IT WOULD be no surprise to see any of the Rockingham Flames, Lakeside Lightning, Joondalup Wolves or Kalamunda Eastern Suns win the women's SBL championship for 2014 meaning both semi final match ups starting this weekend will be tantalising contests.

Both Game 1s of the women's SBL semi finals take place this Saturday night with the lower-ranked teams playing host as the Kalamunda Eastern Suns play the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames and the Joondalup Wolves take on the Lakeside Lightning.

The series' will then be decided next weekend with higher-ranked teams hosting Game 2 and potentially Game 3 if required to determine the women's SBL grand finalists for 2014.

Game 1 between the Eastern Suns and the Flames takes place on Saturday night at Ray Owen Sports Centre with tip-off at 6.30pm.

Rockingham finished the regular season with a 20-2 record to be the minor premiers and then had no trouble accounting for the Willetton Tigers in two games in the quarter finals.

Kalamunda is coming off a grand final appearance in 2013 and ended the 2014 regular season in fourth spot with a 14-8 record before advancing to the semi finals by beating the Soprano Lady Cougars in three hotly contested quarter final match ups.

The Suns and Flames met twice during the regular season splitting one win apiece.

Rockingham won the first encounter in Week 6 of the season 94-64 at Ray Owen Sports Centre but the Suns were without Alison Schwagmeyer at that point.

The Flames' then had their 17-match winning streak to start the season ended by the Eastern Suns when Kalamunda won 84-78 at Mike Barnett Sports Complex in Week 15.

It is set to be a star-studded semi final series as well with the Flames team including Samantha Whitcomb, Darcee Garbin, Jacinta Bourne, Tarsha Fletcher, Kaye Tucker and Talisia Bourne, and the Suns line up featuring Alison Schwagmeyer, Jennie Rintala, Melissa Moyle, Adrienne Jones, Sarah-Jane Knox and Chelsea Armstrong.

Game 1 between the Wolves and Lightning takes place at Joondalup Basketball Stadium on Saturday night with tip-off at 7.30pm.

Joondalup won last year's women's SBL championship and backed that up with a 2014 regular season campaign that saw the Lady Wolfpack finish in third position in the standings with a 15-7 record.

That set up a quarter final match up with the Stirling Senators which the Wolves won in two games to advance to the semi finals.

Lakeside, meanwhile, is the hottest team in the SBL right now having won its last nine games of the regular season to guarantee second spot on the table and finish with a 19-3 record.

The Lightning then beat the Mandurah Magic in two games in the quarter finals to now have won 11 matches on the trot heading into the semi final clash with the Wolves which promises to be a beauty with a grand final berth on the line.

The Lightning and Wolves met twice during the regular season with Lakeside winning 78-64 at Joondalup Basketball Stadium in Week 16 and then the Lightning also winning 85-56 in Week 20 to close out the regular season at Lakeside Recreation Centre.

The Lightning are yet to lose at home in 2014 but Game 1 is at Joondalup with the Wolves then having to turn their focus to ending that run for Lakeside to win through to the grand final.

WEEK 1 WOMEN'S SEMI FINALS SBL FIXTURES
SATURDAY
Kalamunda Eastern Suns v Orange Autos Rockingham Flames, Ray Owen Sports Centre 6.30pm
Joondalup Wolves v Lakeside Lightning, Joondalup Basketball Stadium 7.30pm

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Serene Elise Photography