Sturt-West @ Pasadena 6:30
Last time these teams met, Sturt's shooting let them down handing West a win. That game was without Madgen, so perhaps that’s an indication of how important she is to the team structure. Without Madgen their defence remains the same (57.6), but offensively they flop like tuna on a Port Lincoln fishing boat dropping from 85.5 ppg to 65.6 ppg. Control Madgen, control Sturt? If only it was that easy! Did someone mention Madge is at Uni games? The Marino Cup is on the table, so who will draw first blood to have a crack at Norwood? Reckon that still might be Sturt.

Eagles-Lions @ Wayville 6:30
Last time the Lionesses were in finals Ben Todd had hair. The Eagles have been very lucky the last two weeks to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat to limp unconvincingly across the line. The Lionesses have found their roar this season and there's a saying you should never wake a sleeping lion ... or bear ... or tiger … or baby. In general, just don't wake things! Madgen is to Sturt as Borrego is to Forestville. Borrego adds nearly 19 points to the Eagle’s overall effort so if the Lionesses can control her, then they might be in for a chance at a fairytale run. If Toddy turns up in a grey suit stroking a cat, then we know there is an evil plan afoot. Forestville have lucked wins the last two weeks and while they go in as favourites with the benefit of the home court, they might find the Luck of the Irish smiles on the Lionesses this week.

Men:
The Norwood men have the luxury of a week off. Maybe THEY will be the ones braiding each other's hair. No, wait, they’ll go to Norwood bowl to take advantage of the bowling ball polishing machine. (refer Simpsons......)

Eagles-Sturt @ Wayville 8:15
Some days you're the bug and some days you're the windscreen. Sturt have won their last 4 (last loss was Forestville) and 9 of their last 10. Incredibly, Forestville have gone better on the road than at home this season. With Jakob looking to impress and Darren back, one expects Sturt would have Forestville’s measure. We all know Sturt is better than Forestville in the boys. Yep, Sturt will be the windscreen this week. Get the squeegee ready for squashed Eagle. The Forestville Jedi to be no match for the Sturt Sith - I know who will play Lord Vader and Darth Sidius, but who will play the Emperor? and who of you put Jedi as their religion on the census?

West-North @ Port
West have played a lot of close games this season and this will be another close one. Dowdell is back for finals to boost West’s chances and it may be a good time for him to farewell his team mates. It would be a waste of an airfare otherwise. West have North on two strikes this season and can strike them out this week. Dowdell and Nurse are the obvious keys to unlock the game. I suspect Tracey has been keeping her powder dry ready for finals and has a plan not to strike out. North should savour the win this week like a juicy lamb shank – next week they face the Rash. Nothing against the wharfies, North just seem to be peaking at the right time.

Cometh thehour cometh the Man - 007 licensed to Shoot.Think James b

It wouldn't let me add and kept crashing!

Fear not, I wasn't in London or kidnapped by a group of Swedish nymphomaniacs.....

Jack
Any "photos" of your Captors --OR phone numbers??
I think the Bearcats will give Tracey & Corey a sad farewell from the Rockets.
So glad that you are able to provide your anticipated finals preview

Loved the Jedi bit. Sweden has me wondering...

Jack easily gets my 3 votes for Hoops MVP of the season.

Always love your work Jack, your write ups are brilliant.

Sad farewell from North for Tracy and Corey hey Hangin Round? I've heard rumours Tracy won't be back next year? Can you confirm?

Also heard it may be a sad farewell from the Bearcats junior program for Corey? He has been there a long time and always produces some quality teams so would be a huge loss!

Jack, please return in 2012. I cant wait each week for these.

Are you going to do a write up for 36ers games??

annon, if I can escape the clutches of the Swedes, then I might be back in time.....

Anyone know if Neil Mottram will be playing for Forestville men?

Yeh lions ladies lost by 3 , hardly a crash and burn. Played their hearts out.

Great game by Centrals women tonight. Leading by 8 with about 7 minutes to go and then the Eagles stepped up and took control to win by 3. One of the best last quarters of ABL Womens I have seen all year. The Lions should be very proud of their performance tonight. An honourable mention must also go to the Paddlepop Lion and the Central's guys in blue body paint.

Was followed by a very physical and incident packed men's game. Eagles led for all but a few seconds and were in full control all game. Ng's shooting was again a highlight for the Sabres whileTucker and Blair were standouts for the Eagles. Jacob Holmes was at his physical and despicable best with elbows flying and earning the wrath of the normally sedate Eagles crowd.

Good night of BBall for all.

Lucy, did you say Ng's shooting was the highlight for the Sabres tonight? Ng couldn't shoot anything other than free throws and a few 3's in the dying minutes which didn't amount to much.

You're too harsh EC. Blair certainly hassled Ng out of his groove tonight but it was it was his accuracy after half time kept the scorers busy and gave the Sabres a bit of a sniff in the 3rd. And I wouldn't write off free throws too easily. He was at 100% from the line tonight, including a couple of 3s. Don't have the scoresheet but he surely topped the list tonight. More than serviceable.

Lucy, he missed one free shot tonight, not quite 100%.

Whilst Darren was a large contributor to Sturt's defensive woes, he did have 38 points. Not bad for a first game back after a month or so of illness.

Eagles looked too quick for Sabres tonight. Very well rounded performance.

Blake Truslove with consecutive "anonymous" posts!!

Anon, it was merely a correction made on a statement of shooting 100%. It was wrong and I corrected it. Does not mean to say it wasn't good enough.

Great to see West smash Rockets by 25 points! Awesome game!

Is that Correct- Darren Ng with 38 points?
Hate to see him when he is fully recovered and back in form (you must be a harsh judge)

Will there be more first year officials umpiring mens games?

What a joke!!!

finals basketball and Mike Gibson wants to develop kid's and thow them in the deep end

It's been happening for years and coninues to get ignored

I can see why your frustrated. Really don't think the referees would have changed the result of the match. Eagles definatley outclassed sturt on the day!

neither is Ian Domekia a first year ref

Didn't Jacob receive an unsportsmanlike foul? I thought the refs were all over his bad behaviour. Maybe just frustration, but by far not acceptable by a 6er.

He's technically not a 36er, so off the hook there. Maybe you meant that you expected someone who usually plays at a higher level to keep it clean? I don't know if that necessarily follows - there are players pushing boundaries at every level, right?

Frankly the refereeing had zero impact on the final results of the 2 games I saw at Wayville.

However, I do think that in the Mens' game they were a bit out of their depth when Jacob went on his little bender. In the end it was Jacob who put a lid on things rather than the refs actions. Definitely something to be considered in rostering the rest of the finals.

Corey will struggle to be able to make the transition to ABL coach, this will put the club behind the eightball!

Can someone stop josh bonds mum from posting on here its pathetic, everytime she does it we lose!

"Cometh the hour cometh the Man - 007 licensed to Shoot"

The hour came and passed with no heroes and we lost!

Wake up to Yourself