Flames out to make club history (Women's semi-final preview)
Rockingham Flames will be looking to make history when they step onto the floor in the women’s State Basketball League semi-final series on Friday night.
The Flames women, or men, have never made a grand final in the clubs twenty year history, however they can change all of that when they face the Wanneroo Wolves in the best-of-three series.
The two teams differ greatly with the inside presence of Emma Cannon and Kaye Tucker being the key for the Flames while the Wolves will be relying on their guards and even scoring power.
If the Flames can get big things from Emma Cannon (season average of 25 points, 16 rebounds a game) and Kaye Tucker (season average of 15 points ,seven rebounds a game) they will be hard to stop.
Wanneroo will look to control the tempo of the game and stop the ball from getting inside defensively, while they will also need big numbers from Shani Amos, Nikita-Lee Martin and veteran Sue Williams.
In the teams two previous encounters Wanneroo came out on top in round two (78-51) and Rockingham won the return encounter in round 11 (74-56).
On the other side of the draw South West Slammers will also be looking to make their first ever grand final when they take on the defending champion Willetton Tigers on Saturday night in Eaton.
While the Tigers are going for their eighth SBL premiership and their fifth consecutive year playing in the big game the Slammers are making history having never appeared in an SBL finals series until this year.
The Slammers were looking rocky towards the end of the regular season but have turned things around in the finals, leaving no doubt that Willetton will need to bring their best game to the floor.
South West will have the upper hand under the bucket, led by former Tiger Zoe Harper and import Valeria Ogoke, while Willetton will be looking for their WNBL trio of Jasmine Hooper, Courtney Hargreaves and Melissa Marsh to step up.
The Tigers have come out on top in both encounters with the Slammers this year, winning their round ten game 86-77 and their round 20 game 78-62.
The Kickz101 Women’s State Basketball League Grand Final is on Friday 31 August at the WA Basketball Centre, tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster, click here to purchase tickets.
Article by Hannah Coleman
Photo by Darren Speedie (Vision Inspired Photography)
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