Stars Earn Bronze at National League Finals

The Be Active Western Stars have capped off another successful WNWBL season finishing with a bronze medal from the 2012 finals series.

The top four teams in this year’s league could hardly be split with the Stars finishing the regular season on equal points with the North Sydney Bears, with only percentage separating the two.

To progress through to the grand final the stars had to win on both Friday night and Saturday. The Sydney Uni Flames never realistically troubled the Stars on the Friday night as the girls progressed easily through to the preliminary final.

All players hit the scoreboard in their first game for the weekend as the Flames simply had no answer for the Star’s spread of scoring and no answers to WAIS athlete Amber Merritt who finished the game with 33 points.

The girls knew they had to be at their best the following day when they faced the Bears in the preliminary final. The Bears had been disappointing the night before against Dandenong, but looked to make amends early, jumping to a 34-10 half time lead.

The shell shocked Stars couldn’t seem to buy a bucket and turned the ball over too much and dropped the game 64-36. Eager to bounce back, the Stars were quick to put that game behind them, knowing they still had a job to do in the bronze medal match.

It was all Stars early, racing to a 36-21 half time lead. Merritt was in early foul trouble and the Flames were able to claw their way back into the game bringing the margin back to five points in the dying stages of the game.

The Stars however, were able to hold their nerve and come away with a nine point win and a bronze medal in this year’s WNWBL, marking the first time the Flames have missed out on a medal since the league’s inception.

All players again hit the scoreboard in the medal match, demonstrating the ability throughout the squad.

Merritt picked up the individual awards for the League’s Leading Scorer, High Point MVP and earned a place in the All-Star Five.

– Wheelchair Sports WA