Photo credit: totalsportsphotography
After a stint of away games, the Curtin Carnabys were back on home turf for a showdown against RMIT University. The event was Curtin Stadium’s Pride Round, where we celebrated diversity and inclusivity for all people who work, learn and live at Curtin University.
Men’s
After a 13-point loss to AU Waatu last week, this was an important game for the Carnabys men’s side in their quest to reach the finals.
The Carnabys started the game with a good defence, but some missed shots kept the margin to a minimum. There were some smart plays early on, with Curtin student Tim Hollick (#7) getting back-to-back baskets and Kane Waters (#25) taking his opportunity from behind the arc to score the first three for the Carnabys.
At the end of the first period, the Carnabys secured a 21-all tie thanks to a jump shot by Husam Roamer (#9) as the buzzer sounded.
In the second quarter, RMIT raised their inside offence and double-teamed where they could. The opposition grew the margin to nine until Tobey Martin (#11) scored his first three of the game. Martin’s currently in the league’s top five for three-point percentages and has a total three points made this season.
With more control later in the second quarter and successfully sinking their free throws, the Carnabys ended the first half in the lead. The half-time score was 41 – 38.
Heading into the second half, the Carnabys had to keep stretching the margin. Unfortunately, the home team couldn’t quite get their shots to go. RMIT harnessed the lead throughout the whole third quarter, outscoring the Carnabys 24-12.
Trailing nine points behind, the Carnabys had to change their tune in the final term, and they did just that. Strong plays by every teammate helped reduce the margin.
Zac Harris (#21) got it in for two to bring the game to its first draw since the first half. After some more back-and-forth that showed how much both teams wanted the win, the Carnabys led by a narrow one point with a minute-and-a-half left in the game.
An impactful three-pointer by Hollick stretched the Carnabys’ lead to four, but RMIT caught up and were back to a one-point lead.
Eight seconds remaining, and Tobey, Husam and Ali drove it to their offensive half, and Ali got the layup for two. The Carnabys were leading with three seconds to go, and the stadium had an unbelievable atmosphere. Everyone in the crowd was on their feet.
RMIT started from the line and, by miracle, sunk a final two and stole the win. The final score was 80 – 79.
An enormous win for RMIT but truly a gut-wrenching loss for the Carnabys, who outscored the opposition in the final quarter but, by a thread, didn’t make it over the line. Ali Rammal finished with 24 points, Tim Hollick with 21, and Tobey Martin with 15.
Women’s
The Carnabys women’s side had a fantastic win last week and were sitting sixth on the ladder. With finals in a couple of weeks, they needed to maintain their top-eight spot in the league.
The women’s side had an all-star line-up for the game against RMIT. Its starting five included Druvinka Fernando (#14), Ella Averill (#32), Captain Sarah Allen (#24), Shenae Hartree (#30) and Ella Thornton-Elliot (#20). Hartree and Thornton-Elliot were absent for the Adelaide win but are both dynamic scorers and key assets for the Carnabys.
Unfortunately for our home team, Aleka Kabugua (#8), was out for the game due to an injury. Kabugua was the star of last week’s match, with an elaborate 31 points and 13 rebounds to her name.
The first quarter was steady, with the Carnabys holding good defensive pressure. However, they fumbled a bit with the ball and couldn’t capitalise on some of the shots they usually would.
RMIT had a few fouls, allowing Hartree and Allen to sink some free throws, but the opposition managed to close the first quarter with a one-point lead.
As the second quarter broke, Ella Thornton-Elliot did what she does best and shot a three-pointer from behind the arc to bring the game to 18-all. However, the trend became that when the Carnabys built some momentum, RMIT responded with their own play.
While the Carnabys had a slight lead on defensive rebounds, they experienced a dry run on the scoreboard. That is until a fadeaway for two from Sarah Allen. Still, RMIT managed to stretch the margin to 16 points in the third period as they kept the pressure on.
In the final term, the score was 56 – 44 (RMIT), and the Carnabys had some work to do. The opposition kept up the aggression on both sides of the court and managed the ball better all around. RMIT did, however, cause several fouls over the game, which gave the Carnabys free-throw opportunities that they didn’t maximise.
Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Carnabys re-ignited their spark as Sarah Allen and Ella Thornton-Elliot sunk a much-needed three each. Shenae Hartree then added another four points to her tally to shrink the margin from 15 to eight.
The Carnabys made an incredible comeback in the final quarter. With a minute left in the game, the Carnabys had reduced the margin down to three. Unfortunately, the chance of victory was denied by an unsuccessful catch-and-shoot by the Carnabys. While RMIT’s free throws weren’t successful either, they ended the match victorious. The final score was 69 – 66.
Sarah Allen and Shenae Hartree were the top scorers for the women’s match – each finishing with 19 points. Ella Thornton-Elliot had 13.
