BASKETBALL

NBL

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

TRARALGON’S Jack White and Melbourne United are truly beginning to come into their own as it turns to the crucial stage of the NBL season which can either make or break team’s chances at the ultimate prize.

White hit back-to-back go-ahead threes in the final minute of play, with the game in the balance, to give United the win during the showcase Thursday night match-up against the Sydney Kings at John Cain Arena, 87 to 83.

As expected with two finals contenders going at each other, it went back-and-forth throughout the game’s entirety, with no team creating any significant separation at any stage.

White, who was playing stand-out defence all night along the backline, then arrived on the scene to nail the two most important shots of the game, giving United their seventh win for the year, moving them into second-place on the ladder at time of writing.

“I sort of blacked out in the moment honestly, it just happened so quick,” White said in the post-game press conference.

“(I) was just playing off instinct, so it was a pretty good feeling.”

Coming up against opposing Kings coach Brian Goorjian, White showed out all game and stood up in all the critical moments, proving Goorjian wrong for leaving him out of the Boomers 2024 Olympic campaign.

In a huge win against quality players, White proved to be one of the most impactful on the court, finishing with 14 points (3-5 from three), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.

Many NBL pundits over the last few weeks have begun to place White into the conversation for the MVP award at season’s end.

In an intense and fiery affair, White finished with another mark for his efforts – a chipped tooth.

Previous to that, United began with a needed away win against Illawarra Hawks, 92-87 in the first leg of their Round 6 double-header.

After fighting back into the game after an average start, United ran home in the last quarter.

White had 12 points, a career-high 19 rebounds, two assists, three blocks and two steals.

United proceeded to dominate their Sunday (October 27) game against Cairns Taipans, who have struggled most of the season so far, winning 106-63.

White finished with 16 points, (including four straight three-pointers), 13 rebounds and four assists.

 

LATROBE Valley exports Jade Melbourne and Jaz Shelley started each of their WNBL seasons last week.

Moe’s Shelley began the next chapter of her career for new franchise Geelong United in the league season opener against Townsville Fire, going down 84 to 58 at Geelong Arena.

United are still working themselves into shape and feeling each other out ahead off a landmark year for basketball in the region.

However, Geelong could never get things going, being outscored in every quarter except the last, with the deficit pushed to 28 points at the end of the third term.

Shelley, in in her professional debut, posted seven points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal in 26 minutes of action as a starter.

The Moe star was Geelong’s first premier signing ahead of their WNBL inauguration after a successful five-year college career in the states with the University of Oregon and most notably with Nebraska.

United’s next game is tomorrow (November 7) against the Southside Flyers again at Geelong Arena, along with a trip to play Bendigo Spirit on Sunday.

Traralgon’s Jade Melbourne and her UC Capitals didn’t get off to the start they would have hoped for, going down to Sydney Flames 102-85 at Sydney’s Olympic Park.

The Capitals were let down by a poor opening quarter to the season, allowing 35 points against and yet matched Sydney through a majority of the way home.

Melbourne individually started her fifth season in Canberra well with 20 points, grabbing six rebounds, dishing out four assists, and a steal and a block in 35 minutes of play.

The Capitals next play Bendigo at home (AIS Stadium) this Friday night with the chance to pick up their first win on the season.