South Adelaide Panthers (2-12, 10^th) v Eastern Mavericks (7-7, 6^th)

Saturday July 14, 6.30pm at Marion

 The Eastern Mavericks will be hoping their outstanding efforts against the league’s top sides is reflected in their away game against the lowly South Adelaide Panthers.

The Mavericks have won their last two against Southern at Morphett Vale and Norwood at Mars in their attempt to be the Cinderella Story of 2012. They are 7-7 overall and only one game behind the Tigers for fifth place, after being three games below only two weeks ago. When Tess Madgen plays, the Mavericks are 7-4, an amazing achievement for a side that only a few months ago had not won in 21 attempts.

However, if they fail to beat the Panthers on Saturday, all their good work may count for very little. The Panthers are stuck at the bottom of the ladder with just two wins from 14 games. They lost by 41 to Forestville in Round 14, with 9 points from Sally Mostert and 8 from Hajnal Nagy the best offensive efforts.

Back in Round 6, the Mavericks defeated the Panthers 79-66. Madgen had 38 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists for the Mavericks, while Candice Hartman scored 10. Jess Hansberry was the Panthers’ best with 21 points.

 This is a danger game for the Mavericks, but one they should be victorious in.

 

Sturt Sabres (4-10, 7^th) v Norwood Flames (12-2, 1^st)

Saturday July 14, 6.30pm at Pasadena

 The Sturt Sabres will be attempting to perform another giant-killing act when they host the Norwood Flames.

 With wins against top-five sides Forestville and Southern in the last four weeks, the Sabres have another chance to do their bit in shaping the end-of-season finals placings. Their 89-74 win against Southern was even more impressive in that it marked a 40 point turnaround from their last meeting in Round 5. Amy Shaw (20 points, 7 rebounds), Isabelle Daniel (18 points), Caroline Burgess (12 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists) and Jess Mcphail (12 points, 9 rebounds) were the Sabres’ best.

 Meanwhile, the Flames are coming off a shock one point loss to the Eastern Mavericks. It was the Flames’ first home loss since the 2010 Elimination Final. Jordan Walker-Roberts had a team-high 16 points, while Amy Lewis scored 15 and Jess Foley registered a double-double.

 Last time they met, the Sabres gave the Flames a run for their money, but ultimately fell 10 points short. Foley had 31 points for the Flames, while Shaw and Mcphail each scored 17 for the Sabres.

 The Flames really need a win to sure-up top spot and this extra motivation should be enough to see them home.

 

West Adelaide Bearcats (3-11, 8^th) v North Adelaide Rockets (11-3, 3^rd)

Saturday July 14, 6.30pm at Port Adelaide

 The North Adelaide Rockets can build on their four-game winning streak if they can achieve a road win over the West Adelaide Bearcats.

 In fact, the Rockets have been the best team in the competition since Round 2, having won 11 of 12. They had two percentage-boosting wins over Woodville in Round 14, defeating them 94-47 at St Clair, then 87-58 at Hillcrest the following evening. Jo Hill was the standout performer of the double-header with 36 points and 13 rebounds, while Lauren Mansfield had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists in 52 minutes.

Round 14 was another disappointing week for the Bearcats, with a 37-55 loss to Centrals confining them to a 3-11 record. Kate Shierlaw had a team-high 14 points, while Ashlea Vordermaier led the team in rebounds with 13.

In Round 6, the Rockets defeated the Bearcats 77-65, despite playing without Hill. Jamie-Lee Peris was the standout performer with 22 points on 9/10 shooting and 8 rebounds.

The Rockets are in need of a W to maintain their slender advantage over the Eagles and Lions, and it would take a huge effort from the Bearcats to stop them.

 

Woodville Warriors (3-11, 9^th) v Southern Tigers (8-6, 5^th)

Saturday July 14, 6.30pm at St Clair

 The Southern Tigers will be hoping to end their potentially season-defining form slump when they visit the Woodville Warriors.

 As recently as Round 11, the Tigers were second on the ladder. However, three straight losses have put their position in the top five under serious threat.

 The Tigers got off to a bad start against the Sabres in Round 14, and despite working their way back to within five points with a quarter to go, were blown away 18-28 in the fourth quarter. Ashleigh Spencer (17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) and Genna Anderson (15 points, 9 rebounds) put up good numbers, while Alexandra Ciabattoni was held to just 12 points.

The Warriors likewise had a disappointing weekend, copping two thrashings from North. Rachel Griffiths scored 14 points in the first match, while Alissa Hampton registered 12 in the second.

In the teams’ previous meeting, Anderson and Ciabattoni combined for 46 points, 24 rebounds and 9 assists as the Tigers overcame a slow start to win 70-63. Ingrid Richards had 19 points for the Warriors.

The Tigers have dropped two in a row they would have expected to win – surely this will be third time lucky?

 

Forestville Eagles (10-4, 4^th) v Central District Lions (10-4, 3^rd)

Saturday July 14, 6.30pm at Wayville

In the Match of the Round, the Forestville Eagles and Central District Lions will be competing for a spot in the top three when they meet at Wayville.

Both teams have had up-and-down seasons, but are in good form at this minute. The Lions have won four straight, while the Eagles have got the job done three times in succession. This is the teams’ first clash at Wayville since last year’s Elimination Final, where the Eagles overcame a double-digit three quarter-time deficit to steal victory.

The Eagles’ most recent win was a 78-37 demolition of South Adelaide last weekend. They set the tone for the night with a 23-3 first quarter. Despite the lop-sided scoreline, there was little rest-time for Olivia Thompson, who played over 37 minutes and finished with 38 points and 21 rebounds. Jess Fergus and the Robinsons (Tara and Hannah) all registered double-figure points, while Alex Duncan had 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 points.

Leading 25-21 at half-time against West, a 17-6 third quarter proved pivotal in the Lions’ 18 point triumph. Fiona Perso scored a game-high 21 points, while Jess Mahony (11 rebounds, 10 assists, 8 steals, 8 points) filled up the stat sheet and fell just shy of a quadruple-double. Elizabeth Keane added 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.

The last time they met, the Eagles, like in the Elimination Final, finished with all guns blazing, yet this time the Lions still held on for a 62-59 victory. D’Lesha Lloyde, who now plies her trade interstate with Bulleen, starred for the Lions with 25 points. Desinta Cummins added 14 and Keane 13. Thompson had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Eagles, while Fergus scored 17.

Being back at the scene of the crime will no doubt motivate the unlucky Lions of yester-year, but the Eagles are 6-1 at home and will like their chances in their building.