Vince Habermann | 14th August 2011 | News Mail

Bundaberg Radiology Bears’ QBL women’s title hopes are still alive after overcoming a tardy start to outgun Gold Coast Rollers 87-71 in their quarter-final clash at WIN Stadium on Saturday.

The Bears trailed 23-15 at quarter-time but with a parochial home crowd behind them, they put their stamp on the match with a 28-15 second quarter, before also winning the third term 21-12 and maintaining their advantage to also take the honours 23-21 in the run home.

They will now meet Mackay in the semi-finals in Gladstone this Friday night after the Meteorettes defeated Rockhampton 97-73 in their quarter-final.

Bears coach Dean Page was delighted with the victory after their eight-match winning streak had come to an end when they were overwhelmed by minor premiers Gladstone Port Power 108-75 in the last round one week earlier.

“At the end of the day, it puts us in the final four,” Page said.

“We made a slow start but coupled with the occasion, it was the energy that the Gold Coast brought – they held nothing back but we stuck to our system and in the end, it paid dividends.

“They came out fighting but once we got going, moving the ball and sticking to our game plan, our preparation was always pretty good and it was just a matter of execution.

“Once the momentum swung our way, we got them out of their structures and established our structures, which was certainly was something we wanted to do.”

Yvonne Turner and Stacey Howard led the scoring with 20 and 19 points respectively, while Kisha Lee chipped in with 14, Alice Honnery and Hayley Munro each notched 13, and the latter also chalked up 15 rebounds, and Page lauded a robust team performance.

“Hayley Munro certainly played her best game for us, Stacey Howard, coming back, was brilliant, Alice Honnery was absolutely unstoppable at the defensive end, and Kisha was great, and we got something out of everyone, which was the most pleasing aspect,” he said.

“Vonny Turner went down with an injury but we increased our lead without her on the court – she rolled her ankle but could have played the last quarter but we sat her out as a precaution but if it had have been tight, she was certainly ready to play.”

If they are to advance to the grand final, the Bears will have to reverse a 94-66 loss to the Meteorettes in Mackay on June 24, but Page believes they can do it.

“It will be another challenge for us but we equalled the record with them with 14 wins and four losses and when we played them in Mackay, it was a disappointing performance and a disappointing result and we’re certainly looking to rectify that.

“Twenty-eight points was the final margin but at the end of the day, we were on a double-header and we got to within 14 points of them and made a bit of a run.

“But we made a conscious decision to rest people for the Rocky game which we won, and we’re closer than that and better than that, and we are a far better team now with addition of Hayley (Munro) and people back to form.

“The neutral venue in Gladstone will help and we are certainly a lot closer than they expect.”