Geelong United struggle on offensive end against Canberra Capitals in 60-71 defeat

While an off night on the offensive end of the court saw Geelong fall to its third loss of the WNBL season, reinforcements may be a while away.

Monique Conti (right) has been at home games, but is yet to start training coming off her AFLW season with Richmond. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Geelong United coach Chris Lucas says the club won’t be rushed into signing a replacement for departed centre Lynetta Kizer.

The club and the 34-year-old centre parted ways due to personal reasons ahead of United’s round 3 overtime win over Adelaide on November 13.

The WNBL later confirmed with this publication Kizer could be replaced with a local or international player, though finding a like-for-like tall arguably could prove difficult in-season.

“We’re looking but I’m happy with our team,” Lucas said after United’s 13-point loss to Canberra on Saturday.

“And I think we’re just trying to find roles and responsibilities right now and if we happen to pick up the right person we’re going to do that.

“I’m not just going to sign anybody to the team.

“They need to be able to fit into the dynamics of the team which I feel like are pretty strong – we enjoy each others company, we work hard.”

Geelong United head coach Chris Lucas. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Just eight players took the court against Canberra, with Taylor Mole still sidelined with injury though she did complete pre-game warm-ups while development players

Tanielle Knight and Dakota Crichton didn’t see minutes.

Dual-sport athlete Monique Conti was courtside for the game, though Lucas said the club wasn’t rushing her return following Richmond’s exit from the AFLW finals series earlier this month.

Lucas confirmed Conti was still contracted with Richmond and had yet to return to training.

“Physically she’s been through a pretty tough AFLW (season), we’re just going to take our time with Mon and she has to get clearance from Richmond, then we’ll get clearance from here,” he said.

“I think probably two to three weeks but I’m not putting any timeline on it to be honest with you.

“We need to let her body settle down from football to basketball.

“She can help us, there is no doubt about that, especially on the defensive end and she can score the ball.”

Horvat caps “special” homecoming with win

Chantel Horvat was content to spoil the party for Geelong United, the UC Capitals’ guard role in Saturday night’s win “all the sweeter” coming on the court she grew up on.

The Geelong-born Horvat was crucial in the Capitals’ 73-60 round 4 win over United, pulling down 13 rebounds including eight on the offensive glass to give the Capitals several second looks, reflected in their 21-9 edge on second chance points.

Chantel Horvat (left) celebrates a win in Geelong with Capitals teammate Nyadiew Puoch. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The 26-year-old, who spent five years playing college ball before starting her pro career in Europe, is in her first WNBL season, reuniting with one of her former Centre of Excellence coaches, Paul Goriss in Canberra.

Horvat said a return to Geelong Arena — her first since last year after suiting up for a handful of games for Geelong United’s NBL1 team — was “incredibly special”.

“I played my first C-ball game on this court (Geelong Arena) and have so many memories of incredible games out here,” Horvat said post-game.

“Coming back home and having my family and friends in the crowd was so special for me.

“It does make it even sweeter we got the win even though I’m in the Caps colours.

“It’s really exciting to see a WNBL team here in Geelong and see the pathways for young players and what young girls can aspire to in this city in the future.”

Goriss praised Horvat for her “super effort on the boards”, while also highlighting his team’s toughness after addressing at half time a lack of boxing out in the first half.

Chantel Horvat (left) strips the ball from Geelong guard Haley Jones on Saturday. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Goriss was well aware of the talent of Geelong United too, having worked with US import Haley Jones in his role as an assistant coach for WNBA franchise Atlanta Dream as well as Gemma Potter when she was at the Capitals last year.

It’s why Goriss sees an exciting future for Geelong in the league.

“I think I’ve coached half that team — Keely (Froling), Jaz Shelley, Haley,” Goriss said.

“I think it’s exciting, Chris (Lucas) does a great job as a coach, they’ve got some exciting pieces here and they’ll continue to build, as a new franchise with a new group coming in, they’ll continue to grow, they’ve already won a couple games already and that team will continue to get better throughout the season just like will we.”

United fail to fire as second chance points ‘the picture’ of night

An early hot hand turned into a horror scoring night for Geelong United to curse the new franchise to a 13-point loss to UC Capitals and their third defeat of the season.

Despite sinking the first nine points on Saturday night, United – bar a sharpshooting Gemma Potter – struggled to convert beyond the arc as the Capitals killed Chris Lucas’ side in second chance points to board a plane back home with its second win in three days.

Following a breakthrough first win over Townsville Fire on Thursday night, the Capitals, led by 21-year-old Opal and WNBA point guard Jade Melbourne, pulled away in the second half to bank the impressive 73-60 road win over United.

Describing the Capitals as “more desperate”, Lucasforecasted his team would have its “up-and-down” moments this season before insisting he would again ask for a response this week heading into their first interstate game against Sydney Flames next Saturday.

“We had a bit of a hit tonight and I actually think it’s going to be positive for us if we treat it the right way,” Lucas said.

UC Capitals’ Jade Melbourne flies to the basket to eventually finish with a game-high 18 points. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Lucas said second chance points was “the picture of how we played tonight”, the Capitals dominating that area of the game, 21-9.

“They (Canberra) did a super job getting after the glass, they won the rebound count, 21-9 second chance points, we had 16 turnovers and I felt like those turnovers were at the wrong time, it was compounding pretty heavily,” he said.

“We need more people in double figures and we found it tough tonight but that’s credit to Canberra.”

With scores locked 37-all at half time, the Capitals got out to a nine-point lead late in the third quarter, dominating the paint (24-32) through US import Charli Collier while Geelong-raised Chantel Horvat pulled in crucial rebounds (game-high 13) at both ends of the floor.

Potter’s pinpoint range from three was United’s saving grace to keep the home side in it earlier in the night, the former Capital sinking four three-pointers against her old club to lead Geelong with 14 points at three quarter time, with her hustle on the defensive end also of note with four steals.

It took until the final term for anyone other than Potter to hit a three for Geelong — that player being US import Haley Jones, who put up some points late in the game to finish with a team-high 16 points though others struggled and saw their shots rim out before Capitals’ Nicole Hunger put the dagger in United with a huge threeball with just over a minute left on the clock.

Nyadiew Puoch drives to the basket for Canberra. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Keely Froling wasn’t at her best with seven points and nine rebounds, Lucas revealing post-match his captain had battled sickness throughout the week.

“She won’t like that as an excuse but that wasn’t Keely and I felt like she was trying to play through physicality and a couple times maybe could have been rewarded,” he said.

Meanwhile, personnel changes — Lynetta Kizer departed the team last week — and adjustments have seen the likes of Jaz Shelley playing slightly out of position.

“She’s doing a good job for us but she’s under pressure the whole time,” Lucas said.

United started brightly, getting some early steals via Shelley to go on a nine-point run to start the match before the Capitals finally got on the board when Collier muscled her way to the basket.

It was the spark Capitals needed to get going, Nyadiew Puoch showing her athleticism to weave through traffic in the paint and score with ease, the 20-year-old putting up 13 points for the night.

Geelong United’s Elissa Brett tries to drive for the basket under defensive pressure. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Several lead changes set the scene in the second term, as United’s struggles emerged beyond three while foul trouble started to pile up as the Capitals pounced to break away for a seven-point lead.

A Munger three was answered by Potter’s own long range shot, before a United time out seemed to give Lucas’ side a reset when they came out with more hustle on the defensive end, contesting several balls and levelling scores 34-all.

But the Capitals’ ability to make use of those second chance points started to mount, Melbourne missing an open three but not making the same mistake just moments later when a teammate fed it back out.

United forced the Capitals into various violations before the visitors also found themselves in some foul trouble — centre Ella Tofaeono eventually fouling out of the game in the final quarter.

Originally published as Geelong United struggle on offensive end against Canberra Capitals in 60-71 defeat