The WNBL may need to issue a weather warning, because the Lightning storm brewing in Adelaide is looking increasingly hazardous to visiting teams.
It comes after a downright dominant display against Tasmania saw Adelaide record a massive 32 point win in front of a raucous crowd at the State Basketball Centre.
Import Maddy Westbeld showed exactly why she is one of the league’s most dangerous players, putting on a midrange masterclass to finish with 29 points (at 68%) and 10 rebounds in a showstopping performance.
Her clinical effort in the frontcourt was perfectly complimented by another hugely productive outing from Opal Zitina Aokuso (20 points and 12 rebounds), who’s now averaging a double-double on the season.
The understated Tayla Brazel quietly continued her emergence as one of the league’s most lethal long range threats, nailing a pair of triples to bring her season average up to a stunning 54.2% from deep.
While Tasmania threatened early through standout guard Steph Reid (25 points), the Lightning showed major progress as a collective, putting on a series of crucial runs heading into halftime, before holding the Jewels scoreless for the final five minutes of the third term.
Head coach Aja Parham-Ammar says it stems from a process driven program, one that values progress rather than just results.
“It was definitely (the result of) the work we’ve put in over the past few weeks, and coming together as a team. The ball was going in. We felt good about ourselves.”
Incredibly, the dominant display all came on a night that captain Steph Talbot played less than 20 minutes and added just 2 points as she continued being managed through injury.
With matchwinning guard Shay Ciezki also in foul trouble early in the piece, Jess McDowell-White didn’t skip a beat in her stead, offering 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists as she flirted with a trouble double.
In another hugely positive sign for the future, gun recruit Gemma Potter is nearing a hugely anticipated return as she completes the final stages of her recovery from a knee injury.
The forecast is increasingly exciting as the Lightning now has an extended ten day break before back-to-back home games, hosting Geelong on 17 November, and Sydney on 21 November.
You won’t want to miss out on becoming a part of something special brewing in Adelaide as the Lightning looks to continue surging up the standings. Come along and be a part of another exciting night of elite basketball as the team continues building momentum at the State Basketball Centre!
