Confident Denmark Magpies ready for spicy preliminary final with Barking Owls

Denmark Magpies will chase a seventh straight win in tonight’s Albany Basketball Association men’s A-grade preliminary final as the new outfit look to progress into Friday’s grand final.

On the back of their impressive come-from-behind win in the elimination final, the Magpies will take on Barking Owls full of confidence.

The Owls and Magpies drew in their most recent clash in round 10, while the Magpies won their other encounter in round one.

New team Sonics await the winner of the preliminary final.

After their second semifinal loss, Barking Owls will be looking to bounce back and progress to their third straight decider.

The Owls made the finals last season before COVID-19 ended the competition early, and lost the two grand finals before that.

In the women’s preliminary final, top-ranked Crystal Blues will look to make amends for their semifinal loss last week then they face Sonics tonight.

Crystal Blues suffered just their third loss of the season when falling to Valkyries, who progressed straight through to the decider, while Sonics advanced straight through to the preliminary final after finishing third, with the Raiders under-18 development squad not taking part in finals.

The two sides have met five times this season, with Crystal Blues winning four of those clashes.

ABA PRELIMINARY FINALS

Men’s A-grade — Barking Owls v Denmark Magpies, 6pm Court 6

Women’s A-grade — Crystal Blues v Sonics, 7pm Court 6