Featured image: Taylor Earnshaw
The Central Districts Lions produced a huge second half with starring roles from Lilly Ritz, Jasmin Fejo and Casey Samuels leading them to the 78-70 NBL1 National Finals victory on Friday over the Southern Districts Spartans.
The Lions arrived on the Sunshine Coast fresh off securing the NBL1 Central championship as they took on the Spartans at UniSC Arena who ended up representing the NBL1 North.
While Southern Districts did lose in the first round of the playoffs in the NBL1 North to the North Gold Coast Seahawks, with the Rockhampton Cyclones unavailable to take their place after winning the championship two weeks ago, the Spartans put their hands up.
Men's coach and NBL legend and London Olympian Peter Crawford also took on the job of coaching the Southern Districts for the National Finals too. Not only did they still with Centrals, but they opened up a handy gap in the second term.
After the Lions were leading 20-19 by the end of the first quarter, the Spartans took charge and ended up outscoring their opponents 23 points to 12 to open up a gap as large as 10 points.
Southern Districts were leading 42-32 by the half-time break too with their star trio deciding to do something about it, the Lions dominated the third period with 20 points to eight including scoring 10 consecutive points.
That had Centrals leading 52-50 by half-time and then they went on with the job with another 26 points to 20 in the final term on the way to the eventual eight-point victory to start their National Finals campaign off in winning fashion.
Casey Samuels, Lilly Ritz and Jasmin Fejo ended up combining for 65 of the 78 points in the game for the Lions along with 44 of their 62 rebounds and 12 of their 16 assists.
Ritz was a massive presence with 23 points, 22 rebounds, five steals and four assists on 10/16 shooting from the field.
Samuels came up big too with 21 points, 13 rebounds and five assists with Jasmin Fejo delivering 21 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
Southern Districts did fight hard considering they were playing under a new coach, had a short preparation and their season ended almost a month ago.
Maddy Allen provided 22 points, three assists, three steals and two rebounds while Kalani Purcell put up 15 points, 13 boards, five assists and two steals.
Odette Isaac also had 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals with Steph Bairstow contributing 10 points, seven boards, two assists and two steals.
CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 78 (Ritz 23, Fejo 21, Samuels 21)
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 70 (Allen 22, Purcell 15, Isaac 13)
For further information on the official destination of the National Finals, head to www.visitsunshinecoast.com
