Minor Semifinal:
The Australian postseason started with the first semifinal, an elimination game between third and fourth placed teams. A scoring outburst from Sara Blicavs was not enough for the hosts as Rachel Jarry and Ify Ibekwe led SEQ to an 86-82 win at Dandenong.
February 27, 2016
Dandenong Rangers vs. SEQ Stars 82-86 DAN Blicavs 38/9r Kennedy 12 Pickrel 11/7r SEQ Jarry 25/7r Ibekwe 21/14r Allen 19/8r Payne 12 Hooper 9/8r Lewis 0 Farley 0
Major Semifinal:
The other semifinal was not an elmination game, but instead a game to determine which team would be the first in the final series as first and second place squared off. Betnijah Laney and Sami Whitcomb helped Perth run out to a big lead on Townsville and cause an upset 91-72 win.
February 28, 2016
Townsville Fire vs. Perth Lynx 72-91 TSV Novosel 15 George 12/11r Cocks 12 Batkovic 11/9r Paalvast 4 Gaze 0 PER Laney 23/8r Whitcomb 21/8r Mijovic 17/9r Lavey 15/7r Edmondson 11 Burton 4 Tomlinson 0 Chilcott 0 Wischer 0 Barr 0
The Preliminary Final, which will determine the other team to play for the championship, will have Townsville hosting SEQ.
Both were very watchable games. Rangers-Stars was slow to get going but the second half was a high quality contest.
The Lynx brought their up-tempo style to Townsville and took it at them from start to finish.
Both games can be viewed on Youtube.
Dandenong vs SEQ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWMGMG6UFdk
Townsville vs Perth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKT5LXhmvjY
Congrats to the Lynx for making it through to the grand final series 🙂