Norwood Flames vs Eastern Mavericks 

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 28 JUNE | MARS
OFFICIALS: M Harris & M Pepicelli

Norwood (11-1) v Eastern (2-10) women

The Flames can take another step towards a fourth successive Minor Premiership if they can defeat the Mavericks, who are coming off their second win of the year.

The Flames have a two game lead over North and Sturt for first place. They currently hold the split with the Rockets, and have won the series against the Sabres.

The Mavericks’ 12 point win over the Tigers last week gives them a chance of avoiding a bottom two finish. They must win at least two more games to have a chance of jumping their rivals from the far south.

Last time they met, the Flames posted the highest score of the CABL season, winning 114-57. Amy Lewis top scored with 21 points, while Maverick Emma Hooley had a game high 17 rebounds.

The Mavericks have not shown enough this season to suggest they are capable of upsetting the Flames.

 

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 28 JUNE | MARS
OFFICIALS: A Filmer & A Gillings 

Norwood (9-3) v Eastern (1-11) men

The Flames have the chance to extend their winning run to eight games when they host the 1-11 Mavericks.

After defeating the Lions by 23 last week, the Flames remain in a tie for first position. The Mavericks were in front of Southern after a quarter last round, then were on the wrong end of an extremely lopsided second quarter. They were outscored 5-37, en route to a 43 point loss.

The odds of a dramatic turnaround appear slim for the Mavericks, especially given they were comfortably beaten 85-98 by the Flames the last time they met. Curtis Scipio scored a game high 19 points for the Mavericks, but the Flames hit over 52 per cent as a team, led by Matthew Lycett with 18 points.

The Mavericks’ losing margins have been getting bigger recently, so they really need a competitive effort here to set up a decent finish to the season.

 

Southern Tigers Vs North Adelaide Rockets

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 28 JUNE | MORPHETT VALE
OFFICIALS: M Frost & D Miller 

Southern (3-9) v North (9-3)

The Rockets will try to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this year, but more importantly hold on to second position, when they visit the Tigers.

The Rockets’ 17 points loss to Sturt last week means they are now tied with the Sabres and Panthers for a top two spot and an eventual home final. They have won the series against Sturt thanks to a 26 point win in Round 3, but have a slender lead over the Panthers, with a rematch to come later this year.

The Tigers are almost mathematically out of the finals race, having lost to the Mavericks last week. They are four games out the five with six to play.

Last time they met, the Tigers challenged the Rockets to the very end, but fell nine points short. The Tigers struggled against Jo Hill, who had 26 points and 9 rebounds. Jade Barber had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Tigers.

After their recent blip in form, the Rockets should be eager to take control early.

 

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 28 JUNE | MORPHETT VALE
OFFICIALS: J Cresp & N Passey 

Southern (5-7) v North (3-9)

The Tigers will be attempting to end a 16 game losing streak against the Rockets in this week’s match at Morphett Vale.

The Tigers have not beaten the Rockets since June 4, 2006, while their last home win against them came more than a year earlier.

It was back in Round 4 that the Tigers’ tremendous start took a turn for the worse. Sitting 3-0, they lost by a point to the 0-3 Rockets. This remains the Rockets’ only home victory this season.

Until last week, the Tigers had won just once since Round 3, but because of their excellent early form, they are still in the mix for finals.

It appears the Rockets’ run of eight consecutive top five finishes will come to an end in 2014. They are virtually five games outside of fifth place with only six matches remaining.

The Tigers were out-rebounded 36-55 last time, with Pero Vasilijevic and John Wernham dominating the paint for the Rockets. Improvement by the Tigers in this area would go a long way towards a drought breaker.

 

Sturt Sabres Vs South Adelaide Panthers

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 28 JUNE | PASADENA
OFFICIALS: V Devlin & B Shepherd 

Sturt (9-3) v South (9-3)

In the Match of the Round, the Sabres and Panthers will be battling to end the round in the top three when they meet at Pasadena.

These are the two hottest teams in the league over the past month. The Sabres have won their last five and eight of nine, after beating North 77-60 last week. Thanks to a 91-84 triumph against West, the Panthers have put four wins in a row together.

Last time they met, Star Sabre Natalie Novosel debuted in spectacular fashion, as the Panthers lost for the first time this year, 54-67. Novosel had 23 points and 13 rebounds, while teammate Lucy Spalding (11 points, 10 rebounds) also registered a double-double. Panthers' stars Janae Howard (16 points, 8 rebounds) and Jessica Mahony (5 points, 3 steals) both fouled out.

The Panthers’ scoring power has been boosted recently with the signing of Ashleigh Spencer, who has averaged 20.3 ppg since joining the team. As good as the Sabres are defensively, they do not have the scoring options that the Panthers do.

If the Panthers’ stars can stay out of foul trouble, slowing them down will take some doing.

 

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 28 JUNE | PASADENA
OFFICIALS: I Domeika & H Starkey

Sturt (7-5) v South (5-7)

The Sabres have the chance to put the Panthers’ season on thin ice when they go head-to-head at Pasadena.

The Panthers have put up strong fights against two of the competition’s powerhouses in West and Woodville in their past two games, but have been unable to come away with a win on either occasion. A victory would see them just a game outside the five, but a loss and they would sit 3-4 games back with only five remaining.

The Panthers’ 93-82 victory in Round 4 means the Sabres need to triumph by 12 points to win this series. After defeating the Rockets by 18 last week, the Sabres have put back-to-back victories together for the first time since winning their first three games.

The Panthers’ inside-outside duo of Bradley Reid and Shane Boal combined for 44 points last time these teams met. Dexter Moore scored 31 for the Sabres, who were without Tim Klaosen.

The Panthers would have to make history to sweep this series, having not beaten the Sabres on the road in the last decade. 

 

West Adelaide Bearcats Vs Forestville Eagles

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 28 JUNE | PORT ADELAIDE
OFFICIALS: R Rochford & M McLoughlin 

West (5-7) v Forestville (7-5)

The Bearcats host the Eagles on Saturday in a match that could go a long way to deciding who ends up in fifth place.

Last time they met, the Eagles got home 62-57. This means the Bearcats need a minimum six point win to clinch the series.

As it stands, the Eagles are two games ahead of the Bearcats on the ladder. An Eagle win and it would be bordering impossible for the Bearcats to make the finals, while the Eagles will have just about sealed their berth. On the other hand, a Bearcat victory would set up a thrilling finish to the season.

The Eagles have been boosted recently by the play of Carla Borrego Williams, who has registered 31 points and 28 rebounds over her last two games. Bearcat Anna Carbo has had a similar, team-lifting impact in her six games, averaging 18.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 5 apg.

The Eagles defeated the Warriors by 15 last week, while the Bearcats went down by seven to South. Kate Shierlaw had a career high 32 points.

There was not much between these teams last time, and with each acquiring a star player, another close game is a major possibility.

 

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 28 JUNE | PORT ADELAIDE
OFFICIALS: N Durant & B Northcote 

West (9-3) v Forestville (6-6)

Adam Gibson will face the Bearcats for the first time since his 24 points and 7 assists guided the Eagles to an upset win in the 2013 Grand Final.

The Bearcats have had the better 2014 campaign thus far, with a win this week guaranteeing them finals action for the sixth straight season. The Eagles have won their last two, against playoff destined Woodville and Centrals, to stay within one game of the fifth placed Sabres.

In Round 4, the Bearcats recovered from an 11 point half time deficit to win in double overtime. Blake Truslove had 23 rebounds and 15 points, while the Bearcats got 45 points combined from perimeter players Anthony Spadavecchia and Jason Dawson. Trent Fildes and Jake Rios scored 25 apiece for the Eagles.

Comfortable wins in the last fortnight will make the Eagles confident of reversing their Round 4 result, but this Bearcat team has been in excellent form and will be tough to beat.

 

Central Districts Lions Vs Woodville Warriors

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 28 JUNE | STARPLEX
OFFICIALS: N Frost & L Sorensen 

Centrals (0-12) v Woodville (5-7)

Having suffered a couple of disappointing losses in the past fortnight, the Warriors have an excellent chance to get back on track when they visit the winless Lions.

The Warriors were within touching distance of now probable finalists South and Forestville in their last two encounters, but played their worst basketball in the fourth quarter of both games.  Those two crucial losses means they need to win just about all of their remaining games to make the finals.

The Lions were belted again by Norwood last week, but can take some solace in that the margin of defeat was 13 points fewer than last time they played the league’s top side.

In Round 4, the Warriors had their biggest win of the year, defeating the Lions 108-55. Carmen Reynolds dominated with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, while Brianna Wedding had a game high 17 rebounds to go with her 11 points.

On form, the Warriors’ efforts in their first three quarters of Rounds 11 and 12 should be more than enough to have the game wrapped up before the fourth.

 

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 28 JUNE | STARPLEX
OFFICIALS: J Grigoul & N Wieland: 

Centrals (7-5) v Woodville (8-4)

The Lions have abolished many long droughts against rival clubs in the past couple of seasons, but have another challenge ahead of them when they host the Warriors this week.

In the Match of the Round, the Lions will be trying to end a 10 game losing streak against the men from St Clair. The Lions are in fourth position, a game back from the third ranked Warriors.

The Lions had won six straight following a 1-3 start, but without Kyle Miller, they have not looked the same team, losing back-to-back games by double figures. The Warriors are coming off a 15 point loss to Forestville, but have not lost on the road since Round 5.

Last time they met, the Warriors pounded the Lions 79-48, winning all four quarters by at least six points. Luke Stanbridge had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Warriors, while Daniel Sims and Dominic White combined to add a further 33 points. Christopher Clausen scored 12 points, while Miller was held to a duck.

The Warriors’ recent dominance of the Lions makes them strong favourites for a win.