September 16, 2009
WNBA- Sparks Finally Beat the Mercury in Season Finale
By Ally White
After the Sparks lost their first three meetings against the Western Conference Leaders, the Phoenix Mercury, the Los Angeles team finally defeated their longtime rivals last Sunday with an 81-78 game. Candace Parker made her league-leading 15th double-double for the season, an incredible performance made even greater since the player missed the first 8 games of the season after giving birth to her first child.
The game proved the Sparks’ last victory in the regular season; the team is hoping to take the luck with them to the postseason. Despite the loss, the top-seeded Mercury, with a regular season record of 23-11, will also be entering the playoffs.
Both teams began the game determined to follow the shots and gain a lead. After several exchanges at the basket, Phoenix took a 4-point lead after scoring 7 points with only 1:32 left. The Sparks, however, were able to respond with a 5-point run to end the first quarter 19-18, in favor of Los Angeles.
Once in the second quarter, Cappie Pondexter and Ketia Swainer entered strong for Phoenix, scoring 5 points and putting the score 23-19 in the first minutes of the quarter. Their two baskets built Mercury’s confidence, and the team was able to obtain a 12-point lead with 3:01 left. However, superstar Candace Parker came to LA’s rescue, scoring 8 points in the quarter to cut the lead to 7. Nevertheless, by halftime, the game was in favor of the Mercury with 40-33.
Neither the Mercury nor the Sparks were able to score in the first three minutes of the third quarter. Shortly thereafter, Parker again entered for the Sparks, making two baskets to close up the score to 40-37. However, Phoenix interchanged baskets with its rivals to maintain the lead, and with 10 free throws between Nicole Ohlde, Pondexter, and Swainer, the Mercury kept the advantage with 61-58 at the end of the third quarter.
The Sparks entered the fourth quarter determined to surpass the Mercury. Their chances seemed slim until, with 4:23 left on the clock, Los Angeles was finally able to take the advantage. Delisha Milton-Jones made a layup and put the Sparks ahead by 1, with the score at 71-70. However, Mercury did not give up the lead so easily; the team fought back and gained a 1-point lead with 2:10 left.
But the Sparks responded again – Tina Thompson made a great three-point play that brought up the score by 4 points with 43.5 seconds left in the game. Phoenix scored a basket but then, fortuitously for the Sparks, Parker was fouled and made one of two free throws, putting the score at 81-78 with 5.5 seconds left. The Mercury asked for a timeout to arrange a play: Kelly Mazzante with a three-pointer.
Mazzante missed, and LA obtained the victory.
Did it matter? No matter the outcome, the Mercury were entering the playoffs at the top seed. Coach Corey Gaines didn’t even allow his starters on the court in the apparently not-so-desperate last minutes of the game, giving them a rest while challenging his reserves.
"I wanted them to get a taste of a situation,” Gaines said of his reserves. “You do it in practice but you don't get it in games as much.”
“(The game) wasn't meaningless. We were trying to win,” he insisted.
The best scorers for the Sparks were Candace Parker with 24 points and 14 rebounds; Tina Thompson with 16 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists; and finally Betty Lennox with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. For the Mercury the best scorers were Temeka Johnson with 14 points and 5 rebounds; Cappie Pondexter with 13 points and 3 rebounds; Penny Taylor with 12 points; and ultimately Nicole Ohlde with 11 points.
The postseason begins on Wednesday, September 16th, with the Sparks playing the Seattle Storm. The Mercury will face the San Antonio Silver Stars on Thursday, September 17th, at home.
About the Author
Ally White is a top senior copy writer on WNBA games and sports action for the online sports betting: http://www.instantactionsports.com. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.