West Adelaide Bearcats vs Woodville Warriors

WOMEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 12 APRIL | PORT ADELAIDE
OFFICIALS: A JUST & J CRESP

The Bearcats will need to combat Katherine Perkas if they are to have a chance of defeating arguably the best 1-3 team in the last decade.

Perkas went berserk last time she played the Bearcats, scoring 42 points. Her week-by-week scoring has risen to 15 ppg this season. Her team has the fourth best percentage in the league at 111.18, despite only ranking seventh on the ladder.

The Warriors got a huge percentage boost last week after beating Centrals 108-55. Six individuals reached double figures in scoring; Carmen Reynolds at the top of the chart with 25.

The Bearcats have had a similar start to the Warriors, challenging quality teams without getting the wins. The story was no different last week against Forestville, where they went down by five, in spite of being level late in the game.

Sky Langenbrinck (15 points) and Kate Shierlaw (13 points) top scored for the Bearcats against the Eagles.

With both teams in some good form, this should be a competitive game.

 

West Adelaide Bearcats vs Woodville Warriors

MEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 12 APRIL | PORT ADELAIDE
OFFICIALS: R ROCHFORD & B HARRIS

In the Match of the Round, the Bearcats host the Warriors in a top of the table clash.
Both teams began the year with two wins, and then lost in Round 3, before bouncing back with Round 4 wins over a 2013 finalist. The Warriors’ superior percentage has them first; the Bearcats third.

Last week, the Bearcats came from behind to defeat Forestville in double overtime. Blake Truslove dominated with 23 rebounds and 15 points, while Anthony Spadavecchia and Jason Dawson combined for 45 points.

The Warriors thrashed Centrals by 31 points, their 10th consecutive conquering of the men from Gawler. Luke Stanbridge (24 points, 12 rebounds) stood up in Alexander Starling’s absence, but it was the Warriors’ defence that was most impressive. Other than the Bearcats, who conceded just 58 to North, the Warriors are the only club to keep an opponent under 60 points this season – and they have done it twice! Both North (55 points) and Centrals (48 points) have fallen victim to the Warriors’ aggressive defence.

Having swept this series last season, the Bearcats have a little bit of a mental edge.

 

Norwood Flames vs North Adelaide Rockets

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 12 APRIL | MARS
OFFICIALS: A FILMER & J BROWN

In the Match of the Round, the North Adelaide Rockets will be hoping to turn the tables on Norwood, following two straight Grand Final losses.

Both teams are unbeaten in 2014, although the Flames’ margins of victory have been superior to the Rockets’. The Flames have a percentage of 208.56, having scored more than twice the amount of points of their opponents. The Rockets sit at 122.95 per cent.

A Rocket upset would need to come on the back of huge games from Jo Hill and Jamie-Lee Peris, who are once again on the forefront of the Rockets’ title challenge. Amy Lewis and Jessica Good are the two Flames standing out statistically, although Jess Foley could prove the x-factor.

Ultimately, the Flames should have too much depth for the Rockets.

 

Norwood Flames vs North Adelaide Rockets

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 12 APRIL | MARS
OFFICIALS: M FROST & H STARKEY

After finally getting on the board in 2014, the Rockets will try to take down a Flames team that has been on the rise.

The Rockets’ 64-63 win over Southern in Round 4 was their 16th straight triumph over the yellow and black. More importantly, Pero Vasilijevic was back to his dominant best. His 22 points, 16 rebounds and 34 minutes were all season highs. The former 36er was ably assisted by fellow big man John Wernham, who went off for 22 and 9 in 22 foul prone minutes.

Behind 18 points from Matthew Lycett and 15 from Todd Matthews, the Flames beat Eastern by 13. This result made it back-to-back wins for the first time since Rounds 6-7, 2013.

Last season aside, the away team has generally had the upper hand in this series - will history repeat itself?

 

Southern Tigers vs South Adelaide Panthers

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 12 APRIL | MORPHETT VALE
OFFICIALS:D MILLER & A NEWMAN

After being brought back down to Earth in Round 4, the Panthers will be bidding to bounce right back to form against the improving Southern Tigers.

With Janae Howard fouling out on just 16 points, and Jessica Mahony (5 points, 2 assists, 6 turnovers) also hitting the bench early, the Panthers went down to Sturt 54-67 last week. It was the Panthers’ first loss of 2014, following three straight wins.

The Tigers gave North a run for their money, before falling nine points short. Jade Barber (17 points, 13 rebounds), Kelsie Rutland (14 points, 4-7 3FG) and Denelle Fawcett (13 points, 5 rebounds) were prominent. The Tigers have started 2014 with two wins and a close loss from their four matches, suggesting they are a stronger side than the one that finished 2013 with just five wins.

Last week proves the Panthers can get rattled when Howard and Mahony get into foul trouble. The amount of minutes they are able to play in this one will largely affect the final outcome of this game.

 

Southern Tigers vs South Adelaide Panthers

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 12 APRIL | MORPHETT VALE
OFFICIALS: N IRELAND & P WELBOURN

After failing to beat the Rockets once more, the Tigers will be hoping history turns to their favour when they welcome spoiler team South to Morphett Vale.

The Tigers have won five of their last six games against the Panthers. That said, the Panthers had similar recent records against West and Sturt, before accounting for each side’s only loss of the season in the past two weeks.

The Panthers have now won consecutive games for the first time since Rounds 3-6 2012. They have won as many matches in the past fortnight as they had in their previous 30 games. Suddenly, they are only one game off top spot.

The Tigers are one of four teams at the head of the ladder with three wins.

The Panthers will need to pay close attention to Samuel McDaniel and Samuel Johns, while Bradley Reid and former Tiger Shane Boal are the top two players the Tigers need to stop.

Two weeks ago the Tigers would have been untouchable favourites, but after the Panthers recent success, this will be no walkover for the yellow and black.

Sturt Sabres vs Forestville Eagles

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 12 APRIL | PASADENA
OFFICIALS: M DYSON & B SHEPHERD

After a statement win over the previously unbeaten Panthers, the Sabres will have a third go at a maiden home win when Forestville heads across town.

It is only the second road trip for the Eagles in 2014, having won consecutive home fixtures against Woodville and West. Although their margins of victory will not frighten anyone, the fact remains the Eagles have got wins on the board, and winning close games is always a useful experience in preparation for finals.

The Sabres’ defensive ability stood firm against free scoring South, impressively shutting down scoring machine Janae Howard and the league’s best playmaker Jessica Mahony. The verdict is still out on whether they can score enough points on a regular basis to play finals.

Rookie Eagle Samantha Defrancesco is one to watch for the Sabres, as she scored a career high 20 points in the win over West last week. Natalie Novosel, with 23 points and 13 rebounds on debut against South, is someone the Eagles need to keep an eye on.

Expect a low-scoring and close game between two sides who will not give an inch.

 

Sturt Sabres vs Forestville Eagles

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 12 APRIL | PASADENA
OFFICIALS: N WIELAND & N PASSEY

Classic rivals Sturt and Forestville will be keen to bounce back from disappointing losses when they meet at Pasadena.

The Sabres’ 82-93 loss to South last week was their first of the season, having started out the season with three wins. The Eagles blew an 11 point half-time lead, losing to West in double overtime in the Grand Final rematch.

Coming off a 31 point outing, Sabre Dexter Moore is the player the Eagles need to keep in check. That task will only get harder should Tim Klaosen return to the side, which would take some pressure off of Moore’s shoulders.

With 25 points each against West, Trent Fildes and Jake Rios are the two offenders the Sabres will look to limit.

The Sabres pulled off a stunning upset by beating the Eagles, then with Adam Gibson and Adam Doyle, at Pasadena last year. Will lightning strike twice?

 

Central Districts Lions vs Eastern Mavericks

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 12 APRIL | STARPLEX
OFFICIALS: B NORTHCOTE & M MCLOUGHLIN

The Eastern Mavericks and Central Districts Lions will be battling for their first win of 2014 when they meet at Starplex.

The Mavericks are currently the ninth ranked team, sitting only 11 percentage points ahead of Centrals. Neither side has taken a rival to single digits.

The Mavericks had their score doubled by Norwood last week, despite 13 points from Sharron Tarran, and 12 points and 17 rebounds from Emma Hooley.

The Lions lost 55-108 to Woodville. Brianna Wedding and Aimee Herriman each scored 11.

The Mavericks swept this series last season. The Lions last win over the Mavericks was in the 2012 Elimination Final.

The Mavericks’ front court duo of Tarran and Hooley should be enough to see them home.

 

Central Districts Lions vs Eastern Mavericks

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 12 APRIL | STARPLEX
OFFICIALS: M PEPICELLI & N SCRIVEN

The Central Districts Lions will be desperate for a win over Eastern to keep In touch with the league’s top five.

When the Lions are on, they can beat anyone, as evidenced by their scorching of Forestville in Round 2. However, they have been off far too often in the opening month of 2014, succumbing to three double digit losses in four matches.

The Lions’ 48 point total against Woodville last week was the lowest by any club in the league this season. Kyle Miller, previously the CABL’s leading scorer, was held scoreless, while playing only half the game due to foul trouble.

The Mavericks have lost all four of their games, with their 13 point loss to Norwood last week the closest they have become to a victory. Curtis Scipio has been impressive, and has now jumped up to equal third in scoring with Miller (19.8 ppg).

The Lions really need to make a statement quickly, or else last season’s success will just be a thing of the past.