Sisters of the Wild West: For the first time both Fejo's Renai (Middle) and Jasmin (Left) will face off against each other in state league competition. Picture by Mark Brake and NBL1 Central
3-Minute Read
Round 16
Saturday 23/07/2022
South Adelaide Panthers vs Southern Tigers (Mitchell Park – The Jungle) – Kayo Game of the Week
Women (6:30pm)
LTTM: Southern Tigers 89 (Yaeger 23, Skinner 18, Hall 16, McKendrick 12) defeated South Adelaide Panthers 75 (Levicki 23, Spencer 16, Hunter 11) – Split 14 points to Tigers
The Southern Showdown always produces the goods and ladder positions are irrelevant when the Cats of the South clash. To mark out the nature of this in the Womens between the two sides since 2019 it is a domination by the Tigers having won all six games including last year’s preliminary final even with the Panthers red hot form of the NBL1 Central era. It always seems something bobs up for the Panthers as a roadblock; last time it was Margot Hall who broke out for a career high 16 points including four triples to help down the unbeaten Panthers. Before that was Madi Round in the prelim before that Teige Morrell twice and Jemma Thacker historically has almost had a part in most of their victories. Where the Panthers can break history is the rebounding, so a huge game is required from the two imports in Isa Osk Sigurdardottir and Holly Forbes who had her best hit out last week. The Panthers can create a discrepancy in second chance points with a +8.7 in offensive boards and +7.8 rebounds.
Given the large slice of history though it’s hard to go against the Tigers and with them needing this just a little more than the top of the table Panthers; they might get this one in an upset…
Key Stat – Where it has been won for the Tigers historically is points on turnovers. With a couple of league high scores of 21 and 43 produced in the past half a decade; the Tigers sweat on ball security of their rivals and have turned that to their advantage in their recent revival with an average of 9 points off them in their last three wins.
ESPN Prediction: Tigers by 5 points
Men (8:00pm)
LTTM: Southern Tigers 77 (L Olbrich 23, Martin 17) lost to South Adelaide Panthers 83 (Smith 26, Starling 20, Davies 13) – Split 6 points to Panthers
Looking at the history of the Mens showdown; its much closer with the Tigers and Panthers 3-2 since 2019 with an average margin of 8 points per game. Its also been a story of one big time superstar performance getting it done including CJ Turnage 45 points and 28 points in 2019, Starling 29 points and Coleman with 30 points in 2021 and Jeremy Smith in the game earlier this season 26 points the deciding factor. In fact, it was Smith’s 7 points including a half-time buzzer beater put the Panthers up 35-43 on the road and they extended that margin to the finish line despite a late flurry from the Tigers. So what we can expect is a big time performance from someone from either side that will be game defining. I think it’ll come from Smith or Starling if he’s back again and the Panthers hold off the fast-finishing Tigers…
Key Stat – It’ll be a case of the fast starters versus the fast finishers, the Panthers have scored 106 compared to 94 in first quarters the past five games while the Tigers have scored 95 points in their final quarter (an average of 19 points)…
ESPN Prediction: Panthers by 8 points
Forestville Eagles vs North Adelaide Rockets – (Wayville – The Nest)
Women (6:15pm)
LTTM: Forestville Eagles 91 (S Simons 25, Stratford 15) defeated North Adelaide Rockets 60 (Corrigan, Taylor 17) – Split 31 points to Eagles
The Eagles begun their run of ruin of other teams with the last time they played the Rockets on a Sunday afternoon. Since that game they took out the Tigers, Sabres and Bearcats of significant interest and are on a 6-1 swoop of the high to mid-table. Its been the step-up of Bella Stratford who has lifted a gear to support Simons as well as Rachel Hines in top form. Stratford is now at 11.7 and Hines 12.7 points per game and 5.8 and 5.5 rebounds respectively. The Rockets showed some fight and grit against the Panthers last week and in the end ran out of bigs to guard the paint through foul trouble. If they bring the same intensity as last week and lock down Sam Simons somehow they can cause some problems, but the Eagles should get a crucial win here especially with other results in the mid-table on the line.
Key Stat – The last time they met,the Eagles got their game going at the free throw line with 23 of 28 and shot 46 percent from the field; they were allowed to do whatever they wanted and split the scores amongst their group with six players scoring 8 or more…
ESPN Prediction: Eagles by 23 points
Men (8:15pm)
LTTM: Forestville Eagles 108 (Johnson 27, Mays 20, Purchase 17, Machar 13) defeated North Adelaide Rockets 53 (Parfitt 11) – Split 55 points to Eagles
The last time these teams met it was a destruction of the Launch Pad from the Eagles; expect this one to be very different to last time. DJ is off applying his craft in the Commonwealth Games and Jamar Akoh is back for the Rockets and the best form he’s been in this season. Both transition offences and rebounding are going to be the key in this one with both teams on streaks of three wins in a row plus. This time I get the feeling the Rockets are coming for a big scalp to put themselves back in the spotlight however the Eagles find a way through Adam Doyle to get it done; he’s the defining matchup in this one…
Key Stat – The Eagles 55-point win is still the largest of the season with an annihilating 12-59 halftime led by Johnson’s triple double and 39-60 smashing on the glass; definitely can’t see that happening again…
ESPN Prediction: Eagles by 3 points
Eastern Mavericks vs Norwood Flames – (The Shooting Gallery – St Francis)
LTTM: Norwood Flames 81 (Basham 25, Wilson 20, Kerridge 13) defeated Eastern Mavericks 65 (Lefebvre-Okankwu 25, Gouchie-Provencher 24) – Split 16 points to Flames
Women (6:30pm)
I think the game that these two played last time sums up the overall league for the Womens very well. Up until halftime it was neck and neck and both sides had plenty of solid performances. The Flames then forced the Mavs into 31 turnovers with up court pressure and match ups which yielded a 39-34 second half. A decent drop-off from a team of 3-4 minutes had costed plenty of teams games and the Mavs women did that the last time they met. The saving grace for the Mavs is that Wilson should be on her way to Birmingham to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games officially now and after a tough disappointing loss to the Tigers; the Mavs could use a boost. There is a possibility Sapphire Olivia Bradley may or may not be back in time to play given the final was played 4 days ago with Australia finishing 5th in the cup. If she is it levels out this matchup but the Flames will likely be too strong for the Mavs and much like the Tigers and Eagles above; the need to win to keep pace with two rounds to go.
Key Stat – The ball security of the Mavs is the defining factor with an average of 21.3 turnovers, the ninth worst in the league and the Flames have Kerridge and Basham who love those kinds of numbers and taking advantage of them.
ESPN Prediction: Flames by 13 points
Men (8:15pm)
LTTM: Norwood Flames 101 (Harding 30, McBride 19, Barei 15, Lycett 11) defeated Eastern Mavericks 78 (McCalop 23, Legan 21, Cromarty 12) – Split 23 points to Flames
The Mavs led 38-48 last time they met one minute into the second half in clearly one of their most best passages of basketball. The quick timeout for Norwood Flames coach Tim Odell then sparked a 64-30 run. From that moment on the Flames discovered their 2022 identity as they went on a 6-0 run across the month of June which then was stopped in its track by the Warriors. Perhaps this game can give the spark back to the Flames to stamp themselves again as contenders. For the Mavs they’ll want to cause some teams that stopped their run some chaos and some will also want to show what they are needed for beyond the courts of SA and Australia. The Flames however need this one sitting 9-6 with the Sabres perilously breathing down their necks.
Key Stat – The Flames forced the Mavs into 13 points from 17 turnovers in the second half last time, the pace of the game and using Green to finish the work under the rim has to be their calling card once again if they are to be a bigger threat at the crunch time of the season…
ESPN Prediction: Flames by 12 points
West Adelaide Bearcats vs Woodville Warriors – (The Bearcat Cave – Pt Adelaide)
LTTM: Woodville Warriors 48 (Turnour-McCarty 12) lost to West Adelaide Bearcats 86 (Rintala 24, Fejo 14, Simmons 13) – Split 38 points to Bearcats
Women (6:30pm)
The biggest hurdle for the Warriors in recent years has been Jennie Rintala who seems to thrive on the “Wild West Showdown”. Rintala setup the Bearcats with 11 of her 24 points coming in the opening 12-24 quarter and helped lead her team from start to finish. Last year she had 24 points as well so all her recent form against the Warriors is a worry for the green and gold. The 48 scored last time is also a massive concern and after only a league low 29 points (the lowest final score since pre-2019) last week, hitting scoreboard is a priority. I’m not sure the Warriors can rally enough points to topple the Bearcats but
Key Stat – All going well and good this will be the first-time sisters Renai and Jasmin Fejo play against each other in the NBL1 Central this weekend. All three sisters Renai, Jasmin and Tahlia have all played with each other but never against the top level, and it might be the only time this year as Tahlia Kelly’s East Perth Eagles currently sit 10th in NBL1 West and would need to win it all over there for a chance for another of the two sisters to meet if the Bearcats took out the NBL1 Central.
ESPN Prediction: Bearcats by 30 points
Men (8:15pm)
LTTM: Woodville Warriors 114 (Wurn 24, Jackson 20, Meldrum 15, McGee 13, Humphries, Boonstoppel 11) defeated West Adelaide Bearcats 99 (DeSantis 22, Sheppard 21, Washington 13, Cadzow, L Hunter 12) – Split 15 points to Warriors
The Warriors and Bearcats always like an up-tempo battle and that’s proven the case the last few years. With scores tied 81-81 earlier in the season at 7:54 to go, Riley Meldrum scored 7 of the last 33 points for the Warriors as they jumped ahead to finish 114-99. It doesn’t matter who these teams roll out on the floor its always a bit closer than suggested for the “Wild West Showdown.” It’s anybody’s game but you take the Warriors just who last won at the Bearcat Cave in 2019…
Key Stat – If the Bearcats are to cause an upset, they need to look after the ball as they do have a plus 7.9 in turnovers compared to the Warriors.
ESPN Prediction: Warriors by 5 points
Central District Lions vs Sturt Sabres (Starplex – The Den)
Women (6:30pm)
LTTM: Sturt Sabres 83 (Williams 27, N Mathews 14) defeated Central District Lions 49 (Washington 17) – split 34 points to Sabres
You can only play who’s in front of you so the Sabres test does not come this week but regardless of that the Lions now depleted with Tyla Bennett returning home after a solid season will test the Sabres for sections of this one. The forward statistics were the swinging pendulum in this one last time and they are likely to be again. The Sabres shot 47.5 percent from the field for their 43-15 second half led by import Williams. The Sabres should win comfortably here but we’ll learn more about them next two rounds as to how much of a championship threat they are…
Key Stat – The Sabres have always had multiple contributors getting it done but the young gun Caitlin Dyer has added to the line-up averaging 9.75 points in her past four games…
ESPN Prediction: Sabres by 15 points
Men (8:15pm)
LTTM: Sturt Sabres 101 (Daly 23, Spear 22, Rigoni 21) defeated Central District Lions 90 (Johnson 32, Koko 19) – Split 11 points to the Sabres
The Sabres Men have a real tough run home and the athletic Lions stand in their way in their last home game of the season. Put simply they must win this the Sabres to stay in the hunt, they’ll get home just…
Key Stat – Last time they met, Daly shot 23 points at 66 percent while Spear dropped four triples in his 22 points at 60 percent and Jacob Rigoni got his 21 points including four triples; every Sabres win has been marked by that high shooting percentage that’s done the damage to their opposition.
ESPN Prediction: Sabres 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 16 between the South Adelaide Panthers and the Southern Tigers on Kayo and Kayo Freebies tonight.
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