By SAMUEL LUKHANDA
LUNGA Bullets sneaked into the Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) Sprite National Championship semi-finals on point difference after they tied 1-1 with the resurgent Hawks.
But there was no sweat lost for Matero Magic after they hypnotised CEC Cavaliers at the games played at Don Bosco courts in Chingola.
Lunga were quick off the block taking game one by 20 points in the midnight match on Saturday 80-60.
The north’s most dominant team was oozing with confidence going into game two but the Hawks had no intentions of lying down. They threw everything at Lunga to win game two 75-56 .
The ties were tied at a game each and Lunga proceeded by virtue of scoring one point more than their Lusaka opponents. Lunga survived after picking up 136 points against 135 for Hawks.
The  battle tested  Magic  did not have to go into the technicalities as they swept Cavaliers in two games.
Magic won game one by a 15-point margin before picking a 35-point win in the second to underline their championship title aspirations.
Cavs were over matched by the deep and experienced Magic who won with 80-65 and 96-61 score lines.
The feminine playoffs went according to the script as the South teams blew away their north opponents and will have the ZBA officials scratching their heads on how to bridge the gap in terms of quality.
Lootresses won both their games against CEC Queens  by more than 20 points. The first game saw Lootresses win it 75-35 and took game two 70-20 as they head to the semis.
Napsa Breeze defeated the north champs CBU Robin in the same manner winning the first 59-25, then a blow out in the second 70-25 as they advance to the semis.
In the B league, Solwezi Panthers proceeded to the semis after beating Mansa in two games 65-33 and 60-41.
By press time Don Bosco were on the floor against Ndola Takers in another close game  after Don Bosco defeated Takers by half a basket in game one.