Stars Shine in Dramatic Final Win

The Be Active Western Stars staged an incredible last quarter fightback to secure its maiden Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League championship title on the weekend with a three point (43-40) win over the Stacks Goudcamp Bears.

The Stars – trailing by nine points at three quarter time – produced a 21 point to nine final term to win an intense final in Sydney that was dominated by a superb 20 point and 16 rebound effort from WAIS athlete and Paralympic silver medallist Amber Merritt.

Fellow WAIS scholarship holders Sarah Vinci and Clare Nott were also influential in the title success, with Vinci producing two assists, two points and a turn over with Nott pulling in four rebounds, three turnovers and posting two points and an assist for the Stars.

The Bears enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and held a three point lead at quarter time. They stretched that advantage to six by the half and had establishing what looked a winning nine point lead heading into the final quarter but an inability to shake off the Stars cost them dear, with Merritt inspiring her team to an incredible final stanza result. Two free throws to Merritt with six seconds remaining effectively sealed the title.

The Bears’ Japanese import Mari Amimoto attempted a long range three pointer at the death to force over-time, but her attempt bounced out, leaving Perth to celebrate a finals win. Animoto was the Bears’ top scorer with 18 points.

Triple Australian Paralympian Kylie Gauci had six points, five rebounds and six assists in a typically impressive performance from the captain, whilst the hosts’ outfit also included Paralympic legends Louise Sauvage (multiple wheelchair racing Paralympic champion) and Liesl Tesch (2012  London sailing gold medallist) on the bench but it would prove to be the Stars’ day, with the Perth side breaking through for a first ever WNWBL championship title in a final that will live long in the competitions’ folklore.