By Mark Halliday

The Sturt Sabres hadn't beaten the North Adelaide Rockets in two meetings this season but raised their game when it mattered most as they eliminated the Rockets, 80-78, in one of the most intense matches of the season.

A back and forth battle dominated the game as Sturt started the game switched on and raced out to a nine point lead after one quarter. However, the Rockets had an equally impressive second quarter to close the gap and set up a showdown in the second half.

Both teams traded the lead as Sturt's CJ Reed (26 points, 10 rebounds) and North's Aric Miller (26 points, seven rebounds, three assists) went head-to-head but neither team could gain an advantage until the final minutes of the game.

The Sabres hit the front mid-way through the final quarter and held a seven point lead with two minutes left to play. The Rockets clawed their way back through a handful of quick baskets. Miller nailed a triple and then stole the ball which lead to a fast break layup and cut the lead to two.

Sturt had multiple chances to make it a two possession game with under a minute remaining. Mark Bauer missed a shot but team-mate Tim Klaosen (eight points, 12 rebounds, four assists) grabbed the offensive rebound. Reed missed a three but Bauer was in the mix again to give the Sabres another chance but Reed's shot was off the mark yet again.

The Rockets almost mirrored Sturt's previous possession as Miller and Thomas Rowe couldn't find the net. Luke Mapunda (13 points, 13 rebounds) was fouled but couldn't tie the game as he split his free throws.

North fouled and Sturt's Klaosen did the same, only making one free throw from two attempts, increasing the lead to two and giving the Rockets a sniff at tying the game or the win.

With five seconds on the clock, North's Miller raced up the court, darted to the middle but his game-winning three pointer bounced off the ring as the clock expired. The Sabres prevailed in front of a raucous North Adelaide crowd that hasn't seen success for its men's team since 2007.

Sturt only had two players reach double figures in scoring with Reed and Dylan Rawson (22 points, six rebounds) while North had Miller, Mapunda, Daniel Goodluck (16 points) and John Wernham (13 points, eight rebounds) all scoring well.

The Sabres advance to the Semi-Finals were they will play West Adelaide while the Rockets will be watching from the sidelines.