2018 WNWBL ROUND 4 REVIEW

Moving clear at the top of the table, the Be Active Western Stars and Queensland Comets have swept Round 4 to remain first and second respectively on the ladder.

The Stars proved too strong for the Kilsyth Cobras, winning every quarter across two contests and prevailing by an average margin of 39.5 points.

Chihiro Kitada recorded a triple-double of 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists on Friday night and was aided by Amber Merritt (23 points) and Georgia Inglis (ten points, five assists) who were able to counter the best efforts of Leanne Del Toso (12 points) and Jamie Villalon’s ten points off the bench.

The following day, Merritt took over the scoring duties to tally 41 points and out-score Kilsyth by herself, shooting 16-27 from the field including two three-pointers while also hitting a perfect 7-7 from the free-throw line.

Kitada (14 points, 13 rebounds) and Inglis (12 points, 11 assists) recorded double-doubles alongside her in an impressive weekend while Teisha Shadwell stepped up for the Cobras with seven points and 12 boards to go with Del Toso’s team-high 21 points.

Kilsyth now sit equal on 13 points next to Red Dust in fourth position but their overall margin has them sitting just behind the Lady Heelers in fifth place.

The Comets faced resistance from the Sydney Metro Blues in Round 4 but pulled away late to win by 16 points on Saturday night before backing up with a ten-point victory on Sunday.

Impressively, ten players hit the scoreboard in the first game including Cobi Crispin (16 points), Mari Amimoto (16 points) and Alison Herring (13 points) who all notched double-figures.

A Japanese international player, Amimoto returned to the club this weekend and has bulked up the team at both ends of the floor as she recorded 13 rebounds, five assists and four steals as well.

The Blues were paced by Georgia Munro-Cook’s 22 points and 11 rebounds while Kylie Gauci came close to a triple-double with seven points, seven rebounds and ten assists but a -12 differential in points off turnovers and Queensland’s bench proved too much to overcome.

On Sunday, Munro-Cook collected 15 points, nine boards and nine assists and Maryanne Latu (14 points), Gauci (12 points) and Jess Cronje (ten points) joined her in double-digits as the Blues tied the game with six minutes remaining.

Georgia Bishop-Cash (12 points) scored eight of Queensland’s next 12 points though to respond before Crispin (11 points, eight assists, four steals) sealed the victory against her old club.

Amimoto again impressed, notching a second straight double-double with 18 points, 13 boards and five assists while Herring showed how damaging she can be off the bench with another 15 points, seven boards and two steals.

The two losses have extended the gap between the Blues and second place but they look to be firmly entrenched in third spot as the Heelers and Cobras have only played two less games for three more losses.

The WNWBL will resume at the start of June for two quick rounds over a fortnight in Round 5 and 6 before Round 7 in mid-June will see every team back on court.