South Adelaide Panthers (0-4, 8th) v Eastern Mavericks (3-1, 4th)
Saturday April 27, 6.30pm at Marion

Coming off their best team scoring effort in a number of seasons, momentum is behind the Eastern Mavericks as they take a trip to visit the South Adelaide Panthers this weekend.

Last week against Centrals, the Mavericks cracked the 100 mark for the first time in nine years. The most impressive part of the 45 point win was that Tess Madgen only scored a quarter of their total, after snaring 47 of their 83 in their previous game.

Madgen, who leads the league in points, total rebounds, assists, three pointers made and three point percentage, did dish off 14 assists, the most by a player in the league this season. Sharron Tarran (21 points, 8 rebounds), Alex Wilson (18 points, 8 rebounds) and Tenille Searl (12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals) all filled up the box score.

Prior to the start of this season, the feeling amongst the Panthers was a playoff push was within reach. Yet, the Panthers have not won this season and there have been no signs of that changing any time soon.

In their most winnable game to date, the Panthers were well-beaten by an inexperienced Southern Tigers outfit 55-69. Teresa Kinross (15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists) continues to play a lone hand offensively. Kinross is averaging 13.8 ppg. The next highest scoring Panther is Jessica Hansberry with 7.7 ppg.

The Mavericks should continue on their merry way and possible even top last week’s score.

 

Sturt Sabres (4-0, 2nd) v Southern Tigers (2-2, 7th)
Saturday April 27, 6.30pm at Pasadena

The Southern Tigers can test how far they have come in a short space of time when they face the unbeaten Sturt Sabres.

Everything was looking bleak for the Tigers when they scored just 29 points in a 57 point defeat to Norwood in Round 1. However, the yellow and black have turned things around quickly and now have as many wins as losses.

The Tigers will enter Pasadena off the back of a 14 point win over South. Stana Zecevic was outstanding with 21 points and 14 rebounds, her second double-double since moving from North. Kelsie Rutland (11 points, 3/8 3FG), Denelle Fawcett (10 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists) and Haley Bunce (10 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 assists) also played their part.

The Sabres have wasted no time in showing they are keen to make their tough 2012 season a distant memory. They already have four wins this season, after taking until Round 14 to reach that total last year.

In Round 4, the Sabres proved they are the real deal by knocking off Forestville at Wayville, despite missing Brigid Bowley. Molly Lewis has got better each week, posting 18 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists against the Eagles. Isabelle Daniel scored 12 points in under 14 minutes, while Hannah Bowley and Aneeka Smith combined for 22 points and 14 rebounds.

The Sabres should be too strong for the Tigers, but by how much remains to be seen.

 

West Adelaide Bearcats (2-2, 5th) v Norwood Flames (4-0, 1st)
Saturday April 27, 6.30pm at Port Adelaide

The Norwood Flames will be going for their third 5-0 start in as many seasons when they visit the West Adelaide Bearcats.

The Flames have been untroubled so far, with their smallest margin of victory being last Saturday’s 19 point win over North Adelaide. If there is one negative with the Flames, it is that the winning margins have decreased with every game, although when starting with a 57 pointer, that is to be expected.

With Amy Lewis still yet to suit up, Jessica Good continues to make the most of her new found opportunities. Good is third in the league in scoring with 17.8 ppg and 12th in rebounding (8.5 rpg), leading her team in both categories. She also leads the league in free throw percentage and is shooting almost 70 per cent from the field.

Jess Foley is having another good season, averaging 16.5 ppg, 8 rpg, 4.3 apg and 4.8 spg. The 2011 Halls Medallist will be up against the 2012 winner, West’s Jess Mahony (11.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 5.8 apg, 2 spg). Mahony appears to still be finding her feet at the Bearcats, after spending the last two seasons with Centrals.

While the Bearcats have dropped their first two at home against two top four sides in Forestville and Eastern, they have won both away games by in excess of 30 points versus Southern and Woodville.

After finishing the 2012 season in good form, Taya Crockford has carried her confidence into this year. She is averaging career-best figures of 10 ppg, 10 rpg and 58 per cent field goal shooting since missing the Round 1 defeat to the Eagles.

The Flames beat the Bearcats twice last season, while also pipping them for a Grand Final spot with a Second Semi Final triumph in 2011.

It is just too hard to go past the Flames right now.
 

North Adelaide Rockets (2-2, 6th) v Forestville Eagles (3-1, 3rd)
Saturday April 27, 6.30pm at Hillcrest

In the Match of the Round, the North Adelaide Rockets will be attempting to make it four from four against the Forestville Eagles when they meet at Hillcrest on Saturday.

The Rockets were the only side to sweep the Eagles in 2012, with their 74-65 Qualifying Final victory helping them on their way to the Grand Final.

After beginning the season with back-to-back wins, the Rockets have lost two straight and fallen to sixth on the ladder, their lowest rank since Round 3 last season. Their Grand Final rematch with Norwood was mostly exactly that, falling behind by a big margin early and failing to get back into the game.

Jo Hill was outstanding with 21 points and 11 rebounds in the 56-75 defeat, while Jamie-Lee Peris had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

With Lauren Mansfield now interstate, the Rockets have been heavily reliant on Hill and Peris. The Eagles have likewise been dependent upon two players, Olivia Thompson and Mia Newley, although Jess Fergus (24 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals) was outstanding in the win over Centrals on Anzac Day.

Hill and Peris are averaging 36.1 ppg between them on 54 per cent shooting, as well as 21.6 rpg. Thompson and Newley are combining for 32 ppg and 19.5 rpg, while making 42 per cent of their shots. Whoever gets the better of that duel will likely give their side the edge on the scoreboard.

Eagles just.

 

Central District Lions (0-4, 10th) v Woodville Warriors (0-4, 9th)
Saturday April 27, 6.30pm at Starplex

This week’s match between the Central District Lions and Woodville Warriors will see the 2012 Semi Finalists come up against the 2013 Preseason Runners Up.

Unfortunately for the Lions and Warriors, the results of yesteryear and the offseason have not yet translated into wins. Both sides are winless in four attempts. However, the Lions showed some competitiveness in a Round 1 loss to unbeaten Sturt, while the Warriors almost upset last season’s Grand Finalists North Adelaide a week later.

The Lions will play for the second time in three days, after going down 36-87 against Forestville on Thursday. Not for the first time, Tamika Dukes (13 points, 9 rebounds) and Brianna Wedding (8 points, 4 rebounds) were the shining lights.

The Warriors enter this match following a 41-73 loss to West, one night after a 52-87 setback against Norwood. Jessica Koch (10.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Katherine Perkas (10 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Tess Keenan (9.8 ppg) have been key players in the Warriors’ rotation this season.

The Warriors have not beaten Centrals since the 2010 season, but their 2013 losses have been smaller than the ladies’ from the far north and they should be on the board after Saturday.