Eastern Mavericks v Norwood Flames
Saturday, April 16, 8:15pm at Adelaide Hills Recreation Centre
The Eastern Mavericks will play the first of two games this weekend when they take on the Norwood Flames in the Hills on Saturday night.

The Match of the Round features two teams that are in good form early.

The Mavericks pulled out a thrilling 95-93 road win over Sturt last week, on the back of 39 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists from player/coach Brad Hill.

Steve Breheny had 17 points and 9 rebounds, while Aaron Bruce had 15 points and 5 assists.

Eastern featured in another dramatic finish in Round 1, where they went down by a point to West Adelaide.

Save for their first quarter of Round 1, the Norwood Flames have been by far the dominant side of the competition thus far.

After comprehensively winning their last three quarters of Round 1, the Flames smashed Southern 68-36 at Morphett Vale last week, despite only shooting 30 per cent from the field.

The height of last year’s Preliminary Finalists has been a worry for opposition teams, although it was Point Guard Todd Matthews who finished with a game-high 15 rebounds.

Andrew Webber was the shining light offensively with 19 points, almost double that of the game’s next highest scorer (brother Daniel with 10).

The Flames outrebounded their opponents 57-41, and now have a 103-81 advantage on the season in this category.

Essentially, this game comes down to who can best utilise their own strength whilst limiting their opponent’s, with the Mavs a more perimeter-oriented team and Norwood looking to get the ball inside.

Eastern are still waiting upon the return of Sydney Kings’ young gun Ben Madgen, who finished from the NBL season injured. Nonetheless, his loss has not really troubled them to date.

The Mavs have kept things tight against the opposition’s best thus far, and I expect them to do so again.

Considering Eastern have played in two heart-stoppers already, they should be more inclined to perform under agonising pressure than the Flames, and with home-court advantage, I think they might pinch another close victory.

North Adelaide Rockets v West Adelaide Bearcats
Saturday, April 16, 8:15pm at Hillcrest Stadium
The Rockets and Bearcats will meet in Round 3, with both teams looking to win for different reasons.

North Adelaide have been under an unlucky star over the first two games of Season 2011, losing by one point on both occasions.

After trailing by 8 to South at half-time of Round 2, the Rockets fought back into the game with a 23-12 third quarter, before relinquishing the lead with seven minutes remaining and never gaining it back.

Still, with the final possession of the game, last year’s best away team had a chance to pinch another on the road on Saturday, but failed to get a shot up in the last 12 seconds.

With Rhys Carter absent, Josh Bond stepped up to the plate, scoring 22. Tom Rowe and Matthew Lycett added 18 and 15 respectively.

The Bearcats, meanwhile, have won two of two, but have likewise had a tough start to the season.

After hanging on to win by a point against Eastern in Round 1, West were in shock at three-quarter time of Round 2, trailing to Centrals by 3 points.

Tristan Braithwaite put his team in front with 6.33 to go, and the ’Cats pulled away to win 79-71.

Blake Truslove was the player of the game with 15 points, 15 boards, 5 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks, while David Nurse and Anthony Spadavecchia combined for 39 points.

Jeff Dowdell was out of the line-up in Round 2, after scoring 33 the previous week.

Both teams underwent major change in the offseason, but going into this one, it appears the Bearcats have suffered less as a consequence.

The Rockets have been poor on their home floor in recent times, and I expect West to get up reasonably comfortably, the X factor being North’s new import Curtis Scipio who is a possibility to suit.

Southern Tigers v Woodville Warriors
Saturday, April 16, 8:15pm at Morphett Vale Stadium
The Southern Tigers will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat when they take on the Warriors at Morphett Vale on Saturday.

The bottom-placed side was totally humiliated by Norwood last week, losing 68-36 and shooting just 21 per cent from the field.

The Tigers also registered a mammoth 31 turnovers, while putting up a measly 7 assists.

Codey Ellison and Marcus Robinson were the team-high scorers with 9 apiece.

This came a week after a very competitive game against Forestville, where they blew a slender late lead to lose by 8.

Meanwhile, Woodville will be looking to bounce back from their 77-63 Round 2 loss to Forestville.

The Warriors were thrashed 21-9 in the second quarter, and looked out of the game at half-time, trailing by 18.

A 19-4 third quarter run got Woodville back in the game, before they gave up 7 quick points and never threatened thereafter.

Josh Knight had to work hard for his 17 points, while substitute Gary Birmingham also scored 17.

The loss squared the Warriors’ ledger at 1-1, after Birmingham scored late at Hillcrest to lift his side to a 1 point win over North.

Woodville will be hoping to do a better job of finishing around the basket, with Knight and former South Adelaide big men Adam Blight and Steve Pilkington missing several gettable shots from close range.

They will also be hoping to do a better job defensively, after giving up 137 points over their first 6 quarters of the season.

When the Warriors came out of their zone and got up the floor in the second half last week, they defended much better, holding the Eagles to 34 second-half points.

For Southern, it is a matter of regaining the intensity they showed in Round 1.

They were competitive for a quarter last week, with scores level after 10 minutes, before falling away.

It will be interesting to see which Tigers’ team shows up in this one.

For me, the Warriors have a bit more talent at the helm, and I think they will just get up for their second win of Season 2011.

Central District Lions v Sturt Sabres
Saturday, April 16, 8:15pm at Starplex
In a clash between last year’s wooden-spooners and premiers, one team must get a tick in the win column in Round 3.

Both the Central District Lions, following losses to South and West, and the Sturt Sabres, who have lost to Norwood and Eastern, will be looking for win number 1 at Starplex on Saturday.

Over the first two games, the Lions have relied heavily on Daniel Carlin and Josh Kollasch.

Carlin had 24 points and 8 boards in Round 1, and 22 and 6 in Round 2.

Kollasch had 13 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists against West, while putting up 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in the loss to South.

Sturt have had opportunities to win both their games, but faltered under differing circumstances in each match.

The Sabres led by 10 at quarter-time away to Norwood, before being outplayed in the last three quarters to lose by 7.

They then had a chance to win or tie in the dying seconds of their home match with Eastern, but missed a three and then failed to get off a shot from in the keyway, eventually going down 95-93.

The Sabres will be hoping to have both Darren Ng and Jan Warbout back in the line-up.

Ng missed last week’s clash with injury, while Warbout has returned from a holiday.

Fellow 36er Tom Daly has been impressive across the 2 games, averaging 17.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, despite uncharacteristic turnovers in round 1.

Despite their brave effort against West last week and the Sabres’ slow start to the season, it is hard to see Centrals holding up in this one.

Sturt have had two tough losses, and this is by far their easiest game thus far.

Look for the Sabres to gain control early and secure a big win.

Forestville Eagles v South Adelaide Panthers
Saturday, April 16, 8:15pm at Wayville Sports Centre
The Forestville Eagles and South Adelaide Panthers are the only undefeated sides to face off against another in Round 3.

The Eagles pulled out a tough win against Southern in Round 1, before downing the Warriors at St Clair last week.

The Panthers pulled off a sizeable victory against the Lions in their season opener, before getting up by a point at home to North.

Daniel Johnson could make his season debut this week The 36ers big man has been overseas, but is expected back this week.

If he does feature, however, expect his minutes to be minimal, as he has not had much time with his team.

Fellow 36ers Mitch Creek starred for South last week, racking up 22 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks.

Creek’s basket with 43 seconds left gave the Panthers a two-possession lead, and the Rockets could only manage one basket the rest of the way.

Backing up from his 24 point, 8 rebound opener, Thomas McKenzie had another good game with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Isaiah Omamogho has also been impressive thus far, averaging 20.5 points and 4 assists over his first two games, along with connecting on six three-pointers.

In contrast, the Eagles won reasonably comfortably.

Forestville’s 21-9 second quarter built an 18 point half-time buffer.

The Warriors got back to within 7 during the third, but the Eagles quickly doubled their advantage by three-quarter time, and were never seriously threatened in the final 10 minutes.

Rashad Tucker has had two strong outputs, and is averaging 23.5 points and 18.5 rebounds thus far this season.

Tucker’s teammates did not give him much support in the opener, however, Brad Haydon, Brad Sullivan, and Nick Blair all stepped up in Round 2.

Interestingly, both teams have picked up without their leading scorer.

Forestville’s offence has been much more effective without last year’s Woollacott Medallist Riley Luettgerodt holding the ball for long periods, which is likewise the case for the Panthers without Sammy Gazzo.

Give South full credit for their undefeated start, but the Eagles should pose a more difficult challenge than North and Centrals.

This should be an exciting game, with Forestville getting up in a close one.

Eastern Mavericks v Southern Tigers
Sunday, April 17, 3:00pm at Adelaide Hills Recreation Centre
The Mavericks will complete their home double-header when they take on the Tigers on Sunday.

After three consecutive matches against last year’s top three sides, this will be a match Eastern feel they should and must win.

Fatigue could be a factor in this one, especially with the contrasting opponents the teams will meet the night before.

The Mavericks will have their hands full with a big and tough Norwood Flames side, which should be a mouth-watering clash.

On the other hand, the Tigers are at home to Woodville.

Eastern have been in excellent form thus far, just going down to last year’s runner-up West Adelaide, while getting up in a dramatic clash with Sturt.

The Tigers were woeful against Norwood last week, while giving Forestville a scare in Round 1.

The Mavericks will be full of confidence here, and the only way I can see Southern getting up is if Eastern think they only have to win by showing up.

Ultimately, the Mavs will get the job done like consummate professionals, and have a big win.

Central District Lions v Norwood Flames
Sunday, April 17, 3:00pm at Starplex
Once Sunday is over, the Norwood Flames will have completed the three longest road trips in the business.

Backing up from a road win at Morphetvale last Sunday and their trip up the hills on Saturday night, the Flames travel to Starplex to face Centrals, which will complete their double-header.

However, travel will be far less of a worry for Norwood than an unlucky Lions side, who will have played last year’s three top sides in the space of nine days.

Centrals suffered a hard-fought loss to West last week, and will face Sturt on Saturday.

The fact that Norwood will have done much travelling in the space of eight days could cause them some fatigue, but that should not be a problem against last year’s wooden-spooners.

The Lions could not have asked for a tougher weekend, and will likely be sitting 0-4 after this week.

The Flames have a massive edge in size and talent, and any one of Todd Matthews, Andrew Webber, David Cooper, Corey Ottey, Keith Krause or Daniel Webber is capable of stepping up to the plate at any given moment.

Meanwhile, Centrals will rely heavily on Josh Kollasch and Daniel Carlin.

Norwood should not have any trouble picking up a sizeable win in this matchup.