NBL1 South Recap | Saturday Women's Semi Finals

The last place in the NBL1 South Women's preliminary finals was snapped up by the Launceston Tornadoes on Saturday night with a semi-final victory against the Nunawading Spectres.

The NBL1 South semi finals action got underway on Friday night with the Waverley Falcons winning a cracking overtime contest 87-85 on the road to the Mount Gambier Pioneers.

That set up the Falcons to take on the Bendigo Braves in Sunday's preliminary with the Ringwood Hawks awaiting to find out who they would be facing in the other Grand Final playoff.

It was the Spectres playing host to the Tornadoes at Nunawading Basketball Centre, but with superstar trio Keely Froling, Kelsey Griffin and Marianna Tolo leading the way, it was the visiting Launceston who prevailed 79-68.

That meant that the Tornadoes booked in a place in Sunday's preliminary final against Ringwood at The Rings with a spot in the Grand Final at stake.

The winners of Sunday's preliminary finals in next Saturday night's Grand Final with the winner of that to advance to the National Championships the following weekend.

NBL1 SOUTH – 2022 WOMEN'S SEASON
SEMI FINALS – SATURDAY NIGHT

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 68 lost to LAUNCESTON TORNADOES 79

The last spot in the preliminary finals went on the line between the Nunawading Spectres and Launceston Tornadoes on Saturday night at Nunawading Basketball Centre.

Nunawading finished the regular season in fourth position to earn the finals double chance which they were looking to capitalise on by hosting the Tornadoes on Saturday night on the back of an 18-point qualifying final loss to the regular season champion Bendigo Braves last Saturday.

The Tornadoes might have only finished the regular season in eighth position but with a superstar trio of Marianna Tolo, Keely Froling and Kelsey Griffin, they loomed as a definite threat coming into the NBL1 South finals.

They showed their potential last Saturday with the 12-point elimination final win on the road against the Geelong Supercats to see them book in a semi-final battle with the Spectres with a spot in Sunday's preliminary final against the Ringwood Hawks on the line.

Even though Launceston managed to open up a seven-point lead during the first quarter, that advantage was back to just two points by quarter-time.

However, the Tornadoes built some momentum back up during the second period going on a 9-0 scoring streak to open up a 14-point lead and to remain on top at 37-28 going into the half-time break.

Launceston pulled away further in the third quarter to push that lead out to 22 points, and from there they cruised to the eventual 79-68 victory.

It was a rough straight sets finals exit for Nunawading but Launceston will now back themselves in to get to a Grand Final by taking on the Ringwood Hawks on Sunday in the preliminary final at The Rings.

The big three all delivered on the night for Launceston in just the second game they've played together in all of 2022.

Keely Froling led the charge for the Tornadoes by finishing the night with 31 points and six rebounds on shooting 11/23 from the field and 9/11 at the free-throw line.

Kelsey Griffin added 29 points, eight rebounds and four assists, Marianna Tolo 10 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, and Mariah Payne six points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Rachel Antoniadou did all she could to try and keep Nunawading in the contest by putting up 23 points, five assists, five steals and two rebounds.

Rachel Brewster added 15 points and four rebounds, Cassidy Mihalko 14 points and eight boards, and Megan Mullings seven points and eight rebounds.