WOMEN'S FIRST SEMI FINAL | SATURDAY 16 AUGUST | 6:30 PM | HILLCREST
OFFICIALS:  Vanessa Devlin and Nikki Ireland

North Adelaide Rockets (13-5) v South Adelaide Panthers (13-5)

LAST WEEK
North
The Rockets burst out of the blocks, scoring 26 points and leading Sturt by eight at ¼ time. However, they only managed a further 26 for the remainder of the night, falling to a 52-57 defeat.

South
The Panthers made it clear that simply returning to the finals was not good enough for them. Their 85-57 win over Forestville was the most lopsided contest in the first week of the finals.

KEY STATISTICAL PERFORMERS
Scorers
North:        Jo Hill 16.7 ppg; Jamie-Lee Peris 12.3 ppg
South:        Janae Howard 22.4 ppg; Ashleigh Spencer 18.6 ppg

Rebounders
North:        Jamie-Lee Peris 10.8 rpg; Jo Hill 10.3 rpg
South:        Janae Howard 9.4 rpg; Hajnal Nagy 8.0 rpg

Assisters
North:        Jo Hill 3.0 apg; Shannon McKay 2.8 apg
South:        Jessica Mahony 9.0 apg; Karen Rokicinski 2.2 apg

X-FACTOR
North
Jess Smart. Smart averages 9.3 ppg on the season, and has scored in double figures in six of her past eight games, including 13 last week. Despite her team’s success, she has been restricted against the Panthers, averaging just 6.0 ppg in two regular season meetings. Following her team’s struggles offensively in the Qualifying Final, the Rockets need Smart to provide them with something in attack, if they are to overcome the in-form Panthers once again.

South
Ieva Nagy. Nagy cracked the 10 point barrier just once in her first six outings this season, but has quietly put together a string of five straight performances with at least 11 points. She matched her season high in a big Elimination Final last week, and she could not have picked a better time to catch fire. A repeat of last week and the high-scoring Panthers will have yet another dimension offensively.

HEAD-TO-HEAD
Round 8:       North 78 def South 69 @ Marion
Round 17:     North 82 def South 64 @ Hillcrest

VERDICT    
The Panthers have struggled to score against the Rockets this season, but can the Rockets shut down the juggernaut again?

PREDICTION    
Panthers by 6.

WOMEN'S SECOND SEMI FINAL | SATURDAY 16 AUGUST | 6:30 PM | MARS
OFFICIALS: Michelle Dyson and James Griguol 

Norwood Flames (16-2) v Sturt Sabres (15-3)

LAST WEEK
Norwood
The Flames had the bye after finishing the regular season with a league-best 16-2 record.

Sturt
The Sabres produced scintillating defence after ¼ time in their 57-52 win over North. 

KEY STATISTICAL PERFORMERS
Scorers
Norwood:    Amy Lewis 18.9 ppg; Jessica Good 14.6 ppg
Sturt:           Janae Howard 22.4 ppg; Ashleigh Spencer 18.6 ppg

Rebounders
Norwood:    Jessica Good 8.9 rpg; Amy Lewis 6.2 rpg
Sturt:            Janae Howard 9.4 rpg; Hajnal Nagy 8.0 rpg

Assisters
Norwood:    Jessica Foley 3.8 apg; Amy Lewis 3.6 apg
Sturt:            Jessica Mahony 9.0 apg; Karen Rokicinski 2.2 apg

X-FACTOR
Norwood
Jess Foley. Foley did not play in the Sabres’ upset win over the Flames in Round 10, and has been on the court far less than normal this year. If Foley’s season averages start to look more like her career averages, then the competition’s best team will be even better.

Sturt
Angela Marino. Marino has found her feet in the past five weeks with five consecutive double-digit scoring games, after scoring a total of nine points in her first four matches this season. She was a proven scorer in the CABL from 2005-9, averaging as much as 23.5 ppg in the 2008 season. The fact she played all 40 minutes last week shows how much the Sabres need her at the top of her game, if they are to have a chance of going all the way.

HEAD-TO-HEAD
Round 1:       Norwood 80 def Sturt 44 @ Pasadena 
Round 10:     Sturt 88 def Norwood 87 (OT) @ Mars

VERDICT    
The Sabres got up over the Flames last time, ending their 31 game winning streak. The Flames have a dodgy record in their last three Second Semi Finals (one regulation win, one OT win, one loss), but they are getting more experienced every year and should be ready to lift their game.

PREDICTION    
Flames by 13.

MEN'S FIRST SEMI FINAL | SATURDAY 16 AUGUST | 7:30 PM | STARPLEX
OFFICIALS: Nathan Durant and Ian Domeika 

Central District Lions (12-6) v West Adelaide Bearcats (11-7)

LAST WEEK
Centrals
The Lions were made to look second rate in a 65-84 loss to Norwood.

West
The Bearcats exacted a little revenge from the 2013 Grand Final, eliminating three-time reigning premiers Forestville 77-72.

KEY STATISTICAL PERFORMERS
Scorers
Centrals:    Kyle Miller 19.2 ppg; Christopher Clausen 17.9 ppg
West:          Jason Dawson 20.7 ppg; Daniel Johnson 19.0 ppg

Rebounders
Centrals:    Paul Joyce 9.4 rpg; Christopher Clausen 8.2 rpg
West:          Blake Truslove 12.2 rpg; Daniel Johnson 11.5 rpg 

Assisters
Centrals:    Kyle Miller 6.2 apg; Jordan Centernera 2.5 apg
West:          Anthony Spadavecchia 4.4 apg; Jason Dawson 3.9 apg

X-FACTOR
Centrals
Paul Joyce was the Lions’ best player against the Flames. He bailed them out on a couple of occasions with some nice jump shots, while competing hard on the boards. The Lions will be counting on his hustle as they look to avoid a straight sets exit.

West
Anthony Spadavecchia. Spadavecchia is averaging 11.3ppg, 6 rpg and 5.3 apg, with all statistics well up on his career averages. Spadavecchia was all over the court in the fourth last week, whether it be scoring, rebounding or earning trips to the foul line. The Lions have to watch that does not get under their guard, as he knows how to will his team to victory.

HEAD-TO-HEAD
Round 8:    Centrals 90 def West 78 @ Port Adelaide
Round 17:  Centrals 100 def West 78 @ Starplex

VERDICT    
The Lions have clearly had the wood on the Bearcats in 2014, but this is a new game. The Bearcats are in form and are much more experienced in finals. The Lions will hopefully have learnt from last week, because if they dish up more of the same play, they will be in for a long night.

PREDICTION    
Bearcats by 3.

MEN'S SECOND SEMI FINAL | SATURDAY 16 AUGUST | 8:15 PM | ST. CLAIR
OFFICIALS: Andrew Filmer and Nathan Wieland 

Woodville Warriors (14-4) v Norwood Flames (14-4)

LAST WEEK
Woodville
The Warriors had a bye, after finishing the regular season as number one seed. 

Norwood
Behind swift ball movement and a sensational individual effort from Todd Matthews, the Flames cruised to an 84-65 win over Central Districts.

KEY STATISTICAL PERFORMERS
Scorers
Woodville:    Alexander Starling 19.7 ppg; Darren Ng 16.1 ppg
Norwood:      Matthew Lycett 17.8 ppg; Andrew Webber 11.7 ppg

Rebounders
Woodville:    Alexander Starling 10.3 rpg; Luke Stanbridge 6.3 rpg
Norwood:      Matthew Lycett 9.7 rpg; Keith Krause 5.9 rpg

Assisters
Woodville:     Cameron Wilson 4.4 apg; Daniel Sims 4.0 apg
Norwood:       Andrew Webber 3.9 apg; Todd Matthews 3.5 apg

X-FACTOR
Woodville
Cameron Wilson. Wilson went scoreless off one field goal attempt when the Flames defeated the Warriors in Round 8, but to say he was more aggressive in the Warriors’ big Round 17 win is an understatement. The last time these teams met, Wilson was a difference-maker, scoring a season high 19 points on 7-12 shooting, while adding 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Wilson has been a scorer in the past, averaging as much as 22.8 ppg in 2008. Will he attack again on Saturday, or will he resort back to facilitation mode?

Norwood
Ian O’Boyle. The Warriors need to be careful of O’Boyle’s ability to score quick points, in particular against them. O’Boyle only averages 11.6 ppg, while shooting 32.7% on three-pointers. However, he has averaged 21.5 ppg against the Warriors this season, while going 8-17 from downtown. O’Boyle shot 0-8 from beyond the arc in the win over Centrals, which means he is likely to bounce back with a big game, based on his game-by-game statistics. 

HEAD-TO-HEAD
Round 8:    Norwood 90 def Woodville 76 @ St Clair
Round 17:  Woodville 94 def Norwood 61 @ Mars

VERDICT    
The series between these teams saw one half of Flame domination, then two halves of evenness, followed by a half of Warrior supremacy. Anything could happen.

PREDICTION    
Flames by 2.