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Bronze high
Volume 49, No. 10, June 14, 2007 |
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AIRBORNE: ADO women’s team captain FLTLT Fiona Harris shoots for the basket during a match against the USA at the Arafura Games.
Photos by LS Helen Frank |
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Our women’s basketball team produced its best result in eight years to win the bronze medal for the Australian Defence Organisation (ADO) at the Arafura Games in Darwin.
The ADF Basketball Association women registered strong preliminary wins against Papua New Guinea (PNG), Madang and Northern Territory.
“We really gelled well as a team, which is difficult when you have only a week’s preparation leading up to the tournament,” coach CPL Dean Burke said.
“We had team members who had come together from all over Australia, across all three Services, and were playing against teams who train and play together on a regular basis, so I was really proud of the girls.”
After narrow losses to Malaysia and USA, the ADO women went into the bronze medal play-off as favourites.
After a close first quarter, the ADO women came out strongly in the second period and steadily increased their lead to 31-25 at half-time. PNG was in foul trouble in the second half, with team captain Gamini Koroka fouled out early in the fourth quarter.
This gave the ADO women the boost they needed to win 67-57.
“We haven’t won a medal at the Arafura Games since 1999, so to win bronze is fantastic,” CPL Burke said.
Team captain FLTLT Fiona Harris dominated inside the paint and led all scorers with 23 points. PTE Kylie Gaurino scored 15 with most resulting from steals, while AB Bianca Lestuzzi chipped in with 12.
After making it through a tough pool, the ADO men came up against the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association (NATIBA) in the play off for bronze.
The game was closely fought with the lead changing throughout. NATIBA weathered the storm and displayed some impressive shooting to win 81-75. CPL Ben Angliss was on fire for the ADO men with 27 points, followed by LT Nick Munday with 11 points.
For more information about becoming involved in ADF Basketball, contact MAJ Geoffrey Young on (02) 6265 7241 or email geoffrey.young@defence.gov.au.
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