The UC Capitals round 10 victory over the Bendigo Spirit was ‘More than a win’.

11/1/23

It wasn’t looking good for the Capitals going into this game. They hadn’t won in over a year. They were short handed, missing 5 of their players. Notably Alex Bunton, the only true Centre on the roster and Captain Brit Smart. This was the 13th game of the season, the Capitals had gone 0-12. Including a 20 point loss to The Spirit to start the season back in early November. Far from the success Canberra fans had been treated to through their history. However this 2022-23 Capitals team was by no means weak during the first 12 games. Consistently showing promise in their first halves, where they looked like a functioning basketball team. They played for each other, they found open looks and were scrappy and hustled defensively. All this would be for nothing, when they inevitably would succumb to pressure late in the game. Too many ugly shots and turnovers. They would too frequently rely on unfruitful isolation plays. Offense is like a shark, if it stops moving it dies. If your team has Jade Melbourne, you can’t stop moving.

On the Bendigo side of things, they had a roaring start to this season. They won 8 of their first 9 games. But coming off a 2 game losing streak, with a 46 point loss over the weekend, they had something to prove as well. Still they are one of the stronger teams in the WNBL. Their start was helped by veteran and former WNBA 3rd overall pick, Kelsey Griffin. She is also a former Capital.

Griffin’s presence made his game different for the team. More intense. It was a family affair. Three Bendigo players had worn Capitals jerseys last season and their Coach, Kennedy Kereama had acted as assistant coach for the Caps just last year. Jade Melbourne had said that the team she would most like to beat was Bendigo for this reason.

From the jump the David vs Goliath element of this match up was physically apparent. The Spirit have a tall starting five that the Caps would have already struggled with. Adding to that concern, Alex Bunton was out with a lower leg injury. Center duties were taken on by 6 foot 2 Bec Pizzey. She had never started in the WNBL and rarely played big. The Spirit went to a post up the first possession of the game. Thwarted by Pizzey.

The National Convention Centre in Canberra was packed, 1098 of us. Caps fans often get praise from around the league for their passion. On the WNBL Show before the game, host Megan Hustwaite manifested the win to come at home. The atmosphere it would create would be legendary. The Caps faithful were out in full force, desperate for a win. Depraved even. When your team loses that many in a row, every basket means something.

Every positive possession was met with a cheer and applause. Every mishap, groans. Every controversial call that wouldn’t go Canberra’s way, Boos and ‘Get some glasses’ would rain down onto the referees.

Near the end of a shaky first quarter for her team, Kelsey Griffin indicated to her Coach that she wanted a sub. At the next stop in the play she came off and ran straight to the locker room. She wouldn’t return to the bench until halftime and she was done with the game from there. It was later reported to be hamstring tightness. Canberra would take a win, any way it came. But this was sure to add a pesky asterisk.

In the first half, young guard Shanice Swain continued to impress. Scoring 13 points and proving she's not just a shooter by taking her defender off the dribble on more than one occasion. The Caps were down one going into halftime. 39 - 40.

Just a minute into the 3rd quarter it happened. With the shot clock winding down Nicole Munger gave up a bad shot for a worse shot. She offloaded it to Jade to take a half court prayer that rattled home to tie the game. After this play the teams went basket for basket. Pizzey continued to look strong on both sides of the ball. Jade ran the offense, Swain had a hot hand. But silly fouls and fierce post work from Bendigo’s Annelli Maley kept the Spirit alive.

Going into the final period, the score was 63 - 60. Caps were up.

With 6 minutes left in the game the Caps were holding onto one of the biggest leads they’d had all season. 12 points. But the fans knew better, we knew our Caps. We had been heartbroken before. Bendigo continued cutting the lead with quick buckets from Maley and Wehrung. But the Caps kept the energy and momentum. A timely Nicole Munger three with about two minutes left to put her team up 5, had Canberra breathing just a little bit easier. Although it wasn’t over until Rae Burrell hit the Dagger.

Caps win! Caps win! Caps win!

The crowd exploded. The bench ran onto the court, the team shared an overdue group hug. I high-fived strangers in the row behind me. Finally it happened. Megan Hustwaite told me that when the game ended, she got emotional watching it at home. Her manifestation of a home win had come to pass.

Jade was brought to center court to address the ecstatic crowd. She could hardly get a word in over the standing ovation, the whistling and the MVP chants. Her first full sentence was “How good is it!?!”. Followed by more cheering. The clapping didn't stop as the heros left the court and began up again for the 'meet the players' part of the night.

Guard Sherrie Callieia’s instagram story showed the team pouring water over Coach Veal, as is the custom, and claimed that this was ‘more than a win’. Yes, it certainly was. It was truly momentous and you had to be there.

Caps win! Caps win! Caps win!

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Image Credits:

Top: uccapitals via instagram

Tweets: @_sadcapsfan, @MeganHustwaite, @n_walker13