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DOMINATING from the tip-off tonight, Southside had Game 1 in the WNBL's best-of-3 semi final against Melbourne almost on ice before a dramatic recovery from the defending champs ultimately was derailed by two heinous offensive calls which led to Sara Blicavs steering home the Flyers 84-76.

The Flyers, 3-0 over Melbourne across the regular season, jumped out confidently and were 25-15 ahead after one.

League MVP Cayla George (9 points, 4 turnovers) and All Star Five First Team compatriot Kristy Wallace (2 points, 0-of-11, four turnovers) were having stinkers as the Flyers' starters ran rampant.

Bec Cole, Abby Bishop, Maddi Rocci, Kayla Thornton and Blicavs had the game under complete control as tthe Boomers became utterly dependent on superstar import Tiffany Mitchell.

And wow, did Mitchell deliver.

She finished with 36 points at 71 per cent, with 4-of-5 threes, six rebounds, three assists and a steal to be the sole reason Melbourne fans had any cause for hope, Southside ahead 47-35 at halftime but the match looking over.

The lead ballooned out to 18 after halftime, but instead of finding a hole to climb into, suddenly the Boomers found their way defensively, and it translated offensively.

The momentum was shifting toward the end of the third and it became a virtual tidal wave as Melbourne closed to 66-68 in the last quarter on a Leilani Mitchell 3-pointer with 7:18 left.

But the two calls, first a ludicrous charging call against Tiff Mitchell, then - on Melbourne's very next offence - an off-the-ball foul on Lei Mitchell for what appeared a fairly legal screen, put a stop to the revival.

Offensive fouls by the same team on consecutive plays? You don't see that very often. If ever.

It was the cue for Blicavs to stick a 3-pointer and Southside was off on an 11-0 flyer, the Boomers' momentum shot and the home team headed for the predicted 1-0 start, Wallace fouling out on a silly play and Game 2 looking a formality.

WNBL SEMI FINAL SERIES (Best-of-3)

SOUTHSIDE FLYERS (2) v DEAKIN MELBOURNE BOOMERS (3)
Game 1: FLYERS 84 (Blicavs 18, Cole 17, Thornton 14, Rocci 13, Bishop 10; Thornton 7 rebs; Rocci 7 assts) d BOOMERS 76 (T.Mitchell 36, Nelson-Ododa 11, Murray 10; George 14 rebs; Wallace 5 assts) at State Basketball Centre. Crowd: 1,623