Tigers through to the Championship decider

The Melbourne Tigers have confirmed their place in the Grand Final series with a thrilling 106-101 victory in overtime against the Perth Wildcats, in game two of the semi final series, at Challenge Stadium in Perth tonight.

Perth’s point guard David Bailey was again the man with the hot hand, after bagging 12 first quarter points he went on to finish with the game high 30 points, along with nine assists and eight rebounds. Matt Burston finished with a creditable 17 points, and led the rebound count, for the home side, with nine.

Chris Anstey and Dave Thomas powered the Tigers into the title decider with 29 and 18 points respectively. Darryl McDonald chipped in with 14 points, while Thomas and Rashad Tucker reeled in 11 rebounds each.

The National Basketball League tonight also celebrated the 5,000th match since the competition began with 10 teams back in February 1979. This milestone was registered a week after the one-millionth point was knocked down over in Cairns.

The fans, while boisterous, were a little worried when Anstey and Thomas nailed the first three Tiger shots from long range, however Peter Crawford responded with his own long range bomb, and Tony Ronaldson, after a brief stoppage to fix the net, sunk two free throws.

The Wildcats took the lead mid-way through the first term with Bailey’s first of two three-pointers. Melbourne regained the lead through Anstey, only for Burston, Dillon Boucher and Bailey to send the Wildcats out to a comfortable 12-point, 34-22, quarter time lead.

Melbourne drew to within one point, eight minutes into the second quarter, with Perth pushed over the five-foul limit before automatic free throws. McDonald and Tucker orchestrated the comeback, while Braith Cox put his new team ahead with a minute to play.

Perth tied the scores, 51-51, at half time through Bailey’s fourth three-pointer of the game, right on the buzzer.

The deadlock was broken after end-to-end play, for the first minute and a half of the third term, with a Neil Mottram reserve hook under the basket. The call of ‘defense’ from the crowd sparked the Perth team. Anstey, though, hooked the ball in and made it a five-point margin, 60-55.

Bailey’s assist work was rewarded with a basket to Matt Shanahan and moments later an unmarked Ronaldson had breathing space to nail his second three of the match and again tie the scores, at 60-60, with five to play.

Bailey took on Anstey and came off second best with an offensive foul called, however Perth led at the three-quarter time break, 75-69, after baskets by Shawn Redhage and Burston helped in the six-point margin.

Melbourne would not lie down and through Stephen Hoare they came back to within a basket of again levelling the scores early in the fourth quarter. A block by Peter Crawford and tussle from Burston, under the basket, put Perth ahead by five, 82-77.

Thomas put the Tigers ahead, with four minutes to play, while Bailey juggled the ball between his legs, in the key way, before eventually squaring the game away at 90-90.

The match was delicately poised to enter overtime when Peter Crawford fouled Tucker, with 2.1 seconds left in the game. He had the chance to send the Tigers into the Grand Final series, but missed both free-throw shots.

Thomas, McDonald and Anstey ensured the Tigers reached the title decider in the five-minute overtime period. Shanahan and Bailey each connected with consecutive three point baskets. However, it was a case of too little too late, as Anstey iced the match from the free throw line with eight seconds remaining.

Melbourne coach, Alan Westover, said after the match, "It was just a really tough game, I thank the guys and I'm really proud of them for their effort and composure."

"We felt pretty comfortable and confident (going into extra time), It was just a great effort from the guys."

The Tigers mentor believes his team will face the reigning champions, the Sydney Kings, for the title.

Perth coach, Scott Fisher, was disappointed to lose in the manner they did but was pleased with the way the team had dug deep towards the end of the regular season and the first week of the play-offs.

Perth captain, Tony Ronaldson, after the match said, "We've had some adversaries, some ups and downs this year but we responded and everybody that’s involved should be proud of the way we finished up this year."

"This team's got some character, and while that doesn’t win a championship this year, maybe that holds well for the future."

Next match, Sydney and Cairns battle it out, in game two of the Second Semi Final series, at Cairns tomorrow night. The kings will host the decider on Sunday night if the Taipans can cause an upset.

The Tigers now await the winner with the Grand Final series scheduled to begin next Friday (February 24).

Stay tuned to SportsAustralia.com for finals news and reviews.

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