Tom Edwards

 

Women

Forestville too strong for South Adelaide - Borrego Shines

Forestville were too strong for South Adelaide, running away victors 80 to 58. Forestville’s Carla Borrego dominated the entire match. The Adelaide Thunderbirds player knocked down 31 points and collected 16 rebounds. In just her second outing for the club this year, Borrego was easily the most influential player on the court. Eagle’s guard Morgan Yaeger said how important the Thunderbirds netballer is to the team.

“Carla is a great player, very athletic and just a natural basketball player,” she said. She gives [us] the presence in side that we have needed all season, and is overall a professional, funny and supportive teammate.”

The Panthers provided some hope for their fans early in the ball game. At point guard, Jessica Mahoney led her team throughout the match. Her ball handling and passing abilities led to open shots for her teammates, and often resulted in her driving to the basket and scoring past tough Forestville defence herself.

It was however an eight point Forestville run midway through the second quarter that ultimately proved decisive in the home club’s victory. With the Panthers subsequently trailing 30 - 17, the Eagles were able to maintain a comfortable margin between themselves and their opponents. Forestville’s Samantha Defrancesco and Morgan Yaeger combined to make three three-pointers in a row. At half time with the scores 45 - 27, the match had already been won.

South’s Teresa Kinross and Mollie Mckendrick were resilient in offence for their club, and continued to knock down multiple jump shots late into the match. With Borrego in the post, Forestville were too strong for South. If Borrego had not already scored, the Eagle’s array of sharp shooters were able to knock down open shots.

South Adelaide will come up against second placed North Adelaide next week, whilst Forestville will battle top placed Norwood. 

South Adelaide Top Scorers

• Jessica Mahoney - 5 Points
• Madeline Cunningham - 12 Points
• Mollie Mckendrick - 13 Points

Forestville Top Scorers

• Alexandra Duncan - 10 Points
• Samantha Defrancesco - 13 Points
• Carla Borrego-Williams - 31 Points

 

 

MEN

South Adelaide clinches Forestville

 

South Adelaide were able to nudge past Forestville on Sunday, defeating the home club 82 to 74. Forestville began the match in a commanding position yet only had themselves to blame as their defence came undone at the hands of South’s unmatched offence.

 

South Adelaide’s Thomas Mckenzie knocked down multiple three-pointers, and as a forward, provided his club multiple rebounds and put-back attempts. It was not until a 6 to 19 point run in the space of five minutes in the third quarter that the away club were able to form a comfortable lead. The Panther’s surge decisively proved unattainable for Forestville.

 

Forestville’s Oliver Megins said that his team’s lack of defence gifted the Panther’s their victory. 

 

“You can’t expect to only play defence in the last six minutes and win the game,” he said.

 

“Our defence, or lack thereof, affected everything as we couldn’t generate any stops and get out and push the ball.”

 

Megins himself was important for Forestville. When on the court, he collected numerous rebounds and tightly defended on his player, often resulting in an unforced error. Forestville even attempted a zone at one stage of the match, but with the likes of Thomas Mckenzie and Jeremy Smith, they quickly went back to a man-on-man defence. South Adelaide tall centre, Bradley Reid, even knocked down a three-point buzzer beater himself.

 

Throughout the match South Adelaide’s Jeremy Smith provided his own reel of highlights, and at certain times verbally let his opponents know of his scoring prowess. With only a handful of minutes remaining South led by just six points but were able to hold off the Forestville insurgence as they ran away to their seventh win of the season.

 

South Adelaide will now come up against fourth placed North Adelaide in their next match, whilst Forestville will play the inform Norwood.

 

Forestville Top Scorers

 

• Adam Doyle - 12 Points
• Daniel Sims - 16 Points
• Anthony Petrie - 31 Points

 

South Adelaide Top Scorers

 

• Bradley Reid - 13 Points
• Thomas Mckenzie - 20 Points
• Jeremy Smith - 30 Points