Men's First Semi Final Review - Norwood v Forestville

Andrew Webber

By James Woite

The Norwood Flames’ quest for a third successive premiership remains alive, following a 77-67 First Semi-Final victory over the Forestville Eagles at Mars.

It was the third successive year the Flames have eliminated Forestville from the finals race, but this time without the need for any late-game heroics from Guard Andrew Webber. Webber was again an issue for the Eagles, however, but this time moreso at the defensive end. After Forestville star Riley Luettgerodt scored eight first quarter points, Webber moved on to the much taller Luettgerodt, and from there on, held him to just 12 points, whilst also forcing 6 turnovers. Webber meanwhile scored 12 points of his own after quarter-time, finishing with 17 for the game to go with 5 rebounds and 2 steals. David Cooper was a monster all night, finishing with 22 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks, whilst drawing 10 fouls and attempting 17 free throws. Superstar veteran Todd Matthews suffered a horrid 3-15 shooting night, but still had a major impact on the game with 14 rebounds and 7 assists. For the Eagles, Doug MacDonald-Taylor played well with 13 points and 13 rebounds, whilst Luettgerodt finished with a team-high 20 points. Forestville were once again left to lament what might have been, with their season ending in disappointment for a third straight year.

The Flames headed into this match having won just two of their past six games, and the early going suggested no signs of the dual-reigning premiers ending their form slump. Forestville burst out of the blocks, just as they did in their victory over Norwood in Round 18, jumping out to an early 12-4 advantage. The Eagles were getting into their offence quickly, moving the ball quickly, and lead by MacDonald-Taylor, doing all the little things at the defensive end. Luettgerodt, who scored 38 against the Flames a fortnight ago, was again too much for opposing Forward Sam Grantham, who was substituted after less than four minutes. The Eagles jumped out to a lead of as much as nine after a free throw from Brad Sullivan, but their failure to build a double-digit advantage was quickly ceased upon by the Flames. With key figures Matthews and Cooper off the floor, 3-pointers from Keith Krause and Webber and then a lay-up from Dan Thompson, they quickly cut the gap back to 1 with 1.28 to go in the quarter. Forestville regained the initiative with late baskets from Elimination Final hero Nick Blair and Luettgerodt, helping the visitors to a 24-17 ¼ time lead.

Matthews and Cooper returned to the court to start the second, but it was big man Dan Thompson who kick-started a big second quarter for Norwood. Thompson had 4 points and 2 rebounds inside the first minute as the Flames quickly cut the gap to 1. Eagles’ substitutes Adam Doyle and Brad Haydon combined for their first basket of the quarter, before Thompson pulled in another offensive rebound and dished out to Webber for a 3 that tied the game. With their opponents dominating the O-boards, Forestville Coach Andy Simons made three substitutions. However, the Flames continued to dominate inside against their much smaller opponents; a Corey Ottey 3 giving Norwood the lead for good with 5.40 to go in the half. Ottey scored five more points for the quarter as the home side went into ½ time with a 39-34 advantage.

Ottey picked up where he left off, scoring the first basket of the half, as Norwood began to take control. Webber was prominent in getting to the rim, whilst frustrating the dangerous Luettgerodt at the other end. Sullivan was the shining light for Forestville in a lop-sided patch of play, scoring eight points, as the Flames threatened to kill off the game completely. The Eagles were forced into two shot clock violations before Grantham scored to put his team up 53-42 with 4.07 to go in the quarter. MacDonald-Taylor’s 3-point play a minute later was the first Forestville basket for three minutes but after Matthews hit a 3-pointer following an offensive rebound, the lead was again out to double-figures. The game was slipping away from the Eagles, however Norwood-Forestville games have become renowned for producing the unexpected, and it was no different in this game. Trailing 56-45, out of nowhere, the Eagles suddenly found something against the stifling Flames’ defence, scoring the last seven points of the quarter to amazingly trail by just 4 at ¾ time. For all their dominance, Norwood had lost the quarter 17-18, and Forestville had all the momentum heading into the season-defining final quarter.

The teams traded baskets to start the fourth before Cooper missed two free throws that could have given the Flames an 8-point lead. After Luettgerodt was rejected by Krause following a strong attack on the basket, Matthews passed up-court to Cooper who would not miss the lay-up, whilst being belatedly fouled by Blair. Cooper missed the free throw, however, the Eagles failed to score at the other end. On Norwood’s next offensive possession, Ben Howell drained a 3 for a 67-56 lead with 5.46 remaining. The now extremely desperate Eagles switched to a 2-2-1 full-court trap, but despite being unable to get a steal up the court, they still managed to get back into the game with the next 6 points. After Cooper hit one of two free throws Forestville had the ball back with a chance to close the gap to as little as 3. However MacDonald-Taylor missed a 3 which led to a long defensive rebound from Matthews and a lay-up at the other end. Luettgerodt missed at the other end before Norwood would seal the game on the next possession.

After Matthews missed both free throws following a foul from Sullivan, he pulled in the offensive rebound. He then dished out to a wide open Webber, whose 3-pointer hit nothing but net, giving the Flames a 73-62 advantage with 3.46 remaining. The Eagles would be unable to claw within any closer than 8 the rest of the way, with Norwood holding on for a 77-67 victory. The Flames will now play the West Adelaide Bearcats next Saturday night at Port Adelaide, after the ‘Cats lost to the Sturt Sabres 65-67 in the Second Semi-Final, after Jacob Holmes stole victory with a basket in the final two seconds. The winner of the West-Norwood clash will meet Sturt in the Grand Final on Saturday week.


 




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