North Adelaide Rockets (6-2, 3rd) v Southern Tigers (7-2, 2nd)
Saturday June 16, 6.30pm at Hillcrest

In one of two fixtures with Match of the Round status, the league’s two hottest teams will face off at Hillcrest this Saturday.

After losing their first two and staring down the barrel of a third straight defeat, the North Adelaide Rockets have turned things around in sensational fashion, winning their last six games and are up to third on the ladder. Their opponents, the Southern Tigers, have won five straight and sit second.

All quality sides have quality players, but there are players from both teams who have chosen this season to step up their game in a big way. For the Rockets, there is Jamie-Lee Peris. Peris, who has not played in the CABL since 2009, is averaging a career-best 16.7 ppg at a stunning 58 per cent from the field.

For the Tigers, Alexandra Ciabattoni, who missed the Tigers’ upset win over Centrals in Round 9, and Genna Anderson are in the same boat. Ciabattoni is third in scoring, averaging 22.4 ppg, while Genna Anderson (15.4 ppg, 10.3 rpg) has also been excellent.

The Rockets’ Jo Hill (13.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and Lauren Mansfield (12.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.8 apg) are other key players, while the Tigers have further options in Ashleigh Spencer (12.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg), Teresa Kinross (104 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Simone Nelson (14.6 rpg, 5.3 ppg).

When the teams met back in Round 1, Ciabattoni starred with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals as the Tigers clawed out a 57-53 win. The Tigers were without Spencer in Round 1, while the Rockets had neither Hill nor Mansfield.

Another close game is well and truly on the cards.

South Adelaide Panthers (1-8, 10th) v Woodville Warriors (2-6, 7th)
Saturday June 16, 6.30pm at Marion

The South Adelaide Panthers will be hoping to exact revenge for their disappointing Round 1 loss to the Woodville Warriors when the rematch is held at Marion on Saturday.

The Panthers trailed by double digits for most of the night, before getting within seven at the final buzzer. Jess Hansberry (15 points, 9 rebounds) and Lauren Fisher (14 points, 7 rebounds) were their best that night, while Tara Buttress had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Ashleigh White scored 12 for the Warriors.

Both teams have only won the one match since. The Panthers picked up a maiden triumph over Sturt just two weeks ago, while the Warriors have not won since Round 2 against the Bearcats. The Panthers lost 57-79 last week against North, while the Warriors went down 77-83 in a close one against Sturt.

Overall, the Warriors have been playing a bit better basketball than the Panthers, so should start favourites.

Central District Lions (6-3, 4th) v Norwood Flames (8-1, 1st)
Saturday June 16, 6.30pm at Starplex

In the other fixture with Match of the Round status, the slipping Central District Lions will be trying to put an end to their two game skid when they host the league-leading Norwood Flames.

The Lions started the season 6-1, but have been comprehensively beaten by North and Southern in the last two weeks, with the loss of D’Lesha Lloyde interstate clearly hurting them. The Lions scored only 50 points against Southern, with Jess Mahony and Desinta Cummins combining for 31 of them.

The Flames’ season could not have gone much better thus far, although they will be surely bitter about their last quarter display against bogey side Forestville in Round 9. The Flames’ offence can go cold at times, but they are generally strong at the defensive end.

Yet they were exposed defensively in a big way against the Eagles. After leading by five points after three quarters, the Flames struggled to defend the perimeter and stay out of foul trouble. They gave up 3/4 three-pointers, including two consecutive to sharp-shooter Georgia Minear in the opening minutes, and committed nine team fouls, resulting in nine points conceded. Ultimately, they went down 66-70 in a game that looked theirs for the taking.

Back in Round 1, the Flames defeated the Lions 72-63, outscoring them 15-8 in the fourth. Amy Lewis had 22 points and 5 rebounds for the Flames, while Jess Foley posted 17 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. For the Lions, Elizabeth Keane had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Desinta Cummins scored 14.

Perimeter shooting is not a strength of the Lions, so if they are to win this one, they will have to find a different way to exploit their opponents. A loss here and they will suddenly have a battle on their hands just to retain their spot in the top five. The Flames have no breathing space themselves, with North and Southern hot in their heels for top spot.

The Flames should bounce back and make it 9-1.

Forestville Eagles (6-3, 5th) v Eastern Mavericks (5-4, 6th)
Saturday June 16, 6.30pm at Wayville

The resurrected Eastern Mavericks will be attempting a fifth win in as many outings when they tackle the Forestville Eagles at Wayville on Saturday.

Remarkably, a win for last year’s winless club would result in them having the same win-loss record as the 2009-11 premiers after 10 games. If the Mavs are to pull off an upset, it will almost certainly take an almighty performance from.

Unfortunately the Mavericks will be without Tess Madgen, who is in China with the Emerging Opals team. Madgen has scored 38 points or more three times this season – no other player in the competition has scored more than 36. However, she took her game to another level by pulling down 28 boards in the 71-63 win over West Adelaide. Madgen now leads the league in both scoring and rebounding, while coming fifth in assists.

However, Madgen “only” had 25 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in the Mavs’ 68-82 loss to the fifth-placed Eagles in Round 1. The Eagles, who were without Georgia Minear in that match, had excellent contributions from Olivia Thompson (24 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists), Jess Fergus (20 points), April Brown (13 points) and Tara Robinson (11 points, 9 rebounds) in that match.

The Eagles enter this one following a come-from-behind victory over previously unbeaten Norwood. Thompson starred with 23 points and 16 rebounds, while Minear had a big fourth quarter.

The Eagles should have too much strength in depth for the Mavericks, and put pressure on the top three with an important victory.

West Adelaide Bearcats (1-8, 9th) v Sturt Sabres (2-7, 9th)
Saturday June 16, 8.15pm at Port Adelaide

The Sturt Sabres will be hoping for back-to-back wins for the first time this year when they visit the West Adelaide Bearcats.

The Sabres broke through for the first time since beating the Bearcats in Round 1 by defeating Woodville 83-77 at St Clair in Round 9. They trailed by five with a quarter to go, but scored an impressive 28 points in the fourth quarter to gain the edge. Amy Shaw had game-highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Natalie Chaloner had a career-high 13 points.

The Bearcats put in an improved performance against the Eastern Mavericks in Round 9, but that did not stop them falling to an eighth loss in nine games. Meg Mcleod and Ashlea Vordermaier each had 13 points. Vordermaier also had 12 rebounds and 5 assists.

The Bearcats are only percentage above South Adelaide in ninth spot. The Sabres can enter the top seven if they are victorious and Woodville loses to South.

With neither team convincing, this is anyone’s game.

By James Woite