By Benito Carbone @_BenitoCarbone

West Adelaide Bearcats 73 | Southern Tigers 66

On a night where every moment, every touch and every play was exceptionally crucial, the West Adelaide Bearcats and the Southern Tigers played out an intense battle to decide which side would earn the right to face the Norwood Flames for a shot at ultimate glory. After four quarters of brutal effort and determination, it was the Bearcats who triumphed in front of an ecstatic home crowd, winning by 7 points, 73-66, to book their place in the Grand Final.

In do-or-die circumstances, Teonna Campbell showed why she was handpicked to represent West Adelaide this season, accumulating a remarkable stat-line of 12 points, 10 rebounds, 7 steals and 5 assists. Mollie McKendrick fought hard in the season-ending loss with 22 points and 10 rebounds, however with the absence of Thacker her side was left wanting, with their bench contributing just one point to their total.

In a euphoric stadium atmosphere, the home side began proceedings with a focus on unrelenting defence. Despite possession, the Bearcats missed early shots as the Tigers capitalised through Cunnigan (15 points, 9 rebounds), who opened the scoring with a basket from range.

The hosts quickly regrouped, with Campbell responding with a triple of her own. Ashlea Vordermaier continued the scoring run with some notable layups, as her 8 first-quarter points saw West Adelaide open up a 3-point margin at the first break.

The visitors responded through McKendrick and hit the front midway through the second term before the hosts immediately responded. A Campbell three-point play off of her own offensive rebound allowed the Bearcats to regain the lead, before an exciting layup from Tahlia Fejo (11 points) hyped up the crowd and opened up a 6-point gap.

Ta’Rea Cunnigan buried another basket from outside to close the margin, but the import was on the receiving end of a spectacular block from Holland soon after. West Adelaide held their nerve for the rest of the quarter, finishing with a 41-35 lead.

The third term started much like the second, with the Tigers more determined than ever. Mollie McKendrick went one-handed to cut the margin to a solitary point, before the Bearcats responded through a pair of Zecevic free-throws. McKendrick looked ominous however, and Southern clawed their way back in to the contest to force the eighth lead change of the match, with Lauren Fisher teeing up the dreadlocked star for two more.

Denelle Fawcett (16 points) increased their lead to 3 points from the line, before the experienced Trudy Holland stood tall for the hosts, levelling scores with a basket from downtown. This sparked an epic 10-0 run for the Bearcats, with their relentless, hysteric defending and tough offence completely shifting the dynamics of the match into their favour.

Six points separated the sides heading in to the final quarter, however this margin quickly grew to 12 points on the back of some brilliant passing plays from the West Adelaide unit. The Southern Tigers were on the brink, desperately needing a heroine to drag the side back into the match. Tara Robinson sank a crucial jumpshot and immediately intercepted Fejo’s pass to set up another score as she attempted to be that player.

It was not to be, as Sky Langenbrinck, who had 15 points off the bench, scored from outside the arc to relieve any pressure. The visitors were feeling the impact of only going one deep on the bench, as Vordermaier (16 points, 8 rebounds) displayed her evasive skills to record another layup, as she increased the margin to a game-high 13 points with 4:00 on the clock. Southern, who many tipped to take out this season’s premiership, were unable to muster any significant fight-back, as they bowed out of the competition at the hands of Tim Brenton and his charges.

The young West Adelaide outfit will now travel to Titanium Security Arena looking to attempt to secure their first state championship since 2007. They are up against the Flames, the side that sent them to the Preliminary Final this week after beating them 53-43 at Mars. Expect a different content this Saturday Night, in what is sure to be a thrilling and memorable occasion.