Final score: Storm 70 – Monarchs 57 (W) (18-16)

Attendance | 7295

Anthem Watch | A good one on which to end the season.

Fan Psyche | What could have been...

Game Highlight | Take your pick, there were so many.

Halftime | Hypnosis guy.

Game Photos | Game Photos (Scott Larson)

So here we are.

Game over. Season over. A winning record for the second year, despite all the injuries. A season long performance by Lauren Jackson that should, if there is any justice in the sports world, earn her the 2003 regular season MVP. There was more jubilation this season than before, but also more heartbreak. But, before we get too maudlin, we still need to hear about the last game.

I stated a couple of times on the forum and to anyone who would listen to me that I wanted the Storm to put a hurting on the Monarchs. During the first half, it didn't look like it was going to happen. It was one of the lowest scoring first halves in a Storm home game this season. Neither team really took control of the game and was able to dictate the pace or the tone. The one thing that both did have working was their defense.

The one play that the Monarchs were able to capitalize on time and time again was getting back door cuts right under the basket and finding their post players unguarded under the basket for each layups. I'm sure that Kamila's presence would have altered that somewhat, but the Monarchs were just finding ways to breakdown the Storm defense and get those brief openings that Ticha or Edna needed to find their big players.

The Monarchs were also very aggressive on defense, much like they were at the last game we went to at Arco. They were constantly slapping and jabbing at the ball, regardless of position - meaning all of the players were doing that to whomever they were guarding whether it was the guards or the posts. They were able to force a lot of turnovers again like they did at Arco, but they were also forced into a lot of turnovers themselves which balanced out in the end. At Arco, they were in complete control. Tonight, it was tightly even into the second half until the Storm started to pull away. As soon as that happened, the Monarchs seemed to go away from their hyper aggressive style. They started launching a lot of perimeter shots and the Storm were able to turn up their own defensive pressure inside.

At about the mid point of the second half, the Monarchs got stuck on 44 points and stayed there for several minutes. It was about this time that the Storm turned on the juice and started to convert on the Monarch turnovers and missed shots. Much of the credit for the Storm's run has to go to Alisa, Tully and Tonya. Not only did they collectively score 23 points, but they did it by hitting big time momentum shots during this second half run. The Storm got the lead up to 20 at one point and I had brief visions of another 30+ point trip to the woodshed for the Monarchs. With just 3 minutes left or so once the Storm starters were all out of the game, the Monarchs were able to come back and try and keep the score respectable. Eh, whatever. We still beat them.

Okay, so there's a somewhat brief game synopsis. Here's the rest of the story in bite-sized chunks and in no particular order:

Tonya Massaline had a great game - 9 points, 2 assists and 2 steals in 12 minutes. She was the recipient of one Sue Bird assist that had the bench in knots. Sue was on a fastbreak after catching a long pass and had an open layup if she just went straight to the basket. She instead pulled back while the two Monarchs who had been chasing her ran past looking confused. Tonya was trailing on the far side of the court. Sue passed her the ball and Tonya hit the open jumper. The funny thing was when Sue put on the brakes, the bench were all pointing to the basket and yelling at her to shoot. She of course knew what she was doing and got the ball to the open Massaline.

Tully had more than a couple of crowd inciting plays. She was on a fastbreak, got blocked by DeMya Walker, and ended up upside down in front of the hoop pillar. The blocked shot bounced off the backboard and into Alisa's hands, which she took up for a shot and ended up getting fouled. DeMya helped Tully off the floor and they both had big smiles. Tully later said after the game that her getting blocked was part of the plan since she knew her teammate was right behind her. Uh huh. She also hit a monster three right in front of the Storm bench which got everyone up and yelling. Section 113 started a "Tully, Tully" chant.

Oh yeah, Angie and I sat right behind the bench again. It pays to know people.

Ticha was again making a big deal each time she passed the ball to someone trying to make it look like a no-look pass. Whatever. We did get to see some real no-look passes tonight - from Sue Bird. She was definitely in point guard mode and was concentrating on getting her teammates the ball. Unlike the Houston game when she came out looking for her shot, she was pass first shoot second tonight and had at least 3 killer passes that led to Storm baskets.

Yolanda got called for a foul or an out-of bounds call under the basket on the Storm bench side and got very animated as she tried to argue it. The Storm bench started giggling at her and she gave them a wry little smile.

The Monarchs were doing a decent job on Lauren much of the time, so she didn't have one of her big time dominant games, but she did abuse them any time she got one of them one-on-one. Once she got to 14 or 16 points, she officially clinched the season scoring title and they scoreboard staff flashed the stat up on the big screen. Everyone started cheering and she looked up to see what it was. She got her usual big smile on her face and tried to wave it off.

Sandy was lighting things up tonight. Not only did she score 13, but she had 5 big steals. It was nice to see her get out of her shooting funk for good and help get this win.

I think everyone in attendance will agree that the refs absolutely stank the place up tonight. I was actually stunned to see the box score and read that the Storm only had 9 personal fouls called against them, and that the Monarchs only shot 5 free throws. All I can say is that besides those 9 fouls, there were numerous out-of-bounds, jump balls and other non-foul calls that these three refs muffed big time. As soon as I saw that Fonzie (#18 Kurt Walker) was reffing, I knew we were in for a long night.

Speaking, or should I say yelling, about the refs, as I said earlier Angie and I were sitting in the row right behind the Storm bench again. There were a number of occasions in which I was up out of my seat and yelling loud enough (using my megaphone of course) that I made myself dizzy. The fun thing was that I think I caught the players off guard because the first time I got some, "Whoa" looks from them. Then they started laughing at me, especially Tully. On one play in front of the Storm bench, LJ got called for an offensive foul because DeMya flopped to the floor like she had gotten yanked from behind by a big bungie cord. I yelled out something like "She's flopping like a god-damned fish, how can you make that call." The bench was laughing, but the lady police officer came over and politely asked me not to curse. She said that I could yell as much and as loud as I wanted, and that the person whose seat I was sitting in would be proud at my "enthusiasm," but no more cursing. Ah well, I insult the refs and be clean about it.

A group of people started chanting for Danielle McCulley with about 3 minutes left in the game. Coach Donovan obliged and put Danielle and Sun both in to finish the game. Both of them got a shot off, but neither hit.

There were tons of great signs in the stands. I'll include as many as I can in the game gallery.

Edna Campbell had a chance to talk about her ordeal with breast cancer and chemotherapy before the game. The crowd gave her a long standing ovation and huge cheer. She teared up as she described what she went through and how all the cards and well wishes she received helped her make it. It's nice to know that she knows we in Seattle still care about her and were pulling for her through her illness.

After the game, most of the players took a turn at the microphone thanking the fans (we're the best in the league for a second year!) and goofing around. Kamila teared up when she was asked speak and thanked everyone, especially section 113 (my peeps!) for their vocal support.

I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff again - I always do with these eventful games. Once others have had a chance to give their game reports on the forum, I'll add them here.

Playoffs or not, this has been an excellent season filled with some amazing games, performances for the record books, and most of all, a group of very special players. Next season may be a little uncertain at this point with the Olympics and its effect on the league and on our team, but our future can only be positive. Going out on such a high note will indeed carry over into next season, just like Coach Donovan said after the game.

Thanks to all the great people we've met this season and to everyone who has become part of the Stormfans.org community. I have to go now, my eyes are watering for some reason...

Scott

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