This is a Step-ney up: The Warriors and Flames will have one of their winning streaks end and if last time they met is anything to go by, it'll come down to the final minutes of ball in hand of Jawan Stepney (picture) or Walter "Trey" McBride. Picture by LukeJMedia/Luke Mollett
4-Minute Read
Saturday 2/07/2022
Norwood Flames vs Woodville Warriors – (The ARC – The Firedome) – Kayo Game of the Week
Women (6:00pm)
LTTM: Woodville Warriors 45 (Winter 13) lost to Norwood Flames 103 (Wilson 36, Basham 20, Girardi 16) – Split 58 points to Flames
The Flames women are delivering as promised having won their last three and getting plenty from multiple contributors. But its Wilson that nearly well let’s be honest she did steal the headlines with a near quadruple double last week falling one steal short. The Warriors have been steadily improving but unfortunantely will be no where near the class of the Flames in the current form. The Warriors have averaged 63 points in the last four games compared to their season average of 60.8 and shouldn’t get a 50 plus point whacking again however the Flames with a tough run coming up need to get this one and will do so by more than 20 at least.
Key Stat – Last time they met; Ally Wilson (36 points with 8 of 10 triples, 7 assists and 4 rebounds and steals) and Adelaide Lightning’s Brooke Basham (20 points with 4 of 5 triples, and 3 assists) combined for 20 points a piece of the Flames 23-48 first half on a ridiculous three-point percentage of 90 percent from the Flames. If the Warriors allow that kind of numbers again; the second 40 plus point individual game of the season is on the cards for one of these two…
ESPN Prediction: Flames by 22 points
Men (7:45pm)
LTTM: Woodville Warriors 91 (Humphries 20, Stepney 17, Meldrum 14) defeated Norwood Flames 90 (McBride 25, Lycett 17, D Webber 15) – Split 1 point to Warriors
It’s not often game of the week lands on just that; “Game of the Week.” The Woodville Warriors looking for an eleventh straight win and the Norwood Flames looking for a seventh straight win. The record from last season was nine to the Sabres so the Warriors have already eclipsed that but they are no where near done wanting to end it for any reason. The big difference between these two sides is the Warriors are +10 in points per game, +3 in rebounds and +4 in assists. The Warriors are just a shade better in all the categories and I think they’ll win their eleventh in a row despite not winning at the ARC since at least 2018.
Key Stat – The quiet accumulation of Dave Humphries got the Flames last time with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and steals. They will be very much aware of his influence whilst also trying to contain Wurn, Stepney, Meldrum and Jackson…
ESPN Prediction: Warriors by 3 points
Forestville Eagles vs South Adelaide Panthers – (Wayville – The Nest)
LTTM: South Adelaide Panthers 74 (Levicki 24, Spencer 22, Johnson 18) defeated Forestville Eagles 66 (Simons, Hines 15) – Split 8 points to Panthers
Women (6:15pm)
This one seems to have shortened in favouritism but it could also be Panthers coach Richard Dickel playing ducks and drakes at this point of the season with the Panthers comfortably 9-2. Ash “Splash” Spencer should be back after three weeks of rest and Holly Forbes and Isa Osk (that’s ooosk for those playing at home) Sigurdardottir are starting to find their feet but haven’t had the real breakout game they might be capable of. Meanwhile the Eagles have beaten fellow top five contenders Tigers and Sabres in very impressive performances to note. It’s come from an average of 9 players hitting the scoreboard in the last three wins. That also includes Stratford averaging 10.6 and Maddy Freer 7 and although Sam Simons has averaged 24 in the last three; they have been from observation not as forced in the offence with not the same reliance as earlier in the season. This will be a tight one with the inform Jade Johnson the gamebreaker.
Key Stat – Olivia Levicki was unstoppable in the first half as she dropped 17 points; she’s not there this time so that’s the role that either Oosk or Forbes will have to play…
ESPN Prediction: Panthers by 2 points
Men (8:00pm)
LTTM: South Adelaide Panthers 92 (Smith 33, Starling 24) defeated Forestville Eagles 80 (Machar 24, Rios, Mays 18) – Split 12 points to Panthers
There was no Doyle, Ipassou, Purchase and DJ the last time the Panthers played the Eagles and that will have a significant difference in this one. The Panthers have shown they are no pushovers this season and despite missing Alex Starling last week they were able to find a hero in Jarryd Hoppo who maybe had the breakthrough game we’ve all been waiting for. Backing that up against Purchase will be a huge key if the Panthers are to pull off a possible upset. The Eagles are the outright favourites but the Panthers have the tools to knock them off but until we see it; I can’t see them quite getting this one…
Key Stat – The Panthers had too many answers at crucial times last time they met as they produced a 29-16 last quarter through Jeremy Smith (18 points) including a 7-0 run to ice the game. Smith is another key but he’ll have to contend with Doyle and Ipassou at different times making his task much more difficult this time…
ESPN Prediction: Eagles by 6 points
West Adelaide Bearcats vs Sturt Sabres (Port Adelaide – The Bearcat Cave)
LTTM: Sturt Sabres 77 (Williams 15, Close, Rigoni 12) defeated West Adelaide Bearcats 70 (Langenbrinck 22, Fejo 19) – Split 7 points to Sabres
Women (6:30pm)
Two top five teams going at each is likely to be the game of the night in the Womens with the Sabres keen to bounce back and the Bearcats gunning for their eighth win in a row. Of course one of their losses came against the Sabres where last time they got jumped at the start. I don’t think the likes of Fejo, Rintala and new import Utti will allow that to happen a second time with their strength in rebounding which they are +6 in that category. On their home floor the Bearcats should have enough to overcome the Sabres.
Key Stat – The Sabres burst out of the blocks with a 26-12 start thanks to import Mikayla Williams making an impact for 8 of her 15 points in the first stanza to pair with her 9 rebounds; Utti makes a huge difference in that area and the home side will be very wary of her impact…
ESPN Prediction: Bearcats by 5 points
Men (8:15pm)
LTTM: Sturt Sabres 100 (Spear 43, Rigoni 20) defeated West Adelaide Bearcats 98 (DeSantis 28, Sheppard 26, Hunter 13) – Split 2 points to Sabres
Did we see the best of the Bearcats or the worst of the Sabres the last these two met in the overtime thriller? This game may answer both of those questions but the likely answer is as good as the Bearcats were the Sabres needed an out of the box performance from Spear who likely in the absence of the Daly with a foot injury will need to do it again. The Bearcats will need someone to step up to help DeSantis and Sheppard and I think they may get one of the last big performances from the Spud in Anthony Spadavecchia at home and get an upset win…
Key Stat – The teams have an average margin of 3 points between them since the start of the 2021 season; this one is bound to be a close one that could go either way…
ESPN Prediction: Bearcats by 1 point
Eastern Mavericks vs Central District Lions (St Francis – The Shooting Gallery)
Women (6:30pm)
LTTM: Central District Lions 60 (Samuels 19, Washington 14) lost to Eastern Mavericks 84 (Lefebvre-Okankwu 23, Gouchie-Provencher 18, Dumesney, Bradley 13) – Split 24 points to Mavericks
How fortunes have changed for these two sides. The Mavs who I considered to be a finals contender have sadly dropped off the pace which means the Lions are very much in the box seat to challenge in this one. I’d imagine the gold medallist of the U17 Asia cup Olivia Bradley won’t be back in time as her inclusion makes a difference in this result. So assuming she doesn’t this evens out this contest much more where possibly Raynisha Washington could cause real problems for the homeside; her form line has been ultra-impressive the last month with 23, 18, 20 and 26 giving her an average of 21.75 compared to 18.5 across the season. She’s the difference and the Lions will get the upset win here away from home.
Key Stat – Last time they met, the Mavs put on a third quarter of 6-20 but the Lions will be better prepared this time for what Steve Knight threw at a side that had forgotten how to win…
ESPN Prediction: Lions by 4 points
Men (8:15pm)
LTTM: Central District Lions 109 (Dowdell 29, Bol 22, Johnson 13) defeated Eastern Mavericks 80 (Knibbs 26, Miskovic, Stock 17) – Split 29 points to Lions
Both these teams will consider themselves able to taste victory but despite some elite quarters of basketball have hardly been able to land the knockout blow on many opponents this season. One of these teams will need to produce a four-quarter game to knock the other one off as both have firepower and defensive stoppers both at the rim and on the floor. Legan and Jenkins may cancel each other, McCalop and Manyang the same in impact at both ends and Dimakopolous and Dowdell nulify each other slightly so it comes down to the rest. The Lions still have Bijan Johnson, Nathaniel Koko and Kalani Sapwell likely to impact compared to Miskovic and Cromarty and with the Lions more settled seemingly off the floor as well; it looks like they might just get over the top and be the ones to keep their faint final five dreams alive.
Key Stat – The top scorers last time they met were Lachlan Knibbs, Matt Stock and Dowdell between both sides while Stock is there Knibbs is likely missing again and Dowdell’s time has reduced to 15 minutes a game the last few weeks averaging 5 ppg; a lots changed since Round one when they met…
ESPN Prediction: Lions by 7 points
North Adelaide Rockets vs Southern Tigers (The Lights – The Launchpad)
Women (6:30pm)
LTTM: Southern Tigers 85 (Yaeger 27, Skinner 20, McKendrick 18) defeated North Adelaide Rockets 60 (Taylor 25) – Split 25 points to Tigers
This one look pretty straightforward for the Tigers however you can’t take any team for granted in this competition. The Rockets best opportunity is to get the on the glass where they have a +4 in offensive rebounds. That means the role of Corrigan and Zbierski becomes crucial while also containing McKendrick who found her form against them the last time they met. The Tigers will have too many weapons and should win this one in an onslaught at the Launchpad.
Key Stat – McKendrick became the third scoring threat for the Tigers last time they met with 18 points; they now have De La Cerda averaging 19.5 (#9 in the league)
ESPN Prediction: Tigers by 27 points
Men (8:15pm)
LTTM: Southern Tigers 70 (Machar 17, Martin 15) lost to North Adelaide Rockets 91 (Harrap 18, Akoh 13, Marshall 12) – Split 21 points to Rockets
The Rockets have dropped off the pace but are presented with a chance to get on the winners list. With Lachy Olbrich unavailable after the next couple of rounds it could also be one of the final chances for the Tigers to pinch a much-needed win to keep their faint hopes alive at 3-8 and with the Rockets in sixth they’ll need to knock off this one. There’s a bit of discrepancy between the two sides on the ladder but this one will be much closer with the Tigers form despite going down to the Eagles two weeks ago not too bad. The Rockets at home will get the much-needed win somehow and be eyeing off dislodging the Sabres and the Panthers in fourth and fifth.
Key Stat – The Rockets took over the paint last time they met with 34-54 in points, but Lachy Olbrich was missing the last time these two played and Jamar Akoh has only just comeback for his first game in nearly three weeks last round; things are very different this time around…
ESPN Prediction: Rockets by 4 points
We are back to doing recaps for the NBL, Catch all the NBL1 Central action this weekend on the NBL1 website, app and game of the week in Round 12 between the Norwood Flames and the Woodville Warriors on Kayo and Kayo Freebies tonight.
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CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 