Tall Ferns Stella Beck and Micaela Cocks are headed to the Queensland Basketball League Grand Final Series after the Townsville Flames blew away the Rockhampton Cyclones 111-63 in their semi-final encounter.
With the regular season championship tucked away and home court advantage in their favour the Flames were the favourites to beat the Cyclones, featuring Brooke Blair in their lineup, but the margin of victory was certainly a surprise.
The Flames burnt the Cyclones 36-11 in the second quarter and with a 58-32 half-time lead had virtually sealed their visit to the best-of-three final with twenty minutes to play.
Beck claimed a double-double of 21 points (9/14FG) and 10 rebounds and added 5 assists and a steal for good measure. Cocks also came close to a double-double with 13 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
Brooke Blair scored 11 points for the Cyclones but was cold from deep making just one from seven three-pointers.
The Grand Final series will be played this coming weekend with the Flames taking on defending champions Southern District Spartans in their bid for a second QBL title. Game one will be played in Townsville on Friday.
Defending champions Sunbury Jets, featuring Tall Fern Josie Stockill and coached by former national coach Coach Kennedy Kereama take on the Southern Peninsula Sharks in the Big V championship series beginning on Saturday.
The Sharks will have home advantage for game one on Saturday with the Jets claiming hosting rights for games two and three (if needed) the following weekend.
LACEY LOWDOWN 