Suns get the crucial road win in semi game one.

One win, forty minutes, is all that separates the Kalamunda Eastern Suns and a maiden club SBL Grand Final appearance after the Suns defeated the South West Slammers 69-53 in Eaton on Saturday night, in Game One of the WSBL Semi Final series. The win was a massive 34 point turn-around from the regular season fixture, in June, at the same venue. Coach Craig Mansfield was happy but focussed, as always, after the game. "Game one away was always going to be a big challenge and I was happy with the focus and intensity we warmed up and started with.  We trained strongly on Thursday night and this carried over which is a big key for us.  The goal for our team is to go away again and practice and get 5% better each week, hopefully we can do that again over the next 6 or 7 days” said Mansfield.

Jennie Rintala was again outstanding scoring 14 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, the experienced Sass Knox was herculean with 13 rebounds and 9 points, whilst Captain Ajay Jones had 10 points. The Suns were able to spread the scoring whilst for the Slammers Kimberly Sitzmann carried too much of the load, leading her team with a game high 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Both teams traded baskets early on in the game with the lead never going past three for either team. Late in the first Sass Knox scored inside and then Jennie Rintala knocked down two free throws to give the Suns a 16-13 lead, which they would never relinquish for the remainder of the game.

The Suns had all the answers in the second, responding to every Slammers challenge with either a tough basket or some solid rebounding, a steal or block! Whilst the game was tied with 4 minutes remaining in the half, Sass Knox grabbed an offensive rebound and scored the put-back and when Emma Berryman knocked down a three after a Slammers turnover, the margin was back to 5. The Suns closing out the second to lead 38-31

The Suns played arguably their best basketball of the game in the third quarter, despite Rachel Mueggenborg and Melissa Moyle both being in foul trouble restricting their opponents to just 7 points and extending the lead to 17 at three-quarter time, 55-38. Jennie Rintala, who is making third quarters her own, was outstanding, outscoring the Slammers, with 8 points.

Neither team scored over a four minute period in the final quarter, but the damage had been inflicted in the first three quarters as the Suns steadied, and despite the margin narrowing to 9, some late free throws consolidated the impressive 69-53 victory.

The Suns have a league best win-loss record of 10-2 at home, at the Furnace, so will look to capitalise on this and to close the series out in two games. The Slammers, having eliminated the first placed Willetton Tigers in the quarter final series, will be no easy-beats, something Mansfield is well aware of: “Bunbury are a fantastic team and we have to remain focused on the job at hand.  Sport is a great leveller and we know with the WSBL this year no matter who you play or where you play you have to put your best foot forward.  The game (this) Saturday night is a massive challenge and opportunity for our program to continue to demonstrate our development and I'm sure the girls will be excited and ready for it". Game Two is at the Furnace this Saturday night, tip-off at 7:30pm.

Article by Steve Trajeski
Photo by Mick Cronin




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