Local Opal, Kristi Harrower continued to show why the three-time Olympian is still one of the world’s best point guards as she showed her hometown crowd a fit and competitive side on their way to defend their World Championship.
Starters Harrower, Erin Phillips, Jenna O’Hea, Hollie Grima and Laura Summerton’s running game gave them a bright start with O’Hea and Phillips leading the break, Summerton was also particularly effective. Early, the strong Opals defence allowed them to open an early seven lead, and only the outstanding three point shooting by Japan’s Yoshie Sakurada kept them in touch.
Japan was not able to compete with the Opals’ ‘bigs’ as Cambage and Summerton pushed the lead out to 15 points at quarter time, 35 to 20. O’Hea and Summerton were strong and the leadership and skill of Kristi Harrower was evident.
The Opals came out with strong defensive pressure in the second period and this enabled them to push the ball up the floor. Excellent penetration by Kirsti Harrower and Erin Phillips kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Opals, allowing Holly Grima picking up easy points.
Coach, Carrie Graf rotated players in and they kept up the momentum with Cambage (7 points) having success in the paint and Summerton (9 points) continuing her excellent start. Japan extended their defence to try and haul in the lead but the Opals dominance on the offensive boards and the strong inside game meant they could take 22 point lead into half time, 56-34.
Outstanding three-point shooter Sakurada (13 points) was best for Japan. The Opals were completely dominating the offensive boards (15-1) and their defensive pressure forced Japan into 11 turnovers at the half.
The Opals started the second half with rising star Liz Cambage and she had immediate effect, Erin Phillips also hit from the perimeter to push the lead beyond 30 points. Again The Opals rotated a lot of the younger players into the game looking for combinations and trying to get some execution from the younger group.
Dominating possession and superior Opals defence kept the Japanese scorers in check for most of the period although a flurry of three-point shots closed the margin to 26 points at the end of the third period. Phillips (14 points) and Cambage (13 points) led the Opals scorers, while Sakurada had scored 20 by the end of the third quarter, 75-49.
The Opals got out of the blocks quickly in the last period, with Cambage getting an early basket and Harrower penetrating for a score, but Japan kept pace and the margin stayed at 27 points half way through the quarter.
The Opals continued to rotate their players and Carly Wilson shot the ball well for 10 points for the quarter. Japan’s Sakurada and Asami Yoshida continued to play well. Good minutes for Elyse Penaluna and Marianna Tolo saw some strong play on the boards, the Opals were able to rest starters and cruise to a 30 point win.
Coach Carrie Graf said after the game, “the team achieved some of the things we set out to achieve, our defensive talk and communication was solid and we got a chance to play a lot of people in different roles. We started the game really up tempo and we have practiced really hard over the last three or four days, so it was good to start that way and a good start to the series.
“Kristi Harrower really set a standard with Liz Cambage and Jenna O’Hea who were stand outs in terms of where they played and we got some… and it was a productive night” said Graf.
The Opals Series against Japan continues at the Geelong Arena tonight from 8.00pm and at Dandenong Basketball Stadium on Friday 11 June from 8.00pm.
You can follow the games in person at the venue [tickets], with LIVESTATS and with LIVE AUDIO COMMENTARY.
Quarter by quarter:
1: AUS 35 JAP 20
2: AUS 21 JAP 14 (56-34)
3: AUS 19 JAP 15 (75-49)
4: AUS 23 JAP 14 (98-63)
Scorers:
AUS: Cambage 17, Phillips 14, O’Hea 12, Harrower 10
JAP: Sakurada 24 pts, Utsumi 11
Played at: Bendigo Basketball Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Melissa Sudero
