ABA 2025-26: Owls in full flight to complete flag double as Magpies are blown away in grand final showdown

It was a night when the Barking Owls were hooting for joy as they won their second consecutive Albany Basketball Association women’s A-grade flag, beating Denmark Magpies in a repeat of last year’s grand final. Having battled evenly against Friday night’s opposition in their meetings throughout the season, the Owls stamped their authority on the showpiece from the outset. They got the hard work done early in what was really a calamitous first half for the Magpies who gifted turnovers in mid-court, squandered chances and were overpowered by an Owls side in full flight. Dakota Bremner and Rebecca Benson were key for the Owls team as they won 57-32 to overhaul the minor premiers and claim the premiership medals. Benson, with 15 points, and Bremner, with 12, were the stars who caused most damage as the Magpies had no answer to their power and poise. While Owls seemed to convert every time they surged forward, Denmark lacked composure and were sucked into hoisting risky three-point attempts which missed the mark. At the halfway stage the Owls were 29-9 up and dominating as Magpies’ attacks consistently broke down under pressure. Denmark rallied after the break and Casey Gabriel bagged a basket and a resulting point from a free throw after a foul by Ava Marmion. Then, Lumeah Masih hit two points, and Ashlee Kerr added a couple more, plus a free throw, as the Magpies finally found some rhythm. By the time Owls called a time-out with 10 minutes left, matters were looking more respectable at 42-27 and Owls called another one with five minutes to go at 49-32. Those short, competitive spells however never suggested any doubt about the outcome, and Owls put the boot in at the end, claiming the last 13 points, to prove their superiority when it really counted. As well as the two mainstays, Milla Trichilo (12 points), Marmion (seven) and Te Paea Keremete (five) were just as reliable under the bucket while Denmark’s top markswomen were Matilda McHenry and Kerr with seven points apiece. Trichilo was named grand final MVP for her strong performance. The six meetings between the sides during the regular season had just gone Owls’ way but they had to forfeit against Sonics in round 14 to hand Magpies the minor premiership, and then they lost to their rivals in the qualifying final. Back at full strength for the grand final the Owls were a class apart as the season ended in a four-team women’s competition that had several weeks where teams were struggling for player numbers. Bremner said losing players to university had made the season a struggle, but it was good to finish with a flourish. “It was nice to have them back and I think we ran away with things a bit at the end,” she said. “It’s normally a great competition between us and Magpies but we are very happy to have won two grand finals in a row.” The Magpies gave their all according to Danielle Carne, their driving force but who was restricted to just one point. “We kept our heads up and that’s all you can ask for,” she said. Box score Denmark Magpies 32 (Matilda McHenry 7, Ashlee Kerr 7, Lauren Bracewell 6, Casey Gabriel 5, Ali Judd 4, Lumeah Masih 2, Danielle Carne 1) def by Barking Owls 57 (Rebecca Benson 15, Milla Trichilo 12, Dakota Bremner 12, Ava Marmion 7, Maddy Graham 6, Te Paea Keremete 5)