A decade two years apart: Its been over a decade since both teams tasted success in 2007 and 2008.
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*The following article may have excerpts appear on the Basketball South Australia website to broaden reach of analysis
Women’s Grand Final Preview: West Adelaide Bearcats vs Sturt Sabres
When: 4:30pm (ACST), Saturday September 3
Where: The Lights Community and Sports Centre, Lightsview
Broadcast: Kayo Freebies, www.nbl1.com.au
The last time
West Adelaide Bearcats 94 (Fejo 32, Utti 21, Rintala 13, Langenbrinck 11) defeated Sturt Sabres 82 (Williams 22, Close 14 Prosser 13, N Mathews 11) – Qualifying Semi-Final at the Bearcat Cave
How they got here
The fury of Jasmin Fejo was felt fully by the Sabres as she lifted the Bearcats to their first Grand Final since 2016 at the Bearcat cave 94-82 in the Qualifying Semi-Final. Pushing her case for a WNBL recall the All-Star Five guard amassed 32 points including 12 of 12 from the free throw line to steer her side to the lead through close to a full game. She got rolling with 12 for the second period and slicing her way through the Sabres for a 9-0 run. She fueled them in the fourth keeping the Sabres at more than arm’s length. Apart from the superstar Fejo’s hand, Madelynn Utti was the other force of nature with 21 points and 17 rebounds.
Meanwhile the Sabres had to take out one of the favourites at the halfway point of the season. In the Qualifying Final, The Sturt Sabres were not short on answers every time the Panthers tried to make a run as they sealed a convincing 55-69 win at the Jungle. It all changed in the second quarter as the Sabres turned up the claws on their fellow cats holding the Panthers scoreless for 3 minutes and reeling off runs of 0-11 and 0-7. That was instigated by the return of Emily Close, Jasmin Rigoni, the Mathews sisters and Mikayla Williams who dropped 7 points and 5 rebounds for the term. After their slip up against the Bearcats they looked in trouble at halftime in the Preliminary Final. It was a second half defensive clinic coupled with the Halls Medallist Mikayla Williams who when the game was there to be won grabbed it with both hands as the Sabres closed out the South Adelaide Panthers 74-70 at the Cave. The Halls Medallist had a season high 31 points, 19 rebounds and an efficiency rating of 41- she was the match winner in the final term.
The Bearcats have rolled in on a four-game winning streak and won 14 of their last 15 games with several players in and out during the season. Their coach in Kay-lee Stuart as well during that time had been absent with Australian duties. The Sabres found their match winner when it counted and once again showed their system stands up in finals.
Championship history
The Bearcats Women have waited a long time to get back to the big dance with their last appearance in 2016 going down to the North Adelaide Rockets 45-63. The Bearcats have won the championship six times and been in the Grand Final seventeen times. They made five in a row across 1989-1993 with back-to-back championships in 1992 and 1993. Notable players across these era were superstars Pat Mickan, Rachael Sporn, Cass Pujals, Sam Woosnam, Trina Balter, Debbie Miller and Heather McKinnon. They have not won since 2007 to which another club legend in Kaye-Lee Stuart will be looking to steer them to the promise land.
This is the Sabres third grand final in a decade having made the 2011, 2014 and 2019 deciders with the two most recent going down to an average margin of just 3 points. While not an official NBL1 season they also won the ABC 2020 against the Southern Tigers. The Sabres have been in the championship decider just eight times winning five of those encounters. This included two across 2006 and their last one 14 years ago in 2008 featuring stars Renae Camino (Garlepp) and the Bowley sisters of Monique and Hannah.
These two teams have never met in a Grand Final in over 65 years- history will be made Saturday night.
The Stats
The West Adelaide Bearcats are number three or above in points per game (80.2), field goals (41), three point percentage (29.3), free throws (70), assists (21.4), offensive rebounds (16.3), defensive rebounds (34.6) and total rebounds (50.8). In their losses this season they have lower assist numbers then their season average in 14, 18 and 15 so stifling supply of the Bearcats and making them beat you one on one is the key.
The Sturt Sabres are number three or above in three point percentage (31), Offensive rebounds (14.6), free throws (72.5) and points per game (78.5 3rd). That tells you the Sabres often from their second chance points create plenty of free throw opportunities. As a result, their field goals (39.5), assists (18.1), defensive rebounding (29) and total rebounds (43.6) drop significantly in the numbers.
The Bearcats have five players averaging 9 or more points, three players with 10 or more rebounds and 3 or more assists.
Williams is the only player that averages over 10 points and 10 rebounds per game, but they have three players that average between 9 and 10 points.
The Money Women
Jasmin Fejo – The star Bearcat is breathing down the neck of a WNBL contract and she’s a big-time performer. She was pivotal last time they met and will drive all aspects of this game. She can write herself into NBL1 Central folklore with another huge game performance from a player that has bounced back from some challenges.
Mikayla Williams – She showed last week what a bonafide superstar she was by showing she had another gear we didn’t know. You know you are going to get a double double from her but if she plays like she did in the Preliminary final, taking her side and the Grand Final MVP will not be beyond her.
The Reliable Women
Jasmine Simmons – You notice when she’s there by not noticing her and that’s the real gift of Simmons. The quiet achiever of the Bearcats averages 9.5 points including 60 percent from the field, 10 rebounds and 4.6 assists. She is the ultimate all-rounder for this team and should get a jersey for this game despite being on the Adelaide Crows AFLW list.
Kayla Mathews – It was apparent when Mathews struck foul trouble in the semi-final how important her impact on the floor is. When she’s played 30 minutes plus in the finals her opponent averaged 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.5 turnovers. When she played under 20 minutes versus the Bearcats it was a very different set of numbers. She’s also scored some big-time go-ahead buckets and set the tone defensively for her side in the full court defensive sets.
The X-Factors
Madelynn Utti – She has flown into this league and for a player her height has dominated the glass and the scoreboard. Potentially she can rip the Sabres apart like she did in the second half the last time they met with 15 points and 10 rebounds in the second half. The import is the smokey for the MVP in on the big stage.
Meg Prosser – Prosser is one spotlight game away from taking the next level to be a Sabres star player. She’s hit 8 of 14 from beyond the arc in the finals and in the absence of star junior Tayla Brazel had a huge season. I think she’s ready to show us what a special player she really is.
COD Prediction: Bearcats by 7 points/Jasmin Fejo Grand Final MVP
Catch all the NBL1 Central action tonight on the NBL1 website, app on Kayo and Kayo Freebies
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