LAKE Boga are through to their first A Grade grand final in 21 years after a heart-stopping one-goal win over Swan Hill.
Trailing all afternoon, the Magpies came from behind to book their spot in the decider in a match up for grabs until the dying moments.
With minutes remaining, Lake Boga forced several crucial turnovers, which the Hepburn sisters Sarah and Katie managed to convert.
Scores were tied inside the final minute, when defender Jemma Meehan was able to create a turnover from an errant Swan Hill pass.
Sarah Hepburn converted a penalty shot with just 20 seconds remaining to give the Magpies a 43-42 victory.
Lake Boga netball president Sheridan Harrop was still pinching herself 24 hours after the win, which put her club now one win away from their first Central Murray premiership.
“From a club point of view, we’re just so proud of these girls, we’ve worked so hard to develop our seniors and juniors, and to be ending a 21-year grand final drought is almost surreal,” Harrop said.
“The girls just wanted it. They wanted it for themselves, for the team and for the club.
“The way last year ended had been playing on their mind a bit. After going on to lose in extra time against Balranald, they knew they had to produce in finals and (on Saturday) they did, they played the game right out.
“That last 20 seconds was the only time we were in front all day basically, but we just happened to be in front when it counted.”
Lake Boga coach Anne-Marie Stewart was equally pleased with the performance of her side and their determination to play the game right out.
Stewart singled out a couple of players for special praise in the aftermath.
“We just kept plugging away, at half-time we recognised a potential weakness and we just worked away at that,” Stewart said.
“A few of our girls were exceptional, Lily Brennan was pivotal in wing attack and Katie Hepburn turned the game.
“Katie and Sarah (Hepburn) are very underrated in what they are able to do on the court and they were fantastic when the game was there to be won.”
Swan Hill has another chance to progress through to the grand final against the Mallee Eagles in this Saturday’s preliminary final at Tooleybuc.
Co-coach Madeleine Nalder was already looking ahead to facing the Eagles.
“It’s always disappointing when you lose and Saturday was no exception to that, but Lake Boga have been the benchmark this season and they’ve been the team to beat this whole year,” Nalder said.
“Obviously they are a great team and they pipped us at the post, but we’ll regroup and get ready to focus on this week.
“We had a really good start and then they tightened up on us defensively. They were really strong in defence and although we had control of it in the first half, we didn’t at the end.”
FINAL WHISTLE:
Lake Boga 43
Swan Hill 42
