Norwood Flames (13-0, 1st) v South Adelaide Panthers (1-12, 9th)
Friday July 12, 6.30pm at Mars
Officials: V Devlin & L Smith

Fresh off their first victory in more than a year, the Panthers have a daunting task in trying to make it two on the trot, with a trip to Norwood to face the Flames.

Behind a strong defence and a team-oriented offence, the Panthers’ 58-48 triumph over Southern sees them move off the bottom of the ladder on percentage from Centrals. All 10 Panthers hit the scoresheet, led by Lauren Gibbons and Teresa Kinross (8 points apiece).

The Flames enter this match on the back of a 62-56 win over North – their smallest margin of victory in 2013. The red and the blue were missing key players Jess Foley and Rebecca Duke, but Amy Lewis carried her team home with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists in her first match since June 1.

In Round 7, the Flames defeated the Panthers 106-58.

At least it is not unbeaten versus winless now!

 

Woodville Warriors (4-9, 7th) v Central District Lions (1-12, 10th)
Friday July 12, 6.30pm at St Clair
Officials: N Ireland & A Just

With a solid five weeks behind them and Katherine Perkas finally getting more shots, the Warriors have started strengthening, which is bad news for Central Districts.

Perkas, who leads the Warriors in field goal percentage, had attempted an average of less than 9 FGA per game prior to last Saturday’s battle with West. However, her teammates got her the ball more often and she kept delivering, scoring a career best 42 points on 15/21 shooting as the Warriors produced a 54 point turnaround from Round 4, winning 77-55.

The Lions have slipped into 10th, percentage behind South, following a 70-76 defeat to the Mavericks – their third straight single figure loss. They will be hoping to avenge their 57-79 loss to the Warriors in Round 5. 

Tamika Dukes (24 points, 9 rebounds) tried to carry the Lions, who have been recently boosted by the signing of Demi Skinner. Perkas had 16 for the Warriors, whose top scorer was Jessica Koch with 18.

The Warriors should earn a fifth win here.

Eastern Mavericks (10-3, 3rd) v South Adelaide Panthers (1-12, 9th)
Saturday July 13, 6.30pm at Adelaide Hills
Officials: A Gillings & M Pepicelli

A night after being faced with the seemingly impossible mission of defeating Norwood, the Panthers have no room for relaxation, with the 10-3 Mavericks their hosts for the evening.

In Round 5, although the Panthers held Maverick Tess Madgen under her season average, they still copped a heavy 40-79 beating. Woodville showed against West in Round 13 that large deficits can be overturned, but the Panthers would have to go one better here against a side that has lost just once at home all season.

The Mavericks enter this one having defeated Centrals by six points at Starplex last weekend. Jemma Thacker once again stood up in Madgen’s absence, scoring 22 – her highest total since she dropped 39 on the Warriors, when her star teammate was again fulfilling national commitments. Shannon Tarran and Amanda McDermott added 15 apiece.

With or without Madgen, the Mavericks should have enough scorers to get the job done and maintain their place in the top three.

 

Southern Tigers (3-10, 8th) v Sturt Sabres (11-2, 2nd)
Saturday July 13, 6.30pm at Morphett Vale
Officials: M Frost & L Smith

Sturt will be playing for a sixth win in as many outings in this week’s fixture at Southern.

Led by Amy Shaw (20 points, 13/14 FT, 10 rebounds) and the consistent Hannah Bowley (16 points, 7/10 FG, 4 rebounds), the Sabres defeated Forestville 75-66, virtually sealing a top three berth in the process. It has been a massive turnaround by a club that won just six games in 2012.

One of those 2012 victories was against the Tigers at Morphett Vale. The Tigers would have made the finals if they had triumphed on that occasion, so will be looking to give a bit back to the Sabres this time out. One Saturday ago, the Tigers became the first club in 2013 to lose to the Panthers.

Last time the Tigers and Sabres clashed, the Sabres scored a season best 101 points in a 46 point victory. As per normal, it was a team effort from the Sabres; Bowley leading the way with 21. Tiger Kelsie Rutland scorer a career high 16 points.

Another big win for the Sabres is on the cards.

 
Norwood Flames (13-0, 1st) v West Adelaide Bearcats (5-8, 6th)
Saturday July 13, 6.30pm at Mar
Officials: I Domeika & R Rochford

Following their first loss to a side under .500, the Bearcats will be keen to prove their Round 5 result against Norwood was no fluke.

Until last week, the Bearcats had proven the Flames’ most competitive opponents, falling just nine points short. Since then, the Flames have won each game other than last week’s by big margins, while the Bearcats have won just three of eight.

Last week’s 55-77 loss to Woodville was the Bearcats’ second in a row at home to their closest geographical rival, after previously dominating their series. Alana Nairn points and Kate Shierlaw were the Bearcats’ top two scorers, combining for 23 points.

Flames to cruise to win number 14.

Forestville Eagles (9-4, 4th) v North Adelaide Rockets (8-5, 5th)
Sunday July 14, 1.15pm at Wayville
Officials: M Dyson & M Frost

In the Match of the Round, North Adelaide will be attempting a fifth successive victory over Forestville in a potential Elimination Final preview.

The Eagles are one game back from the Mavericks, whom they lead in the season series by three points. Following their loss to Sturt last week, which sees them drop that series 0-2, it would be almost impossible for the Eagles to climb above their rivals in the coming weeks.

The Rockets are also 0-2 against Sturt, while trailing Eastern by a point on head-to-head. They are three games behind the Sabres and two behind Eastern, so a loss here would basically confine them to fifth place.

The Rockets hold a +20 edge over the Eagles in their series, having won 64-44 in Round 5. Jo Hill (18 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists) had a great all-round game for the Rockets, while Rebecca Lock was a threat from the perimeter and Jamie-Lee Peris was strong on the boards. Forestville stars Olivia Thompson and Mia Newley were each held to 10 points and 9 rebounds.

In their last meeting, the Rockets did an excellent job of keeping the Eagles out of the paint and forcing them into contested shots from difficult angles. If they bring that same defensive intensity, they will give themselves every chance of a sweep.
 
Woodville Warriors (4-9, 7th) v Sturt Sabres (11-2, 2nd)
Sunday July 14, 1.15pm at St Clair
Officials: J Clover & I Domeika

The improving Warriors will have their advances tested when they come up against the 11-2 Sabres.

A win against the Lions on Friday would put the Warriors at 5-5 since a 0-4 start, but they are still yet to beat a team with a winning record. Triumphing over the Sabres, who have had an excellent season to date, would change that.

Katherine Perkas and Jessica Koch combined for 60 points against West, so are two players the Sabres will need to defend tightly. The Sabres did just that last time out, holding them to a combined 10 points on 3/17 shooting in a 65-38 win. Amy Shaw, Hannah Bowley and Molly Lewis accounted for close to half of the Sabres’ score.

Sabres to triumph in a competitive match.