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Hatters regain Cup throne
ntl:home Women’s National Cup Final
SHEFFIELD HATTERS (10, 28, 39) 52 (Castanada 19; Vaughn 13; Crowley/Hutchinson 8);
RHONDDA REBELS (14, 29, 39) 48 (Boston 22; Lender 15; Lacey 4)
Sheffield Hatters re-claimed their title as queens of the National Cup with a nail-biting 52-48 defeat of holders Rhondda in the 2002 final at Sheffield Arena.
However a storming finish saw Hatters came from behind in the last 45 seconds of the game, to become the first team to win the trophy ten times.
The second consecutive Cup Final meeting between the two teams who have won eleven of the last twelve Women’s Finals between them, produced a fascinating tactical battle, but there was no hint of the drama to come throughout most of the match.
That it was not a pretty game was hardly surprising considering how well the two teams know each other, and how determined each was to win, but there was enough drama and determination to keep all but the most determined purist happy.
As so often on a big occasion, both teams began slowly, testing each other out, and with Hatters’ new signing Tami Vaughn still finding her feet in the team, it was the Rebels who shaded the period, 10-14.
The key to the holders’ edge in that first quarter was undoubtedly their work on the boards, and the scoring ability of Shelly Boston, who hit 10 of their 14 points. In the second quarter, Hatters stepped up their defensive intensity, with Nicky Brown doing a good job pressurising the Rhondda guards, and runs of 9-2 and 8-0 at either end of the quarter gave Sheffield the edge at half-time, 29-28.
With both teams struggling to find the basket, the third quarter proved even closer, with Katie Crowley making a significant contribution for the Hatters. It was Crowley who drove to the basket three minutes from the end of the quarter, to draw the fourth foul on Shelley Boston, and a minute later she checked Olga Smirneou cleanly from behind to prevent a certain score. At the end of the quarter there was nothing between the teams at 39-all
If the first three quarters had been low scoring, the fourth was even more so, as the defences dominated. Rhondda edged ahead, from the free-throw line, and with five minutes to play they led 39-45. Vanessa Ellis’ fast-break lay up, with 4:51 on the clock, was Hatters’ first score, and the first field-goal by either side, in the period.
Rhondda pulled back away by one, with Missy Lender hitting one of two free-shots, and a further ninety seconds elapsed before the next score – Tami Vaughn finishing another Hatters’ fast-break. Within the next 30 seconds it seemed to be all over for Sheffield, as Boston scored Rebels’ first field-goal of the quarter, with a spectacular one-handed running shot, and then Katie Crowley picked up her fourth and fifth fouls in quick succession. With 2:27 to play, Rhondda led 48-43, and in such a low-scoring game there seemed no way back.
Lisa Hutchison pulled two points back for the Hatters, but with 45 seconds on the clock they still trailed 45-48.
That was when the remarkable turn-around began. Vaughn was driving to the basket when she was fouled from behind by Boston, and the big centre left the game, on 22 points and five fouls. Vaughn converted both the resulting free-throws, and the margin was down to one – 47-48.
Intense full-court pressure from the Hatters forced an eight second half-court violation, and the stage was set for a grandstand finish in the last 32 seconds.
At the edge of the key, Tami Vaughn had her back to the basket, but a spinning jump-shot drew the fifth foul on Tina Pederson – and the ball dropped cleanly through the net. The successful bonus shot from Vaughn put the Hatters 50-48 ahead, and when the same player pulled down an enormous rebound at the other end from Missy lender’s missed shot, it was enough to win the game for Sheffield, and the MVP award for the newcomer.
A foul on the buzzer put Lisa Hutchison on the line, and her two successful shots simply provided the icing on the cake for a jubilant Hatters’ squad.
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