Lightning clash: Which of the two Adelaide Lightning combo guards save, snuff or seal their or their opponents season. Picture supplied by AllStar Photos/Kelly Barnes
3-Minute Read
Round 17
Saturday 30/07/2022
Norwood Flames vs Forestville Eagles (The ARC – The Firedome)
Women (6:00pm)
LTTM: Forestville Eagles 78 (Hines 20, M Freer 17, Annetts 15) defeated Norwood Flames 70 (Anderson, Wilson 18, Coleman 16, Basham 12) – Split 8 points to Eagles
This is an early potential elimination final with the Tigers having a favourable draw and the Flames having to play the second placed Sabres in the last round however both games are at home where they have been strong this season with a 5-2 record. The winner will go to 12-5 the loser to 11-6 and possibly slip to 6th with one round remaining. There is also the split to consider to throw into the conundrum of this one and there is so much in the line in this one and both teams are matched so evenly with all categories within a range of two.
Its going to come down to individual brilliance and which Lightning player has the most impact; Basham vs Simons. The only defining factor really is the home advantage and I think somehow with no logic whatsoever the Flames get the win and the split knowing that they have the Sabres the following week…
Key Stat – The Eagles made their move in the second finishing 9 second chance points and an 11-0 run to keep ahead of the Flames. To note that 11-0 run did not heavily feature Sam Simons who still finished with 10 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds.
ESPN Prediction: Flames by 9 points
Men (7:45pm)
LTTM: Forestville Eagles 90 (Doyle 18, Purchase, Mays 17, Machar 14, Brine 12) lost to Norwood Flames 95 (Huefner 21, McBride 20, Lycett 17, Green 16) – Split 5 points to Flames
Looking into the future with these two, the Eagles are placed to make a strike as we all thought they would be at this stage of the season in finals while the Flames will want to get their mojo back some more before the finals hit and secure their spot in the top five with a win tonight. I’m not sure what tactical mind games go into this one from both Simons and Odell and there could be some serious ducks and drakes in play. I think the Flames need to secure their spot and not go into an elimination final against the Sabres the following week.
Key Stat – The Flames scorched in a 13-23 last quarter led by import Trey McBride with 7 of his 20 points for the night along with 8 rebounds and 5 assists coming at the crucial time. Matt Lycett and Anthony Green were huge last time with 17 points and 7 assists and 16 points and 9 rebounds respectively.
ESPN Prediction: Flames by 4 points
Southern Tigers vs Woodville Warriors – (Morphett Vale – The Cage)
Women (6:30pm)
LTTM: Woodville Warriors 53 (Turnour-McCarty 15, Perkas 13) lost to Southern Tigers 80 (Skinner 20, De La Cerda 18, McKendrick 15) – Split 27 points to Tigers
The Warriors will be wanting to make the Tigers sweat and finish the season “best of the rest”. Out of all the runs home the Tigers have set themselves up for a fast finish and can finish as high as 4th if results fall their way (namely the Eagles losing both as the Tigers hold the split over them). Look for the Warriors to try and control the glass to cause an upset but the Tigers have tightened up in this area and with the experience of Matt Clarke at the helm should get the win here simply…
Key Stat – It was a huge second quarter 14-26 after a competitive opening quarter that saw the away side split away from the home side last time; it may take a spurt like that to decide this contest…
ESPN Prediction: Tigers by 15 points
Men (8:15pm)
LTTM: Woodville Warriors 86 (Wurn 22, Stepney 21, Jackson 14, Meldrum 11) defeated Southern Tigers 80 (L Olbrich 22, Martin 20, Artacho 13, Machar 11) – Split 6 points to Warriors
Tuning up and preparation for next season are on the agenda in the men’s tonight with a great chance for coach Scott Whitmore to see if any injury or “the train” disrupts their now secure first seeding for the finals campaign, who is ready to step up if needed. More minutes for the likes of the next up numbers in Cooper Osborne, Trasen Pickett-Carbine, Dan Fejo and a host of others. For the Tigers, Machar Machar continues to be one of the most exciting players to watch develop and we saw some minutes from the likes of Joe Coole, Dane Bobinac and Jamie Smith the next core coming through. Coach Tom Hilbig will want to address the slow starts as well in preparation for 2023. The Warriors should have too many talented numbers to win here but its going to be a very entertaining contest no doubt…
Key Stat – The Tigers pulled off a 14-27 final quarter to reduce the margin after their former teammate Nick Wurm tore them apart in the first three quarters. Wurm finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists; he might set it all up again for the next in line to see some quality minutes tonight…
ESPN Prediction: Warriors by 18 points
Sturt Sabres vs South Adelaide Panthers – (Springbank – The Cave) – Kayo Game of the Week
LTTM: South Adelaide Panthers 81 (Spencer, Levicki 20, Johnson 16) defeated Sturt Sabres 73 (Prosser 19, Williams 16, N Mathews, K Mathews 10) – Split 8 points to Panthers
Women (6:30pm)
Its all about ladder position and form coming into the finals for these two who have ebbed and flowed in form across the season. However as both coaches will have no doubt conceded that they may not want to put everything out there on the floor considering another date may await in the coming weeks. While the likelihood of being dislodged from their position with the Panthers having splits over all except the Tigers and the Sabres all except Eagles and still having the Flames to come; the Sabres may just be that bit keener to win this one to secure their spot before the final round…
Key Stat – The Panthers led by 11 points at the half 52-41 with Jordan Hunter guiding the Panthers home. The game ebbed and flowed from there with Kayla Mathews after a strong first half for the Sabres copped a heavy blow to the head from the hardwood floor that took her out of the game unfortunately at an important time of the match.
ESPN Prediction: Sabres by 5 points
Men (8:15pm)
LTTM: South Adelaide Panthers 76 (Smith 29, Starling 14, Barton 13) lost to Sturt Sabres 73 (Rigoni 31, Spear 16, Daly 12) – Split 7 points to Sabres
A hugely pivotal game in the sense of the Panthers wanting to finish as high as they can for some “home” finals at the Jungle while the Sabres are fighting for their season and a loss draws the curtains on their 2022 season. For me its all on the shoulders of Rigoni as it was last time, he must be the man to drag the Sabres across the line. There is also mystery surrounding Joel Spear if he plays or doesn’t play is the question has he recovered enough from his injury sustained in the COE game to have a large impact? Where the Sabres won it last time was their ability on offence to get their looks from both sides of the floor scrambling the Panthers defence after halftime and got 16 points in the paint along with 10 of 14 from the charity stripe. I think however the Panthers are better equipped this time around and will get this one ending the Sabres season for 2022…
Key Stat – Jacob Rigoni stepped up to stardom as he dropped the final 7 points and stopped the Panthers in their tracks 76-83 last time; the Sabres are going to need another Rigoni career high which last time included 31 points with 5-10 triples and 15 rebounds to silence the army’s roar of the Shed.
ESPN Prediction: Panthers by 10 points
North Adelaide Rockets vs Central District Lions – (The Lights – The Launch Pad)
LTTM: Central District Lions 65 (Washington 23, Samuels 20, Bennett 13) lost to North Adelaide Rockets 79 (Bails 23, Defrancesco 20, Corrigan 14) – Split 14 points to Rockets
Women (6:30pm)
Pride and position are on the line for these two teams in a game after tasting success the previous week to the last time they met; the Lions dropped at home. I feel there will be a sense of wanting to right that and the player tandem of Washington and Samuels will provide the catalyst for the Lions to finish as high as 7th and be “the best of the rest.”
Key Stat – Tia Bails was enormous in the second half to finish with 23 points and along with a sharp shooting Tayla Corrigan (14 points at 70 percent and 16 rebounds); both will be crucial of they are to stop the Lions particularly Corrigan who may hold a distinct advantage.
ESPN Prediction: Lions by 15 points
Men (8:15pm)
LTTM: Central District Lions 85 (Johnson 20, Sapwell 17, Manyang 15) lost to North Adelaide Rockets 86 (Dau 26, Akoh 16, Winn 15, Marshall 14) – Split 14 points to Rockets
The Rockets are starting to roll and although they have the Lions and the Bearcats to finish the season; they will be wanting to make sure they are there at the end. The Lions are playing party spoilers at the moment after a season of missed opportunities; they’ll want to knock off the home side but I think the Rockets will want to make sure they secure a finals position attempting to finish as high as 3rd by the end of next weekend.
Key Stat – The Rockets staved off a 50-30 second half after leading 35-56 at half-time; expect a similar script in this one…
ESPN Prediction: Rockets by 3 points
West Adelaide Bearcats vs Eastern Mavericks (Port Adelaide – The Bearcat Cave)
Women (6:30pm)
LTTM: Eastern Mavericks 70 (Lefebvre-Okankwu 24, Dumesny 15) lost to West Adelaide Bearcats 84 (Langenbrinck, Fejo 23, K Pearce 15) – Split 14 points to Bearcats
Another match where it’s the perfect time to see who will step up for the finals for the Bearcats and who will be ones to watch for the following season for the Mavericks. For the Bearcats keep an eye out for more minutes for Keeley Pearce, Alex Pearce, Abby Brenton and Mia Valk as they really sharpen up for their finals run. For the Mavs more minutes for Allie Garcia, Steph Formby and Alyssa Brown some exciting talents as well as Olivia Bradley returned and looking to take the huge step for the 2023 season. The Bearcats will win this contest comfortably but there are still plenty of interesting elements to watch out for.
Key Stat – The Bearcats final term put away the Mavericks with a 12-20 run as the “left-handen” brinck finished with 23 points and Keeley Pearce with 15 points at 75 percent off the bench; it took some big-time shooters to stave off the Mavs for the top of the ladder team…
ESPN Prediction: Bearcats by 23 points
Men (8:15pm)
LTTM: Eastern Mavericks 73 (McCalop 24, Legan 16) lost to West Adelaide Bearcats 99 (DeSantis 33, Sheppard 21, Washington 13, Hunter, Cadzow 12) – Split 26 points to Bearcats
Both teams will fancy themselves in this one that’s for certain with both teams competitive the last few weeks. There is also the matter of still putting together some big games for the individuals in the teams to earn their next contracts and steps so both will be absolutely going for it in this one. The Mavs can still finish their season with two out of three with still the makeup game against the Tigers to come and I think will find a way through their big three to win this one to even out the bottom end of the table
Key Stat – DeSantis struck 33 points at 71 percent and along with import Nate Sheppard’s 29 points and 8 rebounds snapped any chance of the Mavericks breaking their drought at home; its pretty simple that the away side will need to stop both
ESPN Prediction: Mavericks by 5 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 17 between the Sturt Sabres and the South Adelaide Panthers on Kayo and Kayo Freebies tonight.
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