Renee Swagemakers cops some close attention from a Blackburn player in Cranbourne’s nine-point win on Sunday. 85243 Pictures: JARROD POTTER
By JARROD POTTER
THE Cranbourne Cavaliers women sit one win away from a grand final berth after coming from behind to defeat Blackburn 59-50 at Knox Basketball Stadium on Sunday.
Down 34-26 at half-time from a lacklustre second quarter, the Cavaliers rallied to level the scores at 43-all going into the last quarter.
Despite woeful shooting percentages from both sides, Cranbourne pulled ahead at the free-throw line, sinking 8/8 to clinch the away victory in the best of three semi-final series.
“We got some good defence and were good at shutting down the key players in the second half,” Cranbourne coach Mark Holman said.
“Lara Pauline did a good job on Lauren Hoare in the second half and our guards were able to create a lot of turnovers that we were able to capitalise on.
“I think we outscored them by 20-odd in the second half.”
It was ugly basketball at times, but Holman was happy to take the points and move on with a double-chance at home to make the grand final, against either Melbourne University or Coburg.
We were good overall, with fighting pressure,” Holman said. “We didn’t play well, but we won ugly and to win without our leading player not posting great numbers so it’s great for us.”
Cranbourne’s likely Big V all-star centre Renae Mokrzycki held to a quiet game by her standards, shooting eight points and gaining 14 rebounds, it opened up opportunities for Alex Keates (12 points, nine rebounds), Amy Mcfarlane (12 points) and Pauline (12 points, seven rebounds) to step up on the scoreboard to get the victory.
“Alex Keates was phenomenal,” Holman said. “Lara and Amy had phenomenal games as well and Jade Foote coming off the bench and Sharon Henry’s defensive pressure was fantastic as well.”
Mokrzycki is available for this week’s semi-final deciders and the first week of the grand final series before heading over to the states to start her college career at North Idaho.
“It was really important to get the first game and now that we’ve got two games at home to win another,” Holman said.
“We’re pretty confident going into it with them being one game down and it being at home.
“It will be Moky’s (Mokrzycki) last home game and hopefully we get a lot of numbers down and hopefully it becomes a pretty intimidated environment for the Vikings to come into.”
Cranbourne’s other finals chance rests with the Youth Championship Men, who face Western Port at home on Saturday.
The SYC men earned a bye after an impressive 17-5 season to earn top spot on the ladder.
The two teams have split their matches to date this year, with the Steelers winning at home 73-62 in round 9 before the Cavaliers took the return win in round 13 claiming a 75-54 victory.
The Youth Championship Men tip off at 6.30pm at Cranbourne Basketball Stadium with the Cavaliers women starting at 8.30pm.
