The Home Gas Flames are one win away from a repeat basketball championship.
Home Gas beat the Dominos Lady Heels 66-52 in game one of the Cayman Islands Basketball Association 2012 national women’s league finals at Camana Bay’s Arts and Recreation Centre. Sade Wood was the top scorer for Home Gas with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
Wood, 25, states last Thursday’s result puts them one step closer to the ultimate goal.
“It was an outstanding game; we played as a team, supported each other, played excellent defence and executed,” Wood said. “I am confident that we have what it takes to win this year’s women’s league; if we continue to play as a team, support each other and play excellent defence.”
Home Gas got the usual brilliant effort from La-Torae Nixon, with 24 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. Gemma Graelis helped out with seven points and six rebounds. Together they would outdo a Dominos team that struggled without leading scorer Courtisha Ebanks, who has a foot injury.
Maggie Ebanks was the top scorer for the Lady Heels with 10 points, 15 rebounds. Dionne Anglin chipped in nine points, 15 rebounds and three assists while Kamila Nagy posted nine points and eight rebounds.
Sarah Kidd was another key contributor with nine points, six rebounds. The Dominos stalwart, who won a championship with the team in 2009 and 2010, still feels her squad can prevail.
“We can take this home, I have two titles now and this year would be the third,” Kidd said. “We have a lot of top players on the team. Not all of the time we can win, like in our first game. We fight regardless and we weren’t communicating in that loss. I want to win, that is all that’s in my head right now.”
Game two in the best-of-three series takes place on Thursday, 10 May, at 7.30pm at Camana Bay. Game three, if necessary, would be next Thursday, 17 May, at the same time and place.
A sweep is far from expected for Home Gas. Last year, the two sides met up in the finals with the Flames needing all three contests to claim their first title in franchise history.
Kidd is not focused on that recent history as she dealt with more pressing issues this season.
“I had to part ways with the team last season after having my baby girl Paris. I was sick to myself, thinking ‘this isn’t me.’ It was awful having to deal with something so exhausting this year. I had to bring my girl to the games and practice.
“My mum lives in New York, my dad is in England, my brother is living his own life. My focus was on the baby, even though I was playing I would have to focus on her. It was a rough season for me personally.
“It was hard to bounce back as there was not as much time to myself. But that’s how it is when you have a child. I’ve been playing basketball for years from primary school and I was stressed out from having to raise the child. I felt like no use to the team, I even left and came back. But Dionne encouraged me to come back so I’m here to stick it out and do my best.”
Interestingly, Dominos went into the 2011 series with four championships in six years. In 2012, the Lady Heels appeared to be the favourites again as they were the regular season champions. Home Gas also had a losing record last year prior to the championship and this season the Flames posted a modest 4-3 mark.
Kidd states she is motivated to prevent history from repeating itself.
“I just want to win, it would be the most amazing thing ever. I would be excited, based on the way I’ve played in the playoffs. I’ve been getting some licks and bruises in the playoffs.
“We came and won our games with every team gunning for us to lose every time. Enough teams say we are the top team and we’re always winning. If we don’t win, I’ll cry.”
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