Flames, Lightning, Eagles reach grand final (Week 2 Friday night Semi-Final SBL wrap)
THE Rockingham Flames and Lakeside Lightning women, and East Perth Eagles men all won straight through to the 2014 SBL grand finals by wrapping up their semi-final series' on Friday night.
A massive triple-double from star centre Tom Jervis helped the Eagles overcome the Perth Redbacks to reach the men's grand final with a Game 2 semi-final victory on Friday night while the Flames and Lightning also booked a women's grand final meeting by beating the Wolves and Suns respectively.
The last remaining grand final spot is in the men's competition with the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers and Lakeside Lightning to meet in their semi-final Game 2 on Saturday night at Active West Stadium.
The Buccaneers will book a meeting with the Eagles in the grand final with a win on Saturday while if the Lightning win, the deciding Game 3 will take place at the same venue on Sunday at midday.
The two women's semi-final Game 2 matches on Friday night saw the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames beat the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 84-64 at Mike Barnett Sports Complex with the Lakeside Lightning also defeating the Joondalup Wolves 79-66 at Lakeside Recreation Centre.
That means that both last year's grand finalists in the women's SBL have been bundled out in two games in the semi finals while the two standout teams from all of 2014 will now meet in Friday night's grand final at the WA Basketball Centre.
The Flames lost just two games throughout all of the regular season and now are into the grand final without dropping a game in the playoffs following Friday's 20-point win over last year's runner-up Kalamunda.
The Eastern Suns went into half-time with a three-point advantage, but the Flames turned it on in the second half scoring 47 points and keeping the Suns to just 24 to score the victory.
Samantha Whitcomb again led the way for the Flames with 24 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and three steals while Darcee Garbin was also terrific offensively with 23 points.
Talisia Bourne contributed 14 points off the bench while shooting a tremendous 3-of-5 from three-point territory.
Jacinta Bourne also added seven points and 12 rebounds with Tarsha Fletcher finishing with nine points, five rebounds and four assists.
Alison Schwagmeyer, Chelsea Armstrong and Jennie Rintala all scored 10 points each for the Suns while pulling in a combined 17 rebounds.
Melissa Moyle contributed seven points and seven rebounds while Jessie Edwards added seven points and seven boards, and Sarah-Jane Knox finished with eight points and seven rebounds.
The Lightning finished the regular season on a nine-game winning streak and they have now stretched that to 13 having won all four playoff encounters to win through to the grand final.
The Lakeside set up their Game 2 victory at home on Friday night with a 24-point to 10 second period and then cruised to the 13-point victory to remain unbeaten at the Lakeside Recreation Centre right throughout 2014.
Kari Pickens was once again outstanding for the Lightning on Friday night with 32 points, 13 rebounds and five assists while shooting 14-of-24 from the field.
Krystal Stoneking also added 18 points and 10 rebounds for Lakeside while Courtney Byrnes contributed 12 points, seven boards and three assists. Courtney Bayliss added 10 points and four rebounds off the bench as well.
Shani Amos did all she could for the Wolves finishing with 21 points, six assists and four steals with Megan Lee finishing with 10 points.
The only men's semi-final Game 2 on Friday night saw the Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles beat the Perth Redbacks 105-94 at the WA Basketball Centre.
The Eagles finished the regular season in seventh position but then beat the second-placed Rockingham Flames in the quarter finals and now have beaten the third-placed Redbacks in the semi finals to reach the grand final for 2014.
East Perth got off to a fast start on Friday night at the WA Basketball Centre with 24 points to 14 in the first period and the Eagles never surrendered that advantage ending up winning by 11 points.
Tom Jervis was the star of the night for the Eagles with 16 points, 18 rebounds and 11 blocked shots.
Kyle Armour top-scored for East Perth with 22 points, four rebounds and three assists with Mathiang Muo with 21 points and 16 boards.
Drew Williamson also added 20 points, four rebounds and three assists off the bench while shooting 4-of-8 from downtown and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line.
Joe-Alan Tupaea also added 12 points and four assists for East Perth.
Stan Okoye had a slow start but ended up with good numbers on the night for the Redbacks with 26 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out.
Joel Wagner finished with 16 points and nine assists for Perth while Lee Roberts finished with 14 points and 21 rebounds.
Marshall Nelson also contributed 14 points and Jarrad Prior 13 points and six rebounds.
FRIDAY WOMEN'S SEMI-FINAL GAME 2 SBL MATCHES
Lakeside Lightning 79 defeated Joondalup Wolves 66
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 84 defeated Kalamunda Eastern Suns 64
FRIDAY MEN'S SEMI-FINAL GAME 2 SBL MATCHES
Perth Redbacks 94 lost to Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles 105
Article by Chris Pike
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