By Connor Rice

Norwood Flames 95 | Southern Tigers 65

Defence wins games and this was no more apparent than on Friday night when the Flames took on the Tigers at Morphett Vale. Fresh off a big blowout win against Centrals, the Tigers were up and about early looking to take it to the Norwood Flames – team who has seemingly had a grasp on the women’s competition year in and year out.

Norwood’s defence was hot from the beginning, pressuring the ball off the inbound with a trap and making it incredibly difficult for any Tigers guard to get past halfway or easily set up their offence. Where the Flames really won the game over was their intense individual defence on star Tiger, Mollie McKendrick. Holding McKendrick to only 15 points after her 27 point explosion against the Lions, as well as making it incredibly difficult for her to get interior post touches limited the Tigers offence completely. One player who should be highly commended for this limiting of McKendrick is fellow Lightning teammate and Flames player, Jess Good. 

Unfortunately for the Tigers, import Ta’Rea Cunnigan was not only slightly injured but also struggled scoring, shooting 3-11 field goals and finishing with 7 points leaving the Tigers’ offence very shallow.

Denelle Fawcett and Lauren Fisher played well for the Tigers putting in 17 and 12 points respectively.

In the end the incredible defensive effort of the Flames, baskets in transition and points in the paint was too much to overcome for the smaller Tigers. It’s difficult to beat any team when there are six players in double digits: Maris a Stabile 18, Taylor Ortlepp 14, Stephanie Talbot 14, Jess Good 14, Jess Foley 12 and Chelsea Brook 11.

The Tigers certainly won’t slump like this again and we can expect to see a McKendrick bounce back next week. The Flames are looking like the league’s elite in the Women’s Competition for 2016.

Round 3: Saturday, 2 April at 6.30pm

Southern Tigers VS Eastern Mavericks at Morphett Vale

Norwood Flames VS Forestville Eagles at Wayville