Author: Tristan Prentice

Who's Next Up?: We've seen a fair bit of Sam Simons in the starting lineup for the Lightning and with a bulk of work ahead for the Melbourne Tigers in NBL1 South beyond the season - will be keen to make a lasting impression on coach Hurst and Clarke heading into the break between seasons - Photo credit to WNBL

4-Minute Read

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WNBL ROUND 16

Adelaide Lightning vs Perth Lynx

When: 7:00pm (ACDT), Thursday 2 March

Where:  Adelaide 36ers Arena (Formerly Adelaide/TS Arena – The Lighthouse)

Broadcast: Nine Now

STRIKE BACK IN HISTORY

Lightning fly across in historic clash

(WNBL 2007)

One of the quirks of the WNBL was the introduction in the Lightning’s championship season of the Christchurch Sirens – the league’s first New Zealand franchise.

Although the club only lasted one season – current Bendigo Spirit coach Kennedy Kereama remembers the potency of this Lightning lineup as the assistant to Leigh Gooding at the time.

“I remember when I was with the Sirens that the Adelaide Lightning were amazing that season with Tracy Gahan, Renai Camino, Sam Woosnam – they were amazing that season.” he told Shooting the Breeze in a recent episode.

He wasn’t wrong as the Lightning started with a 19-25 opening quarter with both teams shooting over 44 percent and the game remined pretty competitive to halftime with a 33-45. Thats when the likes of Camino, Foley, Gahan, King, Phillips and Woosnam who all lodged double figures took over as they jumped out to a 45-71 lead at three quarter time. The Sirens evened it up in the last across the quarter but the damage was done by the eventual champions of that season as they ran away in Christchurch with the win 66-92.

The Lightning shot it at 51 percent and dished an incredible 27 assists while nailing 46 percent from beyond the arc. Woosnam finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Camino collected 14 points, six rebounds and five assists in the games other dominant all-round performance.

For the Sirens – Import drafted to the WNBA Sacramento Monarchs Lamisha Augustine top scored with 12 points, three assists and rebounds and was well supported by Tall Fern Kate McMeekan-Ruscoe with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Lisa Wallbutton joined them in the double figures with 10 points and import from the Minnesota Lynx Ashley Awkward added eight points and four rebounds in what would go down as their only historic meeting in New Zealand.

You can read more about this contest from our source here…

Lightning steals Sirens’ thunder | Stuff.co.nz

LTTM: Adelaide Lightning 82 (Whittle 23, Talbot 18, Monroe 17, Mansfield 14) defeated by Perth Lynx 108 (Bibby 29, Scherf 18, Whitcomb 15, Ryan 14, Atwell 11 Sharp 7) at the Lighthouse

Key Matchups

Lauren Mansfield vs Sami Whitcomb   

Mansfield has stepped up in the absence of Talbot and Borlase since the last meeting only weeks ago. She’s going to need to do it again having lodged 13, 14 and 12 the last three games plus added four, four and nine assists. With no Talbot and Borlase the likely matchup she’ll land on is Whitcomb who’s reversed her form since the Lightning match.

The danger of Whitcomb was looming after some other Lynx players hurt the Lightning early. She was held well by Mansfield and Talbot early with just four points at halftime and the Lightning in the contest – but it swung in the third quarter. She dropped 11 points but just the one triple – doing her damage from the layup line finishing at the rim. That yielded a handy 31 point quarter for the visitors.

Marena Whittle vs Chloe Bibby

Whittle you may have not realised actually broke new ground last time these teams met with a career high 23 points. Its actually her highest score since her debut game for Bendigo Spirit against the Boomers in 2018 where she had 21 points. She then topped that against the UC Capitals in the Lightning’s win with 27 points – producing a 25 point average for the weekend plus ten rebounds for the two games. Whittle is in arguably the career form of her life having found her position, groove and how she can get busy offensively for the Lightning. In fact she’s had double figures in her last five games averaging 18.2 points. She’s going to need to produce that again tonight if the Lightning are to score the upset.

The scout on Bibby was well executed in the first quarter last time they met holding her to a donut. The very first minute of quarter two and that changed as Bibby got loose and let reign with five of six beyond the arc for a 15 point term. She then continued to hurt the Lightning big time dropping a career high 29 points at 77 percent beyond the arc. They can’t let the future WNBA look in get another 30 odd points in three quarters again…

Sam Simons vs Mackenzie Clinch-Hoycard  

The injuries to Talbot and Borlase have opened the opportunities for the new Tiger to show her wares. With the increased time its seen Simons produce an average of 7.3 points, 2.6 assists and rebounds. Tonight’s the night for her to really unleash at the offensive end especially with the lack of scoring punch the Lightning might have.

If your the Lynx then running some of your role players into top form may be on the priority list. Quietly accumulating is NBL1 West Champion Warwick Senator Clinch-Hoycard. She’s been in really solid off the pine form contributing eight points and has great attributes for the WNBL at 190 centimetres. She’s ready for a bigger role either at the Lynx or somewhere else if opportunity arises in WNBL 24 but for now – she’s a key piece in the Lynx’s depth in their fast finish to the season.

THREE QUESTIONS TO STRIKE ON

Missing Talbot and Borlase – where do the Lightning get their points?  

We’ve seen the Lightning for some surprisingly not lack firepower since the duo went down. They’ve managed to still produce 82, 78 and 91 thanks to a combination of Whittle, Mansfield and Munroe.

How desperate are the Lynx to get the double this weekend?  

The Townsville Fire sealed the fate of the Bendigo Spirit last night which has seen the Perth Lynx automatically qualify for the finals – they also can’t finish any higher now sitting three wins behind the Boomers.

Unlike last time they met – the need to win is not there however Petrik will want form heading towards an encounter with the Townsville Fire on a hot streak of eleven wins without a stumble.

Who’s the most important Lightning role player that needs to show what they can do in the WNBL?    

It’s Sam Simons big one tonight – she has the opportunity to approach this match with a uber aggressive mindset without too much consequence and heighten her ability to peform.

Secondly Ella Batish will be keen to show she can step up as well after less than ten minutes against the Capitals and the Flames.

So who wins?

The Lightning showed they can match it with the Lynx in their previous game for a half and with no games left for the season – its easy to see everything being thrown at the opposition.

Lightning crowds have been healthy back at the Lighthouse and I see reward for the fans tonight coming given the Lynx have secured their position in the finals.

I think it can land the Lightning’s sixth win of the season and close WNBL23 in hopeful memory…

COD Prediction: Lightning by 6 points

A Deadly Combo: With next season now firmly in the focus, is it fittingly time to have both Larrakia Women on the floor together at the same time in Abby Cubillo and Jasmin Fejo - Photo credit to WNBL

4-Minute Read

Please continue to support SA basketball news and features content being written as well as national/international with the Pick and Roll – with our recent 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

WNBL ROUND 14

Adelaide Lightning vs Perth Lynx

When: 7:00pm (ACDT), Thursday 16 February

Where:  Adelaide 36ers Arena (Formerly Adelaide/TS Arena – The Lighthouse)

Broadcast: Nine Now

STRIKE BACK IN HISTORY

Lightning light up fire in indigenous festivities

(WNBL22 Round 13)

The WNBL’s inaugural Indigenous Round commenced in 2022 – read about the Lightning’s win over the Townsville Fire at the House of Lightning.

MATCH REPORT – Lightning light up Fire in Indigenous festivities

LTTM: Perth Lynx 82 (Bibby 25, Atwell 14, Scherf, Whitcomb 11, Sharp 10, Ryan 9) defeated Adelaide Lightning 72 (Monroe 23, Talbot, Whittle 12, Mansfield 11) at Bendat Basketball Centre

Key Matchups

Lauren Mansfield vs Sami Whitcomb   

Mansfield is due for a big one tonight after averaging 7.75 per game the last four matches. Compounding that is the average of 2.5 turnovers per match – the Lightning need their point guard firing against a Lynx team with their claws out right at the pointy end of the season. She played well last time they met in the West with a 11 point, 5 assist and 2 steals statline.

“Returning storm” at the Lightning will be superstar Whitcomb. She’s only averaged nine points in her last two matches whilst also putting up an average of four shots beyond the arc. Compared to the previous four matches which was 23.75 points with seven but at 55.25 percent! She’ll need to be contained if the Lightning are going to pull off the upset.

Marena Whittle vs Chloe Bibby

Whittle has been solid in the last few games for the Lightning playing her role extremely well. She’s strung together double figures in four of her last five matches plus added three double doubles with 10 rebounds each. Her strength under the basket and physicality is a must to contain Bibby who was the hardest cat to contain from the Lynx in the West last time.

Bibby had a giant one last time they met with 25 points at 50 percent and 9 rebounds. It was a difficult matchup to contend with given her size and ability to switch between multiple positions in the floor. In the Lynx’s lineup – she takes the most of the 16.2 percent of their shots from the mid-range. Shut her down and if the rest of the Lightning team can contain the perimeter – it leaves very little scores from the mid-range option if Bibby has less touches of the ball.

Abby Cubillo vs Tayah Burrows  

The second half of the season has been time to shine for Cubillo – and on Indigenous round as well she’s showing the kind of play that reflects the spirit of the round. Hard, tough, smart and packing a punch – Cubillo’s deadly play in all senses is being rewarded with larger minutes. Since the Flames game early January she’s averaged 20 minutes per game for an average of 5.6 points. Another point of interest is in combination with Whittle and Talbot – they hold opposition to 93.7 points per 100 possessions meaning they can prevent more points going up on the scoreboard than other combinations.

Its what Cubillo does off the ball that makes her a valuable recruit to the Lightning lineup in WNBL23.

The Lynx are getting plenty out of their bench too with Burrows grabbing opportunities while starting guards have been injured. Coach Ryan Petrik has thrown her in for double figure minutes the last month and its yielding dividends. She had a huge game against the Boomers with 15 points including a perfect nine of nine from the charity stripe. One to watch especially with expected 36 plus temperatures tonight and heavy rotations needed by both sides.

THREE QUESTIONS TO STRIKE ON

How much do we want to see the “deadly” combo tonight?  

We’ve known for ages that both Cubillo and Jasmin Fejo can play at the level with opportunity given – now is the time with two home games left for the Lightning to see more than five minutes of the combo. Add Borlase to that and you have a powerful three I think that can work in tandem. Cubillo will set the table at the point and Fejo should be given licence to attack the rim and set those little stagger picks which then frees up her and Borlase to really put some points on the board.

How desperate are the Lynx to get this double?  

Although Petrik is looking at one game at a time as he’s said on broadcast – there does need to be an eye on what needs to be done. Sitting in fifth with five games remaining the Lynx at 9-7 can get to 14 wins max. However they have lost the split to the Townsville Fire in their last two losses but can also claim their split over the Bendigo Spirit. If they got beaten by the Flyers and Spirit who are above them – 12 potential wins might be enough to tie on these splits but one slip against the Lightning or Caps could seal their fate early.

So yes – they should be desperate with very room for error in the final weeks of the regular season.

What’s the missing pieces for Lightning they should begin to have a look at around the league?    

Hopefully the Lightning are having a look at two key pieces for next season – a starting centre to support an import centre like Munroe (if it is her again in WNBL24) and a South Australian local big to support Batish and Brook. Alanna Smith is the one not signed but whether she comes back to the Lightning if she returned to the WNBL is anyone’s guess. Another option to look at for a starting centre is any of the talented next generation ones sitting much pine time.

In terms of local – Hannah Hank or Lizzie Williamson (if she were to finish up early to pickup a contract like Sam Simons did) would definitely be on the radar having been involved in academy and other SA basketball national teams for multiple years.

So who wins?

The Lightning can match it with the Lynx however the opposing team have to much at stake if it comes down to a close finish. Its been all about the starts for the Lightning this season and if they can strike early then panic may settle into Perth.

I think at least for this one and rested an recovered with only one game this weekend – the Cats of the Lynx should pounce on this one for the win comfortably.

COD Prediction: Lynx by 11 points