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THE semi finalists in the Women’s SBL for 2019 will be determined this weekend as the quarter finals conclude and while the Perry Lakes Hawks, Warwick Senators, Rockingham Flames and Lakeside Lightning take one-nil leads, there’s plenty left to be played out.

It was a fascinating opening weekend to the playoffs in the Women’s SBL the defending champion minor premier Lakeside Lightning taking a lead over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, and the fourth seeded Warwick Senators going up over the Willetton Tigers.

But the second ranked Mandurah Magic lost to the Rockingham Flames as did the third placed Joondalup Wolves to the Perry Lakes Hawks.

That sets the stage for a fascinating Week 2 of the quarter finals which gets underway on Friday night with Game 2 between the Perry Lakes Hawks and Joondalup Wolves, and the Willetton Tigers and Warwick Senators.

Both those respective Game 3’s if required will take place on Saturday night.

Also on Saturday night will be the Game 2 match ups between the Rockingham Flames and Mandurah Magic, and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Lakeside Lightning. If needed, those Game 3’s will be played on Sunday.

QUARTER FINALS WEEK 1 WOMEN’S SBL WRAP
QUARTER FINALS GAME 1 SPOTLIGHT | SENATORS REGAIN SOME FORM OVER TIGERS
QUARTER FINALS GAME 1 SPOTLIGHT | GARBIN LIFTS FLAMES OVER MAGIC
LADY HAWKS CLICKING BUT REAL WORK NOW STARTS
LIGHTNING STILL WORK IN PROGRESS ENTERING FINALS
CRAWFORD WANTS FLAMES TO HAVE FUN IN FINALS
EASTERN SUNS PRIMED FOR ANOTHER CRACK AT LIGHTNING

Two of the quarter-final series will have their Game 2 match ups take place on Friday night starting at 6.30pm with the Hawks hosting the Wolfpack at Bendat Basketball Centre.

Perry Lakes took the lead in the series with a commanding 102-66 win last Saturday at HBF Arena despite being the sixth seed coming into the playoffs and Joondalup having finished in third position.

But the Hawks entered the playoffs on a six-game winning streak and continued that momentum last week with the 36-point Game 1 win where Megan McKay, Nat Burton and Sarah Donovan helped dominate inside while Jamie Cherry was dynamic as point guard.

There’s still enough talent in the Wolves team to bounce back and you can always rely on Amber Land to give her all.

But they need imports Jasmine Martin and Andee Ritter along with Mikayla Pirini, Isabelle Miotti and Georgia Denehey all to have big games if they are to force a Game 3 back at HBF Arena on Saturday night.

The other Friday night fixture will be played on neutral ground when the Tigers play the Senators at Cockburn’s Wally Hagan Stadium given the redevelopment going on at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

Warwick was able to win Game 1 last Saturday night at Warwick Stadium 84-74 after a blistering start, and then hitting back late to overrun the Tigers.

The Senators were closer to full strength again with the returns of Tayla Hepburn and Bianca Villegas but Willetton will be looking to avoid a similarly slow start and try to take advantage of Laina Snyder’s edge in the post as they attempt to force a Game 3 back at Warwick Stadium.

Then in the Saturday night Game 2 match ups, the Eastern Suns will be at home to the Lightning looking to turn the pressure back on the defending champions when they play at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

Lakeside did win Game 1 at home 85-77, but it’s a game Kalamunda would have taken heart from as they now look to build on that on Saturday night in front of their home fans to attempt to take it to a Game 3 back at Lakeside Recreation Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Then also on Saturday night, Game 2 between the Rockingham Flames and Mandurah Magic will be played at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

Rockingham took the lead in the series with 76-65 victory in Mandurah last Friday night but the fierce local rivals put together quite the tussle and this Saturday night should be no different.

In the end, the Magic will need Casey Mihovilovich and Taylor Brown to shoot better and hope they get a better go at things with the whistle while if Darcee Garbin catches a fire again for Rockingham and Maddie Allen is switched on defensively, they will be tough to stop.

If the Magic are able to win in Rockingham, then Game 3 will be back in Mandurah on Sunday.

WOMEN’S SBL FIXTURES – QUARTER FINALS GAME 2
FRIDAY
Scarboro Toyota Perry Lakes Hawks v Chambers Franklyn Joondalup City Wolves – Bendat Basketball Centre 6.30pm (Perry Lakes leads 1-0)
Willetton Tigers v Bethanie Warwick Senators – Wally Hagan Stadium 6.30pm (Warwick leads 1-0)

SATURDAY
Class 1 Orthodontics Rockingham Flames v Cachet Homes Mandurah Magic – Mike Barnett Sports Complex 6.00pm (Rockingham leads 1-0)
Kalamunda Eastern Suns v Lakeside Lightning – Ray Owen Sports Centre 6.30pm (Lakeside leads 1-0)

QUARTER FINALS GAME 3 (if required)
SATURDAY
Bethanie Warwick Senators v Willetton Tigers – Warwick Stadium 7.00pm
Chambers Franklyn Joondalup City Wolves v Scarboro Toyota Perry Lakes Hawks – HBF Arena 7.00pm

SUNDAY
Cachet Homes Mandurah Magic v Class 1 Orthodontics Rockingham Flames – Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre 12.00pm
Lakeside Lightning v Kalamunda Eastern Suns – Lakeside Recreation Centre 2.00pm