GOLD RUSH: Orange's Lisa Medway and Olivia Patterson (third and second from the right, respectively, in the back row) celebrate the State League win with the Goldminers. Photo: NOEL ROWSELL
ORANGE’S Lisa Medway is happy to retire after helping the Bathurst Goldminers to the State League Championship on Sunday.
Playing in Newcastle, the Goldminers, which also includes Orange’s Olivia Patterson, downed Wagga Wagga 82-75 in the final.
It was a satisfying result for Medway who has had a long career in the State League competition.
“It was fantastic. I’ve been playing State League for about 18 years,” Medway said.
“That’s it. I’m retired now.”
The Goldminers went through the season undefeated to claim the club’s first State League title.
On Saturday they downed the Central Coast Crusaders 63-42 in their semi-final to move into the main decider.
The final tested the Goldminers.
“It was full on,” Patterson said.
“It was possibly one of the hardest games we’ve had. They came to play.”
The Goldminers were up 24-18 after the first quarter but Wagga reduced the lead to one at the main break.
The Bathurst team pulled away again in the third period to lead 67-56 but Wagga came back in the final quarter again.
“It was a very close game,” Medway said.
“It was a very tough, physical game. We just hung on.”
Teagan Burke top scored in the final for the Goldminers with 25 points while Patterson (14) was the next best.
Medway said it was the team’s consistency across the court which made them so dominant all season.
“I think we just had the perfect team,” she said.
“We all got along. We could all play. There were no weaknesses in the side.”
BATHURST GOLDMINERS 82 (Teagan Burke 25, Olivia Patterson 14, Tracey Beatty 12, Hannah Lepaio 12) def WAGGA WAGGA BLAZE 75 (Brooque Williams 32, Michelle Edmanson 15).
