Suzy Batkovic was one of the most dominate players as the League MVP in 2012-2013 - Photo by Alchetron
Adelaide Lightning vs. Townsville Fire
When: 7:00pm (AEDT), Friday 17 January
Where: Titanium Security Arena, Adelaide
Broadcast: Foxtel/Kayo
Last times they’ve met:
3/01/2020: Townsville Fire 61 (Garbin 21, Bishop 15) defeated by Adelaide Lightning 87 (Turner 17, Nicholson 13, Westbeld, Talbot, Brook 12) at Townsville Stadium
STRIKE BACK INTO HISTORY
2012/2013 Semi-Final: Flanagan fires up Townsville for famous victory
General basketball and non-basketball fans might not know that Townsville and Adelaide have had a storied history with many players and coaching staff involved with both clubs at different times. This time around current head coach Chris Lucas was at the helm of a fourth place finishing Fire with a very evenly balanced team statistically taking on a Lightning side featuring league MVP Suzy Batkovic and rookie of the year Stephanie Talbot under Peter Buckle.
This one turned out to be a bit of an epic, despite the Lightning going into the match on a seven game winning streak. The Fire were led by their Captain Rachael Flanagan who scored 8 of Townville’s first 10 points and held a 14-11 lead over the home side at quarter time then half time at 30- 27. Former Adelaide Lightning player Jess Foley stepped up to the plate to put the Lightning under some serious heat leading the Fire to a 3 point lead at the final break. The final quarter saw the contest rise to another level resulting in Fire’s Jessica Adair and Lightning’s Batkovic fouling out late in the game. Flanagan was taken from the court after a nasty head clash with Lightning tenacious guard Angela Marino, but the Fire held their cool. The Fire eventually extinguishing the Lightning to advance to the preliminary final against the Dandenong Rangers.
Key Match-Ups
Stephanie Talbot vs. Tess Madgen
Talbot has a great record against the Fire this season averaging 15 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Her extra length troubles the Fire’s perimeter defence and the kick-outs she is getting from the break down dribbling of Captain Nicole Seekamp will need to be kept an eye on.
Madgen has really struggled against the Lightning this season averaging 5 ppg, but against all other teams she averages 12.3 ppg and 3.8 apg. That means she is a key distributor of the ball to her team-mates so expect a lot of off-ball screens to get the former Opal open early to negate the influence of Talbot and co at the defensive end of the floor.
Brianna Turner vs. Darcee Garbin
Turner has been a barometer for the Lightning this season with her contributions vital to the success of the team, although against the Capitals a few weeks back the Lightning showed some promising signs grabbing victory without a full contribution from her. She’s been very influential against the Fire averaging 18 ppg and 8 rpg which will need to be quelled if the Fire are even to be in the contest.
Garbin has been the most successful Fire player against the Lightning this season averaging 17 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Her presence in the paint has been one of the focal points against the Lightning so no doubt the likes of Madgen and Captain Micaela Cocks will be looking for her to get busy early to cause Turner problems at the defensive end of the floor.
Chelsea Brook vs. Kate Gaze
The impact of the Norwood Flames SA Premier League player of the bench has been felt the most by the Fire in their clashes this season. Brook averages 11 ppg against them this season and again the height and depth of the Lightning bench clearly runs deeper this season than the Fire. The alarming statistic that highlights the potential for Brook’s effectiveness in this match-up is the Lightning last time they met had 27-7 points from their bench against the Fire.
If anybody is going to spark the Fire from the pine, it’s going to be Kate Gaze. Gaze has some basketball pedigree clearly but not as you know it, Her father Mark represented Australia in basketball at the 1982 FIBA World Championship and played 182 National Basketball League games from 1983–1991. Her mother Michelle O’Connor was a WNBL champion with the Sydney Flames (now Sydney Uni Flames), and her grandfather Tony Gaze was a former Australian Opals coach. This is not the main reason why she is a focus player for this preview though, as recent form has Gaze clocking a 12 point outing against the Canberra Capitals and a lift in minutes since Abby Bishop departed the club. Beware the name and the stats that support her lift in the Fire ranks.
The Last Play
Mark my words this a danger game for the Lightning as they still need to win one out of their last four to seal their finals appearance and with games to follow against the Southside Flyers and Canberra Capitals away from home then a potentially desperate Andy Stewart led Perth Lynx, this one is a must for the Lightning to win. Shannon Seebohm’s side is out of the finals race but can finish the season strong with a few upset wins to change the formation of the top four. They will be looking to come into the Arena and burn the Lightning’s chances of maybe not making the top four but certainly where they finish.
Looking at both teams however, the Lightning as evident by their previous games against the Fire just have too many weapons offensively and defensively, so I expect the Fire to be around till about halfway through the third quarter then push the lead out through Turner, Westbeld and Talbot as the bigs on the rebounds and that might be too much for Garbin to shoulder alone for the Fire. A victory for Lightning this Friday night should guarantee a top four finish and be nice preparation for upcoming “finals” like fixtures against their next opponents.
Lightning by 15pts
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 