Nunawading arrived with a physical game, just like Rush expected, and when it got real tough Harvey Norman Rush dug in and produced an eight-point win in their final South East Australian Basketball League home game this season. Early in the season, Rush would have folded in such a contest and that is the Rush this team wants home crowds to forget, yet at the same time, it shows how much this team has improved.

Liv Thompson served up her best preformance in a 23-point game. Molly Mathews and Kasey Burton (seven rebounds) continued to impress. Captain Kristy Rinaldi (10 points, nine rebounds) was steady, leading a full team effort.

Rush’s shooting percentage slipped as the game wore on but defensive work was on target and assists had dramatically improved. This win was about more than team targets. This was about mindset. Rush coach Peter Cunningham said his team stood up mentally and physically for the challenge. Even when Nunawading pulled close, Rush kept control.

“When it was tough we still had that bit of life in us whereas in the past we struggled with the physical side of it all,” Cunningham said. “(Control) was a matter of us getting that one more basket and two more defensive stops with each play.”

Cunningham said the most pleasing part of the win was to win at home and thank Rush fans.

RUSH 23 39 54 66

NUNAWADING 20 32 46 58

POINTS – Rush: Thompson 23 (1 three-pointer), Wehrung 14 (2), Rinaldi 10 (2), Greaves 8, Mathews 7 (1), Burton 2, Alexander 2. Nunawading: Oliver 15, Dawson 10, Moffat 9 (1), Wilson 9, Munro 6, Gourley 3 (1), Bone 3 (1), Romeo 3.

REBOUNDS – Rush 32 (Rinaldi 9, Burton 7, Greaves 6), Nunawading 23 (Romeo 7)

ASSISTS – Rush 11 (Burton 4, Wehrung 4), Nunawading 9

STEALS – Rush 6, Nunawading 4

BLOCKS – Rush 1, Nunawading 0

TURNOVERS – Rush 18, Nunawading 14

FOULS – Rush 11, Nunawading 10

SHOOTING – field goals, Rush 28/57 (49.1%), Nunawading 26/62 (41.9%); three-pointers, Rush 6/20 (30%), Nunawading 3/19 (15.8%); free throws, Rush 4/4 (100%), Nunawading (60%).