THE Joondalup Wolves and South West Slammers are now won win on their home floors away from the men's SBL grand final for 2015 after winning their semi-final Game 1 matches on the weekend.

There was just the one semi-final Game 1 match up taking place on Friday night and it was in the men's competition with the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves beating the Nags Head Tavern & Bistro Rockingham Flames 99-88 at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

The Wolves finished the regular season three games clear on top of the standings and now after beating the Perry Lakes Hawks in a tough three-game quarter-final series, they need to win just one of two potential homes matches next weekend to make the 2015 SBL grand final.

The Flames now have their work cut out to make the grand final with the fifth seeds needing to win both games at Joondalup Basketball Stadium next weekend in order to advance.

Then on Saturday night it took overtime for the Collie South West Slammers to overcome the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 116-111 at Neils Hansen Basketball Stadium.

Game 2 now between the Slammers and Giants will take place this Saturday night at Eaton Recreation Centre with Game 2 between the Wolves and Flames also on Saturday night at Joondalup Basketball Stadium. Both Game 3's if required will then be played on Sunday.

There were again some standout performances to open the semi finals starting on Friday night with Trian Iliadis leading the way for the Wolves on the night with 32 points, 12 rebounds and five assists on the back of shooting 12-of-23 from the field, and 6-of-14 from three-point territory.

Seb Salinas added 15 points, 11 rebounds and four assists as well for Joondalup while Kevin Davis contributed 15 points, 16 boards, five assists and two steals, Joel Questel 13 points, Sean Easther nine points and four rebounds, and Rob Huntington seven points.

Cooper Land top-scored for the Flames with 21 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots while shooting 9-of-14 from the floor.

Tom Remmerswaal added 20 points, five boards, three assists and two blocks for Rockingham while Ryan Godfrey contributed 12 points and five rebounds, Jarryd Griffin eight points and six boards, and Andrew Bowman seven points.

Then in the men's contest on Saturday night, the Slammers and Giants played out an overtime classic in front of a big, loud and vocal Kalgoorlie crowd who were trying to get their team one win away from the men's grand final for 2015.

The Giants needed a big fourth quarter to force the overtime period and that's what they delivered with 29 points to 20 from the Slammers with scores locked at 103-apiece after 48 minutes.

However, that comeback seemed to take the win out of the sails of Goldfields and South West was able to score 13 points to eight in overtime to win and now require to win just one of two potential matches at Eaton Recreation Centre next weekend to advance to the grand final.

Even more impressive and important for the Slammers getting the win in hostile territory was the fact that it came without playing-coach Ty Harrelson who should return for next weekend's Game 2 and potentially Game 3 if it's required.

Tre Nichols led the way for South West with 27 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals while Wade Hitchcock added 20 points, three assists and two boards while nailing 8-of-17 from the field, and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Brian Voelkel had another monster game for the Slammers with 19 points, 18 rebounds and six assists with Trent Worthington contributing 17 points and 10 boards, Jordan Hickert 14 points and five rebounds, and Aaron Edwards 11 points.

Jacob Holmen top-scored for the Giants with 35 points, 15 rebounds and six assists while Mathiang Muo contributed 26 points, eight boards and four assists, and Jay Bowie 19 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Brandon Hewitt-Holloway also contributed 14 points and eight assists for Goldfields and Russell Hurst had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

FRIDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Nags Head Tavern & Bistro Rockingham Flames 88 lost to Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 99

SATURDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 111 lost to Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 116

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin