Tara Murray
Wyndham’s dreams of back-to-back Big V women’s state championship titles are alive, with the side through to the grand final.
Undefeated throughout the regular season, Wyndham claimed the best-of-three semi final series against the McKinnon Cougars on Saturday night.
After an even first half in game two, Wyndham was able to run away with the win in the second half, 97-74.
Wyndham coach Gerard Hillier said it was exciting for the group to be back in the final game of the season.
“It’s really pleasing,” he said. “The majority of the group remains and to make the championship game against is really pleasing.
“Last year we lost a couple of games early and there was COVID interrupting the competition. Since then I think we’ve gone somewhere like 36-2.
“We’ve got a great consistency in the group.”
Unlike last year when Wyndham had to come from behind to catch up to the top sides, this season they’ve been the front runners.
Hillier said after starting the season really strongly they were able to get a lot of training into the group and the consistency in the playing group on court, there was a lot more cohesion.
As for Saturday’s night game, the Cougars had a big task to get back into the series after losing game one 97-66.
Hillier said they were tested early on, before showing the strength of the side.
“They threw everything at us,” he said. “It was a really good challenge, but in doing that they wore themselves out.
“They had a few key players out injured but they still threw everything at us. Depth won us the game.”
Amanda Paschal top scored with 26 points as five players scored double figures. Aleks Connolly provided a handy 17 points off the bench.
Wyndham now faces the Bulleen Boomers in the grand final this Saturday night.
Wyndham beat the Boomers in last year’s best-of-three grand final series, 2-0. Six of Wyndham’s championship players will be back on the court on Saturday night.
The grand final will be held at Nunawading at 5pm, with the men’s grand final at 8pm.
Hillier said he wasn’t a fan of the use of the neutral grand final venue. Wyndham was the higher ranked team and would have normally had home court advantage.
The Boomers won through to the grand final, beating the Sherbrooke Suns in two games,
Hillier said they were looking forward to the challenge.
“We’ve had three really good games against Bulleen and three or four last year,” Hillier said.
“They have been heavily contested no matter who is out there.
“We’re expecting a tightly contested game this week.”
Meanwhile, Wyndham’s men’s side has been knocked out of the state championship finals, losing to the McKinnon Cougars, 100-96.
Wyndham had been the minor premiers, but were knocked out in straight sets.
