Aces high and streaks alive: A hand is possibly yet to be revealed by the Panthers and a feat few thought achievable this season of beating a team four times remains alive coming into crunch preliminaries. Pictures by Snap Shot Photography and AllStar Photos
2-Minute Read
Women’s Preliminary Final
Sturt Sabres vs South Adelaide Panthers
Women (6:15pm) – The Cave
Last time they met
South Adelaide Panthers 55 (Forbes 12, Spencer 11) defeated by Sturt Sabres 69 (Prosser 14, Williams 13, Z Walker-Roberts 11)
Matchups that matter
Kayla Mathews vs Jade Johnson
If you wanted to know how important Johnson is hitting shots this season, you got the answer last Sunday afternoon. Equally if Mathews opponent gets off the chain like last week then it can destroy her side. Mathews struck foul trouble last weekend and it was telling as Fejo got a hold of her and the Sabres. The outcome of this matchup again will be key to the victory for either side.
Mikayla Williams vs Ash Spencer
The Halls medallist was brilliant again last week and last time she played the Panthers; she monstered them. However, the Panther leader “Splash” found something last week that got her rolling. She had one of her fastest starts in the past few months with 8 in the opening term. We know she’s the engine room of this team as is Williams for the Sabres. Stop the engines and you stop the teams!!!
Zoe Walker-Roberts vs Hannah Stewart
Both these players have provided the numbers often needed at both ends to steer their sides to the win. ZWR had just the 9 points and 4 rebounds going at a 10 in efficiency. On the flip side Stewart had a season high 23 points, 3 rebounds and a 28 in efficiency. When the Sabres won two weeks ago ZWR had 11 points, 6 rebounds and 16 in efficiency while Stewart had 10 points, 5 rebounds and an 8 in efficiency. The more efficient will likely come from the side that comes out on top.
Key Statistics
The numbers that matter were the Panthers last weeks versus the Flames. They split even on the rebounds 43-42, had 19 assists, 40 points in the paint, 9 fast break points and shot 50 percent from the field. In 2021 the numbers were 48.1 in rebounds, 20.9 in assists and without having the exact numbers I’m very confident that it was on average the similar numbers in the paint, fast break points and shot 41.5 percent on average from the field. It shows when they can, the Panthers transition game is the winning formula for their games coupled with some tenacious defence.
The Central Closer
Different venue and different circumstances this time around and nothing changed in my opinion about the Sabres from week one despite the loss to an impressive Bearcats team last week. I think that maybe the Panthers have been holding a poker hand for quite some time and right on the cusp of elimination have revealed most of their hand. I just get my basketball gut feeling they’ve got one more ace up the sleeve to get them to the big dance and their first since 2003…
COD Prediction: Panthers by 3 points
Men’s Preliminary Final
South Adelaide Panthers vs Forestville Eagles
Men (8:15pm) – The Jungle
Last time they met
Forestville Eagles 90 (Purchase 22, Doyle, Johnson 19) defeated by South Adelaide Panthers 101 (Starling 32, Smith, Johns 19, Hoppo 14)
Matchups that matter
Alex Starling vs Adam Doyle
Ninnis threw the ultimate curveball last time they met sending his NBL1 Central DPOY to the Eagles champion guard. It proved a match winning move as not only did Starling give Doyle some headaches, but he also lynched the Eagles. He’s the key to stopping the supply of the scorers and the league’s best defender will get this match up again you’d think.
Sam Johns vs Daniel Johnson
It takes one to know one and the former teammate of Daniel Johnson wound it back in a big way in the final a few weeks back. That was also the piece that was noticeably missing for the Panthers and regained by the Eagles against the Flames. No surprise to see these two matched up on each other again but can Johns do it one more time to see his side into a Grand Final?
Jarryd Hoppo vs Malith Machar
Another who just couldn’t get into the rhythm of the match last week will be keen to repeat the dosage of the first final. Machar however bounced back after a flat first week with 14 points. The fate of both teams hinges on the contributions of these two developing stars and their ability to make that clutch shot from outside the arc.
Key Statistics
For three times in a row the Panthers forced the Eagles yet again into sloppy ball movement forcing them into 17 turnovers from 11 steals which the likes of Smith and Starling have capitalised on. If they can do it four in a row, then they are in the box seat but the Eagles will be aware of the trend and look to blitz the Panthers like the Warriors did. In the final quarter it was 5 second chance points and fast break points along with holding the Panthers to 6 of 17 from the field (35 percent).
The Central Closer
To paraphrase with some embellishment someone famous, “To lose once could be considered misfortune, to lose twice looks like carelessness, to lose thrice is possibly coincidence and to lose four times…”
We’ll find out the answer to that Saturday night…
COD Prediction: Panthers by 4 points in OT
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 the preliminary finals between the Sturt Sabres/South Adelaide Panthers and South Adelaide Panthers/Forestville Eagles on Kayo and Kayo Freebies tomorrow.
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