Sturt Sabres Vs North Adelaide Rockets

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 29 MARCH | PASADENA
OFFICIALS: M Dyson & J Grigoul

In the Match of the Round, the Sturt Sabres will be trying to get one back on the Rockets following last season’s devastating Preliminary Final loss.

Despite winning both regular season matches and the Qualifying Final, the Sabres were unable to overcome the Rockets when it mattered most, with the ladies from Hillcrest earning a Grand Final spot at the expense of the Double Blues.

The Rockets, who also reached the Grand Final in 2012, are on track for a third straight title challenge, having won both matches so far this season against Woodville and West. Once again, their success is headed by Jo Hill (17.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and Jamie-Lee Peris (16.5 ppg, 13.5 rpg).

The Sabres have gone 1-1 so far, losing to Norwood and defeating Eastern. Hannah Richards (17.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg) is currently having a career year, while Lucy Spalding (13.5 ppg, 7 rpg) has started her debut season with Sturt well.

The Sabres did an outstanding job of limiting Hill and Peris last season (minus the Preliminary Final). Their only foreseeable chance of a W here is to shut at least one down again.

 

Sturt Sabres vs North Adelaide Rockets

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 29 MARCH | PASADENA
OFFICIALS: A Filmer & N Ireland

Following two season-crushing single digit losses to the Rockets in Season 2013, the Sabres have a chance to not only exact some revenge, but put an early dagger in their rivals’ so far disappointing season.

The Rockets edged the Sabres by one game for fifth place last season, but already find themselves two games behind the Sabres after just two rounds. The Rockets suffered big losses to Woodville and West, whereas the Sabres have beaten Norwood and Eastern.

Brett Collins (12 ppg, 71% FG) is the only Rocket averaging double digit scoring so far this season. Pero Vasilijevic, who has a career average of 17.4 ppg, has made just 6 of 26 shots to date. The Rockets need him to fire if they are to return to the postseason.

Dexter Moore and Hamish Burns are each averaging 15 points a game for the Sabres, while Tim Klaosen marked his return from Australian Rules last week with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.

The Sabres have played teams which went a combined 7-29 in the 2013 regular season, compared the Rockets’ opponents total of 31-5. Consider this, combined with the Rockets’ great recent record at Pasadena, and you get a game that really could go either way.

 

West Adelaide Bearcats vs South Adelaide Panthers

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 29 MARCH | PORT ADELAIDE
OFFICIALS: M Frost & J Cresp

The Panthers will look to build on their promising start to 2014 when they make the trip west to face the Bearcats.

After just two wins in each of 2012 and 2013, the Panthers have the chance to win their third match in as many rounds, following victories over Forestville and Woodville. The Panthers have not started a season 3-0 since 2007.

Ordinarily, a former Halls Medalist like Jessica Mahony would be considered about as good a recruit as you could find, but rookie import Janae Howard has been the star of the league this season. Howard is averaging 34 ppg and 14.5 rpg over her first two matches, while connecting on a game-winning three in last week’s over-time win against Woodville. Teresa Kinross (23.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and Mahony (15 ppg, 12.5 apg) have also been playing very well.

The Bearcats are likewise showing signs that a good year is on the cards. Following a Round 1 win over Eastern, they ran the Rockets right to the wire, falling just five points short. Kate Shierlaw is the Bearcats’ top scorer at present with 16.5 ppg, while Sky Langenbrink and Alana Nairn are each averaging 11.

The Bearcats have had the wood on South recently, but it remains to be seen whether they can stop the free scoring of Howard and/or the play-making of Mahony.

 

West Adelaide Bearcats vs South Adelaide Panthers

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 29 MARCH | PORT ADELAIDE
OFFICIALS: N Wieland & A Just

Having won just two of their past 30 games, the Panthers have a mountain to climb in their attempt to overhaul a Bearcat team that has won 19 of its past 22 matches.

The collective team effort for the Bearcats in supplanting the impact of Daniel Johnson and Jason Cadee has been impressive. Eight Bearcat players are averaging at least 7.5 ppg, led by Tristan Braithwaite at 19.5 ppg. They also have the league’s leading rebounder in Blake Truslove, who has slotted effortlessly back into the heart of the Bearcat defence, after a year of coming off the bench.

Veteran Shane Boal is on track for a career season with the Panthers, averaging 20.5 ppg over the first two matches. He needs more offensive help though, as only a further three players are averaging at least 8 ppg. After featuring in six games back in 2008, Bradley Reid (10.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg) has been solid since his return from college.

The margin, rather than the result, looks like the biggest question here.

 

Central Districts Lions vs Norwood Flames

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 29 MARCH | STARPLEX
OFFICIALS: M Harris & R Rochford

The winless Central District Lions have their most difficult task of the season so far this Saturday, with a match against all-conquering Norwood.

Following losses to Southern and Forestville to commence 2014, the Lions have now gone 11 games without a win; their last triumph in Round 9 last season. In contrast, the Flames are on a 24 game winning streak.

Aimee Herriman and Amy Onaca (absent in Round 2 loss to Forestville) are averaging 11 points a game for the Lions, while Brianna Wedding (8.5 ppg, 8 rpg) is the team’s leading rebounder.

At Norwood, Amy Lewis has burst out of the blocks, averaging 19 ppg, while last season’s rising star Jessica Good is posting 14.5 ppg and 7 rpg. Despite Norwood’s success, 2011 and 2013 Halls Medal winner Jess Foley has started very slowly, scoring just 9 total points in the first two matches.

The Flames should win this one.

 

Central Districts Lions vs Norwood Flames

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 29 MARCH | STARPLEX
OFFICIALS: V Devlin & I Domeika

Two agonising losses have put Norwood in a must-win position ahead of this week’s trip to Centrals.

The Flames have lost their first two games by a combined total of four points, but their competitiveness will count for little if they cannot get over the line eventually. A win over their Lions and their season will open up, with matches against fellow winless teams in each of the next three rounds. However, a loss here and they will have a 0-3 record, meaning they will probably have to go 10-5 the rest of the way to have a chance of playing finals.

After going down to Southern in Round 1, the Lions squared the ledger with an upset 20 point win over Forestville. The Lions have got huge production so far from Kyle Miller (29.5 ppg) and Christopher Clausen (23.5 ppg), who sit first and third, respectively, in the league in scoring. Matthew Atkins (14 ppg, 70% 3FG) has also made a strong start to 2014.

The probable matchup of Miller and Norwood’s defensive ace Todd Matthews (18 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg) could be vital in deciding a winner. Matthews has been ably assisted this season by import Ian O’Boyle (17.5 ppg, 50% 3FG) and veteran Keith Krause (15.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg).

Based on statistics, this should be a close and high-scoring game. If the law of averages evens out, then the Flames will be looking good. Then again, once you start losing last-second games, it is hard to stop!

 

Southern Tigers vs Eastern Mavericks

WOMEN 1:15 PM | SUNDAY 30 MARCH | MORPHETT VALE
OFFICIALS: N Frost & M Pepicelli

The Mavericks have lost twice to teams whom they defeated in their corresponding games last season, meaning they badly need to win against Southern this week if they are to have a chance of featuring in a third straight finals campaign.

The Maverick offence has largely centred around Shannon Tarran (15 ppg) and Amanda McDermot (14.5 ppg), while Emma Hooley has been a rebounding machine.

The Tigers have gone 1-1 thus far, defeating Centrals and losing to Norwood. Shayde Quintrell was held to 7 points against Norwood, after going off for 30 the previous game. In contrast, Lauren Fisher was a shining light last round, scoring 23 points, following on from her solid 11 point outing to open the season.

In the past couple of years, these teams have formed a habit of upsetting one another, setting this up to be an interesting affair.

 

Southern Tigers vs Eastern Mavericks

MEN 3:00 PM | SUNDAY 30 MARCH | MORPHETT VALE
OFFICIALS: M Frost & B Northcote

Already off to their best start in the “modern era”, the Tigers have a chance to take a huge step towards a long overdue finals campaign when they meet the Eastern Mavericks this Sunday.

The Tigers have a chance to go 3-0; their best start to a season in the last decade is 2-1 (1-1 after two games). Following a promising 2013, Rashad Tucker’s men appear to have improved further, although time will tell if their strong start is here to stay.

Quite the reverse is Eastern. The Mavericks have won just five of their past 49 games. They do have five players averaging at least 9 ppg, led by Curtis Scipio with 20.5 ppg. Daniel Lean had a breakout 2013, but has scored just one basket in 2014 – he is due for a big game.

Samuel McDaniel (18.5 ppg, 11 rpg) and Samuel Johns (15.5 ppg, 7 apg) are the two players that the Mavericks most need to limit if they are to cause an upset. That said, the Tigers look deeper than they have ever been. Michael Florance, their best player of the past two seasons, has played under 20 minutes this season, yet his team is 2-0. Every other year, the Tigers have relied on Florance playing big minutes just to be competitive.

The Tigers are poised to continue roaring their way up the ladder.

 

Forestville Eagles vs Woodville Warriors

WOMEN 1:15 PM | SUNDAY 30 MARCH | WAYVILLE
OFFICIALS: N Ireland & A Gillings

The Eagles will be giving up another Sunday when they play host to Woodville.

The Eagles put their disappointing loss to South behind them last week, eclipsing Centrals by 47 points to square their ledger at 1-1. The Warriors have been competitive in a 14 point loss to 2013 Grand Finalists North and an overtime defeat at the hands of 2014 surprise packet South, but need to get a win to earn some just reward.

With Olivia Thompson leaving, Jade Johnson has emerged as the Eagles’ go-to scorer, averaging 19 ppg over the first two matches. Jess Fergus (18 ppg) and Sarah Petrie (13.5 ppg) have both stepped up their scoring from last season.

For the Warriors, Rachel Griffiths marked her maiden 2014 appearance last week with 19 points, while Carmen Reynolds (16 ppg) and Katherine Perkas (15 ppg) have also been scoring heavily. Ursula Richards has unpredictably been used sparingly, given her career 12.2 point scoring average.

Given they ran South to the wire whereas the Eagles were convincingly beaten, the Warriors deserve slight favouritism going into this game.

 

Forestville Eagles vs Woodville Warriors

MEN 3:00 PM | SUNDAY 30 MARCH | WAYVILLE
OFFICIALS: A Filmer & V Devlin

In the Match of the Round, the Warriors will be attempting to avenge two embarrassing finals defeats to Forestville in this week’s blockbuster.

The Warriors swept the Eagles comfortably in the 2013 regular season, yet were destroyed by a combined total of 68 points in the Qualifying and Preliminary Finals. The Warriors have looked as good as anyone so far this season, therefore it will be interesting to see if the results of last year have a psychological effect on them (and/or Forestville for that matter) in this match.

Both sides have had big wins over South, but it is their results against last year’s Elimination Finalists which see them in different regions of the ladder. Where the Warriors posted their biggest win at St Clair against North, the Eagles suffered their first away loss to Centrals in more than a decade – by 20 points. The Eagles have left it late to hit their straps in all of their last three premiership seasons, so will not be concerned with an off day, but they need to avoid making a habit of losing, as a number of sides are looking stronger this year.

After scoring 33 points in Round 1, Eagle Jake Rios was held to 4 points on 1-14 shooting in Round 2. The Eagles have six players averaging at least 9 points, with Brad Sullivan (7 ppg) slowly working his way back into the thick of things after a year off.

New import Alexander Starling has emerged as an early MVP candidate, averaging 26 ppg and 12 rpg for the Warriors. Daniel Sims (22 ppg) has emerged as a terrific compatriot, while Darren Ng (14 ppg) has started a little slowly.

Both teams have some players playing well and others who can lift, giving this the makings of an intriguing battle.