Cox takes on the US
HER parents are courtside and her daughter and partner will be parked in front of the television at Gordonvale tonight as Cairns Dolphin Rohanee Cox attempts to win herself the perfect birthday present -- Olympic gold.
Cox has hit sterling form as the Opals prepare to take on nemesis the US in tonight’s women’s basketball gold medal match in Beijing.
Penny Taylor will play despite still receiving treatment on her injured ankle but the Opals can find solace in the form of Cox off the bench this tournament.
She has shone in the Opals’ past two games against China and the Czech Republic, finishing with a total of 18 points in 35 minutes on court.
And she is likely to have a leading role again tonight given the depth of the US team and some worry about Taylor’s ankle.
"I’ll definitely be there," said Taylor, who refuses to miss the biggest game of her career.
"It’s not too bad, it’s a little swollen and a little sore but it’ll be fine to go."
The final is part three of an Olympic trilogy that twice so far has ended with the Americans standing triumphantly atop the podium, at the Sydney Olympics and again in Athens.
Olympic gold seemed out of reach for Cox back in 2000 when she was pregnant with daughter Alyriah, now seven, and out of basketball.
But she returned to the Opals squad in 2006 and has worked her way into great form in Beijing just in time to face the game’s toughest challenge, a final against the US, who have a perfect 13-0 record against Australia in major competitions.
The Opals won their first ever major international tournament at the 2006 world championships, but didn’t have to face the US, who were knocked out in the semi-finals.
The Australians have steadily improved with each game in Beijing, however, and Taylor, Lauren Jackson and the rest of the team firmly believe their time has come.
"Of course we’re desperate. Why wouldn’t we be desperate?" coach Jan Stirling said.
America reached the decider with a comfortable semi-final victory over Russia, while the Taylor-less Opals easily brushed aside China.
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