The Basketball SA Central ABL Pre-Season Tournament is expected to give an early indication of who will challenge for this year’s finals, with 6 men’s and women’s teams on show on March 19 and 20 at the Wayville Sports Centre.

With two weeks to go until the season tips off, team lists are bearing a closer resemblance to the final product, with only a few national league, interstate and foreign players still to arrive.

West Adelaide’s men will suit sharp shooter David Nurse, a recent graduate from Western Illinois University who stepped off the plane on Wednesday this week. The Bearcats’ first hit out is against South Adelaide at 12:50pm on Saturday.

Robin Eley, another prolific three point shooter, returns to Norwood after a number of years in the US. Norwood take on a new look Woodville lineup led by NBL great Al Green at 11:30am.

Link Lightning team members Nikki Martin and Trudy Holland (West), and Caroline Burgess and Nicole Seekamp (Sturt) are also likely to suit, in teams marshalled by former Lightning head coaches Chris Lucas and Vikki Valk. Sturt’s first game is at 2:10pm while West start at 11:30am.

In addition to the Central ABL action, the SA Country and Metro Under 18 Men’s and Women’s state teams will play exhibition games during the weekend. The women’s clash is on Saturday at 3:45pm and the men’s battle is on Sunday at 1:15pm.

Entrance to all games is free.

A full schedule is available here.

Click on a team name below to see the the projected team list for the tournament.

Men
Norwood Flames
South Adelaide Panthers
Southern Tigers
Sturt Sabres
West Adelaide Bearcats
Woodville Warriors

Women
North Adelaide Rockets
Norwood Flames
Southern Tigers
Sturt Sabres
West Adelaide Bearcats
Woodville Warriors