close once again made things incredibly difficult for the home side with consistent attack at the rim to leave it 10-26 at quarter time.
Scott continued the damage with contested mid-range makes for the Waatu with little response from UNSW – Garang draining another triple and backed it up with a steal and one-handed throwdown in transition that had UNSW seeing stars at one of the homes of the Comets. Garang kept his scoreboard ticking to record eight for the term but not to be outdone was Isaac Hampel (Electrical Engineering) with his own slam then followed it up with a triple himself to give the Waatu the 21-50 lead at the half.
The second half was much tighter, but the Panther pair once again put on a show with fancy footwork and work off the glass. Jackson Smyth kept the points coming for the home side but Hampel extended the Waatu’s lead with only a half court buzzer beater from Smyth falling for UNSW 43-76 with one to play.
The last term saw the margin stay even with Thomson getting some more burn time on the floor with multiple makes and the ability to make up for missing earlier part of the season. The comprehensive win finishing with a customary Everett Webb triple to put the Waatu into sixth place one game clear of ninth and with a home double header to finish the regular season.
Scott rained in another 32 points with seven rebounds, four assists, three steals with Garang hitting form at the right time of the UBL season with 14 points. Newcomer in the last round Matt Thomson brought 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks to partner well with Thomas Mestrov with nine points and 10 rebounds. Smyth was the clear best for the home side with 31 points with three steals and five rebounds while Jacob Corry grabbed 17 points, and 11 rebounds.
Everything from a home final to eight place is on the table at the mercy of the UBL – the saving grace is UNSW, UWA Maali and Curtin Uni Carnaby’s are all locked on four to three wins meaning their spot is secure in the eight.
Two wins over UTAS in third and USYD in second sets up a potential second to fourth place finish giving the Waatu an inaugural home final.
Women
The Waatu women have precariously left themselves at the mercy of the UBL draw after going down in a thriller to top eight contender UNSW 72-69 at the City of Sydney Basketball Association Stadium.
Pippa Davis and Gabi Neal got the home side off to a roaring start 12-3 before Caitlin Shillabeer (Physiotherapy) stuck the much-needed triple. Needing response it took the Norwood Flames quadrant of Annika Uzcategui-Montenegro, Alice Sabine and Jemima Whitton along with Shillabeer to bring the margin back a manageable 21-14 at the first change.
Bella Woosnam (Exercise and Sports Science) was the catalyst for the comeback with triples and multiple plays helping the Waatu back into the contest. Woosnam collated 10 points for the stanza while Chloe Gray had some large impact with nine points while the paint presence of AUM at the defensive end of the floor was being felt by the guards of UNSW as they margin closed to 34-37 with the Waatu taking the lead at the half
Third term did not go to plan for the Waatu out of the halftime break as the physicality increased with Jasinta Haydar dealing out plenty of pain in the paint. Her nine in a row for the home side before splashing another triple was complemented nicely by the work under the basket of Emily Nguyen (13 in last year’s win for UNSW). Xanthe Fitzgerald also came good after the half for UNSW as they won the quarter 20-8 to take the 54-45 solid lead into the last change – the Waatu in trouble.
Jemima Whitton (Viticulture/Oenology) has played with flow all season and hit the early floater with her teammate Sabine (Medical Science) providing the cure for the anxious moments with six offensive boards for the match. Shillabeer inspired upped the defence with the block as Sabine got out in transition for the finish to force timeout to UNSW 58-52 as the Waatu charged back.
Maddie Coman however had other ideas as she put some key points on the Waatu to push it to double figures. The Waatu answered back with big plays, but the offense was becoming sticky and stagnant in the circumstances with Shillabeer refusing to let this one slip still. The home side however answered each challenge with a timely make to keep the fifth to eighth race interesting.
In an even spread for the Waatu – Shillabeer finished top scorer with 13 points, nine rebounds while Alice Sabine produced her best effort of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Bella Woosnam kept them in the game with a triple on the full-time buzzer giving her 13 points with three steals with Whitton producing eight points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Four players for UNSW contributed 14 or more with Neal leading the way with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Despite the loss due to other results the Waatu Women will play finals for the first time in their history – the scenario becomes intriguing with the Curtin Uni Carnaby’s locked on five wins in sixth, UNSW on four wins in seventh and MUBC in eighth locked on three wins (Fed Uni are in ninth with one game left can snare the last spot)
A home final is possible with two wins this last round over second placed UTAS and third placed USYD – the lowest two losses and percentage slips them to seventh.
Men – UNSW 70 (Smyth 31, Corry 17, Yi Tian Zou 8) defeated by AU Waatu 98 (C Scott 32, Garang 12, Thomson 12)
Women – UNSW 72 (Neal 16, Coman, Fitgerald, Haydar 14, Nguyen 7) defeated AU Waatu 69 (Shillabeer, Woosnam 13, Sabine 10, Otto, Uzcategui-Montenegro Whitton 8)
It’s all on the line for the final two matches of the UBL season as they aim to claim dual home finals – Catch all the action against UTAS from this Tuesday September 23 and USYD Wednesday from 11:00am ACDT on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features throughout the season.
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