Albany’s senior women’s team fail to reach champs decider

Albany’s three women’s sides came away from the annual Basketball WA Senior Country Championships in Perth last weekend without any titles.

Albany’s championship division side could only muster two wins from their five games to finish in fourth spot overall.

In their first game on Saturday, Raiders lost to runners-up Karratha by five points.

Albany trailed 19-9 but found another gear in the second half to outscore their opponents 21-16, but fell just short.

Taylah Orzel led the way with 12 points and Mikaila Kowald chipped in with seven.

A strong first half set up their first win of the championships in their second game as they ran out comfortable 30-20 winners over Waroona with Nardia Humphries (10 points) leading the way in the low-scoring affair.

On Sunday, Raiders weren’t able to stick with eventual champions Kalgoorlie in game three, going down by nine points.

Raiders trailed by a single point at half-time and hit the front early in the second half before Kalgoorlie scored 13 of the last 16 points to run out 33-24 winners.

Mikaila Kowald top scored with eight points and Narelle Humphries chipped in with six.

Albany’s final chances were ended when they lost 41-32 to Bunbury later on Sunday.

A poor first half let Albany down as Mikaila Kowald fought hard with eight points and Ella Scamozzi dropped six.

Albany finished their weekend on a high, winning a two-point thriller over Australind on Monday morning.

Albany led by three points at half-time and defended desperately to record their second win as Indi Weeden hit two threes on her way to eight points and fellow guard Orzel added five.

Mikaila Kowald was Albany’s highest scorer with 29 points from five games.

Albany also sent away a women’s team in division three and division four pool two.

The division three team recorded four wins from seven games to finish third while the division four side finished in fourth after producing three wins.