BASKETBALL
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Wollongong three-point bombers Oscar Forman and Rotnei Clarke will be marked men when the Hawks host Perth in Sunday's second game of a best-of-three semi-final series.
Forman is one of the NBL's all-time great three-point shooters and has the credentials to prove it.
Last week the 32-year-old hit 10 of 15 threes in the final two games of the regular season, upping his overall return to a league-best 45 per cent for the season - the fourth time in his career he has finished on top.
Clarke's affection for the long-distance dagger became apparent early in the season. He ended up making a league-high 90 threes at 41 per cent.
The Wildcats are the league's premier defensive team and have a plan to keep Forman and Clarke quiet.
"Rotnei Clarke is one of those few guys that can just take over a game," Perth forward Shawn Redhage said.
"No matter how good your defence is, he can still hit shots. He's a key for them. Oscar Forman really stretches the floor. We have to make sure we limit those two guys.
"Wollongong does a great job of moving the ball and playing well as a team. You really have to defend that three-point line."
The Wildcats raced away with the minor premiership, winning 21 games and entering the post-season as $1.50 favourites for the title.
Adelaide got their championship bid off on the right foot with Thursday night's 101-85 home win over Melbourne in the other semi-final series.
Game two of that series will be played on the Tigers' home court on Sunday.
The Cats won their last title in 2010, beating Wollongong two games to one.
"We've done a lot of preparation and now it's just a matter of executing the game plan and making sure we're switched on when we take the court," Redhage said.
"If we don't play our best basketball we won't win. We have to make sure we're ready to tackle the tough task at hand. It's going to be a whole different ball game. Everyone's fighting to stay alive now and it's going to be a battle out there."
The Hawks are hoping to play in front of a sell-out crowd.