THE Bambill Saints A Grade netball team has proven that anything can happen come finals time after defeating the more-fancied Nangiloc Demons to claim the 2022 Millewa Netball Association title.
The Demons entered the grand final at Lake Cullulleraine as favourites after defeating the Saints in all three meetings this season.
But the Saints came out of the gates in fine shooting form and established a 11-point lead at the first break.
It was an advantage the Saints would not relinquish as they held on for a memorable 41-31 win.
Bambill playing co-coach Tessa Houkamau said the Saints’ victory came from their early advantage.
“It just gave the girls a bit of a pep up to make sure that this is the start, this is us and we can keep going,” Houkamau said.
“At times we would turn it away and (we would) get worried that they would bring it back. But that start really helped.”
Saints shooters Ebony Stanbrook (GS) and Kayla Baker (GA) combined for 15 points in the first quarter, while the Demons were held to four points in the first quarter.
This forced a switch in the roles of the Demons attacking duo with Tess Thompson going to GA and Caitlin Finch to GS. While the Demons found more scoring in the second, narrowing the half-time deficit to nine, a phenomenal third quarter effort from Baker, who made 13 baskets, effectively killed off the game.
But the Demons did not give up, mounting a desperate final effort in the fourth as they turned mid-and back-court intercepts into repeat goals. The Demons went on a 7-1 run to cut the margin to eight before running out of time.
Houkamau said the Saints, who had also defeated unbeaten regular season side Werrimull in the preliminary final, had drawn strength from maintaining their routines during finals.
“Doing our same warm-up, getting the girls around each other … having that spirit together, going out on that court together just really helps,” she said.
“If you go in individually, there’s no cohesiveness and … we had that cohesiveness.”
Saints co-coach Samantha Garraway said Houkamau, who played in defence, deserved special praise for leading “from the front”.
But Houkamau said all players on the court deserved attention for their contribution to the result.
“There’s not one person,” Houkamau said. “It’s the shooters getting their goals out there. It’s that mid court having that patience, having that balance to it. But then we don’t win without turnover ball from the defence.”
