Barking Owls and Griffins set to clash in highly anticipated ABA women’s A-grade qualifying final

Barking Owls and Griffins will face off in a highly anticipated qualifying final in the Albany Basketball Association women’s A-grade competition on Tuesday.

Each side has dropped points in only one game this season — Griffins in a 10-point loss to Owls in round five, while the Owls fell short against the same opposition by 12 points in round 12.

The winner of the qualifying final will advance directly into the grand final on March 24, while the loser will play the winner of the elimination final.

Versatile Owls guard Rebecca Benson will play a crucial role in the 6pm clash, having finished as the competition’s highest scorer across the season with 191 points.

Sonics and Infernos will look to keep their season alive in the elimination final showdown at 7pm.

Infernos sneaked into the top four with five wins and seven losses, while Sonics are heading into the clash as hot favourites, having notched nine wins and five losses.

In the men’s A-grade competition, a tantalising qualifying final clash between the top two teams, Sonics and Denmark Magpies, is set down for 6pm.

Both teams have recorded 12 wins and three losses across the season, and the Magpies will be looking to square the ledger in the final.

In their head-to-head encounters, Sonics were 12-point winners in round five and 11-point winners in round 10, but the Magpies tasted victory in round 15 with an eight-point win.

Sharpshooter and league-leading scorer David Arthur will play a vital role in offence, while fourth-highest scorer Reagan Hutchinson is also expected to feature strongly for the Magpies.

Infernos will have to overcome a talented Barking Owls outfit if they are to keep their title hopes alive in the elimination final at 7pm.

Young talent Evan Delbene has been electric this season with a total of 228 points, helping the Owls record two wins, one draw and one loss in their final four games of the season.

Infernos have slumped to three losses in their last four games but will be buoyed by their last meeting with the Owls, emerging with a two-point win in round 12.

ALBANY BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION A-GRADE FINALS - TUESDAY MARCH 14

Men’s A-grade qualifying final

Sonics v Denmark Magpies - 6pm

Men’s A-grade elimination final

Infernos v Barking Owls - 7pm

Women’s A-grade qualifying final

Barking Owls v Griffins - 6pm

Women’s A-grade elimination final

Sonics v Infernos - 7pm