South Adelaide Panthers vs Norwood Flames

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 26 APRIL | MARION

In the Match of the Round, the South Adelaide Panthers will be trying to end Norwood’s winning streak at 27 games when they host the ladder leaders at Marion.

The task ahead of the Panthers is made even greater in that they have lost eight straight against the Flames, dating back to July 11 2009. The strength within this group, which has only the one blemish in their opening five weeks, will be firmly put to the test in this one.

Round 5 saw Jess Foley dominate in a 74-67 win over the Rockets. In her club’s toughest test since meeting the Rockets late last year, Foley finished with 14 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

The Panthers suffered a scare at Southern, before holding on for a 67-60 win. Jessica Mahony has quite a diverse stat-line – 12 assists, 10 points, 7 rebounds, four field goal attempts, 18 free throw attempts, 8 made free throws. Janae Howard scored efficiently for 27 points, but her fouling needs to be addressed quickly. She has been disqualified three times in as many games.

From what they have shown thus far, the Panthers are a chance if Howard performs on song.

 

South Adelaide Panthers vs Norwood Flames

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 26 APRIL | MARION

In the Match of the Round, two of last year’s cellar dwellers in South and Norwood will look to take another step towards a more successful 2014.

From absolutely nowhere, the Panthers have turned their season upside-down, knocking off three clubs which they have historically struggled against in West, Sturt and most recently Southern. After a 0-2 start, their three game winning streak has them sitting in the top five for the first time since May 2012.

Veteran Shane Boal is having a career year, virtually doubling his career scoring average. He is also posting personal bests in rebounding, assists, field goal percentage and three point percentage. 209 cm big man Bradley Reid has been perhaps the recruit of the year thus far, averaging 21.3 ppg, 10.3 rpg and 2.3 bpg during the Panthers’ unprecedented three game run.

The Flames are coming off a disappointing loss to North. Prior to that they had won two straight games. Both of the Flames’ wins have been by double figures, while their biggest loss was last round’s seven-pointer.

The best story on an individual front for the Flames has been Matthew Lycett’s return from injury. Lycett is averaging 20 points and 8 rebounds, while shooting over 49 per cent from the field. Ian O’Boyle is averaging just 5.3 ppg the past three rounds, after scoring 35 points in the league’s opening fortnight. A strong game from him could be vital if they are to secure a win on the road.

With so little difference statistically between the top and bottom sides, this could be a match that defines either or both teams’ seasons.

 

West Adelaide Bearcats vs Central Districts Lions

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 26 APRIL | PORT ADELAIDE

With this week’s date with Centrals, the Bearcats will be hoping their competitive play will start to turn into victories.

The Bearcats have a reasonable percentage of 94.96, but have been on the wrong side of the scoreboard since opening night. Their average margin of defeat is less than eight points.

Round 1 was also the Lions’ best week. Their 11 point loss to Southern was their strongest result this season.

The Bearcats can largely thank their poor free throw shooting for the loss to Woodville last week. They shot 41 per cent, compared to 70 per cent from the Warriors. Sky Langenbrinck had a team-high 15 points.

The highlight of the Lions’ 34 point loss to Eastern was Samantha Saunders’ career best 13 points. The Lions were well beaten in almost every category, although they did turn the ball over eight less times than their opponents.

Based on margins of victory, the Bearcats look set for an important win.

 

West Adelaide Bearcats vs Central Districts Lions

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 26 APRIL | PORT ADELAIDE

Did the Lions just re-discover the best of themselves?, or was that scintillating second half against Eastern a once-off?

This week’s blockbuster between the Lions and Bearcats provides a chance for each club to set up their season.

Round 2’s victory over Forestville aside, the 2014 Lions were not looking like the team that made the 2013 semi finals during the first four and a half games of 2014. Then, led by 25 second half points from Christopher Clausen, the Lions went +30 over the final two quarters against the Mavericks, revealing a forceful facet of the team which is not to be underestimated.

The key for the Lions is to back up with a strong performance and victory against the Bearcats. The Lions were one of only two clubs to beat the Bearcats in the regular season last year.

The Bearcats have just the one blemish thus far, losing to South in Round 3. They have won back-to-back games on either side of that result. Jason Dawson has been excellent for much of this campaign, starring with 26 points in the Bearcats’ most recent victory against Woodville.

The Lions have the stars in Clausen and Kyle Miller to push the Bearcats, but the size and depth of the red and black could pose a problem.

 

Woodville Warriors vs Sturt Sabres

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 26 APRIL | ST CLAIR

Woodville will be searching for a third straight win in this week’s home fixture against Sturt.

The Warriors started 2014 with three consecutive close losses, but have done well to bounce back with victories over Centrals and West, putting them in a position to challenge for a rare finals berth.

The Sabres have had a tough draw so far; playing all four of last season’s other finalists, along with the emerging South Adelaide Panthers. They now have three wins on the board, and will also be looking to make it a hat-trick of successive victories.

Carmen Reynolds and Katherine Perkas are the two attackers the Sabres will need to focus on the most. They combined for 53 points in the Warriors’ win over the Bearcats.

Natalie Novosel has made a huge impression since joining the Double Blues, making them a much more formidable outfit. She had 26 points and 15 rebounds in the Sabres’ most recent triumph over Forestville.

This is a game that could have a large bearing on the end of season positioning for both teams, making every possession mean that little bit more.

 

Woodville Warriors vs Sturt Sabres

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 26 APRIL | ST CLAIR

In the match of the round, the Woodville Warriors will be hoping to bounce back from a loss to ladder-leading West when they host another of the league’s top sides in Sturt.

The Warriors had to make do without Darren Ng and Steve Pilkington against the Bearcats, but still kept the game close. Alexander Starling was held to 14 points – a big game for him against the Sabres will go a long way to a Warrior win. The Warriors have been competitive in their losses, while devastating in their wins, particularly at the defensive end.

The Sabres enter this match on the back of a three point win over Forestville. Hamish Burns scored 20, Tim Klaosen 18 and Dexter Moore 17. The Sabres’ loss to Woodville late last season was their first in this series since 2008, and the first on the road after the 2005 Preliminary Final.

With a top two spot beckoning for the winner, the stakes are high for both teams.

 

Forestville Eagles vs Southern Tigers

WOMEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 26 APRIL | WAYVILLE

Having taken it up to one of the competition’s leaders in the week prior to Easter, the Southern Tigers will be attempting to progress further when they meet the Forestville Eagles, in their bid to keep pace with the top five.

The Tigers fell just seven points short of the Panthers, after coming back from a big deficit. They may be 2-3, but apart from a blowout against unbeaten Norwood, the Tigers been in the hunt in every game of 2014 so far. The Tigers have four players averaging more than 11 points a game – Shayde Quintrell, Jade Barber, Denelle Fawcett and Lauren Fisher.

The Eagles’ six point loss to Sturt in Round 5 broke a three game winning streak. Jess Fergus scored 31 and Samantha Defrancesco 19.

The Tigers have shown great improvement from last season, while the Eagles appear a little more vulnerable than usual, giving this the makings of an intriguing game.

 

Forestville Eagles vs Southern Tigers

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 26 APRIL | WAYVILLE

Forestville and Southern each have a chance to get their seasons back on track when they meet at Wayville.

Both sides have lost their last two games after posting winning records during the opening three weeks of the year. The Eagles need a win to prove they are still the team to beat, following their three straight flags. A loss for the Tigers would mean they are back in the middle of the pack after a sensational start, suddenly putting pressure on them to make the finals, after the first few weeks suggested a turn for the better.

Samuel Johns did not play in the Tigers’ last loss to South, while Samuel McDaniel made it through just eight minutes. A return to action for the Tigers’ two top scorers could be just what they need.

The Eagles have also been undermanned in recent times, with Jake Rios sidelined. This heaps a lot of pressure on to Trent Fildes, who is having a career year while flying under the radar.

The availability of each team’s key players could go a long way to deciding a victor.

 

North Adelaide Rockets vs Eastern Mavericks

WOMEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 26 APRIL | HILLCREST

Over the previous two seasons, every time the Rockets and Mavericks met, it felt like the stakes were higher than in just about every other fixture.

The Rockets and Mavericks have two of the better winning percentages from the past couple of years, but only the Rockets had carried their good form into 2014, prior to Round 5. Last week’s big win over Centrals may just be the break the Mavericks needed to get this year’s campaign rolling.

Despite falling to their first loss in Round 5, against all-conquering Norwood, the Rockets can take great satisfaction from their performance. They actually out-scored the Flames by five points after the first quarter, going down by just seven. It was by far the closest anyone has come to beating the Flames this year.

Shannon McKay had a big night with four threes and 18 points, while Jo Hill (17 points, 4 rebounds) and Jamie-Lee Peris (11 points, 9 rebounds) were factors.

Shannon Tarron and Emma Hooley each had double-doubles in the Mavs’ maiden 2014 win. Amanda Macdermot had her best game of 2014 with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

The Mavs have some similar strengths to the Rockets, meaning this game could be a lot closer than each franchise’s ladder positions suggest.

 

North Adelaide Rockets vsEastern Mavericks

MEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 26 APRIL | HILLCREST

After working hard to get themselves up into the middle of the pack, the Rockets can hit .500 for the first time in 2014 if they can pick up a home win over the Mavericks.

Led by two double-doubles from Pero Vasilijevic, back-to-back wins over Southern and Norwood have the Rockets just one win outside of third spot, proving it will take a considerable effort from rival clubs to deter them from a ninth straight postseason campaign.

The Mavericks have played some promising basketball this year, but have struggled to put four quarters together. Former Rocket Curtis Scipio has been outstanding for the Mavericks, leading the club in points, assists and three point field goals.

A few weeks back, the Mavericks could have been forgiven for pencilling this game in as a chance to get on the board. In what has been a season of improbability thus far, they cannot be written off, but they will need to hope the Easter break has zapped some of the Rockets’ momentum.