{"id":34102,"date":"2023-03-16T13:17:12","date_gmt":"2023-03-16T03:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/basketball\/?p=34102"},"modified":"2023-03-16T13:17:15","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T03:17:15","slug":"blicavs-fires-early-to-lead-flyers-to-big-dance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/basketball\/blicavs-fires-early-to-lead-flyers-to-big-dance\/","title":{"rendered":"Blicavs fires early to lead Flyers to big dance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

IN A thrilling decider to the last remaining WNBL semi-final series, the Southside Flyers<\/a> have booked a spot in the grand final after downing the Melbourne Boomers<\/a> by one-point at State Basketball Centre on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the Boomers hit back in game two and forced a deciding match, the Flyers held on in dramatic fashion in response to Melbourne’s momentum after half-time. There were six lead changes in the third quarter alone, and the Flyers were forced to come from behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A three-pointer deep in the final quarter from Maddison Rocci<\/a> gave Southside the lead, but the Boomers answered, and it was not until game three inclusion Kayla Thornton<\/a> nailed a lay-up in the dying stages to give the Flyers a win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it was a balanced team performance from the Flyers, which is one of their biggest weapons, a strong start from Sara Blicavs<\/a> set the tone for the team. If not for her first half performance, Southside may not have ended up getting over the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Southside Flyers (73) def. Melbourne Boomers (72)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sara Blicavs – 14 points, seven rebounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In their biggest game of the season to date, the Flyers needed one of their big guns to stand up, which is what Blicavs did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although it seems a low figure given Southside produced 73 points in the match, Blicavs was still the Flyers’ equal- leading scorer for the match with her 14 points. The victors liked to share the ball and scoring opportunities, but Blicavs was a reliable source of scoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admittedly, it was not her most accurate performance, with the 30-year-old nailing just four shots on 12 attempts, but was a stronger performer from behind the arc. Blicavs shot 44 per cent from downtown, with all of her makes coming from three-point territory, shooting 4\/9 from deep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned above, Blicavs did most of her work in the first half, firing in the first two quarters to establish Southside as a genuine chance of winning the match. 11 of her 14 points came before half time, which was the most of any Flyer to that point as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blicavs was also able to chime in for seven rebounds, and although most of them came on the defensive end, two were offensive, creating a second chance scoring opportunity for the Flyers. She used her 188cm frame to reach over the opposition and get first hands on the ball after a miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although her influence was quelled in the second half, she still chimed in for her fourth triple, and played a vital role in getting the Flyers into the big dance, where they will take on the Townsville Fire<\/a> for the ultimate prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mentions<\/span><\/span><\/div>