North Adelaide Rockets (7-2, 2nd) v Eastern Mavericks (0-10, 10th)
Sunday June 24, 1.15pm at Hillcrest

Ed Millard will be eager to prove a point when his new side the Eastern Mavericks travel to Hillcrest to face the North Adelaide Rockets on Sunday.

Millard transferred from the second-placed Rockets to the bottom-ranked Mavericks only recently, so will be keen to have a big one. A win over Norwood on Saturday could possibly send the Rockets top prior to tip-off here. However, a loss may result in them dropping out of the top two.

The Mavericks will either be 1-10 or 0-11 before things get under way. They are at home to Centrals in the first of this weekend’s double-header.

The last time these teams met, the Rockets got off to a fast start and ran away with a 80-63 victory. Millard had a game-high 22 points and 5 rebounds for the Rockets, while Josh Bond scored 16. Stuart Breheny registered 19 points and 6 rebounds for the Mavericks.

This game has the potential for a boilover, but realistically the Rockets should get the job done.

Southern Tigers (2-8, 10th) v Norwood Flames (5-5, 6th)
Sunday June 24, 3.00pm at Morphett Vale

The Southern Tigers will be hoping for an extra 150 seconds of quality basketball in their rematch with the Norwood Flames on Sunday.

The last time they met, the Tigers led by 10 with 2.30 to go, but were outscored 0-11 from then on; Todd Matthews capping the Flames’ comeback with a three-ball in the dying seconds. Aside from a win over the Mavs in Round 4, the Tigers have not been the same side since, suggesting this loss has had a major impact on the team’s morale. Maybe this is the match that can cause another twist in the tale?

This is an even round, where the Tigers have gone 2-3 and the Flames are 0-5, so the Tigers should be confident of victory. However, their last meeting with the Flames at Morphett Vale did not end well, and they have not beaten the red and the blue since April 6, 2008.

Despite adding Matthew Lycett and Brian Moultrie since their Round 3 meeting, the Flames have remained inconsistent, and if the Tigers’ Tyler Tanis has a big one, then they will be in with a shot.

West Adelaide Bearcats (7-3, 3rd) v South Adelaide Panthers (4-6, 7th)
Sunday June 24, 3.00pm at Port Adelaide

The West Adelaide Bearcats will be wanting to get one back on the South Adelaide Panthers when the two sides meet for the second time this season on Sunday.

The Panthers have not always had big fourth quarters in Season 2012, but they did in Round 3. The Panthers scored 25 of the game’s final 34 points, storming home for an 84-70 victory. Kyle Howe-Tipene (14 points) was one of five Panthers in double-digits, while Blake Truslove had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Bearcats.

The Panthers won three straight following that memorable night at Marion, but have since taken a turn for the worse, dropping four in a row. They will be hoping to improve to 5-6 when they take on the Tigers at Morphett Vale, and then trying to clean sweep their double-header and square the ledger in this match.

The Bearcats’ loss to the Panthers has not hurt them thus far, though they will be keen to avoid a repeat. They sit third right now, but just one game ahead of Forestville in fifth, yet one game below ladder-leaders Sturt. A win over the Warriors and another here would improve their record to 9-3, but two losses and they will be sitting at a dangerous 7-5.

The Bearcats should win this one, but they will have to work for it.

Central District Lions (4-6, 8th) v Sturt Sabres (8-2, 1st)
Sunday June 24, 3.00pm at Starplex

The Central District Lions can be optimistic ahead of their Round 12 home clash with the Sturt Sabres on Sunday, following some excellent recent home form.

The Lions have won three consecutive at Starplex and are 4 of their last 6. At one point, their overall record was 1-5, but a win over the Mavs on Saturday would see them improve to 5-6, with a chance to go .500 here and be right in the mix for a finals berth. However, two losses and it will be time to start thinking about 2013.

The Sabres will either be 9-2 or 8-3 ahead of this clash, with a tough battle against Forestville the previous night. They have had some very positive results over the past couple of months, but will be keen to not throw away their good work by coming up short in this double-header.

In Round 3, the Lions built a good lead early, before running out of legs. The Sabres won 72-59, thanks to 23 points from Tim Klaosen, while Tom Daly finished one assist off a triple-double. Kyle Miller had 22 for the Lions.

The Sabres will be expected to win, but the Lions have pulled off a couple of upsets already and their best is more than competitive.

Forestville Eagles (6-4, 5th) v Woodville Warriors (6-3, 4th)
Sunday June 23, 3.00pm at Wayville

In Sunday’s Match of the Round, the Forestville Eagles v Woodville Warriors clash is one that could have a large bearing on the end of season standings.

Both teams have big games the night before, with the Eagles travelling to Pasadena for a date with Sturt and the Warriors down at Port Adelaide against the Bearcats. By the end of the Round, the Eagles could be sitting 8-4 and in a position to push for a high seed, or be 6-6 and be scrapping just to get in the top five. At either 8-3 or 6-5, the Warriors are in the same boat.

The last time they met, the Warriors got over the Eagles by one point in over-time. Zane Reeves, had 18 points and 7 rebounds for the Warriors, while Steve Pilkington (13 points, 9 rebounds), Puff Summers (12 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals) and Adam Blight (10 rebounds, 9 points) all put in a solid night’s work.

Trent Fildes (16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists), Brad Sullivan (16 points, 6 rebounds), Brad Haydon (14 points, 7 rebounds), Rashad Tucker (11 points, 14 rebounds) and Adam Doyle (11 points, 10 rebounds) were standouts for the Eagles. Fildes, Haydon and John Wernham all fouled out, while Centres Majok Deng and Neil Mottram were absentees.

How the teams pull up from the night before will be vital, although both teams have plenty of options.

By James Woite