Money Monroe: The Flyers Achilles heal has been their inside defensive presence and Jacinta Monroe of the Lightning can turn in another uber aggressive performance to give her side a chance - Photo credit to WNBL
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WNBL ROUND 12
Adelaide Lightning vs Southside Flyers
When: 7:00pm (ACDT), Thursday 28 January
Where: Adelaide 36ers Arena (Formerly Adelaide/TS Arena – The Lighthouse)
Broadcast: Nine Now
STRIKE BACK IN HISTORY
Phillips electric as Lightning storm to decider
(WNBL Preliminary Final 2007/2008)
A shock first up loss by 19 points in the finals series of 2007/2008 was enough to sting the Lightning back into action for an afternoon clash between two strong contenders – with the Dandenong Rangers upsetting the Canberra Capitals to earn a shot at a place in the decider.
Adelaide responded with an opening quarter of 21-12 and held the lead majority of the contest with a 44 plus percent average across three quarters including beyond the arc. The damage was done by guards Erin Phillips (18 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists and Renae Camino (24 points and 9 rebounds) while Sam Woosnam went sneakily close to a triple double with nine points and assists and 12 rebounds. That saw the Lightning ascend to a dominant 64-50 lead with one to play.
The Rangers got tough defensively in the final term but couldn’t overcome the Lightning despite the efforts of Michelle Brogan (18 points and 11 rebounds) and Emily McInerney (11 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists).
LTTM: Adelaide Lightning 91 (Bell 23, Monroe 22, Talbot 12, Mansfield 11, Borlase 9) defeated Southside Flyers 72 (M Rocci 26, Blicavs 16, Cole, Ernst 9, Bishop 8) at Adelaide 36ers Arena
Key Matchups
Steph Talbot vs Kayla Thornton
Talbot was sorely missed by the Lightning before the Fire game last week – and she’ll need to be at full strength ready to attack both ends of the floor. She’s averaging 12.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists currently but you get the feeling tomorrow she needs her double edged sword. A 20 piece plus the scalp of one of the league’s in form players in Thornton.
The Dallas Wings star has been on a tear the last month for the Flyers. She’s averaging 17.6 points shooting at over 50 percent and 8.2 rebounds – a lock down from the star Opal is a must after missing the previous Lighthouse clash. How it could be done is by making her take more contested mid-ranges where Thornton is 12 of 46 for the season compared to 56 of 89 made from the “Nykiel” Zone (the keyway or paint for those in the lingo I name after the most successful shooter from that range SA womens basketball has ever seen).
Jacinta Monroe vs Lauren Jackson
Monroe is an absolute key in this fixture tonight for the Lightning to be a chance to steal this one. Its been a little quiet for her since the Fire game at the Lighthouse averaging just 8.3 points in the past three games including the foul out against the Spirit. She’ll be hoping for a change of fortunes and has good form against the Flyers having dropped 22 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. Its at that end of the floor she can grab the advantage against the Flyers in the high-low actions we may see from Nat Hurst.
Thats cause with no Abby Bishop and Nyadiew Puoch inexperienced but exciting – its down to the GOAT who should play after missing the last Lighthouse clash as well with gastro. Playing on a fractured foot since Round 5 – LJ has been incredible in WNBL23 for her stature and status. Still putting up 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds in 23.2 minutes she’s even at 41 still had to shoulder the centre position for the Flyers – an area Lauren Scherf of the Perth Lynx exposed back in early January.
But she’s due for another big one after a couple of quieter games – Monroe can’t let her get on top or assert her dominance.
Sam Simons vs Monique Conti
Bell coming out of the Lightning lineup has seen Borlase elevated to starting five rotation which means there is a great opportunity for a Brooke Basham, Sam Simons or even Jasmin Fejo could fill that void as the aggressive scoring guard position. For me with a third of the season to go- its time for Simons to take her game to the next level and show that scoring aggression we’ve seen for the Eagles at NBL1 Central level. Her length should help at the defensive end contain the likes of Bec Cole and Sara Blicavs in her minutes so when she gets her chance – love to see her take it right to her Flyer opponents.
The absence of Dallas Loughridge all season and Aimee Rocci in recent weeks has seen Conti have a very important role as the back up to the star guard play of Maddi Rocci. Conti has a handy 4.3 points and 2.8 assists in 16 minutes per game and if Maddi gets in foul trouble like last time – she’ll have more responsibility for the Flyers.
THREE QUESTIONS TO STRIKE ON
How do the Lightning pick themselves up after another single quarter fade out against the Fire?
Its taken a little while for us to see what kind of Lightning team we have got this season and it is the one that reflects the overall results despite still being mathematically alive. The supporters I think can still be excited for those nights they really turn it on but this team as Nat Hurst and Matt Clarke have said is on a learning curve as are the coaching staff so that inconsistency can be more accepted now the chances are pretty much gone for top four.
Are the Flyers foxing or are there genuine concerns?
For a team sitting 11-4 I’m actually not convinced this Flyers team are completely gelled but my goodness its chock full of weapons. The missing of Bishop and Aimee Rocci just exposes the “whole one player strikes foul trouble” does the depth on a consistent basis cover?
Thats the beauty I think of this last third of the season – even though some teams are high up on the ladder in the W column – whoever arrives at playoff station in peak condition and form could snaffle this years title.
While finals are unlikely – what’s the goal for the rest of WNBL23?
It’s time to get the game time into your next core players and see what they can bring to the table. Its been another season where we’ve seen some incredible “undiscovered” talent when released from the bench.
I want to see Cubillo, Basham, Simons, Fejo, Batish with a bit of Coleman with about an extra five minutes on top of their usual game time which means likes of Talbot and Mansfield playing 26 odd minutes – I’m in favour of that to boost the confidence of this group to show they can be a huge contributing factor to season two under Hurst.
So who wins?
The Lightning’s inconsistency has me leaning on them in this one in particular as a dark horse as they are due but the Flyers should start warm favourites. It all comes down to if Bishop and Rocci are passed fit cause if they are out – The Lightning “thieves” can steal it from Lauren Jackson’s Flyers in a likely full house at the Lighthouse
COD Prediction: Flyers by 6 points
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 