South Adelaide Panthers (5-7, 7th) v Forestville Eagles (7-5, 4th)

The Panthers host the Eagles on Saturday in the Round 13 Match of the Week.

South Adelaide has revitalised its season in the last month, winning four straight.

The Panthers have done their damage through defence and rebounding, conceding just 53.75 ppg and outrebounding their opponents 216-157 over their four victories.

Much of the credit for the edge on the boards should go to Simone Nelson and Elizabeth Keane, who are third and fifth in the league in that category.

Last week, South swamped North 81-60 on the road, even without Nelson.

Claire Johnson scored 27 points to go with 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while Keane had 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks, and Sarah Peddle 20 points and 6 boards.

Forestville is likewise in fantastic form, having won five out of six.

Mid-season signings Carla Borrego and Monica Bello have given the reigning champions something extra at the Centre and Point Guard positions, while Jess Fergus continues to get the job done in all areas, and Georgia Minear has been scoring at will (fourth in the league at 18.9 ppg).

Last week, Forestville overcame the gallant Warriors 79-52, thanks to 25 points from Borrego and 22 from Minear.

Last time the Eagles and Panthers met was in Round 3, where Forestville got up by a lousy point.

In the corresponding encounter at Marion last year, the Eagles won 105-46, but things have changed a lot since then.

I reckon South might just pull off another upset and creep closer to the top five.

Norwood Flames (11-0, 1st) v Eastern Mavericks (0-12, 10th)

It will be top versus bottom when the Flames battle the Mavs at Mars on Saturday.

Norwood kept its unbeaten run going with a victory over Southern in Round 12.

The Flames led by 13 after one quarter, which was the game’s final margin.

Jess Foley and Kelsey Ireland each scored 23, with Foley adding 9 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals.

The Mavericks have been able to produce some solid performances in recent weeks, including a 62-69 home loss to second-placed Sturt last round.

Eastern trailed by 10 at quarter-time, before fighting back with its best quarter of the season, outscoring the Sabres 27-14 in the period.

However, they could not go on with the job, despite the best efforts of Tracey Beatty (27 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists) and Alex Wilson (15 points, 5 rebounds).

The last time they met, Norwood was way too strong with an 81-33 victory.

The Mavs almost pulled off the shock of the year last week, but I do not think they will come so close this time out. Flames to win with ease.

Sturt Sabres (10-2, 2nd) v Central District Lions (5-6, 6th)

Sturt will be aiming to maintain second position when it faces Centrals at Pasadena on Saturday.

The Sabres were almost humiliated last week, before getting home by a slender seven points against the Mavs.

Sturt was outscored after quarter-time; a total contrast to the teams’ previous match, which the Sabres won by 72 points.

Monique Bowley had a big one with 33 points and 8 rebounds, while Nicole Seekamp scored 12 points to go with 9 boards.

Centrals seem to be in the midst of a mid-season slump, after an unprecedented 5-4 start.

The Lions have been comprehensively beaten by the Panthers and Bearcats in their last two matches.

Against West, Alisha Heglund (25 points, 7 rebounds), Jess Mahony (11 assists, 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals), Desinta Cummins (11 points, 9 rebounds) and Lisa Wilson (5 points, 16 rebounds) were their best players.

However, Mahony, Heglund and Wilson combined for just 10/42 shooting from the field.

When these teams played on April 16, Sturt won 79-54.

I reckon the Sabres will be on song for this one and win by a similar margin.

West Adelaide Bearcats (9-3, 3rd) v North Adelaide Rockets (5-7, 8th)

North Adelaide will be after a fifth away win from six starts when it tackles the Bearcats on Saturday.

The problem for the Rockets has been their home form.

North has not won at Hillcrest since their season opener.

The Panthers were the most recent victors on the Rockets’ home floor, winning 81-60.

Jo Hill had 24 points and 8 rebounds as the lone North player in double figures.

The Rockets had 10 extra field goal attempts, but made seven less.

West has gone win-loss-win-loss over its past four matches.

Last time out, the Bearcats defeated Centrals 85-64.

West won each quarter and finished the game shooting 47.5% from the field.

Nikita-Lee Martin (19 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists), Kerrin Webber (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Trudy Holland (14 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 points, 3 steals) were the best for the Bearcats, while Ashlea Vordermaier and Meg McLeod also scored in double figures.

In the teams’ last encounter, West got up by just two points.

I believe the Bearcats will do it a bit easier this time and win comfortably.

Woodville Warriors (1-11, 9th) v Southern Tigers (6-6, 5th)

Southern will be playing for its place in the top five when it visits the Warriors on Saturday.

The Tigers lost for just the second time on the road last week, going down 71-84 in a competitive performance against pace-setters Norwood.

Alexandra Ciabattoni was the team’s top-scorer with 16 points, while Ashleigh Spencer, Stephanie Gates and Rosalie Cutri all scored in double digits, and Jessica Nolan had 10 boards.

The Warriors trailed Forestville by just six at half-time, before a 2-21 run confined them to their 11th loss of the season.

Ursula Richards top-scored with 15, while Claire Christie had 12 points and 9 rebounds.

When these sides battled in Round 3, Southern just got home 65-58.

Woodville could give the Tigers a run for their money, but the visitors should get over the line.  

By James Woite