Beran leads Lightning into Grand Final (Friday Wrap)

Lakeside Lightning has the chance to claim consecutive men’s State Basketball League titles after advancing to the Grand Final with a 109-101 win over Perth Redbacks.

The Lightning will face either Geraldton or Willetton in next Saturday’s title decider after sweeping its best-of-three semi-finals series with Perth.

Geraldton led its series with Willetton 1-0 heading into this weekend.

Lakeside, which has won three of the last five championships, had to overcome a fourth quarter deficit to avoid a game three.

Perth led with less than six minutes remaining, but import Ben Beran had 12 points in the final five minutes to lead the Lightning to victory.

The Lightning had led by as much as 12 late in the first quarter but Perth fought back and first took the lead in the third quarter.

Beran was the highest scorer for Lakeside, finishing with 40 points, while fellow import Luke Payne added 27 and Jarrad Prue had 20 rebounds.

Ryan Neil had a team-high 25 points for the Redbacks, while Jon Meriweather had 22 and Joel Wagner had 18.

Perth had to rest Meriweather, Wagner and Jesse Wagstaff for a significant period late in the game, with all in foul trouble before the fourth period started.

Lakeside has now made five of the previous six Grand Finals and is aiming to become one of only three sides with four or more championships.

Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Mick Cronin

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