Wilson McShane , Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Kadina’s Stephanie Talbot has cemented her status as an Olympic champion after helping the Aust ralian women’s basketball team secure a bronze medal on Sunday.

The Opals triumphed 85-81 over the sixth-ranked Belgium in front of a packed crowd in Paris. Talbot played a pivotal role in the bronze medal match, despite overcoming an injury that had sidelined her during the last half of the Opals’ semifinal clash against the US.

She contributed significantly, tallying seven rebounds, six points, four assists, and a crucial block that thwarted a late Belgium scoring attempt.

The match was tightly contested, with the lead changing 15 times.

However, at the start of the final quarter, Opal Ezi Magbegor stepped up on both ends of the court, scoring vital points that helped secure the win for Australia.

Despite Belgium’s relentless offensive efforts, Australia’s strong defensive plays, largely bolstered by Talbot, forced Belgium into rushed shots and multiple shot clock violations.

In a post-game interview, Magbegor referred to the bronze medal as “rose gold” for the Opals, acknowledging the disappointment of their semifinal loss to the US.

“Obviously losing to the US in the semis was tough; gold was the ultimate goal. But being able to bounce back after the loss is a testament to the team that we have,” she said.

The Opals’ journey to the bronze medal match was hard fought.

After a surprising first-up loss to Nigeria in the pool games, which nearly derailed its Olympic Games campaign, Australia rebounded with victories against Canada and France.

It then defeated Serbia in the quarterfinals to earn a place in the semifinal against the US.

The US continued its dominant Olympic streak, winning its 62nd consecutive game to claim gold by defeating France by a single point.

Talbot’s performance throughout the tournament was outstanding, leading the Opals in rebounds and steals going into the bronze medal game.

This is her first Olympic medal, and the Opals’ first since 2012, after consecutive quarterfinal exits in recent Games. The Opals have a storied Olympic history, having won Silver in 2000, 2004 and 2008, and bronze in 1996 and 2012.

This article appeared in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 13 August 2024.