NBL1 Central | 2022 Women's Grand Final

Bearcat Beauty: The Bearcats celebrate their first womens title in 15 years closing out the tough Sturt Sabres | Kelly Barnes/AllStar Photos

Grand Final: West Adelaide Bearcats vs Sturt Sabres

Bearcats break 15-year drought to down Sabres

The West Adelaide Bearcats won their first championship since 2007 defeating the Sturt Sabres at the Lights 82-75 in a pulsating four quarters of basketball. Both teams had huge runs throughout the contest but the Bearcats looked like they had it won at half-time. The opening a frantic hunt for early momentum.   

The Sabres got the opening score through Kayla Mathews in a neck-and-neck opening. The concern early for coach Tim Shortt was the number of second chance opportunities courtesy of an early 12-7 rebound count with Jasmin Fejo having a storming first quarter of 8 points. Not to be outdone import Madelynn Utti also chimed in for 9 points and the Halls Medallist for the Sabres in Mikayla Williams grabbed 10 points and 5 rebounds for the opening stanza. The Bearcats with a slender lead of 24-22 after one.   

The second was a disaster for the Sabres as they struggled to find winners at the offensive end. The Bearcats 53 percent from the field yielding a sizeable lead on the back of a 3-minute stint of 17-0. It was driven by Jennie Rintala who dropped 11 for the term and along with Utti monstered the Sabres just prior to half-time. The 50-30 lead at halftime was looking like a mountain to climb for the Sabres.

The third stanza was answered by one of the Sabres in Meg Prosser who dropped a triple to start the term and in the blink of an eye - the deficit was wiped away. It took a 1:54 for the Sabres to reel off a 0-11 run through Prosser and Kayla Mathews as they notched 11 and 7 points for the quarter respectively. Their defence found another gear and suddenly it was 2-16 in the quarter with only a Fejo controlled floater going down. The Sabres continued to nail outside shots through their array of shooters to clock 6 of 8 for the quarter. Zoe Walker-Roberts locked down Utti for the term and Rintala went for a donut as the Sabres closed it right back to 58-54 with two minutes left in the term. The ever-consistent Jasmine Simmons engineered a couple of big plays and drew and1 just prior to the close of the quarter - to setup a grandstand finish 62-57.      

The Sabres hit back again hard in the fourth with Prosser dropping another triple before a couple of key moments in the game. The Sabres fans up in arms as a no-call on Williams who maybe felt had some heavy contact was further compounded by Utti drawing the foul right down the other end. The game continued to swing back and forward with huge play after play with Rintala driving for the hard finish, Prosser posting up, Fejo stealing and scoring and Zoe Walker-Roberts tre brought it back to a one basket game 76-73. Kayla Mathews left one short, Simmons finished again then Williams completed a tough under the basket touch finish. Simmons then grabbed the and1 to make it 78-73 only to be answered by Williams to make it 78-75 with 1:17 to go.

Simmons then pulled up for a controlled jumpshot on the next play to make it 80-75 then the Sabres had possession to find a way back into it. Utti already seeing the finish line blocked the drive of Williams to lift her Bearcats to another level. The Sabres then turned it over baseline only for the Bearcats to give it back to them. The Sabres did so again as it came down to a trap and steal scenario for them. Utti drew the foul then proceeded to knock down both free throws – the late Prosser shots falling short and the Bearcats busting out onto court in jubilation as they sealed the win 82-75.

Utti was the MVP for the Grand Final with 25 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, blocks and steals. Not to be outdone though were Rintala with 22 points and 9 rebounds, Fejo with 14 points and 10 assists and Simmons with a consistent 12 points and 10 rebounds. For the Sabres it was Williams with 23 points and 13 rebounds while huge second halves from Prosser (15 points each with 3 triples beyond the arc) kept the Sabres in the game.  

MVP Utti knew the focus prior to the game was to get on the glass early and secure multiple possessions. “We wanted to grab second chance points from those boards. We knew we had an advantage in that area.” Utti shared. Although coach Kaye-Lee Stuart and her team were concerned at three quarter time about the Sabres shooting,, Utti said she rallied them at the break in play to address the issue. “We had to get out to the shooters as we knew they were good shooters from the jump as she reminded us - thats the adjustment we made.” Utti explained about the change in tactics after the hot shooting quarter.         

Jennie Rintala shared how much it meant to the Bearcats and to players like Captain Skye Langenbrick, Michaela Lappin and the club. “It feels good. it’s been a long time coming and tonight we had so many contributors. It so good for the club and everyone connected and to do it for those girls that have been around a longtime – they’ve put in the hardwork.”

The Bearcats have been top of the tree since the early part of the season and have stuck to their method and as a result come out of the NBL1 Central season – with the silverware.

West Adelaide Bearcats 82 (Utti 25, Rintala 22, Fejo 14, Simmons 12) defeated Sturt Sabres 75 (Williams 23, K Mathews, Prosser 15, J Rigoni 9) at the Lights Community and Sports Centre