FOR the third year in a row the Bendigo Lady Braves will host the SEABL women’s south conference grand final.
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The Lady Braves thrashed minor premier Kilsyth 78-60 in Melbourne on Saturday night to earn hosting rights for the grand final on September 5.
“It’s a nice feeling to know we’ve got the grand final on our home court,’’ Lady Braves coach Jonathan Goodman said.
“It’s been a huge effort by the girls and they deserve it.”
A superb defensive effort in the second-half was the catalyst of the Lady Braves’ big win over the Cobras.
The home side led the Lady Braves by two points at half-time, but Bendigo turned the game on its head in the third term.
Kilsyth scored the first four points of the half to lead by six, but the next five minutes of the game was one-way traffic. The Lady Braves lifted their defensive intensity and star trio Kelly Wilson, Tessa Lavey and Elyse Penaluna did the damage offensively.
The Lady Braves unleashed a 21-2 run, with Wilson, Lavey and Penaluna scoring all 21 points, to turn a six-point deficit into a 13-point lead.
The Cobras rallied to get back within four points early in the final quarter, but the Lady Braves went up a gear again to score 22 of the last 28 points of the match.
“Our defence wasn’t great early, but in the second half we really lifted,’’ Goodman said.
“Our aim is to keep teams to 15 points per quarter, so to keep them to 23 points for second half was massive. We were very happy with the way we played.”
Kelly Wilson led the way for the Lady Braves, scoring 25 points to go with seven assists, three rebounds and five steals.
Lavey was rock solid with 23 points and six rebounds, while Penaluna finished with 13 points and 13 boards.
Andrea Wilson stepped up in the absence of injured forward Stacia Robertson (foot).
The veteran was in the starting five, played 30 minutes of game time and made Kilsyth star Steph Cumming’s night tough.
“It was a massive effort by Kelly and Tessa and Elyse was really solid defensively,’’ Goodman said.
“I was really proud of the entire group. It’s not easy to go to their court and shut them down like that.”
Goodman said having the week off before the grand final was a “huge bonus”.
“We’ll keep things business as usual as far as training is concerned,’’ he said.
“We get to give Stacia Robertson an extra week off which is a big help. She should come back bigger and better.”
Kilsyth hosts Launceston in the preliminary final.
