Basketball On The Internet.

*FLASHBACKS, my weekly "lucky dip" where I just reach into my drawers of old Australian basketball stuff and transcribe whatever I find for you.

THE Australian Basketballer issue from October-November of 1985, featuring Leroy Loggins celebrating on the cover with his NBL Championship trophy was the one I clasped today. Flicking through this terrific publication, I came across the finale of the WNBL season which, given this weekend is the semi finals of the 2014 season, seemed the most appropriate article to reprint.

1985 COOL CATS

When it comes to playoffs, the old saying still remains; expect the unexpected. Still, a lot of avid Women’s Basketball League watchers wouldn’t have foreseen the minor round champion eliminated in one semi final, the titleholder similarly bundled out in a semi final skirmish or the Australian Club Champion squandering a 15-point lead to lose to the playoff outsider in overtime.

Well, forgive another saying because you’d better believe “truth is stranger than fiction”.

That’s precisely how the WNBL playoffs unfolded, in stark contrast to the Women’s Basketball Conference finish which went largely according to plan.

Coburg started the WBL ball rolling by eliminating North Adelaide , the Rockets having finished the home/away rounds with an imposing league-leading 15-3 record. The Cougars' 56-52 success leaves perhaps a false impression of an outcome which was rarely in doubt from the opening tip.

The fact Coburg restricted Olympians Kathy Foster (the WNBL MVP) and Marino Moffa to eight and six points apiece in itself reflects how keyed up the Cougars were to win and the extent to which the Rockets’ offence nosedived.

The Nunawading-Noarlunga semi was billed as the battle of the champions, with the reigning WBL titleholder facing the ACC titleholder. Who could ask for more?

At halftime, the spectators and coaches were asking for more, the Spectres leading by a dismal 21-15. Noarlunga had shot as if the ring had a lid on it and Nunawading had taken little or no advantage of the Tigers’ wayward efforts.

After the break, the match started resembling the anticipated clash with Noarlunga showing dogged persistence as it clawed its way past Nunawading and, through sheer grit, grabbed itself the other grand final berth 65-54.

That left the Cougars versus the Tigers, third versus fourth, Jim Madigan’s tall, talented Tigers against Les Riddle’s cool, cagey Cougars for the 1985 WBL championship.

Noarlunga came out confidently, unlike its semi final skate on thin ice, powering out to 15 ahead before taking a comfortable 42-31 cushion into the interval. It appeared a Tiger title but Coburg’s supposedly ageing legs found the renewed vigour and the desire that had made its nucleus – Karin Maar, Jan Smithwick, Jan Morris and Tammy Good – one of the most feared and awesome combinations of the 70s.

Maar, Smithwick and Chris Frangos scrapped against Noarlunga’s boards power and Maar showed vintage offensive touch to cut the defence to shreds. The Tigers lost Sue Bruce early into the second half and her size and 16-point first half was sorely missed.

Coburg snatched the lead, surrendered it, then grabbed it back again before Sandra Morgan converted one free throw to make it 65-65 and force the match into overtime.

Noarlunga scored first and with Maar (and her game-high 23 points) gone with five fouls, the result looked secure.

Tracey Browning had other ideas and the Tigers were reduced to a desperation press as Coburg locked up the title 73-71.

Earlier, the Canberra Capitals completed a clean sweep of the WBC season, staving of Dandenong 61-59 in the final. The Capitals took a 15-0 record into the playoffs, turned back titleholder Hobart 68-65 (in a semi final that saw the Hustlers bungle a 12-point lead and waste several key, late opportunities) and supplied the WBC with its MVP and scoring champion Jenny Cheesman.

The Sturt Cleland’s Blues similarly squandered a 36-27 interval break over Dandenong before the Rangers beefed up and rallied behind pivot Pauline Scherrenberg to hold out for a 68-58 semi final victory.

For South Australia, its WBL and WBC demise capped off a forgettable playoff weekend in Melbourne as well as Brisbane, where the state’s Adelaide 36ers were also busy finishing their year as the NBL bridesmaid.

For Victoria, it was another great series, the WBL title continuing its stay in Melbourne. To date, it has yet to venture interstate.

And the WBC also enjoyed another fine year – its finalists from the ACT, SA, Victoria and Tasmania again providing a great cross section of basketball talent from across the country.

All that remains now is the Flag Inns Australian Club Championship and the chance to see the nation’s cream do battle one more time.