Eastern Mavericks (0-5, 10th) v North Adelaide Rockets (2-3, 7th)

The North Adelaide Rockets will be hoping to end their three game losing streak when they travel to the Hills to take on Eastern on Saturday.

After back to back wins to open Season 2011, the Rockets now sit seventh with a 2-3 record, after back-to-back floggings against Norwood and Sturt.

Jo Hill was again the shining light for North over the weekend, and is currently averaging 16.2 points, 12.8 rebounds, and over 3 steals and 1 block.

The Rockets’ next highest scorer is Shannon McKay at 7.8 ppg.

The Mavericks’ season got worse still last week, after being flogged for a fifth consecutive week, going down 89-48 to Centrals.

Tracey Beatty has been the Mavs’ best this season, averaging 13.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg, however she has featured in just two contests.

Eastern has been struggling to compete with most teams, and expect this game to be no different.

Norwood Flames (5-0, 1st) v Forestville Eagles (2-3, 5th)

The Norwood Flames will be hoping to make it six from six in Saturday’s home fixture against Forestville at Mars.

The Flames have won their first five games by an average of 29.2 points, while the Eagles are -3 on the season.

Jess Foley has been in stellar form, averaging 16.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 3.2 spg.

Foley was the top scorer with 16 in the Flames’ most recent win, 71-46 against North.

Former Eagle Kelsey Ireland has also been solid, averaging 11.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, and 3 apg, while Centre Rachel Herrick has troubled Forestville in the past with her 193 cm frame.

Forestville are coming off a shocking performance in a 75-44 loss at West Adelaide on Sunday.

Jess Fergus has been the Eagles’ most intense player, and is averaging 16.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.6 apg and 1.6 spg.

Georgia Minear is the team’s leading scorer at 18.4 ppg, but has not been as strong in the past three matches.

If Forestville is to have any hope in this one, they will need Centre Tara Robinson (9.7 ppg, 8rpg, 4 apg) back in the line-up.

Robinson missed last weekend’s double-header against Sturt and West, with the Eagles winning just one of their eight quarters.

Right now, Norwood sits percentage above West in first place, so the task ahead of Forestville will be tremendous regardless of whether Robinson takes the court.

Expect the Flames to pick up another comfortable victory.

Sturt Sabres (4-1, 3rd) v Woodville Warriors (0-5, 9th)

Sturt has a great opportunity to pick up a fifth straight victory when it tackles winless Woodville at Pasadena this week.

The Sabres have won their last four matches by an average of 36 points, while the Warriors average losing margin over their five matches is 18.2 points.

New recruit Tess Madgen has picked up from where she left off with Eastern, averaging 24.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.8 apg, 3.8 spg and 1 bpg.

Nicole Seekamp is contributing 14.4 ppg and 6.4 rpg, while Caroline Burgess is providing her team 9.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg and 3.8 apg.

Hannah Richards is coming off her best matches of the season, contributing 13 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks.

Ursula Richards (17.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Ashleigh White (13.8 rpg, 7.2 rpg) and Vida Bojanic (10.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) have been the best for Woodville.

It will take a massive boilover for the Warriors to come away here, but last weekend showed anything is possible.

Still, I expect Sturt to have a big victory.

West Adelaide Bearcats (5-0, 1st) v South Adelaide Panthers (1-4, 8th)

Although their record shows otherwise, the South Adelaide Panthers have been ultra-competitive over their opening five matches.

After suffering three one-possession losses, the Panthers achieved a much deserved victory last Sunday, accounting for the Woodville Warriors 86-63 at Marion.

However, they face their biggest challenge yet on Saturday when they tackle Nikita-Lee Martin and the undefeated West Adelaide Bearcats at Port Adelaide.

Martin (19 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.2 spg, 1 bpg) is once again a front-runner for the Walls Medal, after finishing second to Tess Madgen in 2010.

She has been well-supported by Ashlea Vordermaier (11.2 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.6 apg, 3.8 spg, 1 bpg) Meg McLeod (10.8 ppg), Kerrin Webber (8.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and Trudy Holland (7.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.4 apg, 2.6 spg).

The Bearcats have won their first five matches by an average of 28.6 points, including a 31 point victory over Forestville last Sunday in a rematch of the 2010 Grand Final.

Elizabeth Keane (14 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.8 apg), and Claire Johnson (10.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.6 apg) have been the Panthers’ top players, while Sarah Peddle had a breakout game against Woodville with 29 points and 9 rebounds.

Taya Crockford was also prominent in the Panthers’ first win with 6 points and 17 rebounds.

 The last time the two teams met (at Marion late last season), the Panthers stunned the Bearcats with an upset one point victory.

Based on South’s form, expect another competitive performance from them this weekend.

Ultimately, though, West should have too much talent, and score themselves a sixth consecutive win.

Central District Lions (2-3, 6th) v Southern Tigers (4-1, 4th)

When Centrals meet Southern at Starplex this weekend, a lot will be at stake for both sides.

The Lions need a win to stay in touch with the top five, while the Tigers will be hoping to improve to 5-1, which will keep them within touching distance of Norwood, West and Sturt.

After three straight losses, Centrals were back on the winners list with an 89-48 victory over Eastern.

Jess Mahony registered her second triple-double of the season with 11 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists. On the season, she is averaging 9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 10 apg and 4.6 spg.

Desinta Cummins is also coming off a triple-double (12 points, 12 boards, 11 assists), while Alisha Heglund is the team’s top scorer at 13 ppg.

The Tigers picked up another close win last week, defeating South 63-60.

Southern have been in the midst of a soft schedule, and although they have not played their most convincing basketball, are on a three game winning streak.

Madeline Cunningham (16.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Ashleigh Spencer (13.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg) are the Tigers’ key players.

Kate Mousley had a double-double against South, and is the team’s top rebounder at 8.7 rpg, to go with 6.7 ppg.

At the start of the season, Southern would have been pencilling this fixture in as a win, yet the Lions, with the additions of Mahony from Forestville and Tony Moore as coach, have already become a more competitive outfit.

Do not be surprised if Centrals get up, however, the Tigers have found ways to win all season, so I give them my tip in a close one.

By James Woite