Albany’s top women’s team fall short in country championships grand final against Karratha

Albany fell heartbreakingly short of an elusive women’s championship title at the Basketball WA Country Championships, losing Monday’s grand final at Bendat Basketball Centre. The top women’s team representing Albany contained former WNBL player Rebecca Benson and they won all four of their qualifying games in division 1/2/3 to book a place in the grand final against fellow unbeaten side Karratha 1. Karratha, however, proved too strong in a low-scoring decider, holding Albany to 23 points on their way to the title. Albany trailed by eight points at half-time after Karratha scored the first basket and they never hit the lead at any stage in the grand final. Benson scored nine points for her side and Indianna Weeden added eight, but their side was left to rue missed opportunities in offence as they lost 23-31. Coach Ryan Benson said it was frustrating to have such a poor game offensively in the decider. “We just couldn’t make any shots,” Benson said. “We were averaging about 50-55 points per game and in the final we scored 23. We had been getting that in basically each half. “It was super disappointing to finish that way but we had five girls under 19 and it bodes well for the future. “Karratha have a team that has played together for some time and had bigger bodies. “We did the job defensively but couldn’t get the other end working for us in the final.” On Saturday Albany started with a 66-26 demolition of Harvey thanks to 21 points from Benson and Valerie Corbett (11 points). Benson (13), Weeden (12) and Corbett (11) were in double figures in the 15-point win over Australind later on Saturday. On Sunday Albany beat Karratha 2 by 27 points as Benson hit four three-pointers in her 22-point haul and Weeden scored 12. They rounded out the pool games with a 50-37 triumph over Esperance, led by Corbett (13), Benson (12) and Isabella De Giambattista (10). Albany’s division 4 team missed out on playing in the final but Denmark Basketball Association claimed the title as they beat Jerramungup, 43-20. Lauren Spinks was awarded grand final most valuable player honours for Denmark. Denmark won all four of their qualifying games and then lifted the trophy under the guidance of coach Paul Rogers.