Rockets ease past Panthers for Qualifying final victory
By Mark Halliday.
It wasn't easy for the North Adelaide Rockets but they managed to get by a determined South Adelaide Panthers team that provided heavy resistance, winning 80-67 in the qualifying final at Hillcrest on Saturday night.
The Panthers had leapt out to a 14 point lead in the second quarter and seemingly had the Rockets in check as Jess Mahony (14 points, 13 rebounds, five assists) got the basket at will and Ashleigh Spencer (14 points, seven rebounds) got some easy points close to the hoop.
That lead was erased by half time as the Rockets stepped up their defence and started to move the ball to make a run at the Panthers. Sarah Elsworthy and Jamie-Lee Peris proved to be the spark North needed. Elsworthy connected on multiple jumpers, was dangerous on the drive and came up with a steal that led to an open goal. Peris was equally potent close to the basket as she made a pair of baskets that cut the lead to two.
Elsworthy evened the score just before the half time buzzer and the Rockets had the Panthers on the back foot.
North carried their good form into the third quarter as they opened up on an 8-0 run and outscored South 24-12. Jo Hill (21 points, eight rebounds, three blocks) and Shannon McKay (12 points, five assists) helped the Rockets extend their lead while Kirsty Williams was giving the home side plenty of second chance opportunities with an incredible 10 offensive rebounds.
South struggled to find the net in the third and giving up offensive boards wasn't helping them get back in the game. The Panthers got to within four points early in the fourth as Spencer, Mahony and Mollie McKendrick (14 points) quickly regained momentum for South.
The Rockets were able to hold any further charges by the Panthers. Hill and Elsworthy continued firing while Lauren Badenoch (14 points) scored half her total in the final quarter to have five Rockets reach double digit scoring.
North Adelaide moves on the face the undefeated Norwood Flames in the first Semi-Final while South Adelaide will host West Adelaide in the second Semi-Final.
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