Norwood Flames (5-8, 8th) v South Adelaide Panthers (1-12, 9th)
Friday July 12, 8.15pm at Mars
Officials: B McDonald & I Domeika

The almost-burnt-out Flames have one last chance to save their season when they take on South Adelaide in a Friday night special.

Following a tough 69-77 loss to the Rockets, the Flames are three games outside the five. Only by winning all remaining games, starting with this weekend’s double-header, could the Flames have a chance of stealing another finals berth.

The Panthers’ finals hopes were destroyed many rounds ago. They were competitive in each quarter against Southern last week, but fell 54-69.

Last time they met, the Flames conquered the Panthers 80-63 – a win that had them in the top five with a 4-3 record! Keith Krause was dominant with 19 points and 13 rebounds, combining well with Edward Millard (14 points). Thomas McKenzie and Shane Boal had off shooting nights, despite their double-doubles.

The Flames to grab this one and stay in the hunt a little longer.

Woodville Warriors (10-3, 2nd) v Central District Lions (8-5, 5th)
Friday July 12, 8.15pm at St Clair
Officials: A Filmer & J Clover

After almost throwing away their top five spot last Saturday, the Lions will be hoping their outstanding away form continues when they make the trip to St Clair, under the Friday night lights.

Only a Kyle Miller buzzer-beater against the winless Eastern Mavericks spared the Lions from suffering a devastating blow in their quest to achieve a rare finals berth.

The Warriors had their five game winning streak ended by West in Round 13. Forestville’s loss to Sturt means they are still two games clear in second position.

In Round 5, the Warriors improved their winning streak against Centrals to seven games with a 93-77 triumph over the then 4-0 Lions. Aaron Wyatt knocked down almost everything for the Warriors, finishing with 27 points, while Luke Stanbridge scored 21. Kyle Miller (28 points) and Christopher Clausen (16 points) are the players the Warriors will need to contain.

Although the Lions have won five of six away, the Warriors have not lost back-to-back games all year. One such trend needs to change – Warriors to acquire win number 11, Lions to fall to 8-6.

 
Eastern Mavericks (0-13, 10th) v South Adelaide Panthers (1-12, 9th)
Saturday July 13, 8.15pm at Adelaide Hills
Officials: B McDonald & V Devlin

After coming agonisingly close to achieving their first win of 2013, the Mavericks will have another shot at a maiden victory when they host the South Adelaide Panthers.

The Mavericks have not won at Adelaide Hills since the final night of the 2011 season – when they defeated the Panthers. Ironically, if the Panthers win this game, then their last three CABL wins will have come at the expense of the Mavericks.

The Mavericks have a higher percentage than the Panthers, but they need to win by 21 points to, more importantly, level the season series, after the Panthers’ 88-67 win in Round 5. On that night, Shane Boal and Thomas McKenzie combined for 46 points and 22 rebounds, so the Mavericks will be looking to limit their impact as much as possible.

Curtis Scipio (14 points) was the Mavericks’ top scorer. The Panthers did a good job of restricting the impact of the Breheny brothers, sons of the Panthers’ new Coaching Director.

The Mavericks have been in some good form lately and should finally get over the line.

Southern Tigers (7-6, 7th) v Sturt Sabres (7-6, 6th)
Saturday July 13, 8.15pm at Morphett Vale
Officials: A Just & B Northcote

In the Match of the Round, this week’s Southern v Sturt clash is practically a July Elimination Final.

For the winner, a finals berth is still a major possibility, but it could be curtains for the loser. The Tigers and Sabres both have 7-6 records and sit one game behind the Rockets and Lions in the battle for the fourth and fifth playoff spots. The Tigers have won three of four and the Sabres six of eight.

The Tigers fought hard in Round 13 to defeat the Panthers, after losing a critical match to Centrals the previous week. They recently produced the then-upset (and possibly still-upset) of the season by beating West at Port, although the Sabres could stake their claim for going one better.

Taking on a Forestville side boasting a +76 edge over the previous two weeks, the Sabres produced a 30 point turnaround from when they last met, winning 84-71. It was an immense effort from the Sabres to win against a side full of big names, especially considering their potentially demoralising loss to North the previous week.

In Round 5, the Sabres led by close to 20 points late in the second quarter, but the Tigers, missing star player Samuel McDaniel, overran them 86-76. Michael Florance scored 26 points for the Tigers, his highest total of the season, while Codey Ellison was the high game rebounder with 10. Matthew Dougherty and Sam Daly combined for 29 points for the Sabres.

Even with McDaniel in the side, the Tigers will find it tough to repeat their Round 5 result.

 
Norwood Flames (5-8, 8th) v West Adelaide Bearcats (11-2, 1st)
Saturday July 13, 8.15pm at Mars
Officials: A Filmer & V Zare

With the Minor Premiership now virtually in the bag, and with star players Daniel Johnson and Jason Cadee set to miss crucial games due to the 36ers’ tour of China, will West’s role players start to see more action in the coming weeks?

The Flames would hope so, as last time they met, the Bearcats extinguished them 100-73. Johnson, Cadee and Patrick Thomas combined for 68 points, 27 rebounds and 13 assists. The Flames’ tri-factor of Edward Millard, Andrew Webber and Keith Krause could only produce 44 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists.

If the Flames can cause an upset and complete their double-header with two wins, then their record would be up to 7-8. With Centrals against Woodville, they could be one win outside the five come the end of the round.

The Bearcats are only one game above Woodville, but their superior head-to-head record makes it practically two, with only five games to play. Considering the Flames knocked the Bearcats out of the competition in 2012, the red and black must surely love the prospect of shutting the door on their rivals’ 2013 campaign once and for all.

That prospect is a great possibility.

Forestville Eagles (8-5, 3rd) v North Adelaide Rockets (8-5, 4th)
Sunday July 14, 3.00pm at Wayville
Officials:N Durant & V Zare

It has been an intriguing three weeks in the Central ABL.

North beating Sturt; Sturt comfortably beating Forestville; Forestville thrashing Centrals; Centrals easily accounting for Southern; Southern knocking off West; West defeating Woodville; Woodville overcoming North.

It is so hard to gauge where any club truly is, which leaves the verdict of this week’s blockbuster Forestville v North clash wide open.

The Eagles, spoilt with talent, struggled against the same Sturt side that a weaker-on-paper North side had overcome only seven days prior. Suddenly, the Rockets can leapfrog Forestville on the ladder if they can be victorious on Sunday, and a win of nine points or greater would hand them the series. That said, the Rockets could still miss the finals, as could the Eagles – as unlikely as that seemed only a week ago.

Last time they met, some outstanding hustle from Eagles crowd favourite Charles Newland (17 points) was instrumental in a 75-67 Forestville victory. Newland held his own against North’s Pero Vasilijevic (18 points, 14 rebounds), while Eagles import Jake Rios scored a game-high 25.

It is hard to see North scoring enough points, but as has been discussed, nothing can be taken for granted.

Woodville Warriors (10-3, 2nd) v Sturt Sabres (7-6, 6th)
Sunday July 14, 3.00pm at St Clair
Officials: A Filmer & N Ireland

Only two games ago, the Warriors were competing for their first home win over an opponent since 2005.

They have the same task Sunday, when they come against the Sturt Sabres.

The Warriors have not beaten the Sabres anywhere or any when since 2008, and have not won a home clash with them since the Preliminary Final of 2005. A win for the Warriors would be their first St Clair win against a rival club for the third time in 22 days.

Last time they met, the Sabres triumphed 79-75. Matthew Dougherty (20 points, 4/6 3FG), Sam Daly (19 points, 7 assists) and John Marriott (13 points, 11 rebounds) are players the Warriors will need to shut down this time.

Steve Pilkington (18 points, 13 rebounds) will provide a good matchup for Marriott, while Aaron Wyatt (18 points) and Darren Ng (15 points) are always a threat.

The Sabres have a day’s less rest than the Warriors, but they need this game more, and that extra desperation may just deliver them the result they desire.