Canberra snuffs out the Blaze in a thriller to take third
In the most exciting game of the season, Canberra came from a 5 goal half time deficit to defeat Hills Blaze 48-47 (in extra time) and take third in the NSW Handball Premier League yesterday. The match also marked the final game for Canberra for competition lead scorer, Tomasz Lazek.
After a disappointing loss to Hills Heat in the Semi Finals last week Canberra entered the game determined to finish the season on a strong note. Unfortunately, Canberra’s determination went missing in the first half with missed shots, costly turnovers and weak defence allowing hills to gradually push out their lead through the first half. Despite some poor play, Canberra still managed to stay within reach of the Blaze for most of the first half, but a late surge by the Blaze extended their lead to five. Canberra entered half time trailing 17-22.
Whatever words were said at half time worked for Canberra. After the break, Canberra came out firing, scoring the first three goals and quickly closing the gap. From there the game turned into a high scoring struggle, with both sides exchanging goals and the lead swapping several times. Towards the end of the half Canberra let its guard down briefly, allowing the Blaze to push to a two goal lead with just over a minute remaining. Dragan Radicoski managed to peg a goal back with a well placed wing shot, but this left the Blaze with the ball to start with just under a minute left on the clock. The Blaze had a slow attack, using up precious seconds on the clock, until being called for passive play and Canberra forced a turnover with less than 10 seconds on the clock. Canberra called a time out and discussed it last play to try to take the match into extra time.
The ball was down the wrong end of the court, and after some quick passes and hard running, Dragan managed to lose his man and enter open space. Dragan received the ball and with about two seconds left on the clock, jumped from just outside of the six to shoot the ball past the Blaze keeper and draw the game level at 39 all, forcing the game into extra-time.
The first period of extra time went the same way as most of the second half with both teams exchanging goals and neither managing to break away. However Canberra managed to enter the break with a slender one goal lead, 42-41.
Canberra picked up its intensity for the second period of extra time, and stretched the margin to three goals with just over two minutes remaining. However the Blaze responded again, scoring next and then drawing a two minute suspension form Canberra, leaving Canberra a man down for the remained of the game. Hills scored the next two goals to bring the scores level with just 15 seconds left. Canberra rushed into the next attack with a series of quick passes, and Canberra’s captain, Taip Ramadani squeezed through a gap only to be viciously tackled by former Canberra team mate Rich Ridley, earning Ridley a two minute suspension and stopping the clock with less than 10 seconds to go. A series of quick passes and hard running by Canberra opened space in the Blaze defence, this time it was none other than Ramadani to break through the gap and with less than two seconds left on the clock, shoot past the Blaze keeper to win the match for Canberra, and earn them third place 48-47.
Tomasz Lasek top scored for Canberra with 14 goals.
For Canberra: Tomasz Lasek (14), Callum Mouncey (10), Andrew Lawrence (7), Luciano Da Silva (6), Taip Ramadani (6), Dragan Radicoski (4), Jeremy Schoen (1), Sasha Petrovski, Matt Lacey (GK).