By Tara Murray
Kyneton Tigers had to dig deep to win through to a second straight Country Basketball League north-west women’s grand final.
Early on in Saturday’s semi final, it seemed that the Mildura Heat would be destined for its second grand final in three seasons, leading by 14 points at quarter time.
The margin was still the same at half time before the Tigers found their groove in the second half.
Saving their best for last, the Tigers came from behind at the last break to win, 67-56.
Tigers coach Ash Clark said the group was so excited to find themselves in another grand final.
“We were in a hole,” he said. “The girls were magnificent in the second half and dug deep and got the job done.
Clark said the message at quarter time and half time was that they needed to focus on their defence to get back into the game.
He said even though they were down the girls were still switched on and hadn’t dropped their heads.
“We had to keep locking in on defence,” he said. “It was all about defence and we had to stop them first.
“We had defensive breakdowns and Mildura had open looks. We had to sort that out and tidy it up.
“Every time they scored, we would have to go to the other end and get two baskets at the other end to catch up.”
Clark said they knew that Mildura Heat had played the perfect game in the first half and that it was always going to turn their way.
A 21-12 third quarter bought the Tigers back into the game.
“We didn’t look at it as a whole,” he said. “We wanted to get it back to single figures.
“The last quarter was massive.”
Brooke Mangan was the one who got the Tigers offence going in the final quarter with three three-pointers.
Clark said she was really strong in defence throughout the whole game.
Elise Noonan top scored for the Tigers with 14, while Fletcher and Mangarn finished with 11 points each.
Clark said like all season they hadn’t relied on one or two people to do all the scoring.
The Tigers now face the Bendigo Braves in the grand final on Saturday night at Bendigo at 5.15pm.
The Braves beat the Bacchus Marsh Lions, 91-64, in the other semi final.
It was the Braves that defeated the Tigers in the grand final last season, while the Braves also beat the Tigers in the 2020-21 decider as well.
Clark said it would be a big challenge.
“It will be next level again,” he said. “They have been massive this year and dropped just one match when they didn’t have many stars.
“It’s exciting and the girls are up for it. None have dropped their heads and they’re looking forward to another crack against Bendigo.
“There’s no better way to beat Bendigo at Bendigo.”
Bendigo will face the Castlemaine Cannons in the men’s grand final.
