The NT News rates the performances of the six women’s Darwin Basketball sides
The NT News grades the six 2020 Women’s Darwin Basketball sides, selecting an MVP from each squad
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The 2020 Women’s Basketball Championship has been a tightly contested one with teams across the competition giving it their all to seal wins.
Tracy Village, Lightning, Ansett and Essington made it into the finals after a long season on the court.
The NT News has graded the six Championshop sides and has selected an MVP from each squad.
TRACY VILLAGE JETS (A)
MVP: Kylie Duggan
There’s no doubting that Jets have been the premier side of the 2020 Championship having gone unbeaten through the regular season.
And that comes as no surprise from a side which has experienced so much success over the past decade and continues to produce quality youth players.
Captain Kylie Duggan has once again had a massive season with Michelle Ellis and a returning Sam Rioli causing plenty of problems for their opposition.
Young guns Erin Geer and Laleeta Das have also stepped up this season to cement their places in the well-oiled machine that is Tracy Village.
Defence has been a massive factor for Jets this season with their strong running game also firing under player coach Tania Dhu.
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LIGHTNING (B+)
MVP: Claire Maree O’Bryan
The reigning premiers have had a shaky season at times unable to field their full team for much of the year due to injury or other commitments
But as finals approached the real Lightning has stepped forth running Jets close and seeing off all other comers to secure second on the table.
The trio of Claire Maree O’Bryan, April Rummery Lamb and Dom Carbone have been standouts of the side once again and with the three combined Lightning finally scored a win over Jets in the semi-final.
And that win proved how potent a side Lightning can be when they’ve got their best players on the court and has ultimately put them in the pole position to defend their title.
Kirra Hill Carter, Sarah Carbone and Mikaella Desamito have also had their moments to shine through the season.
ANSETT (B)
MVP: Sophie Palmer
With a deep roster full of options Ansett never looked too far away from the fight for a top two finish against the competition’s premier sides.
Ansett have boasted a strong defence and guards to spare and have been one of the few sides of recent years to threaten the dominance of the top two.
Sophie Palmer has been in electric form for Ansett while Frances Fatnowna, Jessica Goodluck and T’Leyah Turner have all worked hard to push their side to the upper echelons of the competition.
There are plenty of players in the side that can make an impact and it is that depth that has led to consistent success for Ansett this season.
ESSINGTON CANNONS (B)
MVP: Josephine Guthridge
Caught in the scrap for fourth place hasn’t always been easy for Cannons but the side showed enough ability and power to take the last finals berth.
A high paced side with plenty of younger options Essington came into their own at the back end of the season tearing away from Uni Rebels and almost threatening to take third from Ansett.
Josephine Guthridge and the Friel sisters, Ieasha and Jacinta, have been the stars of the show for Cannons with all three featuring high right across the stats.
The three shooters have been instrumental this season while the likes of Tahnee De Santis and Alisha O’Brien have also played their part.
UNI REBELS (C)
MVP: Danielle Ponter
It’s been an up and down season for Uni Rebels with players in and out of the club harming consistency on the court.
But when the Rebels have fired they’ve been a tough match for anyone beating top three sides such as Lightning and Ansett early in the season.
It’s no coincidence that those victories coincided with a returning stint from Australian representative Ambah Kowcun who managed 84 points from just three games.
AFLW star Danielle Ponter has been a more consistent presence in the side and was crucial in getting the young Rebels close to a finals run.
The experience of those two will have left its mark on the side’s younger players such as Shavayah Lee.
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RAZZLE (C-)
MVP: Lailani Triffitt
Razzle may have had a rough season with only two wins under their belt, both against Rebels, but they have competed each week and made their mark against some of the league’s top sides.
The Storm have seen their roster deepen this season but still lack the experience of their adversaries, but experience comes with time on the court and they have seen plenty of that in 2020.
Lailani Triffitt and Jennifer Kinsella have been two of the better performers for Razzle and if they are to stick around for next season will provide a strong base for the side.
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