Great Coaching Leads To Sparks' Victory Over San Antonio 96-83

Story by L.T.Willis

2012 WNBA Western Conference Semi- Finals Game 1 The Los Angeles Sparks
and The San Antonio Silver Stars. Photo by Eric Wade/ T.G.Sports.

Game 1 of the WNBA Western Conference Semi- Finals between the Los Angeles Sparks ( 24-10)  and the San Antonio Silver Stars (23-11) came down to coaching as the Sparks defeated San Antonio 93-86 at The Galen Center. The biggest concern for the Sparks would be if they came out the gate slow against the Silver Stars. Playing at the Galen Center for their first playoff game would it effect the Sparks' shooting from the perimeter. The game felt like a prize fight both teams trying to establish a aggressive style of offense in the first quarter. The Sparks defense allow too many easy layups, and early turnovers kept San Antonio close and allow them to have a 25-24 lead at the end of the fourth quarter.

San Antonio's #7 Jia Perkins drives on Los Angeles Sparks' #20 Kristi Toliver.
Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

In the second quarter Danielle Adams was making her presence felt in the game as she begin to get some easy baskets and rebounds due to the fact that several Sparks' players were not boxing out, and allow here to have several put backs. Kristi Toliver was making her presence felt as she connected from the perimeter on several shots ,yet the Sparks just couldn't pull away from the Silver Stars. It seems like both teams were thinking basketball and not playing due to some terrible ball movement on both sides, which led to turnovers for both teams, and the main reason why the Sparks trailed San Antonio at the end of the half 44-40.

Los Angeles Sparks' #20 Kristi Toliver shoots a jump
shot over San Antonio's #23 Danielle Adams. Photo by
Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The third quarter San Antonio began to pull away because of the Sparks not taking care of the ball and was allowing San Antonio too out rebound them and coach the Sparks head coach seen enough. She pulled Candace Parker out of the game at the 7:39 mark for Jantel Lavender, even though the Sparks were trailing 51-43. Candace Parker wasn't the only one that wasn't boxing out, yet Coach Ross wasn't please with her effort being the leader of this team. Coach Ross made another substitution replacing DeLisha Milton-Jones with Jenna O'Hea and Candace Parker return to the game trailing San Antonio by 10 points 60-50 with 3:44 left in the third.

Jenna O'Hea came in the game and gave them a player who is scrappy and hustles all the time along with Kristi Toliver, Candace Parker,Nneka Ogwumike and Alana Beard begin to turn the game around for them with some great defense, Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike began to got to work on offense. Both players scored with strong moves to the basket and jump shots, along with some clutch free throw shooting by Kristi Toliver with about 19 seconds left in the third trailed San Antonio 67-65.

Los Angeles Sparks' #6 Jenna O'Hea hustle plays help the Sparks
get back into the game. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports. 

Alana Beard in the fourth quarter with 9:43 tied the game 67-67 and the Sparks fans went crazy as the Sparks clamped down on San Antonio to tied the game. The Silver Stars' Becky Hammon made a jump shot and regain the lead for her team 69-67. Alana Beard again who was having a amazing game scored her 16 point of the game to tie it back up 69-69. Jenna  O'Hea scored a layup, Kristi Toliver hit a 3 pointer, and Candace Parker hit a turn around jump shot, and now the Sparks now led 76-69.

San Antonio wasn't just going to lay down as Daniella Adams scored on a layup, Sophia Young scored on a lay up, Becky Hammon scored on layup and a big 3 point shot by Shemeka Christon, San Antonio tied the game 80-80, and the Sparks fans were on the edge of the their seat. Kristi Toliver would not let the Sparks lose this game hit a 3 point shot that sent the crowd into a frenzy now led 83-80.The Sparks went on to defeat San Antonio 93-86 to take 1-0 lead in one of the WNBA Western Conference Semi Finals.

Los Angeles Sparks' #3 Candace Parker and San Antonio's Silver Stars' #33 Sophia
Young. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

 After the game i ask Kristi Toliver what did she learn from this game. " We have to stop coming out flat in the beginning of games and be more focus and not worry about match ups,and do a better job of taking care of the ball." The second half of the game we decide just to come out and  play basketball."Kristi Toliver finish the game with 29 points, Candace Parker 25 points 9 rebounds, Alana Beard had 18 points and Nneka Ogwumike 12 points and 8 rebounds. San Antonio's Becky Hammon had 19 points, Danielle Adams 17 points and Danielle Robinson 16 points.

Los Angeles Sparks' head coach Carol Ross is all smiles after
their Game 1 Western Conference Semi Finals Game 1 victory
over the San Antonio Silver Stars 93-86. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

The Sparks must credit coach Ross for sitting Candace Parker out for a stretch in the third quarter, yet sticking with the group of players that got them back in the game, and stuck with them to win the game. That sends a message to the other players that as a coach i must trust and be able to depend on you when i need you to go in the game. Great coaching and defense always wins games. For more photos of this game go to www.tgsportstv.com, click on photo gallery 2 and scroll down to San Antonio @ L.A.Sparks. All photos are by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports and EW Gems Images.