Norwood Flames (15-3, 1st) v North Adelaide Rockets (15-3, 2nd)
Saturday August 18, 6.30pm at Mars

The North Adelaide Rockets will have the opportunity to advance to their first Grand Final since 2008 when they visit the Norwood Flames at Mars on Saturday.

While the winner gets a week off, it is crunch-time for the loser, with a home Preliminary Final against the winner of Forestville v Centrals in the wake. The Flames did not feature in the first week of this finals series.

Both teams finished the regular season 15-3, but the Flames easily won the series split 2-0. In Round 2, the Rockets were without star players Jo Hill (17.4 ppg, 8 rpg, 2.3 apg) and Lauren Mansfield (12.5 ppg, 5.7 apg, 5 rpg), which did not help their cause in a 59-82 defeat. Jamie-Lee Peris (18 points, 8 rebounds) was the Rockets’ best. Jess Foley had 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the Flames, while Amy Lewis scored 14.

Hill and Mansfield were back for the replay, but despite scoring 28 between them, the Rockets were still torn apart 61-88. Foley had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Jordan Walker-Roberts added 15.

In the Qualifying Final, the Rockets beat the Eagles 74-65, with a 30-8 third quarter proving pivotal. In that third quarter, the Eagles shot just 25% from the field, missed all four three-point shots and turned the ball over seven times. In contrast, the Rockets went 7/11 from inside the arc and hit 5/9 threes, while turning the ball over just four times.

Mansfield was the Rockets’ best with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Hill and Kirsty Williams each scored 14, while Peris registered 12 points and 9 rebounds. It was the Rockets’ third straight win over the Eagles this season. Meanwhile, the Flames have not beaten the Eagles in their last four attempts.

The Flames played only two finals last season, both after a week off in the previous round. The new routine proved a struggle for them. They just got home against West Adelaide in 2OT in the Second Semi Final, before losing to the Eagles in the Grand Final. It will be interesting to see if they are better prepared this time.

The Rockets should provide a greater challenge than in the regular season, but the Flames are almost impossible to beat when at full strength on their home court.

By James Woite