With the scores tied at 72-72 after 40 minutes, a free throw from big man John Marriott has sent the Sturt Sabres straight through to the Grand Final at the expense of the Forestville Eagles.

The Sabres led this Second Semi Final for virtually the whole night until Eagles Guard Adam Doyle got open for a game-tying layup with seven seconds remaining.

Sabres coach Tom James-Martin responded by calling timeout to advance the ball into the Sabres’ front half.

They failed to get anything inside, with Tom Daly missing a three-pointer.

The ball fortuitously spilled straight to an unmarked Marriott, who was fouled by Trent Fildes as time expired.

Marriott’s first attempt was long, but the second was good, to the jubilation of the Sabre players, coaches and supporters.

It marked the end of what had been an incredible fightback from the Eagles, who had trailed 36-50 at half-time, and owned the final few minutes.

Two huge long two-pointers from Tom Daly and a three from Darren Ng had given the Sabres a 68-58 lead with 3.53 remaining, shortly after the Eagles had closed within five.

The Eagles quickly recovered, with Brad Sullivan (two threes), Rashad Tucker (putback) and Adam Doyle (layup) scoring on the Eagles’ next four possessions.

The next time down the floor, Sullivan went aggressively to the basket against Tom Daly and was whistled for charging.

After Ng scored on the following possession, the Sabres looked home at 72-68 However, baskets from Sullivan and Doyle levelled the scores, before the Sabres got their break.

Ng finished with a game-high 20 points, including 4/9 from downtown. Tim Klaosen had 16 points and 7 rebounds, while Tom Daly registered 10 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Tom Daly’s brother Sam had a game-high 8 assists.

The Sabres led by four at quarter-time, 14 at half-time and seven after three quarters.

The Sabres did not shoot the ball overly well, but forced 21 turnovers, while committing just 13 themselves. Although the Eagles outscored them by 10 in the paint, the Sabres got an extra eight points off turnovers.

The Sabres also went the whole last quarter without registering a foul, while the Eagles committed five.
Doyle came off hurt with 29 seconds left in the first quarter, before returning with 6.29 left in the second and not leaving the court again.

During the short time Doyle was off, the Eagles went from two points down to eight points in arrears.

Doyle finished with 13 points, 5 assists and 3 steals, and had the better of Daly for most of the game.
Sullivan also scored 13, as did Majok Deng, making the most of his 12 minutes on the court.

Deng entered the game with 6.07 left in the third and the Eagles trailing 39-55, before, in a repeat of last year’s Grand Final, more than playing his part in helping his team get back in the game.

Speaking of last year’s Grand Final, reigning premiers Forestville will play reigning runners-up Norwood in next week’s do-or-die Preliminary Final.

The Flames defeated the Rockets 79-61 in the First Semi Final to avoid elimination.

The Eagles have not beaten the Flames this year, losing by five in Round 9 and two in Round 18.