NBL1 Central Womens Semi-Finals

Photo By Roar Photgraphics SA

Here is the recap of week two of the finals; The Semi-Finals

Sabres in straight sets shaken by Taylor

The Sturt Sabres have been knocked out in straight sets as the North Adelaide Rockets post season continued to take lift-off with its 71-80 victory at the Cave. The Sabres got out to 6-0 start before DPOY Jess Good hauled them back in offensively. Sabres Zoe Walker-Roberts came off the pine for some big impact early but despite Good’s 10 in the first quarter and former Adelaide Lightning back-up shooting guard Shannon Webber with a buzzer beater; it was 22-21 in favour of the Sabres. A 2-7 run broken by a Kylee Smith triple saw the home side even up the rebound count through her and Nicola Mathews despite a purple patch from Webber and some solid buckets from Taylor Ortlepp. The Rockets defence holding solid under the hoop despite a late flurry from the Sabres who held a 44-43 lead with Good 13 and 8 and Kylee Smith with 16 points at the half.

Kayla Mathews continued to find the driving gap to the hoop at the start of the third quarter bringing up her double figures early. A running jump hook from Jess Good snapped the Sabres momentum bringing up another double double however the loose balls and turnovers for Rockets were starting to look a little costly. The game evenly poised needing someone to take over it 60-57 in favour of the homes side at three quarter time. It was Taylor Ortlepp who got her team going with an influential opening three minutes to the final stanza and some more Webber magic with and1 and a triple to continue a flawless shooting night. Lightning Sabre Tayla Brazel struck multiple triples and a layup but it was Ortlepp who gave the Rockets a 71-76 lead with 33.3 to go. Good drew her way to the charity stripe to make it 71-78 before Taylor sealed it at the stripe 72-80.

Taylor Ortlepp finished with 22 points, 5 rebounds and assists who along with Jess “who was so Good early” (20 points and 16 rebounds) when the game was on the line stepped up along with the cameo from Shannon Webber with a perfect 15 points and 6 rebounds. The Sabres were led by Kylee Smith in the first half with 16 points but she finished with 18 points and was blanketed out of the game as the scoring was shared around; Kayla Mathews the next best with 15 points and 6 assists.         

All-Stars send Tigers to “Big Dance” in Southern Showdown

Two of the five NBL1 Central All-Stars were the catalyst as the Southern Tigers booked the first spot in the 2021 Grand Final with an 82-70 win over their rivals the South Adelaide Panthers at the Cage. The Southern Finals Showdown saw the Tigers get off to a fast start in front of their roaring fans with a 14-4 opening through some outside shooting of Jemma Thacker and All-Stars in Morgan Yaeger (pictured) and Halls Medallist and League MVP Teige Morrell before the Panthers reeled it back in by All-Star five power forward Olivia Thompson for a 20-17 to the home side after one. The start of the second was frenetic with Jordan Hunter and Hatti Cox for the Panthers causing problems for Yaeger with some points and some key turnovers on the star Tigers guard. Yaeger then went three buckets in the last few minutes to edge the Tigers in front at the half 44-34.

The Tigers and Panthers traded blows in the third quarter before Yaeger bombed her way into the contest with a string of buckets but the Panthers brought it back through the O of Thompson as she and Teresa McGreehan clung onto the Tigers at three quarter time 65-56. Madi Round dropped a couple of triples to make it really challenging for the Tigers before Ash “Splash” Spencer tried to draw them closer getting going. The Tigers however continued to hold firm in the fourth as they advanced to the NBL1 Central Womens Grand Final 82-70.

Yaeger finished with 29 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists to lead all comers while the Halls Medallist backed up with another double double of 21 points and 12 rebounds and 6 dimes to round out her game. The Panthers were led from start to finish by Olivia Thompson with 23 points and 13 rebounds in her double double. The Tigers having made the ABC Grand Final 2020 also will make it three in the last five years after last winning the state title in 2017.    

The Southern Tigers advance straight to the NBL1 Central Womens Grand Final in two weeks while the South Adelaide Panthers will battle the North Adelaide Rockets next Saturday night with the second seeded Sturt Sabres now out of the series.