Sydney/Dandenong game report (AKA *insert profanity*/what is it with these Melbourne teams?!)
Wednesday 17 November 2004
What is it with Sydney and its hoodoo against Melbourne teams?
Two things characterise this match for me:
* The closeness of the two teams all the way. Whenever one team would try to break away, the other one would reel them in. From 3:48 left in the third quarter, neither team ever led by more than three points (one possession). It was truly an exciting game.
* The NUMBER OF MISSED LAYUPS. There wouldn't be any double overtime if Jacinta Hamiltion had made one of her two sitters at the end of regulation (an easy layup after a Sydney defensive breakdown and the putback opportunity). She was probably the worst culprit all game - that 4/17 was well earnt. Tammy Hoare was another but I am used to it. Once again, FINISH TAMMY FINISH. Belinda Snell should have had 4 assists in the first quarter but only had one because the receiving end couldn't make their layups.
Why did Dandenong win? They didn't outplay Sydney by a large margin (identical rebound, assist and turnover numbers) but they could knock down the perimeter shot and Sydney couldn't. Sydney was 1/16 all game and I can't even recall Hennessy's three while Dandenong made 9/19 and I definitely remember most of them (especially Bibby's daggers in overtime). Both teams played good D - they kept each other to sub-40 percent shooting and I was surprised that Sydney's D and rebounding matched Dandenong's for most of the game (except for keeping up with Bibby but more on that in a bit).
Refs were pretty crappy. They were favouring Sydney for the first three quarters and then suddenly favoured Dandenong for the fourth quarter and the overtimes? Bizarre.
I am reasonably happy with Sydney's efforts, except for the missed layups. If they had made a couple of those, no need for overtime...
Player analysis - Sydney
Trish Fallon - Nice game from Trish. Automatic from 15-17 feet and asserted herself on the boards.
Belinda Snell - Shut down well by McInerny though a way to beat her was shown late in the game. Snell started to back McInerney down the lane as opposed to fronting her and she beat McInerny with a couple of nice spin moves. Something to think about when the two teams play each other again next weekend. Snell also had some nice passes but too often the receiving end would stuff up the layup. She should also stop attempting the step-back three pointer - it's not working for her this season.
Briana Hennessy - They should nickname her 'Showtime' (sorry Hellcat). She always has a couple of spectacular looking baskets each game and I think it's mandatory for her to attempt at least one reverse layup a game. Her versatility is useful - guarded the full range of players from Caitlin Ryan to Jacinta Hamilton throughout the game.
Tammy Hoare - see Bulleen game report. Same old story...
Eva Afeaki - Looking better as the season goes along but like Tammy, has recurring issues to address (decision making, smarter penetrating). She should stop taking outside shots even when left wide open. Her form isn't that good and that niggly knee condition doesn't help her shot either.
Gilbert/Wilson PG issue - Gilbert finally got the start and did a good job of it. I like her hustle and her playmaking is improving but she has got to improve her jumpshot. Teams can sag off her quite easily. She also has to stop the silly fouls. It seems not starting has injected some life into Wilson - she was definitely hustling more this week. She used her quickness to cause havoc in the passing lanes, grabbed some key boards and knocked down two clutch shots at the end of regulation and the first OT. The PG battle between these two will be quite entertaining for the rest of the season.
Michelle Musselwhite's return will be much welcomed. Her versatile scoring presence was missed with the only consistent scorers being Snell and Fallon.
Player analysis - Dandenong
Jessica Bibby - She's back! It's great to see Bibby back in form again, zipping around the court and knocking down jumpers with authority (though I'd wish she'd do it a bit less against us). Bibby scored all of her 21 points in the 4th quarter and two overtimes, and knocked down the three that sent the game into a second overtime as well as the game winner. The Flames really had no way of stopping her as Jess would often launch the jumper at the hint of space. She wasn't too good with her handling and decision making (6 turnovers) but that's not her job. She's there to shoot.
I hope to see Jess compete again at a higher level one day. Who knows what her development would have been like if she didn't have that career-threatening back problem. She's still got a lot of game ahead of her though (she's only 25) and Opals selection and international leagues are definitely in the picture if she can keep up her good form of late. Jess reminds me of Sandy Brondello.
Emily McInerny - Here's a sign of the apocalypse... McInerny knocking down three treys. That offensive outburst was needed, considering the coldness of most of the other Rangers perimeter players and she'll need to do it more often if she wants to secure Opals selection. McInerny played her usual stifling good D on Snell and I'm impressed with her strength - she's one of the best at boxing out.
Jacinta Hamilton - Rebounded well but believe it or not, she was outmuscled in the middle by Trish Fallon (who isn't exactly known for her post D). She hasn't played well as of late - loss of focus? She definitely needs to do more strength work.
The others - Last year's Flame killer, Caitlin Ryan, was surprisingly quiet. Allie Douglas had a couple of nice moves but looked slow and a bit unfocused. Carly Wilson was almost un-noticeable. Sam Richards burnt the Flames a couple of times off the dribble and should have done it a lot more.