North Adelaide Rockets v Norwood Flames
Saturday, April 30, 8:15pm at Hillcrest Stadium
Fierce rivals North Adelaide and Norwood will square off on Saturday in what should be a high quality affair.

The Rockets can consider themselves unfortunate to not be alongside the Flames as the league’s two undefeated teams, after going down by two points to West in Round 3.

This result followed consecutive wins against Woodville and Centrals in Rounds 1 and 2.

Jo Hill has starred for her side, averaging 16.3 ppg on 51.2 per cent shooting, along with a mammoth 15.7 rpg. Hill is the only Rocket averaging double figures in either category.

Norwood, meanwhile, is cruising after four straight victories, with Sturt the only team to lose to them by single figures. The Flames have also thrashed Southern, Eastern and Centrals.

The visitors have received valuable contributions from a variety of sources, with Jess Foley (16.5 points, 8.5 rpg) and Kelsey Ireland (11.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg) leading the way.

Hill’s interior battle with Flames Centre Rachel Herrick could have a large bearing on the result.

The Rockets showed in their last match that they can compete with the league’s top teams, so expect this to be a close, competitive encounter.

This should be the Flames toughest match since Round 1, meaning the Rockets may have a slight advantage down the stretch, having played out a couple of close matches.

Still, Norwood have the edge on paper, and I expect them to pull out another victory here.

Southern Tigers v South Adelaide Panthers
Saturday, April 30, 6:30pm at Morphett Vale Stadium
It has been a two contrasting tales for Southern and South this year, with the two set to meet in Rivalry Round on Saturday.

The Tigers’ form has not been convincing, yet they are in a strong position with three wins and one loss, leaving them third on the ladder.

Southern beat Forestville by two in Round 1, despite almost throwing away a sizeable advantage. They were then humiliated on their home floor by Norwood, before picking up an ugly win over Woodville.

In their last match against Eastern, who had lost their first three matches by a combined total of 201 points, the Tigers trailed by 6 at quarter-time, before recovering to win by 26.

Meanwhile, the Panthers have been playing some reasonable basketball, yet are winless after three rounds.

South led both Centrals and Forestville at three quarter-time, before going down by a point to each team. They were also competitive in an 11 point loss to North.

Madeline Cunningham (16.5 ppg) and Ashleigh Spencer (15.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg) have been the Tigers’ two top players, while Elizabeth Keane (12.7 ppg, 10 rpg) has been South’s top performer.

Going by each team’s form, this is a hard game to pick. However, Southern have found a way to win games whereas South have not, so I will tip the Tigers here.

Woodville Warriors v West Adelaide Bearcats
Saturday, April 30, 6:30pm at St. Clair Recreation Centre
The Bearcats will be hoping to continue their unbeaten start to Season 2011 when they visit Woodville on Saturday.

West came agonisingly close to suffering their first loss of the season in Round 3, just hanging on to beat North by two.

Nikita-Lee Martin has been in red-hot form, averaging 20.7 ppg, 8 rpg, and 4 apg. Ashleigh Vordermaier and Meg McLeod are each averaging above 12 ppg.

The Warriors, on the other hand, have lost tight matches against North and Southern, whilst being blown out by Forestville.

Ashleigh White has been their top player, averaging 14 ppg and 9 rpg, whilst shooting at 100 per cent from the foul-line.

The Bearcats have a massive edge in talent, and should win this match convincingly.

Look for West to wrap this game up early and rest their guns for the ensuing clash with Forestville on Sunday.

Central District Lions v Eastern Mavericks
Saturday, April 30, 6:30pm at Starplex
The Eastern Mavericks are sitting at the bottom of the ladder, having already suffered four blowout losses.

The Lions know how that feels, having suffered the same fate for many years.

This week, the Mavs are away to a much-improved Centrals outfit, who will relish this lighter fixture, having just faced three of their toughest challenges this season.

The Lions stormed home for a one point win against South in Round 1, before losing to West, Sturt and Norwood.

Import Alisha Heglund is the team-high scorer, averaging 12 ppg. Star recruit Jess Mahony has put up 8.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, and 9 apg, although she has only shot the ball at 28.1 per cent.

Despite three consecutive losses, Centrals played some competitive basketball at times, winning at least one quarter in all of those matches.

Eastern, meanwhile, have won just one quarter this season, against the Tigers in their last game.

The Mavs have also lost to West, Sturt and Norwood, just as Centrals have, though by far bigger margins.

If there is one positive for Eastern, it is that their defeats have decreased in margin each game, from 81 points in Round 1, to 72 in Round 2, to 48 in Round 3, to 26 in Round 4.

Tracey Beatty has played well in her two matches, averaging 13.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg.

Very rarely in recent seasons has Centrals been the favourite to win, but against the struggling Mavs, one would have to give them the edge.

Look for the Lions to continue their better basketball and pick up win number two for Season 2011.

Forestville Eagles v Sturt Sabres
Saturday, April 30, 6:30pm at Wayville Sports Centre
If the Forestville Eagles do not recover their best form against Sturt on Saturday, then expect a long night for the dual-reigning champions.

The Eagles played great basketball in Round 2 against Woodville, where they had the game virtually wrapped up at quarter-time.

However, their performances against Southern and South have left a bit to be desired, splitting those fixtures to leave them with a 2-1 record.

Sturt lost to Norwood in Round 1, but have since bounced back with big wins over Centrals and Eastern.

2010 MVP Tess Madgen has taken no time at all in finding her feet with her new club, averaging 24 ppg. Nicole Seekamp is putting up 15.3 ppg and 7 rpg, while Caroline Burgess and Monique Bowley are also in good form.

Georgia Minear is the Eagles’ top scorer with 20.7 ppg, whilst also averaging 5.7 rpg and 3.7 apg. Jess Fergus (15 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg), Jamie-Lee Bow (10.7 ppg, 75% 3-point shooting), Alex Duncan (10.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5 apg) and Tara Robinson (9.7 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg) round out the Forestville starting five.

The Eagles have had the wood on the Sabres in recent years, having won three of their past four meetings, including the 2010 Preliminary Final and the 2009 Grand Final.

However, the offseason transfer period has been more beneficial for Sturt than Forestville.

Third quarters have been a major worry for the Eagles this season, having been outscored 66-39. In their two home games, they have looked slower and less intense than they have done in 2009 and 2010.

Although I think Forestville’s intensity will lift with the Sabres in the building, their opponents are playing the better basketball. Therefore, I feel it will be Sturt who get the victory and improve to 3-1.

South Adelaide Panthers v Woodville Warriors
Sunday, May 1, 1:15pm at Marion Stadium
The Woodville Warriors will travel to Marion Sunday to face the Panthers, with both teams potentially going in search of their first win of the season.

Both South and Woodville have dropped their opening three matches. The Panthers are up against Southern on Saturday, while the Warriors face West, so there is a strong chance both will sit 0-4 after their first four games.

The Panthers have been unlucky not to score a win as yet, losing to Centrals and Forestville by a point, whilst also going down to a quality Rockets side by 11.

Woodville have dropped close ones against North and Southern, while being thrashed by Forestville.

The Warriors will need to closely watch Elizabeth Keane, while the Panthers will be hoping to restrict the impact of Ashleigh White.

This is a difficult game to predict. In the end, I am going to go with South, but do not be surprised if Woodville get up.

Sturt Sabres v North Adelaide Rockets
Sunday, May 1, 1:15pm at Pasadena Sports Centre
The Sturt Sabres will play host to North Adelaide on Sunday, with both teams coming off tough Round 4 fixtures.

The Rockets are at home to unbeaten Norwood on Saturday, while the Sabres are at Wayville for a clash against dual reigning champions Forestville.

Player management will be crucial, with fatigue likely to be a major influence on this game.

Both teams have played good basketball to date.

Sturt has won its last two matches against Centrals and Eastern, after a tough loss to Norwood in Round 1. 

The Rockets, who missed last year’s finals series, proved they are capable of competing with the best, going down to West by just two points. This was after opening the season with back-to-back victories.

Jo Hill has starred for North over the opening three matches, while former Maverick Tess Madgen has done the same for Sturt.

Whichever player who exerts the greater influence could go a long way in deciding the outcome of this contest.

Depth-wise, the Sabres appear to have a slight edge, which will be especially crucial for this double-header weekend.

I believe Sturt will get the win, but expect a good contest from the Rockets.

West Adelaide Bearcats v Forestville Eagles
Sunday, May 1, 1:15pm at Port Adelaide Recreation Centre
The West Adelaide Bearcats will be looking to exact revenge on the Forestville Eagles when the two sides meet on Sunday in a rematch of the 2010 Grand Final.

In the two sides’ last meeting, the Eagles scored the first 13 points of the match, en route to a 73-54 victory.

However, each team has lost key players in the offseason, with Sam Woosnam (West) and Mia Newley (Forestville) leaving interstate, and Jess Mahony and Kelsey Ireland (Forestville) moving to Centrals and Norwood respectively.

Thus far, the losses of Newley, Mahony and Ireland appear to have hurt the Eagles more than Woosnam’s loss has hurt the Bearcats.

Forestville produced a quality 95-59 road win over Woodville, but split home matches with Southern and South.

West has started very well, with victories over Eastern, Centrals and North.

Last year’s Halls Medal Runner-up Nikita-Lee Martin has been a fantastic form again for the ’Cats, along with Ashleigh Vordermaier.

Georgia Minear has been the Eagles’ best player this season, while Jess Fergus has led from the front.

Forestville will be backing up from a barnstorming clash with Sturt, whereas the Bearcats should wrap things up easily against Woodville.

Therefore, the Bearcats should be better rested for the match.

Still, it is never easy facing up to a team that beat you for the grand prize at the final hurdle, and last year’s Grand Final defeat will surely plague the minds of the West Adelaide players.

The Eagles still boasts a high quality line-up, and it should be just a matter of time before they rediscover their best form.

This game poses a great opportunity to do just that. In something of an upset, I am tipping Forestville to get the victory. 

By James Woite