Two weeks ago the Mavs men enjoyed their first win of the season at the expense of Sturt, knocking the Sabres out of the top five. The Sabres finals fate was then to rely on a few games, including the Rockets clash with the Mavericks in round 18. With Sturt facing an expected loss against the top of the table Bearcats in the final round, the Rockets could secure the last finals place with a win over the Mavericks, a loss would end their season and sooth Sturt’s wounds.

For the Mavericks, a big win could have lifted them by the Panthers on percentage to avoid the wooden spoon. Last time the two teams met, the Rockets came away with a 14 point win on the back of a huge 30 points from playing coach Pero Vasiljevic. The all important rematch was far more testing for the Rockets, with a lead of merely 3 at the first and second break, and only 6 going into the final stanza, they claimed victory 95-89 to earn a finals drive.

Eastern have been known this season for slow starts, however the first quarter of this one was right on par with the Rockets. With the game tied on 4 occasions, it was a quick inbound pass and buzzer beater from Vasiljevic that created the 3 points separating the two at the first break, with otherwise even stats across the board on turnovers, assists, rebounds and steals.

Curtis Scipio opened the second stanza with a backcourt steal which he ran in for a layup, and Stuart Breheny found his shot for his first points of the match. 3 minutes in the Mavericks found themselves over the limit and sent Thomas Rowe to the line for bonus free throws, he was back there on the very next offensive but failed to connect with either. This gave Scipio the chance to tie again when he converted two from two at the other end.

The Rockets then scored three in a row, the largest run of the game, a mark of the tight battle. Daniel Goodluck rose for North Adelaide with 8 points for the term while Stuart Breheny had 11 of the Mavericks as they tied the quarter.

Joseph Campbell, John Wernham, Brett Collins and Franceschinis took the Rockets on a 17 point run as the Mavericks faded for 5 minutes. After a timeout they refused to lie down with three pointers to Smith, Shane Breheny and Scipio in the final minutes closing the gap to 6 points for their final quarter of ball this season.

Despite their best efforts including 12 last term points to Smith, the Rockets were able to stretch their lead of the Mavericks to 10 points as they reached the dying minutes. Eastern made every effort, sending North Adelaide to the line 7 times to preserve precious seconds, hitting 4 three pointers with lightening speed on the offensive. Yet Rowe, Collins and the rest of the Rockets cast were steady enough at the free throw line to hold on for a 6 point victory. They will now face the Central District Lions in an elimination final this Saturday.

Eastern Mavericks 89 (Smith 23, Scipio 22, St Breheny 20) defeated by North Adelaide Rockets 95 (Franceschinis 30, Wernham 14, Rowe 13).

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By Lachlan Eggers