Perth Wildcats v Wollongong Hawks
Where and When:
Past Five Games:
Wildcats: LWWWW
Hawks: WLWLW
Past Three Head-to Head:
Wollongong Hawks 75-63 Perth Wildcats, Grand Final Game 2
Perth Wildcats 75-64 Wollongong Hawks, Grand Final Game 1
Perth Wildcats 91-57 Wollongong Hawks, Round 14, 2010
Season Series:
Perth Wildcats 2-2 Wollongong Hawks
Grand Final Series:
Perth Wildcats 1-1 Wollongong Hawks
Final Standings:
Wildcats 17-11 (1st), Hawks 16-12 (2nd)
The NBL Championship all comes down to one game at Challenge Stadium on Friday night after Perth and Wollongong each won at home in the opening two games of the Grand Final series.
The two sides couldn't be more evenly matched with the first two results almost mirroring each other.
The Wildcats won the opener last Friday 75-63, while the Hawks bounced back on Tuesday night to record a 75-64 victory.
Kevin Lisch has been the Wildcats' main man post-season and backed up his 37-point haul over the two games against Gold Coast in the semi-final series with two more strong performances.
In Game 1, he top-scored for the 'Cats with 15 points, while he was one of just two Perth players to reach double figures in Game 2 when he helped himself to 11.
Cameron Tragardh is a certainty for the Larry Sengstock Medal for the Grand Final series’ Most Valuable Player if he can lead the Hawks to a famous victory.
After a somewhat subdued performance in the opening game, Tragardh exploded in the second to pour in 28 points.
But as impressive as Wollongong's performance on Tuesday night was, playing at 'The Jungle' is a different kettle of fish.
Perth has only lost at home twice all year and it will take a brave person to tip against the Wildcats winning again on Friday night.
But that's not to say that it's a lay down misere. Of the 15 NBL Grand Final series' that have gone the distance, six times the away side has come up trumps.
And two of those instances were in Perth when the Wildcats lost to the Sydney Kings in 2003 and back in 1993 when they lost to the Melbourne Tigers.
Although the Hawks haven't won on the West Coast on their past eight visits and have only tasted success six times from 39 visits.
But all of those records will count for nothing on Friday night as these two sides give it their all to secure the championship.
In front of their home fans, the Wildcats should find enough firepower from the likes of Lisch and Shawn Redhage to secure their fifth championship and first since 2000, but it will be far from easy with the likes of Tragardh, Luke Martin and veteran Glen Saville to push them right down to the wire.
Sportal tip: Wildcats by 1
Friday March 12, Challenge Stadium, 7.00pm local (10:00pm AEDT)
