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Batgirl to the rescue!


PERTH is two wins from winning the state's second WNBL title and turning the city into this century's version of basketball's "Titletown".

The Wildcats still are basking in the glow of Perth's seventh NBL Championship and if the Lynx join them as dual-winners, all the elite national basketball silverware will reside in the West.

Perth first wore the WNBL crown in 1992 when Tom Maher's team beat Dandenong Rangers 58-54 in the one-and-done Grand Final.

Perth were the Breakers then, a nifty irony given the Wildcats beat the Breakers for the NBL title on Sunday. But Perth's women have undergone several identity changes (Breakers, Lynx, Waves, back to Lynx) so local fans didn't have to negotiate booing the Breakers one week, cheering them the next.

The job coach Andy Stewart has done with his team - securing Tessa Lavey, retaining Louella Tomlinson, bringing in quality imports Sami Whitcomb and Betnijah Laney, turning Carley Mijovic into someone resembling her potential - has been a feat worthy of Coach of the Year honours.

Saturday brings Game 1 of the WNBL's historic first Best-of-3 Championship format to Perth and it assuredly will be memorable.

The term "Titletown" first became a "thing" in 1998 when the Adelaide 36ers won the NBL title and Adelaide Lightning claimed the WNBL crown. (It had a bit more additional cache because the Adelaide Crows also were AFL premiers and Adelaide Thunderbirds the national netball champs.)

BEWARE THE BATGIRL: Suzy Batkovic devastated the SEQ Stars in the Preliminary Final.

DEFENDING champion Townsville made it back for its Grand Final appointment with a comprehensive Preliminary Final rout of state derby rival SEQ Stars.

Suzy Batkovic was awesome, setting a tone in the first quarter which the Fire rode to the finish, her final numbers 31 points at 61 per cent, 10 rebounds, three assists and a block.

But in that opening period, The Batgirl had 15 points, Townsville ahead 31-14 (yes, she had outscored the Stars) and any dream of the SEQ fairytale continuing on to the championship series effectively already were dashed.

Mia Murray was a great sidekick with 24 points, including 4-of-8 threes. How Murray hasn't had a look-in for the past few Opals squads borders on scandalous.

Cayla George grabbed 16 rebounds to pair with her 11 boards, clearly reinforcing she is the No.1 rebounder in the WNBL.

For SEQ, it was a harsh end to a tough disrupted inaugural season of import axings, player disgruntlement, key injuries, the club going into administration, a coaching change and an import return.

To finish third under those circumstances was a great achievement by the playing group. Maybe next season the team can return and continue its WNBL journey.

In the meantime, Townsville and Perth are 2-2 heading into the best-of-three Grand Final. Who could ask for more?

Preliminary Final: TOWNSVILLE FIRE 91 (Batkovic 31, Murray 24, George 11; George 16 rebs; Cocks 8 assts) d SEQ STARS 71 (Hooper 20, Allen 16, Ibekwe 12; Hooper, Ibekwe 8 rebs; Jarry 7 assts) at The Fire-Station, Townsville RSL Stadium.

Mar 9

Content, unless otherwise indicated, is © copyright Boti Nagy.