Flames burn back-to-back championships

An inspired Sami Whitcomb delivered 41 points to lead Rockingham Flames to back-to-back women's SBL championships with a 68-63 win over Willetton Tigers in the grand final at Bendat Basketball Centre last Friday night.

The Flames backed up last year's breakthrough triumph, by claiming the 2015 title with a five-point grand final win having lost just twice right throughout the season.

The Tigers also lost just twice this year, but in the end it was reigning league MVP Whitcomb who was the difference between the two teams as she delivered a stunning grand final performance.

The Perth Lynx squad member lit up the Basketball Centre with 41 points, five rebounds and three steals on the back of shooting 14 of 24 from the field, six of 15 from three-point territory and a perfect seven of seven from the free-throw line.

Jacinta Bourne came up huge for Rockingham all night as well finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals while nailing four crucial bombs from outside three-point territory.

Centre Darcee Garbin had a fascinating battle inside with Louella Tomlinson and Zoe Harper, and finished with 11 points, six boards and three steals for the Flames.

Only four players scored for the Flames with Talisia Bourne nailing the other two points but Lizel Buckley worked hard for eight rebounds.

For the Tigers centre Tomlinson led the way inside with 14 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and two blocked shots.

Kate Malpass added 12 points, five boards and two assists as well for Willetton and Desiree Kelley had a strong performance with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Harper put in a power of work down low as well and ended the grand final with nine points and 10 rebounds on the back of shooting four of eight from the floor.

Jacinta Bourne made a flying start to the game, beginning with a steal and then nailing a three down the other end for the first score of the grand final.

A three-point play from Whitcomb then gave the Flames an early 6-2 lead before six points from Kelley and a basket from Malpass helped the Tigers tie up the scores.

Triples from Garbin and Jacinta Bourne and two baskets and a pair of free-throws from Whitcomb then helped Rockingham open up a 20-15 quarter-time lead.

The Flames led by seven points early in the second period, but the Tigers then switched to a zone defence and things started to happen.

From there, the Tigers went on an 8-0 run. Five quick points from Garbin steadied Rockingham, but again Willetton caught fire with another 8-0 run, and despite five late first-half points from Whitcomb, the Tigers led 33-32 at half-time.

It was basket for basket early in the third quarter, before aggressive defence from Lara Napier on Whitcomb fired her up and in a three-minute burst nailed two stunning threes, a pair of free-throws and two other field goals.

However, Napier and Tomlinson combined for Willetton's last 10 points leading into the three-quarter-time to restrict Rockingham's lead to just three points.

By the time Whitcomb nailed two massive threes in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, including a step back from the corner, the Flames appeared in control with an equal game-high lead of seven points but the Tigers refused to go away.

A tough lay-up from Ebony Antonio and then a long two from Tomlinson had Willetton back within three points with just under four minutes to go.

Then, after a scoreless lull of almost two minutes, Whitcomb nailed her sixth triple of the game to steady things for Rockingham.

Jacinta Bourne then nailed her fourth three shortly after and the Flames led by a game-high nine points, and went on to win by five.