Nail-biting win sets up fight for home final
West Coast Fever coach Stacey Rosman expects captain Ashleigh Brazill to play in Saturday’s blockbuster clash with NSW Swifts at Perth Arena, despite a heavy fall in yesterday’s 63-61 win over Adelaide.
Fever won their first game since round nine in a thrilling finish against the struggling Thunderbirds in Adelaide to set up a huge final regular season game against the Swifts.
West Coast must beat the star-studded NSW team to tie up second spot and a home final.
Brazill hit the floor hard in the third quarter after she and former teammate Eboni Beckford-Chambers collided while contesting a ball in the air.
The athletic midcourter landed on her hip and did not return to the court but is believed to have escaped major injury.
Rosman said Brazill’s whole body was sore, confirming she will be monitored throughout the week.
"She was ready to go back on but we had to hold her back," she said.
Fever were ahead of Thunderbirds by as many as 10 goals late in the third term, but were forced to fight it out after the home side drew level with just minutes remaining in the match.
Rosman juggled positions after Brazill left the game and her side were able to settle with four of the last six goals to take the crucial victory.
Caitlin Bassett passed 500 goals in an ANZ Championship season for the first time in her career on the way to 52 goals from 56 attempts.
Nat Medhurst was kept to 11 from 14, while Khao Watts was outstanding in wing attack opposed to Australian wing defence Renae Hallinan.
Adelaide goal shooter Carla Borrego (44 from 50) was named match MVP, while April Letton did a good job on Erin Bell to restrict her to 17 goals.
Rosman said the win was exactly what they had needed after consecutive losses.
"It was a gutsy, gutsy effort by the girls," she said. "It was really intense out there.
"You saw the true colours of the team today. "They came out there with a real purpose. "They showed they want to run hard and are prepared to do the hard work."
Rosman started Brazill in centre and Shae Brown in wing defence for the first time this season, and said that had been because of match ups.
She was unconcerned about giving up a big lead late, saying Brazill’s departure from the game had been a disruption.
"Brazzy was having a rock solid game and it was more of a shock to the team," she said.
"I actually think it was just a disrupt of the combination."
Rosman said the team wanted to make the most of the opportunity to play at the Arena for a second time this season.
