(Couresy of Norwood Basketball Club)

The Norwood CABL Men recorded their first win of the 2009 season with a physical, intense clash with the West Adelaide Bearcats last week.  Offensive execution was the key for the Flames, with a much better mix of inside/outside.  How they handle a revitalised Eastern Mavericks this week at MARS will show whether their season has kicked off yet.

Eastern’s Brad Hill is coming off an impressive 40-point haul last weekend, and the job of defending him would have fallen to Sam Grantham – an ideal foil for such a talented player in Hill.  Unfortunately, Grantham will be interstate, which leaves Flames Coach Rupert Sapwell with trickier options to negotiate.

Close behind in terms of the scouting report comes ex-36ER squad member Shane Breheny.  The big man has been as efficient as always, and uses his acute basketball intelligence to forge impressive stat lines every time he hits the floor.  It will be interesting to see how Keith Krause, Dan Thompson and co step up to that challenge.

The Flames have received excellent contributions already this season from younger players, including Tom Cioffi, Josh Krake, Zak Johnson and Ben Howell.  Sapwell will be looking for continued contributions from the bench to help offset the losses of Todd Matthews and David Cooper.

The recruitment of Hill means this Mavs team means instant firepower for the Hillbillies.  Can the Flames slow them down?  Or will this be an old-fashioned shoot-out?

Game time is 8:15pm.