Opals clear-cut gold

The Australian Opals’ indomitable march to the first Commonwealth Games gold medal was completed tonight as they trounced New Zealand 77-39 in the final at the Multi-Purpose Venue.

The much-awaited clash produced all the physicality expected but none of the closeness hoped for, as the Kiwis proved no match for an Australian team hell-bent on claiming their first major championship title.

Predictably, WNBA superstar Lauren Jackson was the leading light with 23 points and 11 rebounds, but these Opals were far from a one-woman team. Everyone managed to get on the score sheet and they all played sensational team defence, restricting New Zealand to just 14 points in the middle two quarters as they cruised to a comfortable win.

For Jackson, despite a glittering career littered with many highlights, nothing could top this victory.

“Nothing can compare to winning this medal. It’s number one on the list of things ... to play in front of friends and family in Melbourne, that was just awesome,” she said.

“I felt really proud to be a part of such a great team, they all did an awesome job. I’ve just loved this whole experience at the Commonwealth Games and am honoured to represent Australia at home.”

Australian coach Jan Stirling was full of praise for her young charges post-match.

“We knew it was going to be tough, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but to come through it is a great sign for the future of this side. To achieve the ultimate on home soil, it’s a credit to these ladies.”

As anticipated, the battle between the Trans-Tasman rivals was a physical one right from tip-off, best emphasized by New Zealand’s Nonila Wharemate’s early intentional foul on Aussie forward Jacinta Hamilton under the basket.

But the Kiwis couldn’t back up their attack on the body with points on the board, as the home guards hounded the visitors’ ball handlers all over the court. Australia’s tall timber in Jackson, Jenny Whittle and Hamilton were also causing the Kiwis headaches in the key, forcing New Zealand into the bonus as the Opals jumped to a 15-6 cushion.

Though their offence wasn’t flowing, the defensive side of Australia’s game was stifling and they created 10 turnovers in the first quarter alone on the way to a 23-11 margin at the first break.

It took New Zealand nearly five minutes to add to their quarter-time tally and in the face of the Opals’ incredible pressure their play descended even further into a gaggle of poor shots and ball-handling errors.

“It was like running into the incredible hulk. We just couldn’t find a way to score,” NZ coach Mike McHugh remarked after the game.

In contrast, the Aussies were patient on offence and demonstrated crisper ball movement, while Jackson displayed all the qualities that have made her women basketball’s best player; at one stage sneaking outside and hitting a long bomb to give the Aussies a 17-point buffer, before blocking an Angela Marino (NZ) shot on the very next play.

The writing was on the wall at half-time as Australia held a 38-19 advantage, and when the Opals opened the third period with a three-pointer to Belinda Snell (10 points, eight rebounds, five steals) it was game over- as if it wasn’t already.

Laura Summerton (seven points, four assists), Katrina Hibbert and Tully Bevilaqua (both six points) all played a role as the Aussies pushed the scoreline out to 60-25 by the close of the third quarter and they eased home in front of a sell-out crowd anxious to celebrate.

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