South Adelaide Panthers vs Forestville Eagles

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 31 MAY | MARION
OFFICIALS: H Starkey & M Pepicelli

South (6-3) v Forestville (5-4) women
In the Match of the Round, the Panthers will be hoping for a similar result to the season’s opening night when they host the Eagles this week.

When these teams last met, Janae Howard and Teresa Kinross each scored 30 points in a blowout 82-61 win for the Panthers. Jess Fergus (17 points) and Jade Johnson (15 points) provided some scoring for the Eagles, but a lopsided 28-13 turnover count proved costly for the gold and blue.

Both teams have won five of eight since Round 1. The Panthers have won just one of four at home, while the Eagles have the same record on the road. A win for the Panthers would keep them at least two games above the bottom five, while the Eagles could drop out on percentage with a loss.

With the stakes high, a strong start either way could be vital in deciding a winner.

South Adelaide Panthers vs Forestville Eagles

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 31 MAY | MARION
OFFICIALS: A Just & M Harris

South (4-5) v Forestville (4-5)
After putting together an excellent five weeks, the Panthers will be hoping that their past fortnight is not a sign of things to come when they come up against the Eagles.

The Eagles blew away the Panthers 97-61 in Round 1, with 33 points from Jake Rios and 16 from Trent Fildes. Bradley Reid (15 points, 14 rebounds) and Shane Boal (16 points, 9 Rebounds) were at the head of the Panthers’ key statistics, as has been the case in most games this season.

The Panthers have lost their last two games by a combined total of 53 points, after winning four of five prior. The Eagles are on a two game winning streak, having previously lost four straight. As a result, they have risen to sixth, while the Panthers have fallen to eighth.

With both teams a game outside the five, a defeat could be fatal for the loser.

 

Norwood Flames vs Sturt Sabres

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 31 MAY | MARS
OFFICIALS: V Devlin & M Dyson

Norwood (9-0) v Sturt (6-3)
Can Natalie Novosel’s presence help the Sabres turn the tables on the Flames?

That is the question ahead of this week’s clash between the first and third ranked teams.

Back in Round 1, the Flames built their lead quarter by quarter en route to an 80-44 win at Pasadena. Amy Lewis (14 points) and Kelsey Ireland (13 points) led a well balanced Flame attack. Hannah Richards (11 points) was the only Sabre to reach double digits.

While the Flames have gone unbeaten since that night, pushing their winning streak to 31 games, the Sabres have been impressive in their own right, going 6-2. They are 5-1 with Novosel, who since debuting in Round 4, is averaging 18.3 ppg. The Sabres have blown away Southern and Centrals in their past two games, allowing Novosel extended time on the pine.

This game will give a great indication as to how much better the Sabres have become since Novosel’s arrival.

Norwood Flames vs Sturt Sabres

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 31 MAY | MARS
OFFICIALS: J Cresp & B Northcote

Norwood (6-3) v Sturt (5-4)
In the Match of the Round, the Flames will be battling to retain their share of first place when they welcome the Sabres to MARS.

The Flames are one of four teams with a 6-3 record, but hold the split on all their rivals, following their 77-70 win over West last week. The Sabres are just behind them at 5-4, having knocked off Southern in the previous game.

This is a matchup that will hold no fears for the Sabres, who beat the Flames 100-98 in overtime on opening night, despite missing star Tim Klaosen (16.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.9 apg). In his absence, Hamish Burns had a big game with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Dexter Moore registered 22 and 9. Keith Krause had season highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Ian O’Boyle scored 20.

Jordan Heading could be an x-factor for the Sabres, having scored 30 of his 67 points this year in the last two games. It has been a similar story at the Flames regarding Andrew Webber this past month, whose averages of 17.5 points and 6.8 rebounds are well up on his season averages.

The Flames have already equalled their 2014 win total, and with four straight wins behind them, momentum is on their side.

 

Central Districts Lions vs Southern Tigers

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 31 MAY | STARPLEX
OFFICIALS: D Miller & D Rault

Centrals (0-9) v Southern (2-7)
The Lions will once again chase their first win of 2014 when they host a Tiger team that has lost six straight.

The Tigers are yet to win on the road this season, while the Lions have conceded almost twice as many points as they have scored.

In Round 1, Shayde Quintrell registered 30 points and 8 rebounds as the Tigers overcame a slow start to win 81-70. Haley Bunce (15 points) and Jade Barber (14 rebounds, 12 points) were also strong for the Tigers. Aimee Herriman scored 13 for the Lions, and Amy Onaca added 12.

Nine of the 10 threes made in that game came off the paw of a Lion, while they also committed nine less turnovers. However, the Tigers pounded them on the backboards 56-29, and also shot 44 per cent from the field, compared to just 32 per cent from the Lions.

The Lions will not get many better chances to prevent a winless season, but the Tigers have undoubtedly been the better side to date this year.

Central Districts Lions vs Southern Tigers

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 31 MAY | STARPLEX
OFFICIALS: N Ireland & N Domeika

Centrals (6-3) v Southern (4-5)
The Tigers will go searching for a similar result to their last meeting with the Lions when they make the long trip to the far north.

When these teams met at Morphett Vale on opening night, the Lions (Christopher Clausen 29 points, Kyle Miller 27 points) were comprehensively beaten 84-99 by the Tigers (Samuel McDaniel 25 points, Samuel Johns 19 points).

This time, the Lions have five weeks of outstanding form behind them, which has seen them rise to percentage off first. The Tigers, in total contrast, have won just one of their last six and slipped to seventh. McDaniel made his long awaited return last week with 16 rebounds and 8 points, but it was still not enough to get the Tigers back on the winner’s list.

The Lions have only conceded 70+ points once this past month, while the Tigers have only reached that mark once in six games.

 

North Adelaide Rockets vs Woodville Warriors

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 31 MAY | HILLCREST
OFFICIALS: N Frost & M Frost

North (8-1) v Woodville (4-5)
The Rockets will be playing to increase their winning run to five games when they meet the Warriors, who will be chasing a fourth road win.

For all Norwood’s exploits, the Rockets have put together a fantastic season themselves, sitting 8-1 and with a legitimate shot at the Minor Premiership. The Warriors have been a challenging opponent for the Rockets in recent battles, but will need to turn their efforts into a win this time. Otherwise, they will risk falling away from the top five – they are currently one game behind fifth ranked Forestville.

Last time they met, the Rockets came away with a 77-63 win, after leading by just four points at halftime. Jamie-Lee Peris dominated the paint with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Jo Hill (17 points) and Jess Smart (14 points) provided some offence for the Rockets. Carmen Reynolds (21 points, 10 rebounds) did her best to keep the Warriors in the game.

The Warriors have put together some great basketball at times this year, but will need to bring their A game for four quarters if they are to have a chance of toppling the consistent Rockets.

 

North Adelaide Rockets vs Woodville Warriors

MEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 31 MAY | HILLCREST
OFFICIALS: N Wieland & J Grigoul

North (3-6) v Woodville (6-3)
The Rockets will aim to produce a turnaround of 29 points minimum from Round 1 when they host the Warriors at the special time of 6.30pm.

The last time they met, behind Alexander Starling (23 points, 11 rebounds) and Daniel Sims (19 points, 3/5 3FG), the Warriors crushed the Rockets (Pero Vasilijevic 12 points) 83-55 when the season opened on March 15.

The Rockets have gone 3-5 since that night, and are lying ninth on the ladder. The Warriors have dropped a few, but have a stellar percentage of 126.96 after a 70 point win over Eastern in Round 9. It is the league’s most lopsided result since Norwood beat Centrals by the same margin on May 26, 2007 – almost seven years to the day.

Speaking of lopsided, the Warriors have not lost at Hillcrest since April 20, 2008.

All signs point to a Warrior win, but it has been proven in the past that numbers can be misleading.

 

Eastern Mavericks vs West Adelaide Bearcats

WOMEN 1:15 PM | SUNDAY 1 June | ADELAIDE HILLS
OFFICIALS: M Dyson & A Gilings

Eastern (1-8) v West (4-5)
The Bearcats will be hoping for another big game out of Anna Carbo, as they look to keep the playoff race alive with a victory over Eastern.

Since arriving in the CABL, Carbo is averaging 17 ppg, 8 rpg and 5.7 apg. The Bearcats, with four wins and five losses, are just one game outside the five. Following their 10 point defeat to Woodville, the Mavericks have lost four straight and are just one game off the bottom of the ladder.

Last time they met, the Bearcats got off to a strong start and went on to win 78-64. Kate Shierlaw scored 25 points, and Stana Zecevic added 13. Emma Hooley had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks, while Shannon Tarran scored 16.

A high pressure game for the Bearcats – how will it affect them?

 

Eastern Mavericks vs West Adelaide Bearcats

MEN 3:30 PM | SUNDAY 1 JUNE | ADELAIDE HILLS
OFFICIALS: P Welbourn & R Rochford

Eastern (1-8) v West (6-3)
On Sunday, the Mavericks will be playing for their first win over the Bearcats since July 6, 2008.

The Bearcats beat the Mavericks (Curtis Scipio 23 points) 95-74 in Round 1. Blake Truslove, who missed last week’s top of the table loss to Norwood, dominated the interior with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Tristan Braithwaite and Anthony Spadavecchia combined for 40 points.

The Bearcats are second on percentage from Woodville, and are one of four teams with six wins. Of the teams currently battling them for first place, the Bearcats hold the split on the Warriors, but are losing their tiebreakers to the Flames and Lions at present. The Mavericks have won one of their nine games.

With the Warriors, Flames and Lions all playing teams below them on the ladder, this is not a game the Bearcats can afford to drop if they are to stay at the top.