BASKETBALL
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THIRD time lucky – that will be the motto of the Bathurst Goldminers when they go into their women’s State League Division 1 basketball semi-final against the Queanbeyan Yowies at Sutherland Basketball Stadium tomorrow.
After back-to-back defeats to the Yowies a fortnight ago in a weekend double-header – going down 72-41 and 86-57 – the Bathurst squad are keen to show they learnt from those games and reverse the result.
They are two defeats which need to be taken in context as well.
The Goldminers were down on personnel for those two games, but will be near full strength tomorrow.
A fractured tibia will kept captain and leading scorer Teagan Burke out of the finals, but the Goldminers will have both league rookie of the year Emily Matthews and Laycee Covington in their squad of 11 tomorrow.
That pair both missed the double-header against the Yowies due to Country Premier League commitments.
Goldminers coach Jo Cafe said a lot has swung back in her side’s favour over the past fortnight.
“We’re pretty confident. We’ve beaten them once before this season at home. Last time was always going to be a tough trip with players injured, away, sick and having to play them on their home court,” she said.
“Teagan’s still out, but we managed to beat them last time without her as that was the match that she picked up her injury.”
The Goldminers will be relying on their fast ball movement, speed across the court as well as their outside shooting to give them the edge over the Yowies.
“Emily and Laycee are both tall, so not having them [for the double-header] meant we were left with some mismatches,” Cafe said.
“In that Sunday game [86-57 loss] we were fine with our starting five and we were at 15-all at quarter time. After we had to make subs, that’s when we couldn’t match up well.”
Tomorrow’s winner will face the victor of the Newcastle Hunters and Maitland Mustangs semi-final in Sunday’s grand final at the same venue.
Cafe believes her team can go the distance, claiming the Goldminers can beat any of their rivals in the key areas.
“Skill-wise and athletically I think they’re the pick of the teams. It’s just about having that mental game ready. Teagan was always there to shoot at least 20, so you knew you had that in hand. With her out they’ve all been able to step up,” she said.
“Because they’re a younger group, it’s been about getting them to maintain their confidence across a game. When things don’t go their way they need to continue to work hard and not begin to doubt themselves. That’s what they’ve been trying to come to grips with this year.
“The girls have been training really well. We had a scrimmage on Monday night with the 16s, 18s as well as the Lepaio girls [Haylee and Hannah]. That was really good for them.”
BATHURST GOLDMINERS: Emily Matthews, Jess Mathews, Laycee Covington, Hannah Cafe, Bronte Emanuel, Rachel Murray (c), Olivia Patterson, Chelsea Noon, Mary-Anne Porter, Riley Smith, Alicia Booth.