Geraldton women’s basketball GF: Olympians stun Stateside for first title in 16 years as sisters live dream

Olympians have exacted revenge and finally broken their women’s title drought as sisters Gemma Dix and Sharnee Williamson combined to fire their team to grand final glory. Stateside were the heavy favourites coming into Friday night’s final and led most of the night before a fourth-quarter charge flipped the game on its head to see Olympians claim a 63-53 win. It is their first title in the top women’s division since 2008. Stateside were looking to complete a hat-trick of titles and had beaten Olympians both in last year’s decider and just two weeks ago in the qualifying final. But it was the Olympians who burst out of the blocks hitting back-to-back threes to start the match to jump out to an early nine-point lead on the back of superior field shooting. However, the Scorpions went on a late blitz led by Abbie McDonald and Charlotte Kennedy to take a two-point lead into the break in a stark reminder of how quickly they can hurt opponents. A tight second quarter followed but against their usual playing style it was Stateside who hit the buckets from deep and the lead was into double figures just seconds into the third quarter when Kelsie Crowe found two points. The teams traded baskets but an eight-point quarter from Dix including a three just before the buzzer had cut the lead back to four heading into the final quarter. An early three from Shanelle Jetta had Stateside in the box seat before Williamson broke the game open. Much like Jetta herself did in the 2023 decider, Williamson lasered in to drop three-threes on the bounce and suddenly Olympians had the lead with five minutes to go. Kennedy hit back but it would be the last time the Scorpions would lead all night. Dix and Williamson kept finding the shots while their defence restricted Stateside to just two points in the last two and a half minutes when the game was on the line. Williamson finished with 19 points on the night, 16 of which came in an incredible final quarter. “Absolutely stoked with the win, it was a surreal moment as it has been a long coming for a few of our girls, especially Kylie (MacDonald),” Williamson said. “It meant a lot to us as a team after coming so close in previous years and to our families who have also played and won a grand final in the past for Olympians.” Olympians coach Coby Browne was quick to praise Williamson’s efforts. “Sharnee had a huge year, her contribution both offensively and defensively was massive, Sharnee and Gemma hit some big shots down the stretch last night and Sophie Maines did a very important job on defence for us,” he said. “Awesome game to be a part of, really good to come away with the win, very well deserved for the girls.” For Stateside, Kennedy finished with 21 points but the league’s top scorer Abbie McDonald was kept quiet with just 10 points and was in foul trouble late, which proved key. Dix finished with a game-high 23 points and her sister Williamson said the grand final win was the crowning moment after an incredible few years. “Absolutely love playing with her and have loved watching her grow and develop into one of the best players in Geraldton basketball,” she said.