North Adelaide Rockets (13-5, 3rd) v Forestville Eagles (12-6, 4th)
Saturday August 17, 8.15pm at Hillcrest

*Fast fact: The Rockets have won their last five games against the Eagles

The North Adelaide Rockets will be hoping their recent dominance over the Forestville Eagles continues in their knockout First Semi Final.

Jo Hill put on a master class in Round 5 7, finishing with 18 points (6-9 FG, 5-6 FT), 18 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. The Rockets conquered the Eagles 64-44.

Rebecca Lock (13 points, 3-6 3FG) and Jamie-Lee Peris (13 rebounds, 7 points) also made vital contributions to their team’s victory. Star Eagles Olivia Thompson and Mia Newley were each held to 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Neither Hill nor Thompson played in the Round 14 matchup, but big games from Kirsty Williams (20 points, 6 rebounds) and Genna Anderson (19 points, 8-12 FG, 10 rebounds) helped the Rockets come from 11 down at quarter time to secure a 69-62 victory.

Jess Fergus (24 points, 5 rebounds), Mia Newley (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Danielle Angley (13 points, 4 rebounds) filled up the Eagles’ side of the stat sheet.

The Rockets’ five game winning streak came to an end in the Qualifying Final, where they went down 60-82 to the Sabres. Jo Hill was their only double figure scorer with 14.

The Eagles would have fancied their chances of a victory when they saw Tess Madgen had not suited up for the Mavericks. Still, it took them until the last quarter to seize control of the game. After scores were level at ¾ time, 10 points from Megan Kermond helped the Eagles to a 79-61 victory.

Thompson (19 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals) and Newley (19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) had arguably their best game together since joining forces.

The Eagles have struggled to score against the Rockets this season, and did likewise in the Elimination Final. They can ill afford to get off to a slow start against the Rockets, who, aside from last week, are excellent at dictating the game at the defensive end. 

Norwood Flames (18-0, 1st) v Sturt Sabres (13-5, 2nd)
Saturday August 17, 6.30pm at Mars

*Fast fact: The Flames have won just one of their last three finals succeeding a week off, which was a double-overtime success in the 2011 Second Semi Final against West Adelaide.

The Norwood Flames may have gone unbeaten through the regular season, but having the league’s best record does not guarantee success in the postseason.

With a Grand Final spot on the line in this week’s Second Semi Final, the Flames 7 will face off against the Sturt Sabres in the playoffs for the first time since the 2007 Preliminary Final. This is the Flames’ third straight home Second Semi Final, while the Sabres have not had a double chance at this stage of the postseason since 2009.

While the Flames were resting, the Sabres defeated North Adelaide 82-60 in the Qualifying Final. Jess McPhail, Hannah Richards, Amy Shaw and Hannah Bowley combined for 50 points on just 32 field goal attempts. They did it from inside and out, making 4-6 3FG. Shaw was also the top rebounder (8) and passer (5 assists) for the Sabres.

The Sabres’ offensive numbers have not been anywhere near as strong against the Flames. They scored just 63 points in a 34 point loss in Round 8, and 58 in a 17 point defeat in the penultimate round of the regular season.

Jess Foley has dominated this series, averaging 22.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg and 4.5 apg. Rebecca Duke has been their other prominent player on both occasions, with 12-8 and 12-9 games. The Flames got excellent contributions from Amy Lewis (24 points, 4 rebounds) and Jessica Good (20 points, 9 rebounds) in Round 8, while Elizabeth Keane was one of their best in Round 17.

Molly Lewis has scored 17 and 13 points in two matches against the Sabres – the only Sabre to finish in double figures both times. Bowley scored 15 in Round 8 and Shaw had 12 in Round 17.

The Sabres were impressive in their win over the Rockets, but the Flames are undefeated for a reason.

Woodville Warriors (15-3, 2nd) v Central District Lions (11-7, 4th)
Saturday August 17, 8.15pm at St Clair

*Fast fact: The Lions have not beaten the Warriors in their last eight attempts.

For all their hard work in Season 2013, the Woodville Warriors are suddenly one loss away from elimination.

While the Lions face the same win-or-go-home equation, they have had plenty of pressure packed games already, and can take plenty of confidence from making it through to this stage. 

Woodville and Centrals have had an amazing recent rivalry in the SANFL, squaring off in six Grand Finals from 2000-11. Maybe this is the start of something big in SA’s premier state basketball competition, after seven years where neither side featured in the post-season.

With star Aaron Wyatt and super-sub Luke Stanbridge held to just two points apiece, the Warriors lost to Forestville in the Qualifying Final, 63-89. Darren Ng scored 21 and Steve Pilkington 9, as the Warriors lost to the Eagles for the first time in this campaign.

Despite a 6-22 second quarter that saw them down 10 at the half, the Lions forced an eighth straight finals loss on the North Adelaide Rockets, winning the Elimination Final 82-70. Kyle Miller bounced back to his best at exactly the right time, finishing with 26 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.

Christopher Clausen (20 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks) was also outstanding, while Jordan Centernera scored a career high 17 points, including 4-7 3FG.

During the regular season, the Warriors had the better of the Lions on both occasions. The Warriors triumphed 93-77 in Round 5, then nine rounds later won 86-66. Wyatt has been huge in this tie, scoring 27 points on both occasions. Stanbridge (Round 5) and Ng (Round 14) have also cracked the 20 mark.

Clausen has scored 16 points in each game against the Warriors, while Miller has had 28 and 15 point games.

The Warriors suffered a rude awakening last week. The odd bad game can happen to even the greatest of sides, and they will undoubtedly be better prepared this time.

West Adelaide Bearcats (16-2, 1st) v Forestville Eagles (12-6, 3rd)
Saturday August 17, 6.30pm at Port Adelaide

*Fast fact: The Eagles have won the last two premierships despite losing to the Minor Premier and eventual Runner Up in the Second Semi Final.

The West Adelaide Bearcats will be hoping their regular season dominance against Forestville carries over to this week’s Second Semi Final.

Behind a huge performance from Daniel Johnson (32 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists) and solid efforts from Josh Knight (12 points, 8 rebounds) and Blake Truslove (8 points, 9 rebounds), the Bearcats set up their Minor Premiership in Round 1, thrashing the Eagles 85-61.

Without Johnson and fellow 36er/Boomer Jason Cadee for Round 10, the Bearcats still held their own in an 88-74 road win. They got big performances from Truslove (24 points, 13 rebounds, 7 blocks, 4 steals, 4 assists), Anthony Spadavecchia (17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals) and Tristan Braithwaite (13 points).

It was following their most recent loss to the Bearcats that the Eagles promptly recruited 36er/Boomer Adam Gibson. The Eagles have lost just twice since signing Gibson. Gibson did not play in the Qualifying Final, but the Eagles still produced a 42 point turnaround from their previous trip to St Clair, defeating Woodville 89-63.

In Gibson’s absence, Adam Doyle was outstanding with 27 points, 4 steals and 4 assists. Trent Fildes (14 points, 9 rebounds), Jake Rios (18 points, 4-5 3FG) and Neil Mottram (14 points, 11 rebounds) also filled up the stat sheet.

Mottram played less than half the match in Round 1 and did not play in Round 10. The Eagles are a much better side with the former Melbourne Tiger and Adelaide 36er, and his size and strength will be vital against the Bearcat bigs.

Rios has failed to find the hot hand against the Bearcats this season, while 7 Doyle has shown signs of struggle (9 points, 3-11 FG in Round 1) and stardom (32 points, 13-21 FG in Round 10) against the Minor Premiers.

With the 36ers in China and the Boomers playing an Oceania series with New Zealand, the availability of Gibson, Johnson and Cadee is uncertain. Both teams have shown they have role players who are capable of lifting when required.

These teams have plenty of history in finals, including a Preliminary Final win for the Eagles in the 2011 season. The Eagles have already proven that the regular season means nothing come finals time, but the Bearcats will be provide a different test with their depth, experience and size.

 BY James Woite