Norwood Flames (15-3, 1st) v Forestville Eagles (13-5, 3rd), 8.15 pm @ Mars

The Norwood Flames will be hoping to continue their run of finals success against the Forestville Eagles when the two sides meet in the Second Semi Final at Mars on Saturday.

The 2008-09 Champions have won their last four finals against the Eagles, eliminating them in each of the past three seasons.

These sides are renowned for frantic finishes, with Norwood’s 77-67 victory in the 2010 First Semi Final the biggest finals deficit between the two sides in the last three years.

In addition, it was the second biggest head to head margin in the teams’ last 10 clashes.

The Flames were the best team in the competition this year, only falling out of first position for one week after Round 1.

Shooting Guard Andrew Webber (15.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.1 apg) and Centre David Cooper (13.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.4 apg) have been the best players for Norwood this season, while Point Guard Todd Matthews has had another quality season.

Andrew Webber scored 51 points on July 30 and cracked the 20 mark against the Eagles in both regular season meetings, while Cooper has saved his best for Forestville in recent years.

Forward/Centre Nick Hambour (7.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.2 apg) has improved with his new club as the year has progressed, while Small Forward Corey Ottey (5.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg) will add some more tenacious defence to the Flames’ starting five.

Norwood also has plenty of options on the bench, with Robin Eley able to come in ice cold and hit threes, and Daniel Webber, Ben Howell and Keith Krause capable contributors.

The Eagles have an excellent record in first quarters this season, which was no more evident than in last week’s 104-92 Qualifying Final victory over Sturt.

Forestville ran the Sabres off their feet from the tipoff, winning the first quarter 29-20, and going on with the job from there, registering their biggest score of the year.

Nic Blair was all over the floor at both ends and finished with 22 points (12 in the fourth) on 9/15 shooting in less than 25 minutes of action, while Rashad Tucker was at his devastating best, keeping Sturt star Jacob Holmes quiet and obtaining 16 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals himself.

Brad Sullivan was Forestville’s leading scorer with 29 points on 10/17 FG shooting and 7/14 foul shooting, while Adam Doyle (9 points, 5 assists, 3 steals) and Trent Fildes (10 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks) also had good games.

Blair and Fildes will likely come off the bench, with Tucker, Sullivan and Doyle to be joined by John Wernham (6.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Brad Haydon (10.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.4 apg) in the starting five.

Norwood plays a similar style of game to Sturt, so look for Forestville to again push the tempo.

The Flames have been slow starters against the Eagles in the majority of their recent meetings, and coming off a bye may not help their cause.

For the third successive season, the Flames and Eagles split their regular season meetings one-all.

Forestville won at Mars by one point in Round 6, with Sullivan knocking down a trey from the top of the key with only seconds remaining.  

Norwood then won the rematch at Wayville in Round 15 by seven points.

As with all Norwood-Forestville clashes, no one should think this game is over until the referee blows his whistle for the final time.

I am going to go against the trend and tip the Eagles to progress to the Grand Final.

By James Woite