Can Casey Samuels (pictured middle) guide the Lions Women to their first win since 2019 Saturday night? Photo credit to NBL1 Central/AllStar Photos
5-Minute Read
Friday 22/04/22 – Woodville Warriors vs Norwood Flames – (St Clair – The Castle)
Women (6:30pm)
The Warriors come into this one on a high and with good form behind them with the key question of will Ally Wilson play? Last year it didn’t make the difference but this year’s corresponding fixture it will. On the Warriors side, McCarty and Winter for combined for 46 points and 14 rebounds together last round and must be stopped by the Flames. Even without Wilson though I still feel the Flames will be a little more gelled and have plenty of scoring avenues if they shut down McCarty and Winter but this will be a lot closer than the corresponding fixture in Round 1 last year regardless…
Key Stat – The Warriors had 15 second chance points after quarter time last week and those points were also the downfall of the Flames against the South Adelaide Panthers.
ESPN Prediction: Flames by 6 points
Men (8:15pm)
The Warriors men have shown they will be hard to stop in multiple areas. Joe Jackson was quiet last week but I expect him to put up his hand and have a huge game like he did twice against the Flames last season. Ray Harding was enormous for the Flames last week with a career high 32 points and will need to be that again and import Trey McBride will need to impact at both ends which I expect he will. The Warriors will I suspect have too many weapons and have some defensive grunt at this point for a Flames team still working out their system under coach Tim Odell.
Key Stat – Both teams shot above 45 percent from the field consistently for the game so its going to come down to who can defend the other best.
ESPN Prediction: Warriors by 11 points
Saturday 23/04/22 South Adelaide Panthers vs Forestville Eagles (Marion – Michael Ahmatt Court)
Women (6:30pm)
Richard Dickel has the Panthers clicking early but also will need some support for Jordan Hunter at the guard spot with likely Hatti Cox missing (U20 AJC) however it was Olivia Levecki and Ash “Splash” Spencer that did the damage against the Eagles in 2021. There is the likely absence of Jess Simons, Bianca Stasinowsky, Maddy Freer (U20 AJC) for the Eagles however with Sam Simons who performed well in both games as did Rachel Hines, they should have enough to cover their missing pieces. The Panthers were irresistible last week against a contender in the Flames so I have them claiming this one comfortably.
Key Stat – The Panthers had more than 8 points per quarter in the “Nykiel Zone” and the Eagles gave up 42 of their points in that area in their overtime loss last round.
ESPN Prediction: Panthers by 15 points
Men (8:15pm)
Scott Ninnis will be on a high after their overtime win but know straight up that they are playing one of the contenders for the Championship this year. This game will tell us more about the Panthers than the Eagles with both teams likely to put on a show on the floor and above the Rim. Who the Eagles choose to guard Starling will be a key for Andy Simon’s as well as who the Panthers will choose to guard Greg Mays who dropped big numbers on them in previous meetings. The Eagles will I think slightly have the edge with Doyle, Brine and Malith Machar but if foul trouble ensures their depth may be tested likely without Fiston Ipassou (U20 AJC).
Key Stat – Five Eagles notched double figures while three Panthers had double figures in Round 1
ESPN Prediction: Eagles by 3 points
Saturday 23/04/22 Central District Lions vs Eastern Mavericks (Starplex – The Den)
Women (6:30pm)
The Lions have not won a game since July 6 Round 18 2019 and this first up home game has a smell of a sneaky upset of sorts. Casey Samuels and Ranisha Washington have added to their much-needed firepower even without import centre Tyla Bennett likely to suit up. The Mavs will suit their two Canadian imports likely in Bridgette-Lefebvre Okanku and Oksana Gouchie-Provencher and regain AJC U18 Country standouts Olivia Bradley and Stephanie Formby. I think the two imports will fire early for the Mavs but if there is a chance for the Lions to break the streak, this is as good a chance as there has been in a long time…
Key Stat – The Lions in their first game shot 39 percent from the field
ESPN Prediction: Mavs by 7 points
Men (8:15pm)
An intriguing Safari Cup matchup with both teams keen to get their season going with an early win. The Lions had a bright start last week and have kitted up with Bijan Johnson and Dowdell but are going to need more out of Nathaniel Koko in their second outing; he should fire this week. The Mavs will need plenty first up out of Nelson Kirksey and Koop McCalop to get across the line. The Lions being at home purely on that factor get this one for me early.
Key Stat – Koop McCalop was very quiet against the Lions last season and will be looking to make an instant impact for the Mavericks on the back of those performances.
ESPN Prediction: Lions by 5 points
Saturday 22/04/22 Southern Tigers vs North Adelaide Rockets (Morphett Vale – The Cage)
Women (6:30pm)
The Tigers were shocked by the Bearcats on Good Friday and a homecoming spells the much-needed result this weekend. The Tigers will need to find some more contributors than Yeager and Skinner so it’s a good opportunity against the Rockets to find who’s going to be that third string scorer. The Rockets will be stung by the likely loss of Grace Facchini and Lily Zbierski (U20 AJC) but find themselves with their two handy inclusions in imports Peyton Taylor from the Euro League and Rayven Thomas from the Mexican League. The Tigers back at the Cage should account for a young North Adelaide side despite their two import additions.
Key Stat – Rockets import Peyton Taylor averaged 30.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.6 steals in the Euro League. Those numbers alone should help the Rockets women increase their 54 points. 43 rebounds, 14 assists and 12 steals in their opening game.
ESPN Prediction: Tigers by 18 points
Men (8:15pm)
The Tigers will be most hit hard by the U20 AJC with likely most of their front court players in Lachlan Olbrich, Jamie Smith and guard Curtis Scott all unlikely to suit. That is going to leave a lot to imports Martin and Daniels in containing a Rockets front court of Jamar Akoh, Terry Winn and Jimma Dau. The Rockets imports looked solid last week and they’ve still got key guards in their starting five. The Rockets should win this one strongly and show they are a contender in 2022.
Key Stat – In the Tigers win last Friday Lachlan Olbrich, Jamie Smith and Curtis Scott produced 17 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Much will fall to the other Tigers rookies if the starters find foul trouble.
ESPN Prediction: Rockets by 21 points
Saturday 23/04/22 Sturt Sabres vs West Adelaide Bearcats (Springbank – The Cave)
Women (6:30pm)
If the Bearcats were looking for the ideal start to 2022, they’ve got it with 2-0 record and facing a Sturt Sabres team yet to hit the floor. West added a key piece to their plans in Jasmine Simmons last week and she started brilliantly with a double double and is officially on triple double watch weekly. The Sabres will likely debut import Mikayla Williams and is a hugely important part of the front court with Nicola Mathews and Jasmine Rigoni will be keen to get off to a flyer. The Bearcats form led through Fejo and Rintala should get them the win at this stage of the season.
Key Stat – Fejo and Rintala combined for23 points and 16 rebounds in their 61-66 win over the Sabres in 2021; They are the keys for either side in stopping or playing through them.
ESPN Prediction: Bearcats by 11 points
Men (8:15pm)
Both teams for the Sabres will celebrate their “United Church” heritage and the Sabres will be raring to go. They’ve added import Devin Haygood to their front court along with Jacob Rigoni and Hayden Meakes to go along the “Batman and Robin” dynamic duo of Joel Spear and Sam Daly. The Bearcats will also need a lift from their centre Andre Washington to help the red-hot form of DeSantis and Sheppard. The Sabres will start their campaign off with a win but must fight hard for it against a Bearcats unit keen to turn around their performance last Friday.
Key Stat – The Bearcats had unanswered runs of 7 and 13 in the Good Friday fixture; it shows they can get points in a quick hurry if needed.
ESPN Prediction: Sabres by 8 points
Catch all the NBL1 Central action starting tonight on the NBL1 website, app and game of the week in Round 4 between the Forestville Eagles and the Central District Lions on Kayo and Kayo Freebies ANZAC Day Monday afternoon.
Written by Tristan Prentice
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 