Brown walks away from Boomers

Updated October 29, 2012 16:12:36

Brett Brown has stepped down as coach of the Australian men's basketball team after a four-year stint which culminated in a seventh-placed finish at the London Olympics.

Brown will now focus on his position as assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA.

The decision to step away from the international game will also allow him to spend more time with his family in the United States.

"I inherited a strong Boomer culture moulded by many committed, outstanding coaches and players that have come before me," Brown said in a statement.

"My staff and I are confident that the current program is well placed to again be brought forward."

The coaches of Australia's national basketball teams are contracted for four-year terms ahead of every Olympic Games.

Basketball Australia (BA) will begin the search for a new men's coach once it completes a review of the program leading up the recent London Games.

Brown said it had been a privilege and a pleasure coaching the Boomers.

"I am especially proud of the commitment that Australia's best players made to the Boomer program during this term," he said.

"I leave with fond memories of a group of players who played with a spirit and toughness that earned the respect of the global basketball fraternity.

"I am proud to have been their coach.

"The basketball community should be excited to have our current group of core players and new talent emerging throughout the country."

BA chief executive Kristina Keneally said Brown would leave a lasting legacy.

"Brett's contribution to the men's national team program has been profound - it will last long after his departure," Keneally said.

"Under Brett's charge we've seen the Boomers surge forward in leaps and bounds - highlighted by the emergence of the likes of Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova and Aron Baynes as star players in our run at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games."

Before joining San Antonio, Brown coached for nine years in the NBL, winning the title with the North Melbourne Giants in 1994.

He spent eight years as an Australian assistant from 1995-2003 and replaced Brian Goorjian as head coach after the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

AAP

Tags: basketball, sport, australia, united-states

First posted October 29, 2012 16:12:36

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Boomers edge Flames in a thriller

Updated October 19, 2012 23:46:51

Bulleen picked up its first win of the WNBL season with an exciting 81-79 triumph over Sydney Uni on Friday night.

A crucial steal by Rachel Jarry in the dying stages secured the victory for the visiting Boomers, as the Flames missed out on their first win of the new campaign.

Tess Madgen dominated with 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds for Bulleen, while Lauren King finished with 23 points for the hosts.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, bulleen-3105, vic

First posted October 19, 2012 23:06:13

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Spirit pip Boomers

Updated October 12, 2012 22:56:12

Bendigo Spirit edged out Bulleen Boomers 70-69 in their round two clash at The Veneto Club.

The Boomers were just ahead 35-33 at half-time but a tight third quarter saw the Spirit level scores at 54-54 as the two sides headed into the final term.

The Spirit did just enough in the fourth quarter to ice the win, with Kelly Wilson compiling a 15-point haul for the game.

Rachel Jarry led the charge for the Boomers with a game-high 19 points.

Meanwhile, Townsville Fire won 78-66 at home to Canberra Capitals.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, bulleen-3105, bendigo-3550

First posted October 12, 2012 22:56:12

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Boomers lose to Brazil

Updated July 23, 2012 13:32:35

The Boomers were beaten 87-71 by Olympic opponents Brazil in a warm-up tournament in Strasbourg this morning.

Brazil's NBA stars Nene (12 points, 11 rebounds) and Tiago Splitter (15 points) were the standouts in the 16-point win.

For Australia David Andersen top-scored with 16 points while Patty Mills contributed with 14 points.

Boomers coach Brett Brown was left wondering how to beat the Brazilians who will be Australia's first opponents in the Olympic tournament next Sunday.

Australia (ninth) are ranked ahead of Brazil (13th) on world rankings but Brown concedes the Brazilians will be hard to beat in London.

"I think you leave (tonight) with the realisation that they're (Brazil) an excellent team," Brown said.

"Their four NBA players were very good. I thought they were very physical and it was a good indication of what to expect in our opening game with them in London.

"You leave learning a lot more about what it's going to take to beat them."

The Boomers continue their preparation with a match against France on Tuesday morning.

Tags: sport, basketball, olympics-summer, france

First posted July 23, 2012 13:32:35

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Boomers sweep series against Greece

Updated June 27, 2012 22:25:13

Australia wrapped up its farewell series against Greece with a 79-58 victory in the third and final game in Geelong.

The Boomers, who won the opening two games of the series 87-60 and 91-51, looked set for a comfortable victory when they held a 17-point advantage at half-time.

But that was reduced to just five points when the Greeks fought back in the third quarter to trail 44-39.

The hosts found enough in the tank to re-focus in the final term and ice the win, which gave them a 3-0 series triumph in their last hit-out on Australian soil before the London Olympics.

Matthew Dellavedova led the scoring for the Boomers with 12 points, while Joe Ingles and Brad Newley added 11-point hauls.

Georgios Bogris and Nikolaos Pappas both posted 16 points for Greece.

Their first game at the London Olympics is against Brazil on July 29.

Tags: sport, basketball, olympics-summer, geelong-3220

First posted June 27, 2012 22:23:49

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Boomers easily clinch Greece series

Updated June 25, 2012 22:10:26

Australia's warm-up for the London Olympic basketball tournament continued in strong fashion with a 91-51 win over Greece in front of a sell-out crowd in Knox on Monday night.

The Boomers exploded out of the blocks with a 25-9 first quarter before the visitors regrouped and stayed closer in the second and third periods.

But the damage was done by three-quarter time and Australia put the nail in the coffin with a 29-11 final period to seal the three-game Farewell Series after winning the opener on Sunday night in Melbourne.

Boomers forward Joe Ingles led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, adding four rebounds and three assists, while veteran big Mark Worthington (15 points) and Brad Newley (13) chipped in as well.

Rising star Aleks Maric posted nine points and eight boards while spearhead point guard Patty Mills had just five points and three assists in 18 minutes on the floor.

Nikolaos Pappas was the lone Greek player to reach double figures on the scoreboard.

The final match of the series is a sold-out encounter in Geelong on Wednesday night.

Tags: basketball, sport, knox-city-centre-3152, vic, australia, greece

First posted June 25, 2012 21:54:01

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Spain edge out Boomers again

Updated July 19, 2012 12:11:40

The Boomers lost a second successive Olympic warm-up game to Spain in Malaga.

Australia went down 81-75 to the number two-ranked men's Olympic basketball team with Patty Mills top-scoring for the Boomers with 15 points.

David Andersen (12 points), Joe Ingles and David Barlow (11 points) also scored in the double figures.

The result follows the Boomers' 75-69 to Spain a day earlier.

Boomers coach Brett Brown was encouraged by the latest effort, which saw his troops trail by just four points with six minutes remaining.

"There were a lot of positives we got out of tonight's game and the series in general," Brown said.

"We realise we're not that far off it. The turnovers ended up hurting us more than anything.

"That's the area that's most important to our preparation and lead-up to London."

The Boomers have two more warm-up games next week against Brazil and France.

Tags: basketball, sport, olympics-summer, spain

First posted July 19, 2012 11:48:17

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Boomers draw tough London pool

Updated July 10, 2012 17:29:33

The ninth-seeded Australian Boomers have been handed a tough draw for the men's basketball competition at the London Olympics.

Already drawn against number two seeds Spain, 10th-seed China and the 13th-ranked Brazil, the last spot in the Boomers' Group B was allocated to world number 11 Russia following the final qualification tournament in Venezuela.

Also in Group is host nation Great Britain, ranked 43rd in the world.

Boomers coach Brett Brown says the inclusion of Russia highlights the strength of the Olympic competition, which has room for just 12 nations.

"Competition for those spots is intense so we we're not surprised to see Russia join us in Group B," Brown said.

"When you have 213 countries battling it out for just 12 spots, it means that only the best of the best will be in London."

The Boomers qualified for London after defeating arch rivals New Zealand in the 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship. All the Boomers' group games will be played at the London Basketball Arena.

The Boomers' Olympic draw (AEST):

July 29: v Brazil, 8:15pm

July 31: v Spain, 8:15pm

August 2: v China, 8:15pm

August 5: v Great Britain, 5:00am

August 6: v Russia, 6:00pm

Tags: olympics-summer, sport, basketball, australia

First posted July 10, 2012 17:29:33

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Boomers enjoy pre-Games win

Updated July 24, 2012 11:02:01

Boomers coach Brett Brown hailed his team's morale-boosting 69-67 victory over France in their final Olympic warm-up match in Strasbourg.

Australia had lost its three previous warm-up games to Spain (twice) and Brazil so victory against the medal contender was particularly pleasing for Brown.

"It was a rewarding win. It was special being able to end all of the preparation with a win against a medal calibre team," Brown said.

"We didn't feel we brought that area of our style (defensive pressure) to the Brazil game and as a group we took a lot of pride trying to play the type of defence that we've predicated the program on.

"To the boys credit they came out and did a great job defensively."

San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker had the opportunity to win the game for France but missed a three-pointer on the buzzer.

Defeat would have been tough on the Australian side who were 16 points up in the third quarter.\

France drew level with a minute left on the clock before Matthew Dellavedova set up Aron Baynes who gave the visitors the lead.

France regained possession with 15 seconds on the clock, but Parker's shot hit the rim and bounced out.

Brown singled out Olympic debutant Matthew Dellavedova for his defending job on Parker, who was restricted to just six points.

"Matty was very good. We started him alongside Patty (Mills) and he played big, important minutes," Brown said.

"His contribution is part of the result, he was just very good on Tony Parker defensively and I thought he did a good job of controlling the tempo of the game during the crucial end of game moments."

Joe Ingles led the team with 16 points and five assists, while Mills (13 points), Baynes (11 points and 10 rebounds) and Andersen (10 points) also contributed to victory.

Tags: sport, basketball, olympics-summer, united-kingdom

First posted July 24, 2012 11:02:01

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Mills set to return for in-form Boomers

Updated June 14, 2012 17:22:31

On the back of a clean sweep in the series against China the Boomers have been boosted by the imminent return of Patty Mills from the NBA.

Mills will return to Australia following the elimination of his side San Antonio from the NBA finals and is set to join the Boomers camp ahead of the series in Victoria against Greece late this month.

Boomers coach Brett Brown, assistant at the San Antonio Spurs, was back in Perth on Wednesday night for the Boomers' 78-55 win over China to give Australia a 3-0 clean sweep in the series.

Daniel Kickert led all scorers with 20 points for the contest in Perth, while Julian Khazzouh added 16 points and Aron Baynes finished with 12 points.

For China, Sun Yue top-scored with 12 points, while Wang Zhizhi added nine points.

China started well, shooting at more than 50 per cent from the floor to lead 22-17 at the first break.

The turning point came in the second quarter as Chinese head coach Bob Donewald Jr was thrown out of the game after receiving two consecutive technical fouls by the referee.

Australia's Adam Gibson cashed in, scoring eight points in one play, thanks to the freethrows from the technicals, before knocking down a three-pointer off the in-bound play.

This ignited a 16-0 run, giving the Boomers a 10-point lead which they never relinquished.

"I think it's a great way to end this early camp to get three consecutive wins against a very aggressive team and for me personally to come back and see our guys again and see them play our structure again," Brown said after the match.

"It's been a good early period to get ready for such an important time-frame coming with London, so for me to start the campaign and preparation, it's been a positive."

Both sides will be strengthened for the Olympics.

Australian Boomers 78 (Kickert 20, Khazzouh 16) defeated China 55 (Yue 12, Zhizhi 9).

Tags: sport, basketball, olympics-summer, australia, wa, perth-6000

First posted June 14, 2012 13:23:39

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Coach Brown on his way back to Boomers

Updated June 08, 2012 20:49:35

Australian Olympic men's basketball coach Brett Brown is on his way to join his team and could take charge of the third match of their series against China in Perth next week.

Brown's San Antonio Spurs were knocked out of the NBA finals race this week, freeing the Boomers coach and star point guard Patty Mills to join Australia's Olympic Games build-up.

Assistant coach Andrej Lemanis will guide the Boomers in the first of their three-match series against China at Perth's Challenge Stadium on Saturday night.

The series then moves to Albany for game two on Monday, before the final match in Perth on Wednesday.

Brown is expected to have arrived in camp by game three.

Mills will not join his team-mates until they meet in Melbourne ahead of a three-match series against Greece later this month.

The Boomers will test all their guard options in Mills' absence against world number 10 China, with Adam Gibson, Matthew Dellavedova, Damian Martin and Peter Crawford all named in the 12-man team for game one.

Skipper Matt Nielsen will lead the side, while US college-based Ryan Broekhoff, a 21-year-old swingman, is also included.

Brown, an assistant with the Spurs, has been involved in Boomers team meetings this week via Skype.

The China series provides a timely test whether his players have added the defensive smarts and fitness Brown sees as vital to the Boomers winning a medal in London.

"Brett's made a point he wants us to be the fittest team at the Olympics," Gibson said.

"Everyone's really dug in the last year and made sure they've got in really good shape and are as fit as can be to give us the best chance to medal."

The series in Victoria later this month against Greece is likely to be against an understrength visiting side.

Greece has not yet qualified for London, and it is believed it will hold back some of its best players for the Olympic qualifying tournament in Venezuela in early July.

Australian team to play China: Damian Martin, Hugh Greenwood, Adam Gibson, Peter Crawford, Ryan Broekhoff, Matthew Dellavedova, David Barlow, Mark Worthington, Aron Baynes, Daniel Kickert, Matt Nielsen, Julian Khazzouh.

AAP

Tags: basketball, olympics-summer, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted June 08, 2012 20:49:35

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Crawford leads Boomers to win over China

Updated June 09, 2012 20:46:11

A stunning string of four three-pointers from Australian guard Peter Crawford steered the Boomers to a 66-55 win over China in Perth on Saturday night in game one of their three-match basketball series.

As both sides continue preparations for the upcoming London Olympics, Townsville guard Crawford top-scored with 21 points to give national selectors something to think about as they prepare to cut the squad further in the next two weeks.

China got off to a solid start at Challenge Stadium when they hit the first two baskets and held a narrow advantage until Crawford nailed the first of his five three-pointers.

A three-point bomb on the quarter-time buzzer from China's Guo Ailun (15 points) reduced the Boomers' lead to two points after they led by seven just 90 seconds before the first break.

Defensively the Boomers were inspired, but at the other end the shooting was timid as they converted just four of their 15 attempts.

Chinese big man Han Dejun was given his first minutes in the second term and made them count, starting China's run of four unanswered baskets that helped the visitors to a seven-point lead at half-time.

Shooting at just 21 per cent in the first half, the Boomers picked up the pace in the third term and a tip-in from Mark Worthington (11 points) in the dying seconds cut China's lead to just one point at the final change.

But it was Crawford's sizzling performance from outside the arc in the fourth quarter that sealed the game and ultimately a comfortable 11-point margin.

Game two of the series is in Albany, south of Perth, on Monday and returns to Perth on Wednesday.

AAP

Tags: sport, basketball, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted June 09, 2012 19:52:32

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Boomers seal series win over China

Updated June 12, 2012 07:54:35

Australia's men's basketball team recorded a thrilling series-clinching 69-65 win over China on Monday night in Albany.

The Boomers, who defeated China 66-55 in the first game on Saturday night, led at every break but had to overcome a sluggish start to the second quarter to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series.

Guard Matthew Dellavedova, looking to shine in the absence of star Patty Mills, finished with 11 points and two clutch free-throws at the death.

The two sides meet again on Wednesday, but Mills will not join his team-mates until they arrive in Melbourne for final London Olympic preparations - a three-match series against Greece later this month.

Mills, who was involved in the NBA playoffs with the San Antonio Spurs, looked to be sorely missed in the opening half.

China had eased to a 13-point lead in the second term and the hosts' shooting had slumped to 30 per cent before they rediscovered their mojo.

The Boomers went on a 14-0 run to end the first half, and were never headed despite some tense moments in the final quarter.

The two sides traded baskets in the dying moments before Aron Baynes delivered a telling lay-up with 32 seconds left on the clock, giving the Boomers a five-point advantage.

A three-pointer from China's Sun Yue, the game's top-scorer with 22 points, ensured more drama but young gun Dellavedova iced the game with less than 10 seconds remaining.

Dellavedova was sent to the line and made both free-throws to put the game out of reach.

Baynes top-scored for Australia with 15 points.

AAP

Tags: basketball, sport, albany-6330, wa, australia, china

First posted June 12, 2012 07:54:35

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Tough draw for basketball's Boomers

Updated May 01, 2012 07:36:58

Australia's men's basketball team has avoided the might of the United States but still faces a tough task at the London Olympics after the draw for the pools was made in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.

The Boomers have been drawn in Group B alongside hosts Great Britain, European heavyweights Spain, the highly-rated China and Brazil, with another qualifier yet to be determined.

Defending champions the United States have been drawn in Group A alongside Argentina, Tunisia and France, with the Americans favourites to claim their fifth gold medal in six Olympic tournaments.

The top four teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals, with the final set to take place on August 12.

In the women's draw, the Opals face a similarly tough task after they were drawn with hosts Great Britain, Russia, Brazil and two further qualifiers.

Australia has lost the last three women's Olympic finals to arch-rivals the United States, which inflicted a comprehensive defeat on the Opals in the gold-medal game in Beijing.

Men's tournament

Group A: Argentina, France, Tunisia, USA, two qualifiers

Group B: Australia, Brazil, China, Great Britain, Spain and qualifier

Women's tournament

Group A: Angola, China, USA, three qualifiers

Group B: Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, Russia, two qualifiers

Tags: sport, olympics-summer, basketball, england, united-kingdom

First posted May 01, 2012 06:37:00

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Boomers coach spoilt for London choice

Updated May 01, 2012 20:35:11

Point guard Patty Mills will front up Australia's campaign at the London Olympics in fine form after taking part in the NBA postseason.

But while Mills is almost certainly a lock after a breakout campaign in Beijing, Boomers coach Brett Brown has plenty of other talent to put around his young playmaker as he looks to cut down his 25-man squad to 12.

Mills, playing off the bench for the Western Conference top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, is the only member of Brown's squad currently playing in the American competition.

Giant Victorian Andrew Bogut, a centre for the Golden State Warriors, is normally a mainstay of the Australian national team but ankle surgery has ruled him out of the hunt for an elusive Olympic medal in London.

Brown will have a myriad of options from which to select his final 12-man Boomers side with 10 prospects currently plying their trade in European leagues, nine from the NBL and five from the US college system.

"Our first camp will effectively be a 'melting pot' of players from various backgrounds and this very early start will enable us to begin moving forward while we wait for our core European players and Patty Mills to return," Brown said.

"How far our players stretch across the globe is a testament to the talent identification and developmental programs delivered by Basketball Australia and the AIS.

"I have great Aussie talent competing all over the world at my disposal."

Five Australian hopefuls are capable of filling Bogut's sizeable shoes at centre, and two of those have tasted limited NBA action.

Journeyman big David Andersen, who will turn 32 in June, had stints with Houston, Toronto and New Orleans but did not play in the lockout-shortened 2011/12 competition.

After a strong season for the Sydney Kings, Julian Khazzouh was given the opportunity to try out for Golden State during the NBA preseason and saw some brief court time before ultimately being waived.

But the NBL's 2010/11 MVP runner-up continued to turn in solid performances in Sydney and finished the regular season leading the league in rebounds per game (10.8) and fifth in average points per game (16.4).

Three players from the 2011/12 grand finalist Perth Wildcats side - Damian Martin, Jesse Wagstaff and Matt Knight - join Khazzouh and five other NBL players in the 25.

Sydney-born forward Nathan Jawai has also seen game time in the US, having played for the Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA, and five members of the squad have honed their games in the NCAA college basketball system.

Brown said that he was excited about having to narrow down such a talented roster.

"Our coaching staff is excited to extend invitations to this group of athletes who have earned the right to be considered for the Boomers London Olympic Games team," he said.

"We have identified these players, worked with these players, and watched their growth over the past four years.

"The large majority of this squad has participated in several camps, tours, and world events during my time as coach, and now each of them has the opportunity to take it one final step and represent Australia at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

"This invitation is a tremendous honour and is a result of years of hard work and dedication."

Brown aims to have the fittest team in the competition leading into London, and said he is confident with how the Boomers' preparations will play out.

"All of the athletes understand that we need to arrive into London with the best fitness base of the 11 other countries. This is our main goal," he said.

"Each player will arrive into camp with this in mind, and only here can we truly begin a very serious campaign and focus as we prepare to play the world's best. Our players understand this.

"I am beyond excited to continue on in the final stages of our four-year plan.

"We have not skipped steps along the way and I have complete confidence that we can achieve special results with the players and staff that we have assembled."

The Boomers will assemble in Perth for their first training camp on June 3 ahead of the tournament's opening tip on July 29.

Boomers squad: Anatoly Bose (Sydney Kings), Peter Crawford (Townsville Crocodiles) Matt Dellavedova (St Mary's), Anthony Drmic (Boise State), Adam Gibson (Gold Coast Blaze) Hugh Greenwood (New Mexico), Damian Martin (Perth Wildcats), Patrick Mills (San Antonio Spurs), David Barlow (UCAM Murcia), Ryan Broekhoff (Valparaiso), Mitch Creek (Adelaide 36ers), Joe Ingles (Spain), Brad Newley (Valencia), Brock Motum (Washington State University), Matthew Nielsen (BC Khimki), Jesse Wagstaff (Perth Wildcats), Mark Worthington (Gold Coast Blaze), Nathan Jawai (UNCIS Kazan), Daniel Kickert (PGE Turow), Matt Knight (Perth Wildcats), AJ Ogilvy (Valencia), David Andersen (Montepaschi Siena), Aron Baynes (Ikaros Kallitheas), Julian Khazzouh (Sydney Kings), Aleks Maric (Panathinaikos).

Tags: basketball, olympics-summer, sport, australia

First posted May 01, 2012 20:35:11

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Rangers sink Boomers in WNBL final

Updated March 12, 2012 09:03:32

Dandenong Rangers have won the most unlikely of WNBL crowns, beating defending champions Bulleen Boomers 94-70 in the grand final on Sunday.

The Rangers, who looked unlikely to even make the finals two months ago, won their ninth successive match to win their first WNBL title since 2005.

Point guard Kath MacLeod was immense in a sensational team shooting performance, with 22 points and nine assists - shooting at 67 per cent from the field and winning the MVP.

Backcourt partner Jenna O'Hea was equally brilliant with 20 points, while Steph Cumming had 19 off seven-from-11 field goal shooting.

"I was sitting in the crowd last year, and I was drinking - I wanted to be out there," MacLeod said.

O'Hea remembered: "It's probably the drunkest I've ever seen her. She was sitting on the sidelines, hands in the air cheering for me, so to win it with her this year was amazing."

MacLeod's eventful match included giving coach Mark Wright a half-time spray, then limping off the floor at three-quarter-time after a Bulleen player fell across her leg as the pair tussled on the ground.

Wright admitted MacLeod's remarkable passion was part of what he wanted at the Rangers - players having their say and helping drive the team on to better things.

"She was angry. She was telling the coach we needed to fix some [stuff] up," Wright said of MacLeod's emotional outburst at him at half-time.

"We had some breakdowns (in play) and we needed to fix it.

"That's what's been going on in this group. they have a say, and they have an ear. It makes sense, and we do it."

While Bulleen's national team star Liz Cambage led her side with 22 points and 14 rebounds at a sold-out State Netball Centre in Melbourne, there were patchy contributions from her team-mates.

In contrast, the Rangers recovered from a rocky start to get the absolute maximum out of both stars and bench.

Bulleen shot out to an early 11-4 lead, before the Rangers dragged themselves back into the match with a 12-0 run - eight from Cumming - to hold an eight-point quarter-time lead.

Shooting as high as 60 per cent from the field during the second quarter, the Rangers kept their foot down as the Boomers struggled to get anything going offensively and led 41-33 at half-time.

Bulleen crept to within five points early in the third quarter, but the Rangers kept lifting.

MacLeod, who ran the floor to perfection, gave her side a late third-quarter scare when a Bulleen player fell on her leg as the pair tussled on the ground for a ball.

But heavily strapped, she returned to the court a few minutes into the final term and helped her side parlay a 14-point three-quarter time lead into a championship few expected.

Dandenong's nine-match winning streak after a poor start to the season included three wins over minor premiers Adelaide Lightning, whom they knocked out in the preliminary final, as well as the second-placed Boomers.

For Wright, it was the first top-level championship of a long coaching career at both men's and women's level.

"It's really big. I'm just so pleased I've been able to coach a team that enjoys being together, and I enjoy being with them," Wright said.

"I enjoy the whole week, every single week. It's refreshing being around them."

AAP

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, dandenong-3175, vic, australia, bulleen-3105

First posted March 11, 2012 17:20:41

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Boomers add to West Coast's woes

Updated February 11, 2012 23:33:00

Bulleen consolidated second spot on the WNBL ladder with an easy 81-56 over strugglers West Coast at The Veneto Club.

Rachel Jarry led all scorers with 24 points while Liz Cambage and Alice Kunek added 18 and 15 points respectively.

In Logan, the Thunder took down AIS 83-60 with Natalie Taylor topping the box scores with 19 points for the hosts.

She was matches by Sara Blicavs but it was not enough for the students to claim a third win for the season.

In Bendigo, the Flames notched a tight 72-70 triumph over the Spirit.

Belinda Snell was Sydney's go-to player with 24 points while Tess Madgen's 18 points kept the hosts in the game.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, australia, bulleen-3105, vic, logan-3475

First posted February 11, 2012 23:33:00

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Boomers to host WNBL decider

Updated February 25, 2012 23:20:50

Bulleen coach Tom Maher praised the mental toughness of his team after it survived two final-quarter comebacks from WNBL minor premier Adelaide to win the major semi-final on Saturday.

The defending champions will host a third straight grand final after Liz Cambage lifted the Boomers to a thrilling 73-71 win at Adelaide Arena.

Centre Cambage hit a close-range shot with two seconds remaining to ensure Bulleen, who finished second on the ladder, host the March 11 decider.

Cambage hit a game-high 29 points, 10 of them in the final quarter.

The visitors led for virtually the entire game, bar a brief period in the final quarter in which Abby Bishop scored the first eight points of the term to lift the Lightning to a 58-55 advantage

Bishop scored a team-high 23, including Adelaide's first 13 points of the last quarter.

Her front-court partner Suzy Batkovic was out of sorts, making just 7-of-25 from the field to finish with 15 points, well down on her season average.

Bulleen grabbed the initiative immediately by scoring the first six points against a nervous, tight-looking Adelaide.

The Boomers led by six, eight and five points at the end of each of the first three quarters.

They hit just one of 12 three-point attempts and missed the leadership of injured point guard Sam Richards, who Maher expected to be fit for the grand final.

He said Cambage was "OK" after she spent some time off the court early in the third quarter with an ankle issue.

She scored eight quick points in a 16-3 run that gave Bulleen a 71-61 lead with just over four minutes left.

Adelaide then scored 10 straight points and kept Bulleen scoreless for four minutes to lock the scores up at 71-71.

The Lightning had a chance to hit the front with just over 20 seconds left, but New Zealand international Antonia Edmondson missed two free throws before Cambage had the final say.

"I think what won us the game was that we had such a great first half," Maher said.

"That caused them enough grief and used up enough of their energy and put us in a position where we could withstand the run.

"I couldn't believe how well our girls showed that they could handle the adversity of it all.

"I was impressed by their mental character, it was really tough.

"They could have fallen over and fallen in a heap but they didn't."

Cambage apart, Bulleen's only other double-digit scorer was Rachel Jarry, who tallied 15 points and t10 rebounds.

Adelaide will host the preliminary final next Sunday against the winner of Sunday's minor semi-final in which Dandenong hosts Townsville.

AAP

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, bulleen-3105, vic, australia

First posted February 25, 2012 18:04:39

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Boomers douse Fire on the road

Updated February 05, 2012 08:54:06

Bulleen pulled off a convincing 73-63 road win over Townsville in far north Queensland in their Friday night WNBL clash.

Liz Cambage top-scored for the visitors with 22 points and a massive 19 rebounds, while Alice Kunek (17) and Rachel Jarry (12, nine rebounds) also contributed.

The Fire trailed by as many as 16 in the final period but they came home strong and cut the deficit down to six before running out of steam.

Jess Foley was Townsville's best with 14 and six boards, with back-up from Nadeen Payne (10) and Shanavia Dowdell (eight points, 13 rebounds).

Meanwhile Dandenong clinched a nine-point win over Sydney University, going out 91-82 winners on the Flames' home court.

Jenna O'Hea (19), Krista Phillips (16) and Kathleen MacLeod (16 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists) all helped the Rangers turn around a 12-point half-time deficit to seal a comeback victory.

Sydney Uni was led by Belinda Snell's 21-point haul and five assists, but the home side was boosted by Lauren King's 18 points and a 13-6-6 night for Amy Denson.

And in the nation's capital, Canberra denied Logan a chance to move back into the top half of the ladder with a 65-57 victory at the AIS Arena.

The low-scoring affair saw the Capitals lead by a mammoth 23 points at half-time but the visiting Thunder came home with a wet sail.

Brigitte Ardossi's 12 points and nine rebounds were handy for the hosts even though she fouled out after just 21 minutes on the floor.

Logan's main contributors were Renae Camino and Sarah Graham, who had 10 points apiece, but it was not enough to bag their side its 11th win of the campaign.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, townsville-4810, qld, australia

First posted February 03, 2012 23:54:01

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Boomers edge Thunder

Updated February 05, 2012 17:35:16

Bulleen emerged the winner of a tight WNBL clash at Logan on Sunday afternoon, finishing its Queensland road trip with an 83-80 win over the Thunder.

Led by Elizabeth Cambage, who put up 34 points and 14 rebounds, the Boomers used a strong second quarter to snatch a half-time lead before a neck-and-neck fight to the final siren.

Cambage had scoring help from Rachel Jarry (18) and Chantella Perera (11) to counter a strong all-round effort from Logan's stars.

Cayla Francis top-scored for the home side with 22 points and 13 oards while Renae Camino added 17 and Sarah Graham 12.

Bulleen remains in second place on the ladder with a 14-5 record, two and a half games back from competition leader Adelaide (17-3).

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, logan-central-4114, bulleen-3105, qld, australia, vic

First posted February 05, 2012 17:35:16

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