Basketball On The Internet.

A WEEK ago the Perth Lynx were sweating on the result of the regular season's last game, barracking for WNBL champion Townsville to eliminate Sydney so they could make a stunning eleventh hour Final Four appearance. Today those same Lynx literally put out the Fire, sweeping the champs 2-0 in their semi final series.

"Thanks for doing us a favour" may have been the prevailing message before Perth comprehensively booked its place in the Grand Final Series, pursuing its first championship since 1992.

Emily Potter stepped up with a first-half double-double of 13 points and 11 boards, while Alex Ciabattoni remembered to shoot the ball, producing 12 points at 57 percent and two big 3-pointers to accompany some of her finest defensive work.

To prevent this series going back to Townsville with the Fire having their tails up, the Lynx needed players to bring their A-games and they did.

Amy Atwell (27 points at 63 percent, 5-of-8 threes) and superstar Aari McDonald (27 points at 56 percent, 11 assists, 2 steals) again led from the front, Anneli Maley also pairing 15 points and 11 rebounds.

It was left to Courtney Woods (22 points at 63 percent) and Sami Whitcomb (24 points on 9-of-23 shooting, 6-of-15 threes) - against the club she left to play on a potential champion! - to carry the Fire's scoring load.

Steph Reid picked it up with 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting, plus seven assists, but she had to work hard against Miela Goodchild, Ciabattoni and McDonald, who all shared time harassing her.

Mikaela Ruef and Amanda Zahui B had 12 and 10 points respectively but shot a combined 5-of-19 from the floor as the Lynx's sprint-and-shoot offence forced Townsville to also play up-tempo.

The final 108-102 scoreline accurately reflected that, Perth's run-and-risk offence delivering at 53 percent to Townsville's 39 percent, the Fire taking a whopping 20 more field goal attempts.

The Lynx led 28-23 after one and outrebounded Townsville 19-7. It was a 56-44 buffer by halftime, the lead then blowing out further to 17 before the Fire found some of their championship qualities in the last.

They closed within six a couple of times and seven as well. But Perth always had the answers, Ruef's last-gasp 3-pointer creating a final score which, in fact flattered the exiting champions.  

WNBL SEMI FINAL (1v4)

GAME 2: PERTH LYNX 108 (Atwell, McDonald 27, Potter 19, Maley 15, Ciabattoni 12; Potter 13 rebs; McDonald 11 assts) d TOWNSVILLE FIRE 102 (Whitcomb 24, Woods 22, Reid 19, Ruef 12, Zahui B 10; Riuef 9 rebs; Reid 7 assts) at Bendat Basketball Centre. Crowd: 1,275

GAME 1: PERTH LYNX 88 (McDonald 26, Atwell 24, Potter 14; Potter 10 rebs; McDonald 9 assts) d TOWNSVILLE FIRE 87 (Whitcomb 24, Kunek, Woods 15, Aokuso 13; Aokuso 10 rebs; Reid 5 assts) at Townsville Entertainment Centre. Crowd: 2,341

Perth sweeps Best-of-3 Series 2-0