Eastern Mavericks (4-1, 3rd) v Sturt Sabres (5-0, 2nd)
Saturday May 11, 6.30 pm at Adelaide Hills

In the Match of the Round, the Sturt Sabres will be attempting to equal their 2012 win tally when they face one-time Sabre Tess Madgen and the Eastern Mavericks.

The Sabres have already reversed the results of five corresponding matches from last season, so attaining a first W at Adelaide Hills since 2011 will hold no fears for the double blues. That being said, the Mavericks are in electric form.

The Mavericks enter this match on the back of a 79-40 win over South. Madgen (27 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists), Alex Wilson (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Shannon Tarran (16 points, 9 rebounds) filled up the stat sheet.

As a team, the Mavericks posted 25 more rebounds than their opponents.

The Sabres fifth straight win came at the expense of the Southern Tigers. The Sabres posted a league-high 101 points in a 46 point win. The offensive output was achieved due to great team work, with Hannah Bowley (21 points, 6 blocks, 4 steals), Hannah Richards (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Molly Lewis (15 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists) heading six double-digit scorers.

The Sabres forced 26 turnovers and made 25/31 free throws.

Whether the Mavericks are true premiership contenders or the “best of the rest”, could be revealed on Saturday. When the Mavericks played another 5-0 team, Norwood, they were flogged 54-90. A better effort is required against Sturt to show they are the real deal.

The Sabres’ defence and depth should earn them a close win.


Norwood Flames (5-0, 1st) v Central District Lions (0-5, 10th)
Saturday May 11, 6.30pm at Mars

The Norwood Flames have a great chance to boost their percentage even higher when they host the Central District Lions.

The Flames’ percentage of 163.93 is the best mark at this stage of the season in the last nine years. This is in spite of a slender nine point win over West in Round 5, which dropped their percentage from almost 177.

Against the Bearcats, Jess Foley was given the full 40 minutes for the first time this season and rewarded Coach Simon Pritchard with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists. Rebecca Duke added 15 points, 9 rebounds and a trio of assists, steals and blocks.

The Flames got the job done despite shooting the lesser percentage of the two teams. Forcing 24 turnovers while committing just 17 themselves was vital. They also did a good job of getting to the charity stripe.

The Lions are still winless following a 57-79 loss to Woodville. Tamika Dukes (24 points, 9/10 FG, 9 rebounds) and Brianna Wedding (16 points, 14 rebounds) once again performed admirably in defeat.

The Lions out-rebounded the Warriors 41-33 and shot 48 per cent from the field, five percentage points better than their opponents. However, the turnover differential was astonishing. The Lions turned the ball over 35 times, almost three times more than the green and gold.

Their inability to keep possession will play right into the hands of the Flames’ defensive maestros.


Southern Tigers (2-3, 7th) v Forestville Eagles (3-2, 4th)
Saturday May 11, 6.30pm at Morphett Vale

Having dropped two of three, the Forestville Eagles will require a win to get their season back on track when they visit the young and enthusiastic Southern Tigers.

Either side of a big win over Centrals, the Eagles have been toasted by Sturt and North. They managed just 44 points against the Rockets in a 20 point defeat. Stars Olivia Thompson and Mia Newley each produced 10 points and 9 rebounds, but they shot a combined 8/28 from the field.

As a team, the Eagles made less than a quarter of their shots. They also made just 4/11 foul shots.

The Tigers had won two in a row before losing 55-101 to Sturt. Kelsie Rutland (16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals), Denelle Fawcett (13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists) and Stana Zecevic (10 points, 8 rebounds) were amongst their best.

The Tigers made only a quarter of their shots, while registering 26 turnovers compared to just 9 assists. They beat the Eagles at Morphett Vale in 2012, before the Eagles blistered them in the second to last week of the season.

On paper, the Eagles should win comfortably.


West Adelaide Bearcats (2-3, 6th) v North Adelaide Rockets (3-2, 5th)
Saturday May 11, 6.30pm at Port Adelaide

The North Adelaide Rockets will be trying to account for another finals hopeful when they take to the west to visit the Bearcats.

After losing to Sturt and Norwood, the Rockets bounced back in dominant fashion by smashing Forestville 64-44. Jo Hill starred with 18 points and 17 rebounds, while Rebecca Lock (13 points, 3/6 3FG, 5 rebounds) and Jamie-Lee Peris (13 rebounds, 7 points) were also a presence.

The Rockets did most of the damage in a 15-4 third quarter. They had eight extra rebounds and shot 13 per cent better than their opponents.

The Bearcats will be attempting a first home win in four attempts, but they can take plenty of confidence in coming within nine points of Norwood in Round 5. Jess Mahony (19 points, 7/12 FG, 2/4 3FG, 8 rebounds, 4 assists) was the outstanding player for the red and black. Alana Nairn played her part with 8 points and 6 rebounds.

The Bearcats were foul prone all night, committing 25 fouls to 15, which resulted in them attaining 18 less free throw attempts than their rivals.

The Rockets have won at Port Adelaide in each of the last two seasons.

The Rockets’ strong front court of Hill and Peris should be too much for the Bearcats.


Woodville Warriors (1-4, 8th) v South Adelaide Panthers (0-5, 9th)
Sunday May 12, 4.30pm at St Clair

The Woodville Warriors will be playing for back-to-back wins for the first time since Rounds 1-2, 2012, when they host the South Adelaide Panthers.

Following a tough start to the season against four of last season’s finalists, the Warriors are now on the board. Their win over the Lions in Round 5 was their first against that opponent since 2010. Jessica Koch (18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals) and Katherine Perkas (16 points, 10 rebounds) led five double-digit scorers.

The Warriors had just 13 turnovers, compared to 35 from the Lions.

The Panthers did not have a double-digit scorer or rebounder in their blowout loss to Eastern. Teresa Kinross (8 points, 9 rebounds) was once again the leader in those categories.

The Panthers shot under 24 per cent from the field, had just 11 assists compared to 18 turnovers, and were out-rebounded 42-67.

The Warriors took both games from the Panthers in 2012 and should add this one to their collection as well.