2008
WBCL Champs
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Tampa X-Factor holds on to become the 2008 WBCBL
National Champions! -
Aug 12, 2008
'The BEST
tournament I have ever seen!'
12 hours and 27 minutes of non-stop action as the top teams in the WBCBL battle
for the National Championship. The level of intensity was Off the Chain as each
game came down to the wire!
The Shreveport Sting and Palm Beach Storm set the tempo in the opening game,
which kept the crowd on an emotional roller coaster. The competition was filled
with multiple lead changes and resulted in an 85-79 Overtime win for Palm Beach.
The Storms Erin Page led the way with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
South Carolina All-Stars and Arkansas Lady Ballers went toe to toe the entire
game, with the largest point spread being 8 points. In the final seconds,
Arkansas Maxanne Reese hit a deep range 3-pointer to give the Lady Ballers an
88-85 win.
Tampa X-Factor faced Oklahomas On Point Hoopsters, which featured the leagues
scoring record holder, Keisha Watson. Watson finished with 29 points and 9
rebounds, but it was Tampas 63 Nalini Miller 24 points, 10 rebounds, 3, steals,
and 2 blocks that put Tampa on top 90-74.
Savannah Lady Warriors tangoed with the Gulf Coast Topics in a thriller. The
Tropics Lyletha Gamble pumped in 18 points and cleaned the glass with 17
rebounds, but it was
Savannahs well-balanced attack that gave the Warriors an 84-74 win.
North Texas Flash defeated Palm Beach Storm 77-63 in the second round of the
tournament. The Flashs Yui Hanada (of Japan) Wowed the crowd as she dropped 25
points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, a block and 2 steals in a Magic Johnson style
performance.
Arkansas Lady Ballers lost to Tampa X-Factor 87-74, but not without an all-out
effort by the Ballers Devena Fogarty, who set a new WBCBL Playoff scoring record
of 36 points.
Savannah Lady Warriors overcame the North Texas Flash 85-78. North Texas Catrice
Webster gave all that she had and finish with 28 points, 18 rebounds, 5 blocks,
2 assists, and 1 steal. Webster also set a WBCBL Playoff record with 18
rebounds, But, Savannah had 6 players in double figures to claim the win.
Championship Match
Tampa X-Factor v. Savannah Lady Warriors
It was a classic battle of the two undefeated powerhouses going head to head and
laying it all on the line!
Tampa set the tone early with an unprecedented display of energy during their
pre-game warm-up drills! That same intensity poured in the game as the opening
tip as Tampa came running and gunning and controlled most of the first 3
quarters.
Savannah would not be beaten that easily, after a shaky start and a quick
timeout, the Lady Warriors came back fighting and ended the 1st quarter with a
15-14 lead.
The 2nd quarter was almost identical to the 1st quarter, but Tampa went into the
half with a 39-36 edge.
3rd quarter, Tampa point guard, Monica Adams, amazingly took over in the
rebounding department. Adams, along with her Center, Angelina Williams, grabbed
9 rebounds each.
Next came the sharp shooting of Tampas Kelli Price, as she rained four
3-pointers and finishing an And 1.
4th quarter: Tampas Kimani Thomas fouled out and Nalini Miller suffered a high
ankle sprain. Both had to watch her team from the sideline for the remainder of
the game. From that point, it was Savannah turn to make their run. Savannahs
Patrice Holmes and Keena Wicker went to work inside and outside with a variety
of jumpers and spin moves to the hole.
With time winding down, Savannah held a 71-69 lead, but the tide quick change
when Tampa stole back to back inbound passes convert each for points.
With 25 second left, Tampa leading 73-71, Savannahs Coach Foster uses his last
timeout to regroup. After the half court advance, Savannahs offense clears the
way for league standout, Tonique Fasier for a shot at going into overtime.
Final Seconds: Savannah goes inside to for a shot, Tampas defense collapse
