Writer: Mark Halliday

WOMEN

Flames outlast Bearcats, now 13-0.

Unlucky for some, but the Norwood Flames have won their 13^th straight game of the season as they held off a resilient West Adelaide Bearcats team to win by eight points, 64-56. The Flames never gave up their lead they took in the first quarter but were challenged by the Bearcats who weren't going away easy.

West Adelaide's Anna Carbo (19 points, five rebounds, five assists) almost brought her team back from an 11 point deficit in the final minutes. Carbo put back a miss from a Rachel Herrick free throw, made two free throws of her own and set up team-mate Trudy Holland (11 points, 11 rebounds) for a triple to cut the lead to four points with only 18 seconds remaining. But it wasn't enough for the home side, Norwood's Kelsey Ireland (eight points, six rebounds, two steals) sinking five of her six free throw attempts down the stretch to prevent the Bearcats from securing a comeback victory. Norwood led by as many as 17 points during the contest. Taylor Ortlepp led the Flames with 13 points including two triples as she attacked the basket to keep the Norwood offence ticking.

Marisa Stabile and Rebecca Duke both added 11 but Duke was limited by foul trouble. She scored all 11 of her points in the first half and then picked up her fourth foul 45 seconds into the third quarter. Stabile, meanwhile, was able to score in close and also stepped out for mid-range shots in her 11 points. The Bearcats had a chance to take advantage during a period of carelessness by the Flames early in the second quarter. Norwood conceded four straight turnovers as West closed in. However, Norwood was able to recover as they came out of the half time break with renewed energy. Despite both sides struggling to score in the third, Norwood came out on top, winning the quarter 14-4 before the Bearcats made their late game run.

MEN

Lycett lifts Flames over Bearcats.

Norwood's Matt Lycett led his team to victory after an excellent fourth quarter and overcoming the tough West Adelaide Bearcats, 77-69 on Saturday night at Port Adelaide. Lycett scored 10 of his 17 points in the final quarter to break a deadlock and give the Flames a decisive lead to close out the game. Lycett also registered five rebounds, five assists and four steals.

The Flames made an explosive start to the final quarter, Lycett quickly took the lead and then Daniel Webber (eight points) scored six straight over the next minute before Lycett chipped in again with another basket. The Bearcats suffered from untimely turnovers. Peter Crawford (10 points) gave the ball away twice while David Sturner (17 points, 13 rebounds) and Tristan Braithwaite (nine points) were both called for travelling. However, Braithwaite redeemed himself with four quick points and Sturner nailed a triple to trail by four points with two minutes remaining.

Daniel Webber's running shot in the lane took the lead out to five points. Andrew Webber (12 points, nine rebounds) missed a pair of free throws to give the Bearcats another chance at closing the gap. The home side couldn't covert on the following possession, instead allowing Lycett to leak out and finish with a huge slam dunk to put an exclamation point on the game. Jacob Holmes (15 points, 14 rebounds) sealed the win at the line.

Earlier in the match it was the Bearcats who looked the better side as they led by as many as nine through the second quarter. It was only Ben Howell (12 points) who could consistently score for the Flames. Howell connected on a three with two minutes left in the opening quarter to cap off nine straight points and briefly give Norwood the lead. Sturner and Blake Truslove (10 points, seven rebounds) were too much for the Norwood defence and the sharpshooter Crawford was always a threat as the Bearcats took the momentum in the second and third quarters. But it was Norwood that had the energy to finish off the game and pick up their 10^th win of the season. West Adelaide drop to fourth on the ladder with the loss.