Chargers women surge late to claim Tasmanian derby thriller

The Hobart Chargers women have produced a strong second-half comeback to defeat the Northern Force 75–69, closing out the Tasmanian derby in front of a home crowd at MyState Bank Arena.

Trailing by as much as 10 points in the third quarter and still down 66–60 early in the fourth, the Chargers were forced to respond after Northern Force controlled much of the first half.

“We had a few harsh words in the change rooms, but in games like that we need it,” Chargers captain Sharna Thompson said.

“We said how much this game means to us, so we put our name on our heart and went out and did it for Hobart.”

The response came through a defensive lift and improved execution, with Hobart holding Northern Force to just nine points in the final quarter while working back into the contest possession by possession.

“I’m super proud of the girls and how we performed for 40 minutes,” Thompson said.

“I think the girls stuck together really well… everyone was locked in and ready to go.”

Tishara Morehouse led the scoring with 19 points, while Chloe Broomhall added 13 points and 9 rebounds as Hobart found balance offensively in the second half.

Thompson’s impact came late, finishing with 16 points and delivering the key moments that shifted the game, including a go-ahead three-pointer in the fourth quarter that sparked the Chargers’ run.

“Have a shooter shoot mentality,” she said.

“If they’re not dropping in the first half, I kind of hope they will in the second… that three changed momentum, it probably went in and out twice and then dropped in.”

Hobart closed the game on a 15–3 run, with Thompson scoring five of the final points at the free throw line to seal the result in the closing seconds.

“Coach said ‘win this game for us’, so I went out and did my job,” she said.

“Everyone puts in, even if they don’t step on the floor, the bench energy gets us over the line.”

The result capped a memorable night for Hobart’s women, who responded under pressure and delivered in the defining moments of the contest.

“It was amazing and I could see people in the crowd who have been part of the last 30 years as well,” Thompson said.

“I think the crowd got us over the line at the end, so a big thanks to those guys.”