Wolfpack down Flames to close in on men's grand final (Week 1 Friday night Semi Final SBL wrap)
THE minor premier Joondalup Wolves are now one win at home away from the SBL men's grand final for 2015 after beating the Rockingham Flames in Game 1 of the semi finals on Friday night.
There was just the one semi-final Game 1 match up taking place on Friday night and it was in the men's competition with the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves beating the Nags Head Tavern & Bistro Rockingham Flames 99-88 at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.
The Wolves finished the regular season three games clear on top of the standings and now after beating the Perry Lakes Hawks in a tough three-game quarter-final series, they need to win just one of two potential homes matches next weekend to make the 2015 SBL grand final.
The Flames now have their work cut out to make the grand final with the fifth seeds needing to win both games at Joondalup Basketball Stadium next weekend in order to advance.
It was a tight opening in front of a vocal Rockingham crowd at Mike Barnett Sports Complex with the Wolves leading by just a point at quarter-time, but they were able to open up a match-winning advantage in the second period.
The Wolfpack outscored the Flames 26-15 in the second quarter to lead by 12 points at half-time, and then maintain that advantage for the majority of the second half to end up winning by 11 to claim Game 1.
Trian Iliadis led the way for the Wolves on the night with 32 points, 12 rebounds and five assists on the back of shooting 12-of-23 from the field, and 6-of-14 from three-point territory.
Seb Salinas added 15 points, 11 rebounds and four assists as well for Joondalup while Kevin Davis contributed 15 points, 16 boards, five assists and two steals, Joel Questel 13 points, Sean Easther nine points and four rebounds, and Rob Huntington seven points.
Cooper Land top-scored for the Flames with 21 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots while shooting 9-of-14 from the floor.
Tom Remmerswaal added 20 points, five boards, three assists and two blocks for Rockingham while Ryan Godfrey contributed 12 points and five rebounds, Jarryd Griffin eight points and six boards, and Andrew Bowman seven points.
FRIDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Nags Head Tavern & Bistro Rockingham Flames 88 lost to Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 99
Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Serene-Elise Photography
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