Recently the International U17 Australian Crocs and Sapphires squads were finalised for their quest to make the FIBA World Cup in July and in terms of playing squad, there is a sole SA player that made the final cut in both teams, here’s the basketball story of NBL1 Central Eastern Mavericks Olivia Bradley and her being crafted into a sapphire…
The licence to let it fly has clearly seen an uber aggressive Olivia Bradley soar into calculations for international representation already playing way beyond her age gap and limit. Photo by CS Photographics
4-Minute Read
Bradley has always had the pathway to international basketball lit for her starting with domestic representation for the German Arms 76ers in the domestic league in her local area, representing the Eastern Hills Hornets and junior district basketball for her now NBL1 Central club the Eastern Mavericks where her mother Mellissa is the president. Bradley’s path extended to representing SA Country at multiple junior championships which then saw her invited to the national performance program and joining the Adelaide Lightning academy as a player of the future to watch. “I am so grateful to all of the coaches from these places that helped me over all these years, they’ve had a huge impact in developing my game” Bradley told the SA Cross Over Dribble.
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The U20 AJC Tournament ran recently in Mackay, Queensland with a plethora of NBL1 and borderline NBL/WNBL talent. Here’s the wrap-up, highlights and surprise packets for the SA championship teams.
Izzy Borlase already with one WNBL game under her belt will definitely be in consideration for more after her AJC U20s Performance. Picture by Trevor Kinross
3-Minute Read
Girls
South Australia Red
Tournament Result: 2nd (Pool A 3-1 (finished 2nd) – Silver Medal
Highlights: It was very good week for the Red team with their most impressive win coming in the minor rounds against Western Australia 72-53. In that game they managed to keep Mia Jacobs and Ellie Newman quiet and while a loss a solid performance against the Victorian team 69-57 was a quality outing. Previously listed Forestville Eagle COE player Izzy Borlase was a superstar throughout the championships averaging 18 points at 48 percent per game, 9.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists while a number of Eagles in Jess Simons, Maddy Freer and Bianca Stasinowsky stacked the stats sheet as well. The big win came over NSW in the semi-final 75-50 with Borlase (23 points and 17 rebounds), Stasinowsky (13 points and 6 rebounds) and Freer (13 points and 12 rebounds) coming up big. The championships ended with a silver medal pushing the Victorians to a 47-65 result. Jess Simons had a high quality final with 23 points on 5-9 triples while Borlase chalked up 13 points and 12 rebounds to no doubt be player of the championships for SA Red.
Surprise Packet: No real surprise but Hatti Cox of the South Adelaide Panthers really took her game to another level during the championships. She had big games for the Red team to the back end of the week including 12 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the semi-final against NSW. She’s off to college later this year so when she returns she’s destined to be a bonafide star possibly in consideration for some higher honours in her future.
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The AU Waatu are representing South Australia well in the UBL, here’s your catchup as to what’s happened in Round 5 of the UBL for the Waatu…
The "Waatu" Men had some players step up over Round 5 like Luke Mollett who nearly had a triple double of 9 points, 8 assists and rebounds against the Falcons. Photo by Picture IT Sport Photography
The Adelaide University Waatu continued their UBL season in Round 5 with the Men grabbing a clean sweep at home 4-0 as they knocked off the Curtin Uni Carnabys and the Federation Uni Falcons with some coaching and NBL royalty in the house. The Women fought hard with spirit and nearly grabbed their first win of the season against the Falcons.
Read on about the home games in Round 5…
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Waatu Men sweep Carnabys and Falcons to jump into Four
The Waatu Men kept ABH Gym a fortress as they won both their home fixtures to jump into fourth place on the UBL table behind Sydney Tech, Sydney Uni and Victoria Uni.
That started with a solid 82-66 win over the Curtin Uni Carnabys led in coaching by 482 NBL game legend of the Perth Wildcats Ricky Grace off the back of a 28-18 start led by Lachy Hunter of the other red and black team of SA, the West Adelaide Bearcats. Hunter was unstoppable all week in a rich vein of form as he registered 28 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks. Toby Hunt had the first quarter dominance to setup the win with 11 points to finish with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists while fellow Sabre Harry Reemst dished out 11 assists to go with his 10 point and 7 rebound double double. The Carnaby’s had two of their young NBL1 guns played very well for them in Perth Redbacks Lachlan Bertram (31 points and 5 rebounds) and Tobias Martin (19 points).
The Waatu Men were dominant against the Carnabys in Round 5 led by several sources. Photo supplied by Adelaide University Sport
The Waatu then knocked off the Fed Uni Falcons 93-71 comfortably despite being led by 518 NBL game legend Ray Borner. Hunter again went hunting for the Waatu with 31 points and 19 rebounds (6 offensive) and a couple of thunderous dunk while Hunt fed much of Hunter with 10 assists and a 14 point double double. There were special contributions from backup players stepping up in Luke Mollett (9 points, 8 assists and rebounds), Jun Datario (16 points), Patrick Moriarty (10 points and 6 rebounds) and Sam Homburg (7 points and 12 rebounds). The 27 -14 second quarter setup the win with 18 points in the paint and 15 fast break points. Lachlan Drummond was best for the Falcons with 21 points and Connor Carey chalked up 8 points and assists.
The Waatu now sit 4th on the ladder heading into their next games against University of Melbourne and top four contender Victoria University…
Waatu Womenfall just short of Falcons for First
Our women showed some quality basketball in patches and nearly were able to put it all together to get their first win of the season at ABH Gym. After sticking with them early 14-22, the Waatu were outdone by the Curtin Uni Carnabys 35-105. Tamika Reid was the most consistent throughout the match for the Waatu with 15 points and 12 rebounds along with Evie Lovell with 10 points in a team already missing Lateasha Lambert and Abby Lowman. The NBL1 weapons of the Carnabys were evident with Joondalup Wolves Akim Lual dropping 31 points and 7 rebounds, Perth Redbacks Shenae Hartree with 21 points at 64.3 percent and 11 rebounds dominated for the away side.
Tamika Reid (pictured) had a big couple of games for the Waatu Womens this week. Photo supplied by Adelaide University Sport
It was oh so close in the second game of the week as the women fell just short to the Fed Uni Falcons 60-65. Lovell was huge for the home side with 19 points and 6 assists while Josephine Harris had clearly her best hit out of the season with 14 points and 17 rebounds. The Waatu had the lead after three quarters and looked like they may be able to break their duck but the Falcons swooped defensively and on the back of a 3-15 last quarter were composed in the last minutes when it counted. The Falcons were led by Layla Iglesias with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, Alison McMahon with 18 points and 12 rebounds and Elisa Pica with 14 points
The Waatu women will close out their season against University of Melbourne and Victoria University on the road next week with the first game a chance to grab that elusive win.
RD 5 Men AU Waatu 82 (Hunter 28, Hunt 15, Stefanovic 12, Fassos 11, Reemst 10) defeated Curtin Uni Carnabys 66 (Bertram 31, Martin 19, Griechen 7)
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 