Photo Credit – Anthony Furina / Adelaide University
4-Minute Read
Women
The Women first up locked in a second consecutive finals series and a possible first home final with a second half comeback 66-81 win over the Curtin Carnaby’s at the Curtin Stadium
Missing NBL1 Central power forward Tiahna Sears – the homeside started the better with the sniping shooting of Jaymie Symons from deep before Terran Wright stopped the run of 8-0 from the Carnabys. Star guard Aleka Kabugua however extended the orange and black’s lead to a 15 points margin with Ella Turnbull helping turn the momentum back the Waatu’s way with Zahlia Niemann’s triple closing the lead back to 25-14 after the first change.
The Waatu began their comeback in the second thanks to Wright tearing her way through the opposition and Caitlin Shillabeer dropping a timely triple. Kabugua and Ananya Tushir however kept the scoreboard ticking over for the homeside keeping them out by double figures however Sasha Hardin’s buzzer beater off a steal and score after a string of consecutive points on halftime gave the Waatu the momentum heading into the long break 42-34.
Third quarter was a complete domination by the Waatu snapping into gear at the half time break. Wright and Shillabeer combined for eight points to slash it back to 44-42 before Mischa Buckley strung some tough basket moves together to take the lead. The Waatu’s bigs and utilities got busy with attack on the basket, triples and tough makes to swing to a 10-28 term and a strong lead of 52-62 with one stanza to play out.
Another run of five points without an answer set the tone for the fourth despite Symons again making another handy triple for the homeside. Kabugua (25 points, eight steals, seven rebounds & three steals) became the offensive threat for the Carnaby’s but too many Waatu players were having their own way as they closed out their sixth victory of the season locking in a finals appearance with one to play.
Terran Wright led the way with a double double of 18 points, 11 rebounds, six assists & four steals while Turnbull’s 13 points including a bunch in the second term helped to change the momentum.
Men
It was a case of déjà vu for the Men only a few hours later as they won their fourth game of the season by less than a basket with a thrilling 85-88 victory at the Curtin Stadium.
The opening was tight with basket for basket traded before some late quarter triple blows were answered by both sides from Harry Evans (13 points) and Isaac Hampel to leave it 21-18 after one.
Curtin took control on their floor in the second with sharp shooting Dean Supljeglav (21 points) and Mitch Fenton with some huge triples to push it out to double figures. Kai Kabugua and Supljeglav continued to extend their lead with the Waatu in trouble at the half time break 52-33.
As has been the season it has for the Men – they flipped the script at the half producing an elite quarter of basketball for AU. It kicked off with an Angus Crosby (14 points) tre then Ayual Garang moved into game taking over mode as the outrageously talented Central Districts Lions player took the game by the scruff of the neck and wrenched it back his team’s way. Above the rim and beyond Garang was everywhere in the third with a combo of Thomas Mestrov and Matt Thomson taking the lead back in eight minutes 57-59. Garang finished the quarter with 14 points for the stanza to sneak the Waatu in front 59-63 with one to go.
With no Curtis Scott to guide them home – a cameo from Kaman Majok (Nine points) helped at the start of the fourth with Kabugua again coming at the Waatu. Majok’s triple midway through the term looked to be the back breaker with just over five minutes left but the Waatu with so much thrown back into the comeback were running out of steam as Kabugua (20 points) and the Carnabys charged home. A steadying one on one hook shot from Garang took it plus clutch free throws in the final minutes in the Waatu’s favour eventually outlasting the Carnabys in the finish.
Garang starred in third term to finish with a double double of 22 points, 14 rebounds & four assists backed up by Matt Thomson with 16 points and 11 rebounds – rounding a treble of double doubles was Thomas Mestrov in his best game of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Waatu Women and Men next take on UON over in New South Wales in their second cross-over match-up to decide a home quarter final – Wednesday 23 September
Women – Curtin University Carnabys 66 (Kabugua 25, Tushir, Symons 9) defeated by AU Waatu 81 (Wright 18, Turnbull 13, Niemann 10, Buckley 9, Shillabeer 8)
Men – Curtin University Carnabys 85 (Supljegav 21, Kabugua 20, Evans 13, Jacob 11) defeated by AU Waatu 88 (Garang 22, Thomson 16, Crosby 14, Hampel 11, Mestrov 10, Majok 9)
Catch all the action against UON from this Wednesday 23 September on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features throughout the season.
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