Australia-Vs-Canada – 27/09/2022

Australia win the tip and start out looking very aggressive.

Cayla George gets the first buck and play some amazing defence to make Canada’s attempts at scoring hard.

Comparing this game to Australia’s first game is that the Opals are more physical on offence which means they are able to find open looks down low easily or find an open shot which Sami Whitcomb isn’t shying away from.

The Energy in the first quarter is definitely there and Steph Talbot is bringing the defensive consistency from the Serbian game and forcing Canadian turnovers.

Halfway through the first quarter, Australia has gone into a bit of a lull with making shots just when Canada manages to find their offensive rhythm giving them a five-point lead with 3:30 to go.

After both team’s trade ends with no one making a shot, Ezi Magbegor goes to the free-throw line making 1 out of 2 shots.

The Opals are now in a precarious position as the Canada has found their range making two 3 pointers in a row which leads to Coach Brondello calling a time out as Australia trail 20 – 11.

Australia needs to focus and maintain composure to draw back this deficit. Out of the timeout.

Out of the timeout, Australia turns the ball over and give Canada the fast break bucket opportunity. However, Ezi Magbegor says not today and blocks the shot which comes off Canada to give Australia the ball.

Off the turnover, Lauren Jackson hits a 3 to scale the deficit back to six points 20 – 14.

Both teams are now matching each other’s tempo evenly and trading shot attempts on each end.

Number 14 for Canada, Shay Colley finishes the quarter by making a buzzer beating 3 pointers.

The absence of Bec Allen on the court is definitely an issue for the Opals as they are not finding their shot cleanly.

At the end of the quarter, Canada lead 23 – 14.

For the second quarter, Canadian Nirra Fields misses her well defended first shot but gets the rebound and makes her second shot.

On the other end, Mariana Tolo gets fouled and goes to the line to make two from two.

Two minutes into the second quarter, the Opals now lift the on the playing defensive end which gets them extra scoring opportunities.

Passion and energy on defensive gets the Opals extra opportunities when Canadian turnovers lead to a momentum changing 3-point shot from Steph Talbot.

Almost five minutes left, Darcee Garbin is subject to a controversial offensive foul that may also be interpreted as a flop. From this turnover, Sandy Brondello calls timeout to refocus the Opals.

However, this still doesn’t help with the scoring draught that continues until after the timeout.

Canada currently has fourteen-point lead but not for long as Ezi Magbegor gets a 2, followed by a Tess Magden 3 pointer.

The momentum towards half time is heading toward the Opals, as the Australian defence lifts tremendously to give Darcee Garbin an open 3 pointer.

This gives Canada a good reason to call a time out as the Aussies are coming back.

With two minutes to go, the Opals look better composed and sticking to key team principles that give two straight buckets to Magbegor which brings the deficit back to 2 points.

Canada can’t seem to stop the Opals, Darcee Garbin gets fouled, goes to the free throw line, and gets two.

Confidence is starting to return for the Opals and the crowd can feel it. A turnover from Canada gives Tess Magden an opportunity to score a crowd raising 3 and give the Opals the lead.

Australia’s defence has hit another level by forcing a 24 second violation giving the Canadian coach a reason to call time out with 24 seconds left.

That’s way too long to hold Australia scoreless as Ezi scores another deuce to send the game into half time with a 5-point lead 38 – 33.

Australia had the first possession out of the half but lost the ball due to a bad pass, this gave Canada a chance to score 2 points.

The referees must have had a conversation at half time to let the teams play as there was a lot of contact on the Opals offensive end leading to a turnover and two points for Canada.

It’s not a worry because someone as crafty as Ezi Magbegor works her way into the hoop and scores a 2.

Both teams trade ends without a bucket until a three from Sami Whitcomb.

With just under 5 minutes to go in the third quarter, Australia really needs to focus and contain the ball as there have been unnecessary turnovers leading to extra points for Canada.

Australia shows signs of efficiency on the offensive end, defence is still there but lacking focus. Canada uses this opportunity to earn a six-point lead.

Coach Brondello calls a time out and subs in Lauren Jackson who scores a three.

You can’t leave Darcee Garbin open as she adds a three of her own to make this a two-point game.

With only 1:14 left until three quarter time, Canada foul the Opals. This confuses the referees because they aren’t quite sure if it’s a clear path foul.

After a review, they decide the foul was efficient enough for Canada to get an unsportsmanlike foul. This sends Kristy Wallace to the line, but she misses her shot.

On the Opals defensive end, Kristy Wallace gets called for an unsportsmanlike foul trying to stop an easy 2 points. However, she is unsuccessful Canada get two plus an extra shot and possession.

At three quarter time, Canada leads the Opals by 6 points, 57 to 51.

Canada gets the throw in, Talbot knows the Opals are down so she stays focused on playing hard defence. The Aussies get a turnover leading to a Tolo 2-pointer which is followed by a Canadian 2 points.

The focus on defence for the Opals is improving, playing harder and getting turnovers gives Ezi Magbegor an opportunity to get a bucker.

The Opals pull back a deficit and level the scores at 60 all from a Sami Whitcomb 3 pointer.

The Canadian coach isn’t happy and calls a time out.

Kia Nurse gets the lead for Canada off a 3-point shot.

Then on the other end of the court, Mariana Tolo gets found and goes 1 for 2.

The momentum has well completely shifted to the Opals as they are holding down airtight defence which gives a wide-open layup to Steph Talbot to level the scores at 63 all.

Ezi Magbegor gets fouled shooting after receiving an inbounds and goes 2 for 2.

Hustle defence on the next possession leads to a wide-open Steph Talbot layup to give the Opals a 4-point lead 67 – 63.

There’s no close shots for Canada as Australia is swarming in on defence.

Sami Whitcomb gets a 3 pointer to give Australia the lead by 5 points 70 to 65 but the Canadians aren’t going away as they are sinking most of their open mid-range shots.

After a timeout from Canada with 2:30 to go, Australia needs to stay composed on defence.

Mariana Tolo unluckily fouls Kia Nurse who makes 2 from 2 free-throws and brings Canada’s the lead back to 1 point 70 – 69.

Whitcomb makes a hard drive to the ring and gets fouled but only makes 1 out of 2 free-throws to give the Opals a 2-point lead 71 – 69 with 90 seconds left.

Now its crunch time, it’s less than 1 minutes to go and both teams don’t want to lose. Before the shot clock goes, Marianna Tolo shoots and Steph Talbot is there to pick up the offensive board where she is fouled.

On the inbounds play, Talbot scores to give the Opals a 4-point lead 73 – 69.

With 19.3 seconds left, after some amazing Opal defence. The Opals are in transition towards the offensive end where Canada maintains erupts with high pressure defence but ends up fouling Steph Talbot where she goes to the free throw line to sink both shots.

Australia’s lead extends out to 6 points with 20 seconds left.

Canada calls a time out to advance the ball, it looks like the they will dribble the game out, but Nirra Fields from Canada says the games not over yet as she scores a 3 to keep the game going with 1.1 seconds left.

Coach Brondello calls a time out to advance the ball, the Opals throw it in and finish the game.

Australia pull off a stunning victory to advance to the quarter finals with a 3 point win over can 75 – 72.

Stats –

1 – Ezi Magbegor | 16 points | 7 rebounds | 1 steal | 5 blocks |

2 – Sami Whitcomb | 15 points | 2 rebounds | 6 assists | 4 steals |

3 – Steph Talbot | 11 points | 9 rebounds | 8 assists | 1 steal |

4 – Mariana Tolo | 9 points | 5 rebounds | 1 assist | 2 blocks |