The Merv Harris Medallist we are hoping sees some court action tonight in the Lightning "Young Talent Time" session - Photo by WNBL
Adelaide Lightning vs. Perth Lynx
When: 7:00pm (AEDT), Thursday 30 January
Where: Titanium Security Arena, Adelaide
Broadcast: Foxtel/Kayo
Last times they’ve met:
6/12/2019: Adelaide Lightning 79 (Turner 24, Nicholson 21, Seekamp 14) defeated Perth Lynx 69 (Ebzery 18, Atkins 15, McGee-Stafford 14) at Titanium Security Arena
STRIKE BACK INTO HISTORY
1996 Preliminary Final: Lightning wash away Breakers to setup top of table Grand Final rematch
After a Karen Dalton led Sydney Flames snuck over the top of the Lightning in their semi-final by a lay-up, the girls responded swiftly ruthlessly sweeping aside a Perth Breakers side boasting Gina Stevens and Tully Bevilaqua.
Led by the WNBL’s second leading points per game for the season superstar Rachael Sporn, forward stealing master Carla Boyd and assist King Michelle Brogan, the Lightning were never headed despite a brave Breakers having overcome the Brisbane Blazers in their elimination match and then upsetting third placed Bulleen Boomers. The match would of course lead to the famous three-peat of championships that the Lightning went through in the mid 90s and a dominant era of Women’s national basketball in the City of Churches.
Key Match-Ups
Nicole Seekamp vs. Alison Schwagmeyer-Belger (Editor Note: Schwagmeyer-Belger has been ruled out of season as of today, keep an eye out for Kate Ebzery instead)
With finals just around the corner it looks like the entree will be served ready to go by the Lightning skipper Seekamp. She averages 10 assists this season per game against the Lynx and with the opportunity for some young talent time to see the court tonight, she’ll be all about setting up her team mates for success so everyone is well fed for the finals ahead in two weeks.
The Lynx need leadership in their lineup and with two games left, the reliable Schwagmeyer-Belger provides exactly what the Lynx need in this area. She’ll be looking to keep the ball out of the hands of Seekamp and quietly accumulate some key stats as noted by her three double figure scores to open the 2020 part of the season.
Brianna Turner vs. Nadeen Payne
“Ms Double Double” Turner has very much enjoyed playing the Lynx this WNBL season averaging a double double (points and rebounds) against this particular opponent. Her ability to turn defence into offence evident once again in the last few Lightning games including the last one against the Lynx as she assisted in creating 19 fast break points to open the game right up.
With McGee-Stafford gone, its up to Nadeen to bring the Payne to the Lightning front court if the Lynx are going to stop the one-two-three roll out of Turner, Westbeld and Talbot. Payne has been in good form recently with 12.2 ppg and 5 rpg since the start of 2020.
Jasmin Fejo vs. Nes’eya Williams
With very close back-to-back games for both sides and the Lightning securing fourth spot, we may see some extra court time from the pine tonight and here’s hoping that one of the most talented guards in the Basketball SA Premier League gets some time on court tonight and a spot in the squad for the Merv Harris Medallist “Jaz” Fejo. Fejo is explosive in the open court highlighted by her 40 point game against the South Adelaide Panthers last season and in a nice bit of sentimentality is well known to Lynx coach Andy Stewart with her sister Tahlia having played for the Lynx a few seasons back. It’s a good night to roll out the Fejo train on the national stage in front of a supportive home crowd, here’s hoping…
In opposition to this no doubt the match-up for Fejo would be her friend from the Lynx in Williams. Nes’eya has been an upcoming talent under coach Stewart for the past few years and has been logging more than 8 minutes per game since the start of 2020. She also has explosive pace off the dribble and great positioning in hustling on the glass. A match-up between these two if it eventuates will be “deadly” to watch for both young Indigenous talents.
The Last Play
With two games in the weekend, I just get the feeling that Lightning coach Chris Lucas will be wanting to give his starters a reasonable run and regardless of game situation fine tune his bench contribution to be prepared for the WNBL finals. This means we are likely to see some of the Lightning development players in more minutes tonight and an exciting look into the future as to what the Lightning Academy has produced. That is more than enough reasons to attend tonight’s game if you are thinking about it. The likelihood of this increases with the final game of the WNBL season against a likely finals opponent in the Canberra Capitals on Saturday interstate.
Lynx coach Stewart will also be looking to give his team plenty of court time in these final two fixtures after securing a fifth placed finish this season and two games and percentage clear of the sixth place Sydney Uni Flames. Its now about building for the future for Stewart as he casts an eye across to the 2020/2021 season priming the Lynx to claw their way back to post-season in the following season.
I think this game will be much closer because of the above factors, but if you’re a Lightning or basketball fan, watching some the Lightning’s “Young Talent Time” really will give us a look into the future of a franchise that is growing once again and looking like the real dark horse of the WNBL post-season.
Lightning by 8pts
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 