Post-mortem: The Good, Bad and Ugly of the Salties Womens season

A star NT basketball captain suffered a bizarre concussion in a fireworks accident as her team stumbled in the fight for a finals spot. Read what happened.

Fireworks at the 2024 Territory Day at Mindil Beach, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

A freak accident involving fireworks turned a night of celebration for a Northern Territory basketball team into a disaster which left their captain concussed.

Territory Day, often referred to as ‘Cracker Night’, is the one day on the Australian calendar where fireworks are legal, and proved to be the unfortunate setting for Darwin Salties team captain Ruby Porter to become the recipient of a nasty head-knock.

It is understood that a number of players and their friends were out celebrating when a firework exploded in proximity of the group, startling Porter and teammate Catherine MacGregor.

The two were frightened, rushed away from the explosion and collided with one another headfirst.

Salties general manager Matthew Nason said the force of the collision had rendered Porter unfit to take the court for the remaining two games of the home and away season.

The Salties lost both those games and missed the NBL1 North finals as a result.

“Ruby and Cat had a freak, accidental collision (in) which Ruby suffered poorly from and was assessed to rest and recover,” he said.

“Naturally, it was less than ideal timing given the state of the season.

“However, the group won’t add this to an excuse pile, it happened and they moved on.”

Ruby Porter and Catherine MacGregor suffered a ‘freak accident’ on Territory Day. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

Porter had been having a great season for the Salties prior, averaging 12.4 points a game, but it was her off-the-ball efforts and ability to command her side that was the biggest loss.

MacGregor did take to the court in those two games, however, the sharpshooter looked off the pace particularly from three point range, where she went 1-6 and 1-10 in those matches.

After qualifying for the finals last season, the expectation was the team was set for a deep run in season 2024.

And they looked destined for just that, putting together a brilliant 6-1 first half of the season.

The side then recorded a brutal 2-8 record, crashing out after a 43-point loss suffered on home-court in a sixth place playoff against South West Metro Pirates.

“It’s a bitter pill to swallow, the club will rue this season as one that got away,” Nason said.

“The string of back-to-back road trips swung the ledger the other way as the group could not get it going in long enough stretches of the games to overcome the opposition.

“They fell on the wrong side of a number of games that could have gone either way, but being unable to get the job done on the road ultimately turned the tide for the season.

“The team fell into a significant pressure situation, where the need to win became non-negotiable to stay alive and compete in a revised Top 6 finals qualification.

“This group didn’t lack talent, they lacked consistency and the ability to scrap out wins against the flow of games.”

POST-MORTEM – SEASON 2024

GOOD

6-1 start to season

The group cruised their way to four wins in a row before losing their first game of the season to the Flames in Townsville. They had a bye in Round 5 and won their next two, putting them at 6-1.

Courtney Woods

Courtney Woods was the MVP throughout the season for the Salties. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

Townsville Fire player and last years NBL1 North MVP recipient, Woods put together a strong campaign in a new team. She finished fourth overall in PPG at 23.69, and was also fourth in APG with 6.13, and was named in the competition’s Second Team.

Healthy crowd numbers

Crowds were consistently strong for the side at each home game. Nason revealed that 400-500 spectators would be in attendance, the highest across the league.

BAD

43-point embarrassment

At home and needing the win to make the final six, the side put together arguably their worst 40 minutes of the season. They were off the pace for the majority of the game, and were no match for a determined Pirates outfit.

Away performances

With just the two wins from eight away games, the group had a horrid time on the road. Whether it was the travel, poor individual efforts of mismatched game plans will never be know, but the side must improve their away performance next season.

Bench woes

No one can expect role players and those on the bench to be as good as starters, but it was a common trend for the Salties to end a game with low production from the bench.

UGLY

Cracker night

Losing your captain and glue of the team cannot be understated, particularly with the season in the balance. The unfortunate accident certainly was a factor in the team losing their final two games.

Loss of Erin Bollmann

Erin Bollmann was a big loss for the Salties. Picture: Ben Thompson.

Inaugural player and MVP of the team through their first two seasons, Bollmann made the move to the Northside Wizards, with Woods her replacement. The American was lights out for the Wizards, earning the NBL1 North DPOY Award, and was named in the First Team of the season.

No post-season

As Nason addressed, the season as a whole will be looked back on as a missed opportunity, particularly with the men’s side securing a home semi-final.