Pedro's Late Play Clinches Victory For Cairns Dolphins
By: Murray Wenzel - The Cairns Post
A HUGE four point play in the last 20 seconds from Naomi Pedro has given the Dolphins a 79-74 victory and handed Port City their first defeat for the season.
Pedro’s heroics, not dissimilar from former Taipan Ron Dorsey’s in game two of the NBL grand final series, ended the defending champion’s 10 game streak and capped a miraculous turnaround from the home side.
Trailing by more than five points for the entire contest, it was only a late flurry that edged them close enough to pounce and when Pedro got her chance she made them pay – giving the Dolphins their ninth straight victory.
Trailing by one after another massive three pointer from Port star Jess Bibby, Pedro slotted the three and earned a foul to give the Dolphins a three-point lead.
They spoiled the Port attempt at the other end and fittingly Pedro sealed the win with two more points from the charity stripe.
Earlier, it was Julianna Paunovic that inspired a mini-fightback with a string of powerful drives to the hoop and earlier still it was the returning Opal Cayla Francis who lit up the court for the Dolphins.
Towering Power centre Amanda Beatson proved a worthy adversary for Francis, making her work hard for possession under the ring.
But Francis, fresh from a series with the national team in China, responded to the challenge.
She led her side with regular drives to the basket and crucial rebounds to notch 20 points in the first quarter and 29 (with 19 rebounds) in the contest.
Her efforts from close to the basket kept the Dolphins in the game despite them shooting a miserable 19-30 from the free throw line.
Bibby was all class for Port, racking up 34 points and rarely missing when given an open look.
She was made to work hard though by young gun Jade Zala, who was again impressive and will have learned a lot guarding the former NBA sharp-shooter for most of the 40 minutes.
Caitlyn Hodges was pivotal off the bench, getting crucial touches and nervelessly hitting two free throws to give the Dolphins the lead for the first time with just over two minutes remaining.
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