A POWERHOUSE performance from Yinka Olorunnife booked Hume City a Big V women’s state championship grand final berth with a win against McKinnon on Saturday.
The Lady Broncos swept the semi-final series 2-0 and will play Ringwood in the best-of-three grand final after its 82-72 win on Saturday night.
PICTURE GALLERY: Hume City Lady Broncos v McKinnon
Olorunnife scored 20 points and was a pillar of strength in defence as Hume overturned a half-time deficit to win.
Katrina Hibbert led the Lady Broncos in scoring and rebounds (24 and seven), while Sharin Milner (12) was the other Hume player to score double figures.
McKinnon rallied from eight down midway through the second quarter to grab a half-time lead, but Olorunnife and Milner led the charge in the third quarter as Hume reopened a break.
A big three-pointer from Milner early in the last quarter had Hume up 13 before another McKinnon rally ended when Hibbert sank a three from the corner with 3 minutes, 23 seconds left to keep the gap at six.
Hume sealed the win with 47 seconds left when Sarah Wright blocked Tess Ferry and got a travel called on the McKinnon player, giving Hume possession.
Olorunnife grew up in Craigieburn and played junior basketball with Hume City before her family moved to Canada in 2003.
The 23-year-old was recruited last year by WNBL club Townsville out of the University of Idaho, bringing her back to Australia.
“It’s the finals and I think I’ve stepped it up, but so has my team,” Olorunnife said.
“I was in foul trouble today but other players came up and did their job. The younger girls feed off of what we [the leaders] do.”
Hume has won one and lost two against Ringwood this season.
“Ringwood are a great team, but they’re not unbeatable,” Olorunnife said. “For us to beat them it comes down to who wants it more.”
Hume City coach Warren Taylor said there were no nerves at half time after McKinnon had swept to the lead. “We knew what we’d done wrong in that second quarter,” he said.
“I’m going to be biased when I say (Olorunnife) is, arguably, the best player in the league. I can’t imagine there’s been a better player on both ends. It was limited minutes tonight because Yinka was in foul trouble, but when she was there she was vital.”
Hume City will host game one of the grand final series this Saturday before game two and game three if required at Ringwood the weekend after.
“They’ve won seven in a row since their last loss to us here,” Taylor said. “The way these series work makes the first game absolutely massive. For them to beat us twice in the same weekend would be a tough, tough position.”
For this Saturday’s tip-off time, check bigv.com.au.
