The Womens A League Basketball season has kicked off with plenty of excitement and enthusiasm for the coming summer season. Mount Barker Magic again start as firm title favourites, with ample scoring talent, paced by livewire point guard Tennille Searl the Magic will be hard to stop on any night. Alison Hodgson will provide score board pressure, along with the versatile Melinda Todd at small forward and Ella Nobes at shooting guard. Talented Junior Emerson Bowen has crossed over from Onka Piranhas and should be able to provide instant offence and pressure on defence.

Zodiacs retain the bulk of their team from last season. A youthful outfit with good perimeter players in Sophie Lee and Courtney Kretschmer. Centre Jenna Brumpton in the paint ensures they will have defensive presence and size that will trouble opponents. It may be a long season for Zodiacs given their overall depth and lack of veteran leadership.

Strong regional club Meadows have sharp shooting Georgia Martin running the dual role of Point/shooting guard this season. Possibly the best pure shooter in the competition, Martin will be the focal point of the Meadows offence. Ashleigh Schiller and Ebony Billing both have scoring capabilities that adds depth that will be required if Meadows are going to contest in the post season.

The Strathalbyn Storm have an experienced and great all round team game that places them a legitimate title contender. Gemma Phillips, Shane Nethercott and Carly Vivian will look to power the Storm this season. Availability of key players throughout the summer may impact on results, but count on “Strath” causing major headaches for teams this season.

If Onka Piranhas can counter their lack of team chemistry as they have amalgamated their two A grade sides from last season, they could get their 2015/16 campaign off to the perfect start. They will most likely control the offensive end with some good veteran talent in Olivia Smith, Ashleigh and Tayler Horsnell, but team defence is the concern for them and they are sure to come under fire from the more structured an experienced of opponents. Any Piranhas team will be well drilled, so expect both teams to work hard on any given night.

On the Referee front, Samantha Roberts from Mt Barker recently received ‘Most Improved’ Referee in the Adelaide Junior District competition. Samantha (pictured) is the most recent success story in a long line of Referee talent that has been produced in the Adelaide Hills. The Eastern Hills Basketball Association is placing a sharper focus on developing and unearthing potential talent Experienced officials Brett Johns and Delyse Blackford will be part of a newly formed working party that will look to both assist and educate junior referees.

Photo is of referee Samantha Roberts (right).