Brydens Sydney Uni Flames return to the winners circle guarantees a happy Christmas for the team and their fans with two amazing wins over the weekend.
Venturing to Victoria after the heart-breaking, one-point, extra- time loss to Townsville Fire the previous weekend, the Flames accounted for the talented Bendigo Spirit 67-64 on Friday night, December 18. With lofty goals and hungry for more, Brydens Flames then backed up 24 hours later to eclipse the Deakin Melbourne Boomers, 65-62, in one of the best comebacks of the Wattle Valley WNBL season.
The two away wins are priceless and ensures the Flames secure their second place on the congested ladder, with a short break for Christmas the next assignment for all teams.
The Deakin Boomers were in disbelief at the one that got away when they slammed the Flames 20-9 in the third- quarter (leading 46-33 at this point) and started the fourth-quarter in a similar ruthless fashion. The Flames obviously hadn’t read the script and their passes started finding the mark and their defence ramped up to suddenly halt the Boomers in their tracks.
Flames captain, #10 Katie Ebzery, as she so often does, led the charge and embraced immense pressure to sink two vital free- throws in the last minute. Ebzery top-scored for the Flames with 19 points ably supported by #31 Joselyn Tinkle, 14 points and #4 Tahlia Tupaea with 13 points. Every Flames player contributed, including some big minutes from the bench given it was the second hard game in 24 hours, mainly #13 Casey Samuels, 22 minutes; #7 Alex Wilson, 17 minutes and #11 Carly Boag with 14 minutes.
Flames had no business winning yet ran away with the defining fourth-quarter, 32-16. From a lot of the stats it seems incomprehensible that the Flames won but they found a way. The two top scorers for the Boomers made 25 and 21 points; the Boomers were well in front with Rebounds 35-19, including Offensive Rebounds and Turnovers 21-15.
Flames Coaches, Shannon Seebohm and Reece Potter will need the Christmas break to settle their nerves.
In the Friday night game against Bendigo Bank Spirit it was the Flames of old producing a powerful, third-quarter surge, 27-19, that proved the difference despite a late rally from Bendigo. A standout was #31 Tinkle with 14 points. Tinkle also effected some classic blocks at critical moments. Nine Flames players pitched in with points compared to six for Bendigo and this broad contribution can make the difference in tight matches.
To start their New Year the next encounter for both the Flames and Melbourne Boomers is when they clash for the third and final time this season at Brydens Stadium, Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness, Saturday January 2, 3.00 pm tip-off. It promises to be a cracking game with the proud Boomers out to avenge the one that got away.