Marino Sparks Lightning
Tagged in: Kiwis Abroad, Tall Ferns
Tall Fern point guard Angela Marino continued her bright start to the Australian WNBL season by guiding her Adelaide Lightning to a 76-62 home win over Bendigo Spirit over the weekend.
Marino clocked 36m and showed her ability to get to the free throw line with 18 points (4/9 FG, 2/6 3pt, 8/8 FT), three rebounds, three assists and a steal as the 2007/08 champions extended their unbeaten start to the season (2-0).
Kiwi forward Lisa Wallbutton logged nine scoreless minutes for the Lightning, grabbing one rebound.
Former Fern captain Aneka Davis (nee Kerr) emerged as a hero for the Townsville Fire as they upset defending champions Canberra Capitals 79-78 at home.
Davis, who led the NZ team at last year’s Beijing Olympics, compiled a double double of 14 points/11 rebounds and added four assists and a steal in 35 minutes. The Fire are also 2-0 and Davis also had a 12/12 double double in their opening win over the AIS.
Kiwi guard Lisa Pardon and her Bulleen Boomers are also unbeaten through the first two weeks of the season, They smashed AIS 110-40 with Pardon contributing six points (2/6 FG, 1/3 3pt, 1/2 FT), two rebounds and an assist in 14 minutes.
In other WNBL games, Natalie Purcell (two points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block) and Suzie Bates (four points) were on the wrong end of Logan Power’s 60-63 home loss to the Capitals, while Toni Edmondson (six points, three rebounds) suffered in Dandenong Rangers’ 65-73 loss to Sydney University Flames.
In the Australian men’s NBL, former Tall Black Phill Jones fouled out as Cairns Taipans fell 59-71 to the Wollongong Hawks, chipping in seven points (3/6 FG, 1/2 FT) in 25 minutes. Centre Tony Rampton had three points (3/4 FT) in three minutes for the Snakes.
Pero Cameron had 11 minutes on court for the Gold Coast Blaze in their 84-89 loss to the Perth Wildcats, scoring eight points (3/4 FG, 2/3 3pt), while current Tall Black Mika Vukona grabbed 10 rebounds, along with five points and three assists.
In Europe, Tall Black coach Nenad Vucinic guided defending Estonian champions Tallinna Kalev to the Estonia Cup final, but lost 55-67 to rivals TU Rock.
Rait Keerles led Kalev with a 23 points/13 rebounds performance in a 71-69 win over TTU KK in the semifinals and was again to the fore with 21 points in the final.
But Kalev were badly out-hustled by their opponents there, turning the ball over 29 times and conceding 22 offensive rebounds. TU Rock shot just 29% FG, but attempted a staggering 37 more shots from the field.
Tall Black rookie BJ Anthony has begun his second season well with Herzoege Wolfenbuettel in Germany’s Pro B, although his team is still looking for a win after three weeks.
In their latest 76-87 loss to Braunshweig, he fouled out after 29 minutes with 20 points (7/15 FG, 6/8 FT) and six rebounds.
The previous week, Anthony had a career night - 33 points (11/22 FG, 1/1 3pt, 8/12 FT), 18 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block - but could not help Wolfenbuettel avoid a 82-95 loss to SOBA Dragons.
