James Murphy
THE South West Country Basketball League women’s competition has shaped up according to plan and the scene is set for a blockbuster grand final tomorrow night.
Mount Gambier Lakers and Millicent Magic will go head-to-head for the season bragging rights at Warrnambool Stadium.
The two South Australian teams set the benchmark in the Basketball Victoria competition in 2022-23 and the match could easily go either way.
Their previous meetings were split with a win each, but this will be the first time both sides have full rosters.
The Lakers enter the clash off a thriller two-point semi-final win against Warrnambool.
For coach Bryan Green, he has confidence in his team but will not underestimate their opponent.
“If we play defence like we did Saturday we will be in with a chance,” he said.
There will be plenty of intrigue around the match, with the cross-town rivals yet to show their full strength.
“Emily Winter didn’t play the first game and we beat them by five,” Green said.
“Then we went to Millicent with about six players and they touched us up by about 30.”
However, neither scenario will unfold this time around.
Emily Winter will lend her shooting prowess to the Millicent roster, while the Lakers look to have their fullest roster of the season.
“Olivia (Wormald) will be back from overseas so she will suit up and Sophie (Miles) will travel down,” Green said.
“It is almost a full team.”
Keryl Ousey was also absent during both games against Millicent and she will be a big inclusion this weekend, with Emily Dawe the only out as she returns to Adelaide.
Sarah Ritter can not be looked past in any team and she will be a key to the Lakers’ attack.
Mikaela Horrigan presents another danger for the Magic, while Miles proved she keeps her cool in pressure situations when shooting the winning free throws last week.
On the other side of the contest, Millicent coach Damien Venn is excited for the game.
“It should be a cracker,” he said.
“This is what we all thought would happen and it has happened now.”
He takes their Round 11 win over the Lakers with a grain of salt.
However, a team which boasts the likes of Emily and Georgia Winter, Jasmin Howe and Alana Berkefeld rarely takes to the court doubting its ability.
“We will go in quietly confident I guess, but Mount Gambier is going to be tough,” Venn said.
“This will be a single-digit win for either team.”
As far as tactics go, Venn kept his cards close to his chest.
“From our point of view we will need to do what we did (on Saturday) and try to lock them down defensively,” Venn said.
“Sarah Ritter is obviously very important to them but in saying that, they have a lot of players who just chip in and play their part.
“You have to really cover the whole court.
“I am guessing Alana will get another important (defensive) job this weekend.”
A defensive game is likely to unfold, but with powerhouse shooters in both line-ups, it will be a struggle to keep them contained for four quarters.
A toss of a coin would be the most accurate prediction, with this game one not to miss.
The match will tip off at 4.45pm (SA time) at Warrnambool Stadium, with the men’s decider between Mount Gambier and Ararat to follow.
