PICTURE: Mikayla Haupt
Mikayla Haupt
Coming off the back of a single point loss, with nine players from the Bundaberg Bears regular roster either injured or away, the local side proved what it means to be a Bear in Saturday night’s Queensland State League Division 2 match.
With four of the regular squad, two development players and several former Bears donning the jersey once again, the Bears not only won at home but had their highest scoring game of the season thus far.
The Bears won 71-66 against Port City Power in Round 5 last Saturday.
One of the Bears’ development players, Ava Mullaney top scored with 23 points from five three-pointers and four two-pointers.
Coach Louise Webb said this win at home was “very special”.
“A win is a win, and Gladstone is at the top of the ladder and given the adversity that we faced, I think it shows our depth of character and our resilience to come out on top,” Webb said.
She said the former-Bears players were “more than willing, just on a phone call, to step up and do whatever we needed”.
Webb said the loyalty and commitment from ex-Bears players blew her away.
“It makes me proud to be a Bear,” she said.
“It means something.”
Webb said being a Bear was more than culture, it was tradition, loyalty, and history.
“The people that stepped in tonight are forever going to be part of our journey, wherever we end up in four weeks or five weeks, they will have contributed to that as well,” she said.
“It’s a very special thing to be a part of this.”
Webb said Gladstone was a good team who also had players out for various reasons.
“I think the difference really is that we had people willing to step up to the call and to do anything for the Bears,” Webb said.
“So in the end, just having the numbers and the ability to sub gave us the extra momentum that we didn’t get tired, we were just able to push and I think that’s what really showed in that last quarter.”
She said while they were “a little bit stagnant” in the second quarter, at half time and during a time out they spoke about how they were a little bit tentative, playing on their heels, and promoted the idea of pushing the ball and being aggressive.
While former Bears stepped up for Saturday’s game, players on the regular roster took to the floor with a point to prove from the previous loss to Port City Power.
“Charlie was relentless offensively and defensively,” Webb said.
“That’s another adjustment we made in the defensive transition, is making sure there was ball pressure and Charlie certainly did that.”
Lucy Wells put 14 points on the board for the Bears, while Ashleigh Muldoon racked up 17 points and Jasmine Bentley worked hard on the floor defensively and added several points to their total.
Muldoon said the game was “very intense”.
“I think we worked hard and pulled it back very well,” she said.
“It was nice to get the win at home, and especially since we lost the previous week.”
Muldoon said their patience and the addition of former Bears’ experience made the difference.
“We got the ball inside a lot more and I think that helped and we just ran,” she said.
“We managed to out-run them and I think that ultimately got us the win.”
Muldoon saidshe was grateful the Bears stepped up, risking possible injury and the fact hadn’t played in a long time, to support the team.
As for the younger Bears, Webb said Mullaney was on fire.
Mullaney said it felt “really good” to get on the floor for the Bears.
“I love being on the bench because I can just be active all the time cheering my teammates on,” she said.
Mullaney said once on the court she was focused on getting her teammates open, working with them.
Ahead of the game Mullaney said she wanted to “give it all”.
“I wanted all my effort out there,” she said.
“It’s probably one of the only games I’ll play for the Bears, but giving it all in that one game, no matter how many minutes I play, just trying my best, giving it all.”
For Mullaney the teamwork on the court and support from the team on the bench was the highlight.
She said playing QSL2 meant playing a higher intensity game.
“Playing with older women, when being one of the youngest, it’s cool to see their experience playing in this league,” she said.
“It’s just really cool being out there playing with them and working with them because I’ve had some of them as coaches, I’ve had some of them just teaching me different things over the past few years, and it’s just really good to play with them.”
Mullaney said she was happy with how they went, and how the team was coming together and improving each week.
For the coaching staff, the team is “right where we need to be”.
Webb said the goal was to peak at the end of the season, but the halfway goal was to be in playoff contention.
“I think with the addition of Kylie as a point guard, as we move into the road trip next week I think we’re going to be in a pretty good position at least to be in playoff contention, which is where we need to be to continue to peak at the end of the season,” Webb said.
Webb said the Bears have proved that they can handle this level of competition.
The Bears are currently sitting fifth on the ladder with 10 points – while Moreton Bay Suns Fire are in fourth and Port City Power in third are also on 10 points.
Port City Power has played four games, while the Bears and Suns Fire have played six.
Ipswich Force lead the competition having won five from five games.
The Bears have a bye this weekend, and then they are on the road for a triple header in Round 7.
“On the road is tough, and three on the road is really tough…” she said.
On May 26 the Bears take on Logan Thunder at 6pm, RedCity Roar on 27 May at 1pm and then Southern District Spartans on 28 May at 11am.
The next home game for the Bears is 11 June.