By Tom Edwards

MEN: Woodville v West Adelaide

Woodville have secured their second win in the 2015 Premier League, defeating West Adelaide 74 to 71 in a close ball game.

The Bearcats started the match well with Daniel Phillips knocking down multiple three point shots and David Sturner providing solid defensive pressure. Half way through the first quarter they had run away with a five-point lead.

To the credit of Woodville, the club relentlessly fought back. Through the class of former Adelaide 36er Darren Ng, West Adelaide provided a reel of highlights. The club quickly turned a five-point deficit into a thirteen point led prior to the half time break.

Woodville’s Luke Stanbridge and Blake Truslove from West Adelaide provided many low post battles, each bettering the other following successive offences. Multiple technical fouls were called on the two big men, personifying their determination for superiority in the low block.

West Adelaide’s Daniel Phillips provided a highlight reel of his own in the second half. The guard finished with five shots made from five three point attempts, and lifted his team within two points of the Warriors in the third quarter.

West Adelaide managed to stagnate Woodville due to their zone defence in the third quarter. However, with the likes of Darren Ng and import Ian Nixson, Woodville were able to eventually break the defence.

Heading into the final term Woodville had only managed a single point lead.

The match was ultimately decided upon which club had a greater composure. Although West provided a high tempo brand of basketball, Woodville managed to produce a greater quality of team basketball.

With under twenty-four seconds remaining, the Warriors led by three, 74 to 71. Following their own time out, the Bearcats executed a flawed time out play, failing to even get a shot attempt up before the buzzer.

Without Darren Ng, Woodville would have arguably lost the match. It will be a point of interest for the remainder of the season whether clubs will attempt to double team him, or if more contribution will come from the Warrior’s bench.

Woodville will face North Adelaide in their next match, whilst West Adelaide will come up against the Mavericks in the hope of winning their second game of the season.

  

Woodville Top Scorers

• Darren Ng: 21 Points
• Luke Stanbridge: 14 Points
• Ian Nixson: 12 Points

 West Adelaide Top Scorers

• David Sturner: 18 Points
• Daniel Phillips: 15 Points
• Kurtis Phillips: 9 Points

 

WOMEN - Woodville v West Adelaide

The Bearcats recovered from Saturday night’s defeat to secure their first victory in their 2015 campaign, defeating Woodville 71 to 58.

Woodville started the match with a short line-up, but could only blame themselves for letting West Adelaide jump away with a decisive lead early in the ball game.

Katherine Perkas from Woodville scored the first points of the match, and alongside Tess Keenan at point guard and Kimberly Porplycia at forward, led their team throughout.

Early in the game the clubs traded bucket for bucket. It was not until mid way through the first quarter when West Adelaide hit consecutive jump shots by the likes of Kate Shierlaw and Megan McLeod that the momentum quickly turned in their favour.

The match was tightly contested. Although West Adelaide controlled most of the ball game, countless unforced errors were made following tough and ruthless defence from both teams. So much so that Tess Keenan from Woodville threw herself in harms way, flying along the court in reach of multiple loose balls.

At half time West Adelaide had managed a five-point margin over their opponents.

Through an array of sharp shooting including two three pointers from Alice Gee, West managed to maintain a small yet relatively secure margin between themselves and the Warriors.

To their credit Woodville maintained a high tempo and intense style of play throughout the remainder of the game. Unfortunately for Woodville, the team forfeited a ten-point margin early in the match that they could not recover from.

Woodville attempted to mix their defence up, even falling back into a zone. This ultimately proved unsuccessful in halting the effective offence that West displayed.

Although Woodville came within four points of West Adelaide prior to the half time break, West Adelaide simply had a greater flowing offence, coupled with greater individual performances.

Woodville will battle North Adelaide in their next match whilst West Adelaide will line up against the Mavericks at home.

 

West Adelaide Top Scorers

• Kate Shierlaw: 15 Points
• Megan McLeod: 13 Points
• Sky Langenbrinck: 12 Points

 Woodville Top Scorers

• Ursula Richards: 11 Points
• Tess Keenan: 10 Points
• Katherine Perkas: 8 Points