Capitals captain Jade Melbourne knew something wasn't quite right when "there was too much fresh air coming through the gap" in her teeth.
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On Friday night, not long after leading the Canberra Capitals to finally claim their first win of the WNBL season, Melbourne was rushed to the dentist for an after-hours emergency visit.
Earlier the young Opals star had half her front tooth broken in half after a brutal collision with Melbourne Boomers guard Jordin Canada, and thanks to some quick thinking by teammate Alex Bunton, the tooth was salvaged.
"Jordin went to do a spin move and as her head turned my tooth went into her forehead, and I came off probably better because she's got three stitches and a concussion. It was crazy," Melbourne said of the incident.
"Apparently the tooth was stuck in Jordin's forehead, then Bunts went to their bench, grabbed the tooth and put it in a cup of milk which revived the tooth.
"I think Bunts' mum instincts took over."
Other reports were that Bunton - who didn't play - recovered the tooth from the court floor.
"I remember going to the ground, and I saw the blood but I couldn't taste blood," Melbourne added.
"Alex Sharp and Alex Fowler came over, picked me up and I knew straight away my tooth was gone because there was too much fresh air coming through the gap in my teeth.
"I was in a little bit of shock, but there were more laughs from teammates."
With the Capitals medical team Melbourne had a procedure on Friday evening to cover the exposed nerves so she wasn't in pain overnight, then on Saturday morning dentists completed the repair, reattaching the broken tooth.
"It's back to normal in my mouth and looking good," Melbourne said.
"I've learnt my lesson and I'll probably be wearing a mouthguard at the next game. It's a sensible choice.
"I caught up with Jordin after the game. She was doing okay, and she wished me all the best and I wished her a speedy recovery too."
![Jade Melbourne copped a knock and lost half of her tooth on Friday night. Pictures by Keegan Carroll, supplied Jade Melbourne copped a knock and lost half of her tooth on Friday night. Pictures by Keegan Carroll, supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/j2iwCiKfwhVWJky39Vsdpt/7ea6a893-4a98-4140-be53-a7a290e38f07.png/r0_0_1200_675_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Desperate to score their first victory, the Capitals beat the Boomers 84-72 in front of a 1212-strong crowd at the club's spiritual home in Tuggeranong.
It was an emotional moment for the Capitals. The club has struggled over the past two years after a three-year stint at, or near, the top of the ladder.
The 12-point win against the Boomers was just their third in the past 30 games and coach Kristen Veal admitted to tears when the final buzzer went.
![Canberra Capitals captain Jade Melbourne. Picture by Keegan Carroll Canberra Capitals captain Jade Melbourne. Picture by Keegan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/168198572/d6ea85ab-7049-452c-9a3b-050878b7cdcc.jpg/r0_507_6000_3894_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Skipper Melbourne led the way with 30 points, in a gutsy performance where she lost half a tooth.
"We played like grown-ups today, and that was the most impressive thing," Veal said.
"When I say grown-ups, [Melbourne's] missing a tooth. Like a child."
An elated Melbourne chimed in: "Hopefully the tooth fairy comes. All I know is there will be $2 under my pillow."
![Staff clean up blood from Boomers player Jordin Canada. Picture by Keegan Carroll Staff clean up blood from Boomers player Jordin Canada. Picture by Keegan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/168198572/2f0dd2c7-c207-4dc7-8bab-62ede2e8c9cc.jpg/r0_456_5401_3505_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Melbourne is regarded as one of Australia's brightest young stars and made her mark in the WNBA for Seattle this year. She was also selected in the Australian Opals Olympic qualifier squad earlier this week for games in February.
It was easy to see why the Capitals and Opals speak of her so highly. Her 30 points was the biggest individual haul of the game and she also finished with 10 assists, five rebounds, three steals and one block.
"I've been pretty lucky [with injuries], I just get weird things," Melbourne said of the freak tooth accident.
"I've had stitches in my head, this ... I mean this is probably going to cost the most so this one is up there. But this honestly wasn't that bad [in terms of pain]. And I'll lose a tooth again if it means we'll get a win.
"It was so special [to get the win] and it meant so much more to our group and to Canberra. I'm so proud of our team. To play like we did [last week], it wasn't us. But I feel so lucky to be a part of this group."
![Japan recruit Monica Okoye had one of her best games. Picture by Keegan Carroll Japan recruit Monica Okoye had one of her best games. Picture by Keegan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/j2iwCiKfwhVWJky39Vsdpt/6b54fce9-c865-43f7-88be-d7d42c350e11.jpg/r0_293_5726_3525_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Melbourne was supported well by Fowler (18) and Sharp (12), while Naz Hillmon had 14 for the visitors.
The Capitals returned to Tuggeranong - a venue the club has used for decades - because of a schedule clash at the National Convention Centre and because the AIS Arena is still out of action.
Tickets sold out on game day, and the trip into the past worked well for the new generation Capitals.
![Capitals star Alex Sharp. Picture by Keegan Carroll Capitals star Alex Sharp. Picture by Keegan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/168198572/4a4b50d2-5a2a-47b4-b203-186d73b4c301.jpg/r0_405_5527_3525_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The Capitals led by four at the first break and nine and half-time before having to hold off the Boomers in the closing stages.
"It was tears first then a smile," Veal said.
"Then it was a lot of reminders to smile and enjoy it ... we've come so close so many times. It's not that we deserve it, but we've been working our bums off with very little reward.
"To do that, I couldn't be more emotional."
AT A GLANCE
CANBERRA CAPITALS 84 (Jade Melbourne 30, Alex Fowler 18) bt MELBOURNE BOOMERS 72 (Naz Hollmon 14, Keely Froling 12) at Tuggeranong Stadium on Friday night.