South Adelaide Panthers (1-9, 9th) v Sturt Sabres (5-5, 6th)
Saturday June 22, 8.15pm at Marion

The resurrected Sturt Sabres can rise above .500 for the first time in 2013 if they can defeat the improving Panthers.

The Sabres have won four of their last five games and now sit only a game behind Centrals, Forestville and North in the battle for spots 3-5. The Panthers have likewise become stronger as the season has progressed, but have been unable to yield the desired results.

Last time they met, the Sabres did their supreme home record against the Panthers no harm with a 90-73 triumph. Panthers Thomas McKenzie, Jordan Robertson, Shane Boal and Jamie McGillivray combined to produce most of the Panthers’ points, but it was Matthew Dougherty who announced his arrival to the league with 22 points, 5 threes and 8 rebounds.

Sam Daly and John Marriott have been crucial to the Sabres’ revival and will need to be held in check.

The Sabres should win this one comfortably and possibly be in the five come the end of the round.

Norwood Flames (4-6, 8th) v Eastern Mavericks (0-10, 10th)
Saturday June 22, 8.15pm at Mars

The sinking Flames badly need a win over Eastern if they are any chance of making the finals for an eighth successive season.

The Flames have lost their last three to Sturt, Forestville and Southern. They are now two games behind the Lions, Eagles and Rockets, and one below the Sabres and Tigers. 

The Mavericks are still yet to be victorious in 2013, although they can take pride and confidence from their gallant effort against second-placed Woodville last week. The Mavs matched their quality opponents for three quarters, but could not maintain pace in the fourth, dropping the match by 13.

In Round 2, the Mavericks got off to a slow start and went down to the Flames 72-96. Curtis Scipio, Haydn Barns and Nicholas Heim combined for half the Maverick points, while Matthew Lycett (out for the season due to injury) hit 35 for the Flames.

Mavs’ best chance to avoid a winless season?

West Adelaide Bearcats (9-1, 1st) v Southern Tigers (5-5, 7th)
Saturday June 22, 8.15pm at Port Adelaide

In Round 2, Cadee and Johnson combined for 54 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists as the Bearcats escaped with an 81-73 win over Southern – the Bearcats will not have their services this week, so will that give the Tigers the edge?

The Tigers will certainly hope so. Their Round 10 win (Codey Ellison, Scott O’Connor each with 17 points) over Norwood means they are just a game outside the top five. They are yet to beat a team above them, but a win here would send a message that they are true finals contenders.

Without their two star players in Cadee and Johnson for the first time, Blake Truslove (24 points, 13 rebounds, 7 blocks) and Anthony Spadavecchia (17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) rose to another level to earn the Bearcats an 88-74 versus Forestville. It was the Bearcats’ biggest away win of the season.

The Tigers proved they could beat the Johnson and Cadee-less Bearcats in the preseason. With Samuel McDaniel playing well each week and Ellison lifting, the yellow and black will fight and fight and maybe even win.

Woodville Warriors (8-2, 2nd) v North Adelaide Rockets (6-4, 5th)
Saturday June 22, 8.15pm at St Clair

In the Match of the Round, the Rockets will be hoping their clash with the Warriors goes the way of the visitor for the 11th successive time.

The last time a Rockets-Warriors match was won by the home side was April 20, 2008. The Warriors’ last home win against the men from Hillcrest was March 25, 2006, when they were playing at Distinctive Homes Dome/Adelaide Arena.

With the Warriors in second and the Rockets in equal-third, there is so much to play for, for both teams.

Last time they met, the Warriors won in a thriller, not for the first time at their adopted home ground. With Aaron Wyatt held to a career low 9 points, Steve Pilkington (22 points, 10 rebounds) led his team to an 86-83 victory. Darren Ng, Luke Stanbridge, Cameron Wilson and Adam Miller joined their centre in double figures.

For the Rockets, Pero Vasilijevic had 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, while Joseph Campbell, Daniel Goodluck, Ryan Franceschinis and Thomas Rowe all cracked 10 points.

The Warriors are second for a reason, but it is impossible not to back the Rockets because of this uncanny streak.

Central District Lions (6-4, 3rd) v Forestville Eagles (6-4, 4th)
Saturday June 22, 8.15pm at Starplex

For Centrals and Forestville, one team can breathe a little easier post-game, the other, simply, cannot.

Each team fell a further game back from Woodville in Round 10, while Sturt, Southern and North all crept closer to knocking them down the ladder.

Unlike Round 1, the Lions were unable to overcome Sturt, losing their second straight home game by two points. The Eagles blew a nine point quarter time lead to undermanned West and lost by 14, suggesting they are a long way behind their premiership sides of 2011-12.

On Anzac Day, the Lions broke a double digit losing streak to the Eagles by winning 89-84. Chris Klausen (19 points, 7 rebounds) led five double digit scorers, one of whom was not superstar Kyle Miller (9 points). Matthew Atkins, Joel Goodenough and Paul Joyce combined for 11 threes.

Adam Doyle (21 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists) and Brad Gerlach (15 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists) filled up the stat sheet for the Eagles.

The Lions are new to crunch games; the Eagles have a wealth of experience – this may just give the Eagles the advantage they crave.

By James Woite