Liz Cambage shoots in the quarter-final against China. Picture: Christian Petersen, Getty Images
WESTERN Port basketball sensation Liz Cambage is looming as a key for the Australian Opals in their London Olympics semi-final against the USA on Friday morning, Australian time.
Cambage played a huge role in the Opals' 75-60 victory over China in the quarter-final to set up the semi-final against their conquerors from the last three Olympic games.
The Bulleen Boomers star top scored for the Opals with 17 points and dragged down seven rebounds to play a crucial role in the victory.
The match also featured gun Opal Lauren Jackson becoming the greatest point scorer ever in Olympic competition.
Opals coach Carrie Graf said her team had not spoken about the do-or-die semi final clash against the USA yet.
At the last three Olympic games the Opals have lost the gold medal match to the USA."To be honest we haven't spoken about [playing the US] yet," Graf told the Canberra Times.
"In a quarter-final you can't be looking ahead. We got bitten on the butt at the world championships in the quarter-finals [and finished fifth].
"We knew we didn't have a chance to meet the US or get into the medal rounds if you don't win the quarter-final.
"We showed that we continue to be gritty, that if we hang tough we can make good things happen."
All your up-to-date news of the Peninsula and Western Port's Olympians here.