THE Joondalup Wolves and Mandurah Magic both face must-win semi-final Game 2 match ups against the Willetton Tigers and Rockingham Flames respectively on Friday night in order to force deciding Game 3 contests with a women's SBL grand final spot up for grabs.

With the top two teams the Flames and Tigers winning their semi-final Game 1's on the road last weekend, the pressure is now on their lower-ranked opponents on Friday night to hit the road and score victories to force a decider on Saturday night.

Both Game 2's will take place on Friday night starting at 7pm with the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers playing the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

Then at 7.30pm, the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames take on the Mandurah Magic at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

If either or both the Wolves and Magic are victorious on Friday night, then the deciding Game 3 will take place at the same venue on Saturday night with the winners to take part in next Friday night's women's SBL grand final at Bendat Basketball Centre.

Starting at Willetton Basketball Stadium, the Lady Wolfpack have the challenge of trying to hand the Tigers their first defeat on their home floor for the season just to force a Game 3, and then to repeat that 24 hours later to reach the grand final.

Willetton won all 11 games at home during the regular season and then claimed Game 2 of the quarter finals there against the Perry Lakes Hawks as well to be on a 12-game winning streak at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

The Tigers have now won 13 games consecutive overall as well having won their last 10 regular season matches and then sweeping the Hawks in two quarter-final games, and beating the Wolves in the semi-final Game 1 at Joondalup Basketball Stadium by 14 points.

The Tigers claimed the win 82-68 with the spread of performers the key to the victory with Lara Napier, Desiree Kelley, Louella Tomlinson, Melissa Collins (nee Marsh), Zoe Harper and Kate Malpass all scoring in double-figures.

The Lady Wolfpack got strong performances out of Rebecca Mercer (20 points) and Nikita-Lee Martin (17 points, 10 rebounds) but they will need more help if they are to remain in the hunt for the grand final.

Then in the battle of the local rivals, the Magic need to find a way to beat the defending champion Flames on Friday night in Rockingham, and then hope the pressure gets to the minor premiers in Game 3 on Saturday with a grand final berth at stake.

The two teams split wins on each other's home floor throughout the season but it was the Flames who proved too good last Saturday night winning 90-70 in Mandurah.

That was on the back of big performances from Darcee Garbin (26 points, six rebounds), Sami Whitcomb (22 points, seven boards, five assists) and Jacinta Bourne (22 points, four rebounds, four assists), and if those three fire again this week the Magic's job will be tremendously difficult.

However, Mandurah will be confident that Casey Mihovilovich will shoot better than the 3-of-18 she ended with last Saturday night and that could make the world of difference for the Magic.

Then if Emma Klasztorny, Peyton Davis and Kate Sidebottom can get more, and better, looks it could help Mandurah significantly.

WOMEN'S SBL SEMI-FINAL GAME 2'S
FRIDAY
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers v Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves, Willetton Basketball Stadium 7pm
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames v Mandurah Magic, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 7.30pm

WOMEN'S SBL SEMI-FINAL GAME 3'S (IF REQUIRED)
SATURDAY
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers v Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves, Willetton Basketball Stadium 7pm
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames v Mandurah Magic, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 7pm

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by June Halliday