Boomers v Townsville Fire Preview

In a true top of the table showdown, the first placed Bulleen Boomers take on the second placed Townsville Fire at The Veneto Club for the first time this season on Saturday. Both teams head into the contest having only suffered one loss for the year, a tantalising match up between the 9-1 Boomers and the 7-1 Fire.

The Boomers were able to quickly regain any momentum lost from their Round 7 slip up against the Flames, to a produce a wonderful performance against the Perth Lynx at home last week. Led by the near perfect performance from centre Liz Cambage (30 points), along with the play of Opal Elyse Penaluna (18 points), Bulleen defeated the Lynx 92-58.

The form of Cambage is an ominous sign for the visiting Fire, coming off a game that led Head Coach Tom Maher to proclaim of his young star,

“That’s by far the best game she has ever played. It’s not even close.”

Despite the impressive form of the Boomers, Townsville will not be easily intimidated, having proven themselves all season to rise above expectations, as one of the surprise teams of the competition.

Led by one of the league’s top scorers Amy Lewis and two of the top rebounders of the WNBL this season in Tanya Smith and Aneka Davis, the Fire has continued to produce wins despite playing without the services of last year’s league MVP, Opals player Rohanee Cox.

“I saw them playing on the TV and they’ve got a lot of good things happening for them.” said Tom Maher, who also noted the improvement he had seen from last season to now, amongst some of the Townsville players. “That’s the mark of a good program if players can improve in it, so I don’t take them lightly at all, they’re a good team.”

The Fire are coming off a 70-56 victory in Round 8 against the Canberra Capitals, and were led by 22 points and ten rebounds from Aneka Davis and 15 points from Tanya Smith.

After beating a Perth side last round languishing towards the bottom of the ladder, Saturday’s game will be a real test for the Boomers against another of the powerhouses of the WNBL. After being pushed around by the Sydney Flames last time they faced a club with a winning record, the girls have a chance to prove that lessons have been learnt, and that they are a genuine championship contender.

Once again the home crowd support will be all important, so get down to the game, make some noise and cheer on our Boomers to another victory!

By Ryan Mobilia

Boomers v Flames - Liz v Suzy Part II

When young Bulleen centre Liz Cambage came up against Opal and WNBA star Suzy Batkovic-Brown, it was a clear case of the veteran Superstar going head to head with the 'Next BIG Thing'.

It revived memories of the much anticipated first meeting of Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming, back when Yao was a rookie and Shaq was with the Lakers at the height of his powers.

Let's face it, if there had been a WNBL draft, then Liz Cambage would have been Number One, the 'Yao Ming'.

(She still may well be one day in the WNBA like LJ was, but that is a blog for another time.)

They battled for the first time in Round 3 this season, the first time either had seen each other up close and in action.

Much like the first time the two heavy weights of the NBA would battle, it was the younger Cambage who blocked the driving shot of Batkovic-Brown on the first play of the game, (much like Yao did to Shaq) as both players tested each other in the opening term.

Bulleen won the game, but Batkovic-Brown won the individual battle of the bigs in that game.

Here is a Preview the weekend's Round 7 match up between the Bulleen Boomers and the Sydney Uni Flames.

Keen to continue their history making win streak, the Boomers are firing on all cylinders and looking forward to battling the Sydney Uni Flames for the second time this season.

Bulleen were able to hold their number one WNBL ranking in Round 6, moving to a record of 8-0, three wins clear of their nearest rival, after surviving a visiting Adelaide Lightning side for the second week in a row, 84-77.

The Boomers certainly did not have it all their own way against the Lightning, showing tremendous character and fight to rally from a double digit first half deficit, and hold on for the victory.

Led by young Centre Liz Cambage with 31 points and 10 rebounds, the Boomers were spurred on by a packed house of cheering fans, and were able to put to rest any talk of ‘no road uniforms, no victory’ superstitions.

“They were loud.” Said Boomers Co-Captain Desi Glaubitz of the crowd.

“They made a lot of noise and that really helps you down the stretch, particularly when there is a point the difference.”

The Flames took their record to 4-3 last round when they defeated the Dandenong Rangers in Devonport, 90-51. It was a dominant performance by the travelling Flames, led by Opal Suzy Batkovic-Brown with 31 points and Deanna Smith with 17 points.

Glaubitz said despite being at home on the Veneto Club floor for the second straight week her team is faced with another very tough game.

“They’ve got so many scorers. They can score from every position on the floor, inside and out and they are really potent.”

“We can’t take anyone easily in this league and certainly not Sydney.”

The two teams met in Round 3 of this season when Bulleen travelled to Sydney and came away with an 80-71, come from behind victory. On that day it was the all round contributions of Boomers Jenna O’Hea, Hanna Zavecz and Rachel Jarry that were key to the road win. While it was Sydney star Suzy Batkovic-Brown who led the way for the Flames with 22 points.

by Ryan Mobilia.

Boomers Capture Cambage Signature

Last week I had the chance to write my first Press Release.

It is currently running as the lead story on the WNBL website.



Bulleen captures Cambage signature

15.06.09

The Bulleen Boomers are pleased to announce the signing of the next big thing in Australian basketball and current Opal squad member Liz Cambage to their WNBL team.


A towering 203cm and 110kg, the 17 year old centre is looking forward to joining the Boomers for the coming season, and the club is thrilled to welcome her to the fold.

Cambage advised the AIS that she would be leaving the program following the Under-19 World Championships in July and August, making herself available to other clubs for the 2009/10 season, fielding great interest from a number of clubs hoping to lure the teenager to their team.

The Boomers won her signature, Cambage deciding to suit up for last year’s runners-up making Bulleen her next basketball home.

In the end Cambage felt Bulleen was the best place for her to take the next step in her basketball development. She sees the Boomers will best help her to reach her goals of making the Opals team and becoming an Opals regular.

Michele Timms, assistant coach of the Boomers and Network coach for the Australian Women’s Team, believes the signing of Liz Cambage is exciting for the Boomers program and for the future of Cambage who is hoping to be part of the Opals 2010 World Championship team.

“We've never had a player of her size on the Opals, not a player who had the muscle to match such height, and she's very athletic," Opals Coach Carrie Graf said earlier this month.

“It’s exciting for the Opals and the WNBL.”

Bulleen is a strong team, having made the Grand Final last season and will provide Cambage with the chance to train and compete against quality opposition from the outset of her professional career.

In addition she now has the chance to be coached by one of Australia’s top coaches, recently appointed Bulleen Head Coach Tom Maher.

Cambage was recently announced as part of the Opals squad and travelled on their May 2009 international tour.

She will be heading off on another tour in July, as she embarks with the Gems for the Under 19 World Championships.


Ryan Mobilia for Bulleen Media
Photo courtesy of Eric Li for Canberra Pictorial