Wolfpack men excited to start semi-final series Friday night in Rockingham

HAVING had to battle hard to overcome the Perry Lakes Hawks, the minor premier Joondalup Wolves turn their attention to the Rockingham Flames in the men's SBL semi finals and the Wolfpack can't wait to play in Rockingham on Friday night to start the series.

The Wolves ended up the standout team of the regular season finishing as minor premiers three games clear on top, but they came up against an on-fire Hawks team in the quarter finals and the result was one of the more memorable three-game series in recent memory.

The Wolfpack claimed a one-point thriller in Game 1 on the buzzer before the Hawks prevailed in Game 2 in another two-point nail-biter setting up the Game 3 decider last Sunday at Joondalup Basketball Stadium, with the Wolves managing to win 109-100 to advance to the semi finals.

The Wolves' championship winning coach from 2011 Ben Ettridge was proud and relieved that his team were able to overcome a Hawks club that was playing much better basketball than their eighth position on the standings suggested.

"We had to be tough in a hard fought series," Ettridge said.

"We were very happy with our consistency throughout.

"Our execution in game three was extremely solid.

"We thought in each possession, someone came up massive for us, either a great defensive play or a rebound or making clutch baskets.

"We moved on very quickly. Our staff do a great job of forward scouting."

Now awaiting the Wolves in the semi finals is a Flames team who also had to win through the quarter finals in three games having won Games 1 and 3 over the Cockburn Cougars after finishing the regular season in fifth position.

Ettridge is fully aware that the Flames won't be easy for the Wolves to overcome to advance to the grand final of 2015, but he's confident Joondalup's depth will stand them in good stead and he can't wait to start the series this Friday night at 7.30pm at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

"Flames have won a spiteful series by all accounts with Cougars. A lot of high emotions came out," Ettridge said.

"Mark Utley has done a great job with this group. Taylor and Cooper Land will have this team fired up for this series again.

"We will look to our depth as the playoffs roll on. (Damian) Matacz, (Louis) Timms, (Ben) Ironmonger, (Jordan) Wellsteed, (Sean) Easther, (Ngor) Manyang and (Doug) Gates have been the key to our success all season.

"We love Friday night games on the road, it's a mental thing that we believe Friday nights at 7.30pm are great for us, we love it"

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Serene-Elise Photography




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