The "Waatu" are all in for South Australian University representation both on and off court for the UBL 2022. Photo supplied by Adelaide University Sport
The name of the new Adelaide University basketball team says it all about the representation of South Australian basketball at the University national level. “Waatu” is Kaurna language for “coming together for a common goal” which essentially means they are the Adelaide University “Team of success, enjoyment and pride.”
And no doubt this is exactly what they have displayed so far in their first few games of the season…
Mens Waatu Rounds 1-3 (Away)
The Mens coached by Norwood Flames import Trey Mcbride have started reasonably well but could’ve been easily 2-2 heading into their inaugural homes games had it not been for USC Spartans dropping a 4-point play through Cooper Sparksman. The Mens grabbed a first win for the season in Round 1 against UWA Maali 92-71 with NBL1 Central’s Nick “Fassasin” Fassos scoring 26 points with 6 triples and 14 rebounds. Unfortunately they came up against two tough Sydney based teams in Uni of Sydney and Sydney Tech 54-98 and 48-96 respectively before dropping that close one to the Spartans 75-76. That left the Waatu 1-3 heading into their home fixtures against the Victorian teams of Latrobe (LTU Eagles) and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT Redbacks)
Womens Waatu Rounds 1-3 (Away)
The Womens coached by Woodville Warriors Jawan Stepney also nearly snuck as win in Round 1 against the UWA falling agonisingly close 60-62. Evie Lovell had 16 points, 5 steals and 3 rebounds in that one with a youthful team full of many Division 1 U23 Central District Lions players. Much like the Men the road trip to Sydney was extremely tough going down to Uni of Sydney 36-90 and Sydney Tech 29-77 then played the Spartans going down 55-108 but showing some positive signs coming into their home games despite the tough three games against strong lineups. That left the Waatu 0-4 heading into their home fixtures against the Victorian teams of Latrobe (LTU Eagles) and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT Redbacks).
Read on about the inaugural home games
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Waatu Men complete inaugural opening week
The Waatu Men won their inaugural home games by first defeating the LTU Eagles 74-69 in a thriller at the ABH Gym (Adelaide Botanic High School Gym). NBL1 Central Sturt Sabres Toby Hunt dropped 8 points in the final quarter (10 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists) and sealed the game with an inbound steal to give the Waatu their second win of the season. Fellow Sabre Harry Reemst dropped 24 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists shooting 12/13 from the free throw line while West Adelaide Bearcat Lachy Hunter was big on the glass with 13 points, 8 rebounds (5 offensive) and 5 assists adding to the 18 total for the team. LTU were led by Troy Schaeche with 12 points and 6 assists and NBL1 South Eltham Wildcats Sam Trezise (11 points) and Christian Yammouni (10 points and 9 rebounds). The game also featured Ovie Magbegor for the Eagles of course the older brother of WNBL Championship Melbourne Boomer, WNBA and Australian Opal player Ezi however the Waatu did a good job curbing his game on the glass and scorecard keeping him to 6 points and 11 rebounds.
The Waatu backed it up the next day in the round with a solid win over the RMIT Redbacks 85-70. Hunt started where he left off to finish with a double double of 23 points and 11 rebounds along with 7 assists but the sharp shooting of Norwood Flames SDL player Nikolas Stefanovic was player of the match as he torched the Redbacks beyond the arc. Stefanovic finished with 20 points including 6/7 triples and broke the game open. Reemst was outstanding in his second game of the week as well with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. The Redbacks captain and centre James Smith was hard to contain as he finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds while fellow VBL players Caleb Bruggerman (14 points and 6 rebounds) and Hayden Mitchell (12 points and 6 assists) kept the Redbacks in the contest.
The Waatu now sit 6th on the ladder heading into their next games…
Waatu Women work hard but Eagles and Redbacks prevail
Keen to make an impression in their opening game, the Waatu women were solid for the opening minutes until the LTU Eagles super star Meghan Stagoll took over to open up a sizeable lead for the away side and eventually the 3rd placed La Trobe ran away with it 42-120. The NBL1 South Eltham Wildcat Stagoll finished with 39 points with counterpart Jamie Weddle not too far behind with 14 points while giant Eilish Feehan caused problems on the glass for Stepney’s women. Evie Lovell continued her solid form to lead the home side with 15 points and forward Abby Lowman dropped 11 points.
A huge chance awaited in the second game the next day against the equally winless RMIT Redbacks and the Waatu gave a good account of themselves. At quarter time it was 11-18 with the Waatu minus guard Tiara Hatchard missing the remainder of the game due to a whack to the mouth. Enter SDL player Sophie Cardillo (15 points) who influenced the contest heavily along with Josie Harris and Tamika Reid who struck some long bombs to keep them in it. In the end the Redbacks bite on the rebounds through Sophie Owen (19 points and 13 rebounds) and their captain Ruth Burrows (13 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists) was too much as they closed the Women out 45-63 in the finish; but it was along with the Round 1 game one of the best performances of the season for the Women.
The Waatu will next play at home in Round 5 of the UBL April 26 and 27 against the Curtin University Carnabys and the Federation University Falcons at the ABH Gym at 2:00pm and 4:00pm and even though its early in their introduction into this national college style competition; there is definitely already some success, enjoyment and pride for these teams…
RD 4 Men AU Waatu 74 (Reemst 24, Hunter 13, Cranna 11, Hunt 10, Datario 7) defeated LTU Eagles 69 (Schaeche 12, Trezise 11, Yammouni 10, Debney 9, Toaishara 7)
RD 4 Men AU Waatu 85 (Reemst 23, Hunt 23, Stefanovic 20, Homburg 9) defeated RMIT Redbacks 70 (Smith 24, Bruggerman 14, Mitchell 12, Brennan, Jovic 7)
RD 4 Women AU Waatu 42 (Lovell 15, Lowman 11) defeated by LTU Eagles (Stagoll 39, Weddle 14, Feehan 13, Gray 10, A Burrows, Kirk 9, Keogh, McCarthy 7)
RD 4 Women AU Waatu 45 (Cardillo 15, Reid 9, Harris 8) defeated by RMIT Redbacks 63 (Owen 19, R Burrows 13, Delzoppo 9, Bendel 8)
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 