WNBL semi final: Smallest Melbourne Sports Centres crowd since Covid sours Southside Flyers v Melbourne Boomers game one clash

It was an epic WNBL semi-final opener that featured the sport’s greatest player and the league’s best. It should have been the hottest ticket in town. So why did no one show up?

Lauren Jackson v Keely Froling was worth the price of admission alone. Picture: Getty Images

Southside withstood an epic last quarter fightback from cross-town rival Melbourne to hold on to a 90-86 win in a thrilling opener to the WNBL semi final series soured by the lowest crowd since the WNBL returned to Parkville in 2021-22’s Covid-ravaged season.

Up against the Matildas in Melbourne and a pair of NBL finals on a Wednesday school night, it was a shame the game was played in front of a near-empty stadium.

With the first final scheduled just three days after the last game of the regular season — and the State Basketball Centre unavailable due to renovations — the Flyers were left with an impossible scramble to sell tickets to a home playoff clash in enemy territory.

The Melbourne Sports Centres bleachers were near empty for the Southside v Melbourne clash. Picture: Getty Images

Just 890 fans went through the gate on Wednesday night. Picture: Getty Images

But the Boom Box — where the Boomers had never played in front of fewer than 1000 fans — became the Flyers’ Funhouse for the night and the few — just 890 — who did make the trek to Parkville, witnessed an epic clash of the titans between two of the very best Aussie bigs in the legendary Lauren Jackson and uncompromising international Keely Froling.

The two Opals bashed and crashed in a battle fitting of the occasion, Froling pouring in a game-high 23 points to go with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of stocks. But evergreen Jackson more than held her own, her 20 points pacing the Flyers.

Froling was outstanding for the Boomers, inside and out. Picture: Getty Images

In a pulsating fourth quarter, the Flyers looked home when they led by 10 early on but dual-sport superstar Monique Conti (16 points) and Froling combined for five treys in three-and-a-half minutes to cut the lead to one with just over three to play.

From there, the two combatants traded blows but, as the Boomers played the foul game, Southside’s veteran pair of Jackson and Leilani Mitchell showed their poise at the charity stripe with seven straight free throws to ice it.

The newly-crowned WNBL Sixth Woman of the Year, 38 began brilliantly with 12 first-half points, so it was fitting her four three throws in the last 20 seconds delivered the knockout blow.

Flyers coach Cheryl Chambers was keeping a lid on things, post-game.

“It was awesome to get that first win against our rivals to start the finals, but it is only one win and we must now prepare for game two on Saturday night,” Chamber said.

Jasmine Dickey saved her best game for the semi-final opener. Picture: Getty Images

Jordin Canada worked hard for everything she got — and she got plenty for the Boomers. Picture: Getty Images

Energiser import Jasmine Dickey’s heroics were something to savour as she proved a match up nightmare for the Boomers on her way to 16 points off the bench — her second-highest total of the season. At the other end, the 23-year-old was a disruptive force with four steals and wore newly-crowned MVP Jordin Canada like a glove.

Canada, though, was brilliant for the Boomers with a 15-point, 11-assist double-double, laced with 2 steals and 2 blocks.

The Flyers are now one win away from a fourth grand final appearance in five seasons, with game two back at Parkville on Saturday night.

Originally published as WNBL semi final: Smallest Melbourne Sports Centres crowd since Covid sours Southside Flyers v Melbourne Boomers game one clash