Featured image:Taylor Earnshaw
Maddy Allen and Steph Bairstow combined for 44 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists to lift the Southern Districts Spartans to the 85-75 win at the NBL1 National Finals against the Newcastle Falcons.
The Spartans were a late call up to be the NBL1 North women's representative on the Sunshine Coast after having their season ended to open the playoffs by the North Gold Coast Seahawks.
However, they put in a spirited showing on Friday night before losing to the NBL1 Central's Central Districts Lions before taking on the Falcons to close Saturday night's action at Caloundra Indoor Stadium.
Newcastle won the NBL1 East championship last Saturday but opened the National Finals with a loss on Friday to the Waverley Falcons which took them also out of the running to make Sunday's Grand Final.
RECAP FRIDAY NBL1 NATIONAL FINALS | NEWCASTLE V WAVERLEY
RECAP FRIDAY NBL1 NATIONAL FINALS | CENTRAL DISTRICTS V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS
RECAP FRIDAY NBL1 NATIONAL FINALS | ROCKINGHAM V BENDIGO
While still some distance from home, Southern Districts had the home state advantage and the Spartans made an impressive start scoring eight straight points on the way to opening up a 10-point lead in the first quarter.
Newcastle did cut the deficit to four by quarter-time, but then the Spartans pulled away once more with another 9-0 scoring run to lead by 13 and to be in control with the 45-34 advantage at the half-time break.
The Falcons were determined to not head home winless from the Sunshine Coast and by the time Hannah Chicken scored inside with six minutes of the contest to go, they had the momentum and scores were all square.
Maddy Allen responded for Southern Districts with a pair of free throws before Steph Bairstow knocked down a three-pointer and then with three minutes on the clock Odette Isaac scored on the inside.
Isaac then stepped outside and hit a three ball and 10 straight points for the Spartans had blown the game open. From there they would score the 10-point victory against the NBL1 East champions.
Maddy Allen delivered a standout performance in the win for the Spartans with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists with Steph Bairstow outstanding too with 21 points, 12 boards and two assists.
There were plenty more contributors too with Odette Isaac delivering 12 points and three assists, Kalani Purcell 10 points, seven boards and five assists, Emily Preston nine points and 13 rebounds, and Erin Harvey eight points and two boards.
Elissa Brett put up 20 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals for Newcastle but it did take her 7/24 shooting from the field to do that.
Two-time MVP Nicole Munger produced another 19 points, 13 boards, seven assists, two steals and two blocks with Aarion Nichols adding 12 points and six rebounds, Hannah Chicken eight points and two steals, and championship captain Kate Kingham five points, three rebounds and three steals.
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 85 (Allen 23, Bairstow 21, Isaac 12)
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 75 (Brett 20, Munger 19, Nichols 12)
For further information on the official destination of the National Finals, head to www.visitsunshinecoast.com
