Melbourne Boomers have ended their 11-year championship drought, sending coach Guy Molloy off in style by thumping Perth Lynx 84-66 to claim the WNBL title.
Written off by many after being thumped at home in Game 1, then narrow winners of a thrilling Game 2, the Boomers blew Saturday's home decider apart from the outset, becoming the first team to win a grand final series from 1-0 down.
Melbourne extended their 21-16 quarter-time lead to 49-33 at half-time before further applying the defensive screws with a 20-9 third term to motor ahead by an insurmountable 27 points.
Boomers import Lindsay Allen, who starred in Game 2 and was instrumental with 14 points and seven assists in Game 3, was crowned the Rachael Sporn Medallist as the grand final MVP.
While Allen took out the individual honours, the Boomers enjoyed a remarkably even contribution from all members of their star-studded starting five, led by their twin towers, inspirational captain Cayla George (17 points, 12 rebounds) and Tokyo Olympian Ezi Magbegor (17, 11).
Import guard Tiffany Mitchell (16 points) and Tess Madgen (15) also played significant roles.
"I'm really overwhelmed with happiness, with joy, with sadness that Guy is leaving," said an emotional George, now a four-time WNBL title-holder, after winning three with Townsville Fire.
"I'm happy we could do this for him (Molloy) and for (retiring guard) Izzy (Wright).
"It doesn't seem real."
Jackie Young (18 points) shook off her indifferent Game 2 to be Perth's best in Game 3 while Sami Whitcomb (14) shot well from the perimeter and never stopped trying.
Unfortunately Darcee Garbin was a non-factor and Marina Mabrey, brilliant in the opening two rubbers, saved her worst for last.
The Lynx shot poorly from the outset, powerless to come to terms with Melbourne's early pressure, before falling away badly in the second stanza as Magbegor and Allen assumed total control.
Perth, understandably exhausted after starting their crammed season four weeks after everybody else and having to live in Victoria for six weeks, wilted further in the third.
They saved some face in the fourth term, by which time the Boomers were already celebrating in front of their ecstatic home fans.
"Unbelievable feeling, so proud of the team," said Molloy, who heads off to New Zealand to coach the Wellington Saints after joining Tom Maher - who steered the Boomers, then known as Bulleen, to their only previous pennant in 2011 - as a championship-winning coach of the Melbourne club.
"Perth's a great team ... so hard to guard and full credit to them on a great season.
"It was a great series.
