Men's Semi-Final Week 2 SBL Preview
THERE is no love lost in the semi-final series between the Perth Redbacks and East Perth Eagles with the minor premier Geraldton Buccaneers facing the defending champion Lakeside Lightning in the other, but only two will be left standing to meet in the 2014 men's SBL grand final.
The Buccaneers and Eagles head into the weekend with a one-nil lead already in their semi-final series' after winning their respective Game 1s last weekend.
That means that Geraldton has two opportunities at home this weekend to qualify for next Saturday night's grand final while East Perth must win one of its two games at the WA Basketball Centre to win through.
However, the defending champion Lakeside and the third-placed Perth will be desperate to have something to say about that and firstly force Game 3s, and then attempt to win through to the grand final themselves.
Game 2 between the Perth Redbacks and Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles will take place at the WA Basketball Centre at 7.30pm on Friday night while Game 2 between the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers and the Lakeside Lightning takes place at Active West Stadium on Saturday night.
If the Redbacks beat the Eagles on Friday, Game 3 of that semi-final series will take place again at the WA Basketball Centre on Saturday night at 7.30pm while if the Lightning beats the Buccaneers on Saturday, that Game 3 will take place at midday Sunday again at Active West Stadium.
Despite Perth finishing in third position at the end of the regular season and then cruising past the Mandurah Magic in two quarter final matches to make the semi finals, it was the No. 7 seed East Perth who took the one-nil series lead last Saturday night.
The Eagles beat the Redbacks 106-98 at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre to back up their hard fought quarter-final win against the Rockingham Flames, and now can make the grand final for 2014 if able to win one of the potential two games this weekend at the WA Basketball Centre.
However, up until last Saturday night the Redbacks had been on an eight-game winning streak and in terrific form so they will be desperate to at least force a Game 3 and then for all to be on the line come Saturday night between two teams who clearly have no love for each other right now.
Last Saturday night, the Eagles opened up a 67-53 half-time advantage and then held on to beat the Redbacks by eight points on the back 23 points from Kyle Armour and 22, 14 rebounds, five assists and four blocks to Tom Jervis.
However, the Redbacks got 21 points and 15 rebounds from Lee Roberts, 20 points and 10 boards from Stan Okoye, 17 points from Jarrad Prior and 12 points and 10 assists from Joel Wagner, but all will be looking to lift on Friday night as will Dennis Tawhiti coming off a two-point outing.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers and Lightning resume the other semi-final battle on Saturday night in Geraldton with only one able to qualify for the grand final meaning either the minor premiers or the defending champions will be eliminated.
The Buccaneers have had an outstanding season finishing with a 19-7 record to be on top of the standings and then beat the South West Slammers in two games in the quarter-final series.
Meanwhile, the Lightning backed up last year's championship win by finishing the regular season in fourth position with a 16-10 record and then beating the Stirling Senators in the quarter finals on the back of a stunning and epic triple overtime Game 3 contest.
The semi-final series began last Saturday night with the Buccaneers beating the Lightning 108-102 at Lakeside Recreation Centre.
Despite 41 points from Brad Tinsley and 14 points and 20 rebounds from Jarrad Prue for Lakeside, Geraldton had too much firepower with Carter Cook scoring 32 points, Bennie Lewis 28 and Aaron Ralph 19 to go with 10 rebounds.
WEEK 2 MEN'S SEMI FINALS GAME 2 SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Perth Redbacks v Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles, WA Basketball Centre 7.30pm
SATURDAY
Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers v Lakeside Lightning, Active West Stadium 7.30pm
WEEK 2 MEN'S SEMI FINALS GAME 3 SBL FIXTURES
SATURDAY
Perth Redbacks v Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles, WA Basketball Centre 7.30pm
SUNDAY
Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers v Lakeside Lightning, Active West Stadium 12pm
Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin
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