The Brydens Flames continue to impress with an emphatic 94-69 win over fellow top-four side, SEQ Stars last night at Brydens Stadium.
The Flames have surged to be joint leaders with Perth Lynx.
The win maintains the Flames unbeaten home record this season and exacted sweet revenge on the SEQ Stars who beat them in extra-time, Round 4, up in Queensland.
“We didn’t expect to beat them by that much. It just shows what can happen when you stick to the recipe. You can’t take your foot off the pedal in this league,” said Coach Shannon Seehbohm.
Showing her mettle once again Flames Captain, #10 Katie Ebzery, lit up the scoreboard with a game-high 29 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists. Ebzery came out blazing, racking up most of her haul by half-time.
“Everyone is contributing which makes us hard to guard. Tahlia and I play well together and I’m lucky to be surrounded by a full roster of talented girls,” said Ebzery.
Ebzery was ably assisted by #31 Joslyn Tinkle in one of her best games to date with a gritty 18 points, including 7 rebounds, #30 Carolyn Swords a steely 14 points with 6 rebounds and last week’s Player of the Round, #4 Tahlia Tapaea, not be forgotten also with 14 points. #3 Hayley Moffatt defended everything and her link play in attack was outstanding.
Ebzery, with her big minutes and athleticism, is proving a handful against all opposition and it was no surprise she attracted the most Fouls-On of any player.
Winning every quarter the Flames raised the defensive temperature and it showed in their 18 points from turnovers compared to the SEQ Stars 6.
A major difference to the Round 4 clash was how the Flames defence was able to restrict free-scoring SEQ Stars Captain, Rachel Jarry, to just 7 points when she sunk 27 points just three weeks ago.
A shining light for the SEQ Stars was top-scorer Nadeen Payne with 20 points. Payne was promoted to the starting five after also top-scoring with 26 points in the home loss to Townsville Fire the night before. Backing up to play a fresher and determined Flames outfit though proved too much of a hurdle for the Stars.
Both teams contested in great spirit befitting the many Aussie Hoops juniors in attendance, resplendent in their green and gold singlets, excitedly following the action.
The Flames look to improve their defensive communication and rebounding in their next challenge away against the Dandenong Rangers, at Dandenong Stadium next Saturday night at 6.30pm.
