Lightning end dramatic 24 hours with loss to Townsville
Steve Barrett |
Townsville have consolidated their standing as the WNBL’s runaway championship favourite and ended a tumultuous 24 hours for embattled Adelaide with a clinical 90-64 victory.
The ladder leaders were challenged at times in the opening half at the SA State Basketball Centre on Tuesday night, before stamping their class with a smothering 22-9 third quarter.
Townsville captain Alicia Froling posted 22 points on 100 per cent shooting and 11 rebounds, while Miela Sowah added 21.
Import Sania Feagin scored 18 for the Lightning, who sensationally sacked coach Kerryn Mitchell on Monday.
Mitchell was axed just seven games into her tenure – which produced a 3-4 record – and three days after Adelaide’s epic overtime win over Geelong Venom.
Her role was filled by Georgia Crouch, the club’s fifth coach in 12 months, including caretakers.
“It’s been a tough 24 hours,” Lightning CEO Melanie MacGillivray said, attending the post-game press conference in Crouch’s place.
“What I will say is the matter that was undertaken was with real sincere consideration and supported by our leadership team, which includes our board and owners.
“We remain committed to driving a culture of high performance, respect and integrity.
“At the end of the day, that underpins everything that we do.”
Adelaide assistant coach Cherie Hogg was not at the game and has been “given some space” to think about her future.
MacGillivray said a decision had not been made on who would coach against second-placed Bendigo Spirit on Sunday.
Froling dominated in the paint to pilot Townsville to a 26-19 quarter-time lead.
The Lightning stayed within touch, largely through Feagin, trimming the Fire’s advantage to five points, before the visitors replied with a 7-0 spurt.
Lucy Olsen finished the second period with three free throws to push Townsville’s cushion to 47-36 at halftime.
Adelaide became ragged from there, rattled by the Fire’s pick-and-roll on offence and full-court press on defence in the third term, before the gap ballooned to 30 late in the fourth.
“I thought the first half we were a little bit lethargic,” Townsville coach Shannon Seebohm said.
“At halftime we spoke about a few things and to the girls’ credit they made the adjustments.
“We came out, particularly on the defensive end, with a lot more energy and fire.”
AAP
