THE Southside Flyers are the second team to advance to the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) Grand Final series, defeating the Melbourne Boomers by 16 points at Melbourne Sports Centre in Parkville.

With the Boomers winning game two, both teams looked to play four quarters of their best basketball to advance to the grand final.

In a game of scoring runs and momentum swings in the first half, the Flyers stepped up in the third quarter, breaking away to emerge 93-77 winners in front of a vocal crowd.

The result was largely on the shoulders of Lauren Jackson, who proved that age is just a number with a masterful offensive performance.

Southside Flyers (93) def. Melbourne Boomers (77)

The game kicked off with both teams controlling the tempo at various stages, with the Flyers on top in the opening minutes of the match. The Boomers steadied shortly after, but the Flyers poured in some late baskets, taking a two-point lead at quarter time.

In the second period, the Flyers won the quarter 25-21, sharing the ball around, which resulted in a 14-8 advantage in the assists column. Southside was also generating plenty of scores from turnovers and were winning the steal count 6-3, showing the team’s desire to perform at a high level on both ends.

Although both teams had their respective scoring runs, it was the Flyers that maintained a six-point buffer at the main break.

Jackson, Rebecca Cole and Mercedes Russell combined for 38 points in the first half, with Cole shooting the ball well from the perimeter, whilst Russell and Jackson combined well inside the post and finished strongly under the basket.

Building on from their momentum in the second quarter, the Flyers rolled on in the third quarter, winning the term 27-17, continuing to dominate the defensive boards, maintaining their fast ball movement, and shooting the ball well from two-point range.

Whilst the last quarter was even at 19-19, the Flyers continued to add the defensive pressure. Southside ensured the Boomers could not conjure the necessary scoring run, resulting in a 93-77 victory.

Jackson delivered a vintage performance on the big stage, finishing with 38 points, 11 rebounds and two assists. She produced buckets of all varieties, whether it was spot up three-pointers, turnaround jumpshots or driving lay-ups in an unstoppable outing. At 42 years of age, the ‘GOAT’ is showing no signs of slowing down and will be a huge factor in the Grand Final series.

Russell was also a strong contributor, doing her job inside the paint and finishing with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and one steal.

Cole finished with 11 points, four assists and one steal, whilst Leilani Mitchell conjured 10 points, five assists and one steal.

The Grand Final series between the Southside Flyers and Perth Lynx kicks off on Sunday afternoon at Melbourne Sports Centre in Parkville.