Renai Fejo headlines the First Nations players to take the court for the second part of the round - with a sister vs sister matchup Sunday afternoon the whole family is here to see - Picture by Jo Bomford for First Nations Round
3-Minute Read
Round 14 Part Two
Saturday 8/07/2023 and Sunday 9/07/2023
Sturt Sabres vs Central District Lions – (Springbank – The Cave)
LTTM: Central District Lions 68 (Guy 24, Sears 18, De La Cerda 16) defeated by Sturt Sabres 120 (Williams 22, Brazel 20, N Mathews 14, Padroth 12, Rigoni 11, M Walker-Roberts 10, Hodges 10)
Women (Saturday 6:30pm)
The Sabres secure in first but the one things that separates this unit from others in previous seasons it appears is that it genuinely rates every opposition as a challenger to its streak of now fifteen straight wins – the Lions inspired by their two First Nations athletes in Renai Fejo and Evei Kleinig will be eyeing off the final three games including tomorrow’s Kayo game of the week to finish off one of the strongest seasons in recent memory for the Blue, Red and White.
It’s a challenge Tim Shortt is embracing taking each team as they come and has done the smart thing throwing his different pieces in at various times through the season. Tonight, he can throw in players like Mia Walker-Roberts, Paige Padroth, Emma Roach and Maddy Hinton to sharpen the iron of his side ready for the finals challenge ahead.
The Lions will be keen to atone for the last time they played them where they got smacked – it was a watershed night in some ways for Centrals as they found an ultra-competitive edge after that nearly toppling the Bearcats, Mavericks, Warriors. The last few rounds however have been a concern with an average margin loss of 38.6 points but tonight would be a good time to put in one of those efforts.
Sabres will make it 16 but I expect the Lions to be closer than the last time they met – minus Brazel and Hodges…
Key Stat – The Lions got smacked in all the key areas last time they met including minus 15 in assists, -26 rebounds and had 26 turnovers…
COD Prediction: Sabres by 14 points
Men (Saturday 8:15pm)
LTTM: Central District Lions 55 (Jenkins 23, Sapwell 16, Nai 9) defeated by Sturt Sabres 99 (Rigoni 27, Forbes 18, Rasmussen 14, Brennan, Dowdell, English, Nash 9)
The “Wandering Lions” have been one of the most awkward teams to play in season 2023 – you just don’t know what you are going to get from this group but when all of them hunt in a pack they can rip you apart quickly which the Sturt Sabres need to be aware of especially teetering currently in fourth position on the NBL1 table.
The Sabres J’s have been the catalyst across the second half of the season with the duo of Jordan Forbes and Jacob Rigoni producing some eye-catching numbers. They both average 37.9 points, 16.9 rebounds, 8.3 assists and carry a combined plus minus of 28.5.
The Lions can play spoiler to the finals race playing a key role on where the Sabres and the Eagles after their loss last night will finish in the final round. In some ways it makes the Lions more dangerous than ever as they can play with reckless abandon which in some ways sums up their first season under Sapwell. They have had flashes of brilliance hard to contain but then have had moments of madness where its young dumb and on the run.
The Sabres still have a bit to play through with another matchup against the Warrior the following day, but it’ll be a tough night this one with a Lions team now with not much to lose.
Key Stat – In the Sabres losses the Sabre’s Js have been kept to 17 points, sub 30 percent from the three-point arc and 6.3 rebounds…
COD Prediction: Sabres by 8 points
North Adelaide vs Southern Tigers – (Lights – The Launch Pad)
LTTM: Southern Tigers 83 (McKendrick 36, Yaeger 14, Hernandez 13, Bartsch 12) defeated North Adelaide Rockets 61 (Basham 18, Mansfield 10, Zbierski 8)
Women (Saturday 6:30pm)
If at the start of the round this one was a pivotal game – it just elevated itself to another level after Thursday and Friday nights results.
The Rockets lost a spanner from their finals push as they fell to the inform Mavs and again the post play of an opposition team caused serious problems for the Red and White. It’s been the one part I’ve looked about their lineup they have not been able to settle but thought they might coming into these final weeks of the regular season. They missed Tayla Corrigan on Friday night but even with her it’s still bee a problem for them.
The Tigers might have found more reason to hurt the Rockets in that area thanks to the performance of import Brittany Hernandez. All season the Tigers have missed that inside presence consistently, but the Colorado Springs Mountain Lion has roared in recent times with an average of 12.5 points and 9.25 rebounds.
The Rockets haven’t beaten the Tigers since their grand final season of 2021 in the last game of the regular season – it’s been Southern with a 4-0 record and it’s hard to see the Rockets topple the terrific Tigers with the form they are in heading to the right end of the season.
Key Stat – The Mavs produced 36 points in the paint Friday night thanks to Jannon Otto and the Tigers Hernandez helping the Tigers to 34 points – that’s the danger numbers for the Rockets.
COD Prediction: Tigers by 9 points
Men (Saturday 8:15pm)
LTTM: Southern Tigers 76 (Dau 29, Johnson 18, Logan 17, Green 12) defeated by North Adelaide Rockets 90 (McCalop 24, Harrap 20, Aliir 16, McDonald 15, Carlisle 11)
The Rockets did what they needed to do to stay alive but must beware the Tigers who showed signs against the Panthers.
Although they sit in seventh now Rogers Rockets are still in the firing line with the winless Tigers and the Flames to finish the season. The Tigers have the dangling carrot in front of them of grabbing one last elusive win in a tough development season for new coach Scott Freer. Like any side he’ll need to throw a number of different looks at a Rockets team which has trouble guarding unpredictability.
The importance of their win Friday night means the belief is maybe still there they can be more than what we are seeing – if they take care of the result we get to find out next weekend.
Key Stat – The Rockets in their wins give up an average of 82.1 points
COD Prediction: Rockets by 15 points
South Adelaide Panthers vs Norwood Flames – (Mitchell Park – The Jungle)
LTTM: Norwood Flames 73 (Thompson 25, Kerridge 20, Wilson 8) defeated by South Adelaide Panthers 103 (Spencer 24, DeFrancesco 23, Johnson 16, Gibbons 13, Forbes 10, McDonald 8)
Women (Saturday 6:30pm)
The Panthers are just clawing onto fifth place right now while the Flames overcame some Eagles surging to put them firmly into the race for top two.
Wilson continues to be the unstoppable force across the back end of season 2023 but it’s the combination of Kerridge, Thompson, Rice, Akuen, Smith and the band of young juniors that have come through that now in my mind have them almost the main challenger to the Sabres now.
The Panthers where do you start, the end is looking nigh sadly after a large amount of time up the top of the table for three seasons and three preliminary finals which is still a strong showing – it looks like they may miss the finals for the first time since pre-covid. Yes I know they are in fifth right now but with West Adelaide’s run and the Eagles having the Warriors and the Lions to finish it’s starting to look out of their hands. Then I have to remember back to the semi-final of 2022.
The Panthers got done by the Sabres in the qualifying finals before then taking out the in-form Flames – when the form-line is in the Flames favour in recent history then the Panthers through Wilson stopper Hannah Stewart come to the fore.
The difference this time is some Rice that is cooking right now – Jada Rice and that’s why the Flames will grab this one just…
Key Stat – It got worst for the Panthers on Thursday night now with 20.5 quarters where they have scored 15 or less in the season
COD Prediction: Flames by 5 points
Men (Saturday 8:15pm)
LTTM: Norwood Flames 80 (Stanwix 18, Nuangki 15, Lycett 14, Smith, Webber 13) defeated by South Adelaide Panthers 84 (Johnson 27, Starling 15, McVeigh 14, Johns 13, Barton 11)
Two blockbuster games in one night with now the other Flames unit starting to hit boiling point now having taken out both the top two this season.
It was a refreshing chat with Tim Odell on Friday night post-game after their upset of the Eagles in what I described to him one of his finest wins in his short career at the top. The man knows his x’s and o’s and identifies the gaps in his roster with a significant piece moved on he found the piece to insert which has made the starting five very dynamic. It’s a lineup that guards 1-5 all over the floor, all players can have their night and it can still rim protect and get on that glass.
Ninnis no doubt would have found Thursday night challenging trying to motivate his guys to lift their game enough to make sure they took care of the result – knowing this Flames team is the one he wants his Panthers to douse down on. A confident Starling looms the game breaker having caused big problems last time as did DJ – but he would’ve seen the Flames have some men on the floor that can guard those two. Todd Davies form resurgence is timely as Ninnis needs a couple more winners and a fully fit Jarryd Hoppo – Curtis Scott also is showing some signs as the backup point.
This is a tight one to call and could go either way – until someone can guard DJ properly like the Panthers themselves did last season he looms the difference and the match winner overall.
Key Stat – Win or lose, DJ is still averaging 23 points per game
COD Prediction: Panthers by 4 points
West Adelaide Bearcats vs Eastern Mavericks – (Port Adelaide – The Bearcat Cave)
LTTM: Eastern Mavericks 67 (Otto 25, Bradley 16, Levy 12, Formby 8) defeated by West Adelaide Bearcats 83 (Fejo 29, Coleman 16)
Women (Saturday 6:30pm)
The Mavs women are on a roll having won three in a row for the first time since 2019 when they had Brooke Basham and Halls Medallist Carmen Tyson-Thomas. It signals the “Kelson” affect is coming into play with a danger contest now firmly in the sites of the Bearcats.
Amazingly despite the roller coaster season the Bearcats championship defence is still very much on with the ladder opening up with the Panthers, Rockets and Eagles all going down the last few evenings. It’ll be largely on the shoulders of Jasmin Fejo but Andrea Aquino’s battle against Otto also will be a battle royal for both sides.
The Bearcats having not played yet this weekend get this one at home considering things have turned around somewhat for them but again don’t rule out the Mavs from causing another upset and rolling in for win number four in a row
Key Stat – The Bearcat cave hasn’t been the sanctuary for West it was in 2022 having only won three of their eight matches at home this season…
COD Prediction: Bearcats by 11 points
Men (Saturday 8:15pm)
LTTM: Eastern Mavericks 91 (Rentoy 29, Hemphill 26, Legan 16, Raneburg 12) defeated by West Adelaide Bearcats 117 (Drmic 37, Olbrich 31, McCarron 14, Roxburgh 10, DeSantis 9, Stock 8)
The Mavs would be disappointed they couldn’t keep with the Rockets in the second half and would be keen to make sure they stay competitive for four quarters against the Bearcats who got them in the second half the last time they met.
The Bearcats have missed Drmic the last few matches but now is an ideal time to get some game time into the likes of Lachlan Hunter and the rest to try and sharpen up for their finals run ahead.
Bearcats should get this one but the Mavs as we know can pour it in offensively.
Key Stat – Hemphill and Olbrich had a great battle last time – they both are in terrific touch averaging over 20 plus points between them heading into this one again
COD Prediction: Bearcats by 12 points
Woodville Warriors vs Forestville Eagles – (St Clair – The Fortress)
LTTM: Forestville Eagles 71 (Simons 18, M Freer 14, Annetts 10, A Brett, K Brett, Morello 8) defeated by Woodville Warriors 74 (E Winter 23, Fransson 21, Allotey 11)
Women (Saturday 6:30pm)
The Eagles were there abouts on Friday night with Simons finding some quality touch and Maddy Freer starting the game on fire.
The Warriors we know dominated the rebound count the last time they met to get the win and Winter in the form of Emily was difficult to counteract on the fast break – her recent form has seen her back to where she was in her first season when she burst onto the scene.
The importance of the Eagles to grab this one given the implications of the ladder means it’s a must win – drop this and they may gift other teams their position in the five…
Key Stat – Rebounding is gold in this one – it went the Warriors way with 47-33 last time
COD Prediction: Eagles by 7 points
Men (Saturday 8:15pm)
LTTM: Forestville Eagles 86 (Machar 20, Mays, Rathjen 19, Doyle 16) defeated by Woodville Warriors 72 (Stepney 18, Jackson 15, McGee 13, Janssan 12)
If it weren’t for Greg Mays on Friday night the Eagles loss may have a bigger spotlight shone on it. Despite two losses in a row though they sit in a pretty good position to finish in the top two – but none of the remaining teams below them have an easy run either…
Is this where we see the best of the Warriors men though – in 2022 when they were staring down uncertainty and doubt they respond. However, I think it’s a bit more like the Panthers women where they have had a massive run at the top for multiple seasons, nailed their import choices and the other challengers just have more consistent depth.
I think the Eagles pinch this one just – but the Warriors have proved me wrong countless times and it being their first game of the weekend you just never know…
Key Stat – The Eagles Friday night against the Flames shot 56 percent from the field across the game but shot just the 16 percent from the three point line in the final quarter…
COD Prediction: Eagles by 6 points
Woodville Warriors vs Sturt Sabres – (St Clair – The Fortress)
LTTM: Sturt Sabres 86 (Williams 16, Z Walker-Roberts 15, Prosser 13, Brazel 10, N Mathews 8) defeated Woodville Warriors 57 (E Winter 12, Fransson 11)
Women (Sunday 1:30pm)
The Warriors will fancy their chances against the Sabres after nearly taking out the Eagles and the Lions having such an impact last night. The Sabres however found a way to win last night again and I don’t see that changing too much.
COD Prediction: Sabres by 11 points
Men (Sunday 3:15pm)
LTTM: Sturt Sabres 89 (Rigoni 17, Rasmussen 16, Turnbull 14, Forbes 12, Brennan 8) defeated Woodville Warriors 84 (McGee 17, Janssan 12, Maiorana 11, Ficken, Osborne, Stepney 8)
Stepney did everything but haul the Warriors across the line but how much did last night take it out of them heading into this one? The Sabres held off a tricky Lions outfit to jump two wins ahead of the Flames after their loss last night. With the Warriors needing a must win now – I think they’ll find a way to get an elusive win
COD Prediction: Warriors by 3 points
Central District Lions vs West Adelaide Bearcats – (Starplex – The Den)
Women (Sunday 3:30pm)
LTTM: West Adelaide Bearcats 69 (Fejo 24, Aquino 16, Coleman 12) defeated Central District Lions 62 (De La Cerda 15, Guy, Sears 14)
The Lions were competitive last night and will be no easy task Sunday afternoon. The Bearcats grabbed an important win that keeps them in the hunt and a tenth of the season will put them back into finals contention.
COD Prediction: Bearcats by 6 points
Men (Sunday 5:30pm)
LTTM: West Adelaide Bearcats 110 (Drmic 28, Olbrich 26, McCarron 17, Roxburgh 15, DeSantis 14, Stock 10) defeated Central District Lions 99 (Jenkins 31, Nai 27, Manyang 25, Sapwell 12)
It took one powerful quarter to shake the Mavs for West – its likely to happen again sometime today.
COD Prediction: Bearcats by 14 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 14 between the Central Districts Lions and the West Adelaide Bearcats on Kayo and Kayo Freebies Sunday.
Please continue to support SA basketball news and features content being written as well as national/international with the Pick and Roll – with our influx of work we are making content all free to read but need constant contributions to make this happen. $5 a month is all we are asking – If not keen to subscribe then please message to receive direct debit details how you can keep these quality features being produced
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 