Category: Basketball Features

Photo Credit – UNSW Basketball

3-Minute Read

Men

The Waatu Men put on one of the most impressive first halves in multiple seasons to down UNSW 70-98 at the City of Sydney Basketball Association Stadium to seal their third consecutive finals series appearance in a row.   

It was a pair of Panthers in Curtis Scott (Health and Medical Science) attacking from beyond the perimeter and in transition as him and Matthew Thomson (Project Management) dominated the opening proceedings gifting the Waatu a strong 7-20 start. Thomas Mestrov (Mathematics and Computer Science) from mid-range and Ayual Garang (Architectural Design) with the hook from in close once again made things incredibly difficult for the home side with consistent attack at the rim to leave it 10-26 at quarter time.

Scott continued the damage with contested mid-range makes for the Waatu with little response from UNSW – Garang draining another triple and backed it up with a steal and one-handed throwdown in transition that had UNSW seeing stars at one of the homes of the Comets. Garang kept his scoreboard ticking to record eight for the term but not to be outdone was Isaac Hampel (Electrical Engineering) with his own slam then followed it up with a triple himself to give the Waatu the 21-50 lead at the half.

The second half was much tighter, but the Panther pair once again put on a show with fancy footwork and work off the glass. Jackson Smyth kept the points coming for the home side but Hampel extended the Waatu’s lead with only a half court buzzer beater from Smyth falling for UNSW 43-76 with one to play.

The last term saw the margin stay even with Thomson getting some more burn time on the floor with multiple makes and the ability to make up for missing earlier part of the season. The comprehensive win finishing with a customary Everett Webb triple to put the Waatu into sixth place one game clear of ninth and with a home double header to finish the regular season.  

Scott rained in another 32 points with seven rebounds, four assists, three steals with Garang hitting form at the right time of the UBL season with 14 points. Newcomer in the last round Matt Thomson brought 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks to partner well with Thomas Mestrov with nine points and 10 rebounds. Smyth was the clear best for the home side with 31 points with three steals and five rebounds while Jacob Corry grabbed 17 points, and 11 rebounds.             

Everything from a home final to eight place is on the table at the mercy of the UBL – the saving grace is UNSW, UWA Maali and Curtin Uni Carnaby’s are all locked on four to three wins meaning their spot is secure in the eight.

Two wins over UTAS in third and USYD in second sets up a potential second to fourth place finish giving the Waatu an inaugural home final.

Women

The Waatu women have precariously left themselves at the mercy of the UBL draw after going down in a thriller to top eight contender UNSW 72-69 at the City of Sydney Basketball Association Stadium.

Pippa Davis and Gabi Neal got the home side off to a roaring start 12-3 before Caitlin Shillabeer (Physiotherapy) stuck the much-needed triple. Needing response it took the Norwood Flames quadrant of Annika Uzcategui-Montenegro, Alice Sabine and Jemima Whitton along with Shillabeer to bring the margin back a manageable 21-14 at the first change.

Bella Woosnam (Exercise and Sports Science) was the catalyst for the comeback with triples and multiple plays helping the Waatu back into the contest. Woosnam collated 10 points for the stanza while Chloe Gray had some large impact with nine points while the paint presence of AUM at the defensive end of the floor was being felt by the guards of UNSW as they margin closed to 34-37 with the Waatu taking the lead at the half

Third term did not go to plan for the Waatu out of the halftime break as the physicality increased with Jasinta Haydar dealing out plenty of pain in the paint. Her nine in a row for the home side before splashing another triple was complemented nicely by the work under the basket of Emily Nguyen (13 in last year’s win for UNSW). Xanthe Fitzgerald also came good after the half for UNSW as they won the quarter 20-8 to take the 54-45 solid lead into the last change – the Waatu in trouble.

Jemima Whitton (Viticulture/Oenology) has played with flow all season and hit the early floater with her teammate Sabine (Medical Science) providing the cure for the anxious moments with six offensive boards for the match. Shillabeer inspired upped the defence with the block as Sabine got out in transition for the finish to force timeout to UNSW 58-52 as the Waatu charged back.

Maddie Coman however had other ideas as she put some key points on the Waatu to push it to double figures. The Waatu answered back with big plays, but the offense was becoming sticky and stagnant in the circumstances with Shillabeer refusing to let this one slip still. The home side however answered each challenge with a timely make to keep the fifth to eighth race interesting.

In an even spread for the Waatu – Shillabeer finished top scorer with 13 points, nine rebounds while Alice Sabine produced her best effort of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Bella Woosnam kept them in the game with a triple on the full-time buzzer giving her 13 points with three steals with Whitton producing eight points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Four players for UNSW contributed 14 or more with Neal leading the way with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Despite the loss due to other results the Waatu Women will play finals for the first time in their history – the scenario becomes intriguing with the Curtin Uni Carnaby’s locked on five wins in sixth, UNSW on four wins in seventh and MUBC in eighth locked on three wins (Fed Uni are in ninth with one game left can snare the last spot)

A home final is possible with two wins this last round over second placed UTAS and third placed USYD – the lowest two losses and percentage slips them to seventh.                       

Men – UNSW 70 (Smyth 31, Corry 17, Yi Tian Zou 8) defeated by AU Waatu 98 (C Scott 32, Garang 12, Thomson 12)

Women – UNSW 72 (Neal 16, Coman, Fitgerald, Haydar 14, Nguyen 7) defeated AU Waatu 69 (Shillabeer, Woosnam 13, Sabine 10, Otto, Uzcategui-Montenegro Whitton 8)           

It’s all on the line for the final two matches of the UBL season as they aim to claim dual home finals – Catch all the action against UTAS from this Tuesday September 23 and USYD Wednesday from 11:00am ACDT on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features throughout the season.

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Photo Credit – Adelaide University Sports

3-Minute Read

Women

It took till deep into the fourth term, but the Waatu Women secured their fourth win of the season and are on the doorstep of the UBL finals for the first time with a close out of the UWA Maali 62-69 at the UWA Sport and Recreation Centre.

The Waatu women took on one of the teams they’ve had recent success against across their years in the UBL but a much-improved UWA Maali hit the floor hard in the opening term. Captain Jenna Teasdale for the home side who scored 22 points in their 2024 meeting in Adelaide was strong early with scoring the first few points with Sydney Meares looking dangerous (10 points, six rebounds and five steals) with both teams trading blows to leave it tight after one term 16-19.

Both teams missed plenty of long-range attempts to open the second term, but Teasdale once again kept the Maali in the contest with nine points in the quarter. Not to be outdone was the up and down court work of Jemima Whitton with six points but a lack of scoreboard contribution saw the Waatu down courtesy of Zoe Shanahan (Eight points, four assists and rebounds) with a fancy turn around seeing them out 35-28 at the main break.

Bella Woosnam came out of halftime with a triple despite the trailing margin for the away side sparking a three-point frenzy with Meaza Otto (11 points and three assists), Claire Hunter (11 points and three assists) hitting from deep to cut it right back in the third term. Hunter continued to gather the points in the stanza causing matchup problems and slashing the margin back to 49-46 with one to play.

With Waatu looking to make the finals with three games remaining including two home fixtures to close the regular season – a new face flew in with impact. Forestville Eagle Jemma Tredrea edged them in front and became a focal point for the Waatu with a quick seven points in a row. Whitton and her denting the confidence of the home side with Otto and Tredrea stretching it beyond a two-basket lead.

Tredrea extended it to double figures with another two points as the home side looked done, but Teasdale and Shanahan make saw coach Lachlan Coppick call for timeout to settle the nerves on the road. A turnover for the Waatu saw the Maali call for time with the after time out play seeing Keisha Chng’s triple force another timeout as the margin sat at four points.

Sending Whitton to the free throw line for one of two the Maali had several opportunities to cut the margin again but misses from beyond the arc to Chng, Ari Creighton and Chng off conceded offensive rebounds by the Waatu eventually ended with the ball in Tredrea’s hands who sealed the Waatu’s fourth win of the season and fifth place on the ladder – two wins clear of eight with three to play.

Tredrea’s debut was strong in the absence of Caitlin Shillabeer with 16 points and 11 rebounds backed up by a strong all-round game from a near triple double to Jemima Whitton with 14 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Jemma Teasdale notched 18 points, 11 rebounds and five assists to lead all for the Waatu with Keisha Chng strong from outside with 13 points on four triples with five rebounds.                

Men

The Waatu Men kept their place in the top eight with a gunslinging matchup in the West against the UWA Maali 80-88 – a game filled with plenty of one-on-one showdowns of various degrees throughout the afternoon at the UWA Sport and Recreation Centre.

The opening term began as usual with two guns in Joe Harwood who scored 21 points last meeting in Adelaide and Curtis Scott coming to play for the Waatu keeping things entertaining early. A Damian Zhang triple however sparked a strong response of 0-11 from the Waatu as they seized into the lead 11-17. Keegan Schrick returned order to the home side with Lachlan Oakley hitting the buzzer beating triple to bring it back to 19-27 after one.

Curtis Scott was unstoppable as the great one produced eight points, and three assists enabled the Waatu to jump out but the triples from Oakley and Zhang kept raining in with Hardwood even flushing one down off the left hand dribble into two handed takeoff to spark the 7-3 run with a huge block to Schrick and Zhang’s triple forcing the timeout to Scott Freer. Riley Eves and Schrick helped snare back to the lead as momentum swung the Maali’s way and to a 46-43 lead at the half.

Waatu not impressed with the back end of the second term came out strong in the third renewed via Thomas Mestrov and Scott as the Waatu edged their way back in front. While drying up other sources Harwood continued to keep the Maali in the contest making timely baskets. A final minute push from Ahmed Nawsany with the turnaround jumper breaking the ankles of his opponent and Scott however fouled attempting the triple saw him go three from three from charity and gifting the Waatu a 63-70 lead with one to play.

The Harwood/Scott battle continued on the floor as the gunslingers in the west fired shot after shot in the fourth. Mestrov however was becoming a factor as he made multiple paint plays and grabbed plenty of glass as they stayed out by a healthy lead. The Maali had a last push at the margin with Harwood slamming another one down and Schrick trying to rain in more triples, but Scott closed it out with and1 play in a comprehensive finish to take the Waatu’s third win and sit in the top eight with three games to play.

Scott was sensational through four quarters with his 39 points, coupled with nine assists, seven rebounds the second highest ever individual total by a Waatu player just short of Men’s Darcy McNamara’s 42 points versus USYD. Thomas Mestrov was strong in the second half to finish with 10 points and nine rebounds with several other players making handy contributions. Joe Harwood was dominant again with 21 points, eight rebounds while Keegan Schrick was potent with 19 points, 15 rebounds and three assists in the finish.                                             

Women – UWA Maali 62 (Teasdale 18, Chng 13, Meares 10) defeated by AU Waatu 69 (J Tredrea 16, Whitton 14, Hunter, Otto 11)

Men – UWA Maali 80 (Harwood 21, Schrick 19, Oakley, Zhang 13) defeated by AU Waatu 88 (C Scott 39, Mestrov 10, Nawasany, Thomas 8)          

Catch all the action against UNSW from this Tuesday September 16 from 11:30am ACDT on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features throughout the season.

We want to continue our work telling the stories of SA Basketball this winter and beyond with world championships, local legends, NBL and WNBL previews, reviews and NBL1 off season news and predictions – Can you PLEASE HELP US with a shotclock sub of $14 or $24 a year to help us do this?

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Photo Credit – VU Vulture Sports

3-Minute Read

Women

It took a late charge for the AU Waatu to eventually takedown the spirited VU Vultures on their home floor 50-56 at the Victoria University Community & Sports Stadium in Footscray.

Bella Woosnam (Exercise and Sports Science) rustled up the opening points for the Waatu, but Chelsea Suemai and Reyana Guzel were proving to be problems early. Woosnam picked up her seventh of the term with the tip in off the o-board with Meaza Otto (Health and Medical Science) compiling some key points in the tight opening term. The Vultures however continued to dry up the points for the Waatu with Flick Theodore edging them in front 18-11 after one.

The Vultures after some early struggles of performances continued to challenge the Waatu through some grinding defensive work throwing everything at them. Woosnam pushed the Waatu closer 22-18, but the Vultures capitalised again through Suemai to pull the home side out to a 32-19 lead. Otto’s triple just before the half though cut it back to a ten-point game 32-22 with a half to go.

Coach Lachlan Coppick made some changes at the half with Jemima Whitton (Viticulture/Oenology) responding with a bevy of points as she attacked the cup dragging it back to a two-basket game 36-30. Suemai was a strong contributor for the Vultures but star recruit for the Waatu in Caitlin Shillabeer (Physiotherapy) started to get moving to help the Waatu stay in touch winning the term and cutting it to 41-36 with one to play.

Despite plenty of petrol tickets expelled by the homeside they continued to keep the Waatu at arm’s length leading by eight with five minutes to go – it was Shillabeer from area code that started to finally make inroads on the Vultures. Her back-to-back triples coupled with an Otto jumper and timely triple finally bridging the gap with Shillabeer putting the Waatu in front with a tough contested finish for the first time since the opening minutes in the match 49-50. Opportunities started to emerge for the Waatu but couldn’t finish their work till Otto grabbed the huge steal and finished the strong layup. The Waatu’s pressure getting to the Vultures as they conceded a 1-6 run in the finish.

Shillabeer with 11 in the final term notched 17 points, nine rebounds with three steals and two blocks emerged as the player of the game closely shadowed by Whitton’s third term to give her nine points, seven rebounds and four steals. Woosnam was consistent throughout the match with 12 points and seven rebounds and Otto’s 12 points, five rebounds and four steals helped total 17 steals for the Waatu. Chelsea Suemai was strong in the first half lead gathering with 14 points, 12 rebounds and Brodie Hillier grabbing eight points, nine rebounds and three steals for the homeside.  

Men

The Waatu Men copped a blow despite a golden debut performance from the VU Vultures as they took their first win of the UBL season in a close encounter in the suburbs of Victoria 87-84.

While missing key scorers Harry Bruce and Emil Kourani – the more than handy debut of South Adelaide Panther Curtis Scott would help the Waatu up their punch in potential points and other key numbers for the match. It started with 0-6 start through Scott and Bailey Nathan (Computer Science) attacking the cup then draining some key triples, but Cooper Kirkman soared the Vultures back into the contest 8-17 with some timely triples of his own. A 6-0 run from the Vultures led by Mayuol Makuac and Jack Gandolfo cut it back to 19-21 before Scott finished off his debut opening term with another triple to make it 19-24 at the first change.

Ayual Garang (Architectural Design) stretched the margin at the start of the second term with a triple, but Bailey Bruce of the Vultures strung some key baskets together to bring it back close to level. Thomas Mestrov (Maths/Computer Science) kept the scoreboard ticking over but the movement of the ball and the execution of plays was stifled by the homeside for the Waatu. Mason Gaze coming off a big week for the family came out charging out of the timeout for VU as he paired nine points together in the final two minutes from the charity stripe and beyond the arc to give the Vultures the 48-38 lead at the half.

The Waatu fought back at the start of the third through captain Isaac Hampel (Electrical Engineering) and Scott returning the margin to 51-47. Garang got himself involved as well with the make in close with Scott and Hampel cutting it back even further with multiple baskets. The Waatu hitting the front finally after Scott made yet another strong layup and Ahmed Nawasany (Computer Science) put them in front with the floater 62-63 with one to play.

Scott began the fourth with another two strong baskets in close, but Makuac was not letting it go for VU. Gandolfo’s deep step-back triple levelled things up again 73-73 a piece with Garang finishing creatively for back-to-back baskets. Nawasany hit the important triple again, but Bailey Bruce made some key plays before Gandolfo once again made one go down from deep as did Makuac to give them back the lead 83-82. Out of the timeout from Scott Freer – Gandolfo picked Scott’s pocket giving Bruce the chance for more free throws making both successfully.

The Waatu grabbed the steal off the next play to cut it back to a point through Hampel, but Makuac was sent back to the line at the other end – making both 87-84. One play left for the Waatu to send it to overtime, Nathan fed it to Garang and got it back for the three-point look but was blocked by Bruce. Garang regathered the ricochet ball but his second triple attempt sailed wide of the target as VU grabbed their first win of the season and dealt a blow to the Waatu heading to the bye mid-season.

Curtis Scott was golden on debut with 31 points, seven assists and rebounds with three steals with Garang bringing 14 points with 13 rebounds nearly continuing their winning ways. The game of Mayuol Makuac however was the standout with 20 points with five triples, six rebounds and four assists well supported by Bailey Bruce with 17 points and Jack Gandolfo with 16 points with three triples and three assists.

The Waatu head into the club mid-season bye with the Women on a 3-2 record in 5^th and the Men on a 2-3 record in 8^th with big games upcoming against UWA Maali on Thursday September 11                                                      

Women – VU Vultures 50 (Suemai 14, De Riter, Hillier, Guzel 8) defeated by AU Waatu 56 (Shillabeer 17, Otto, Woosnam 12, Whitton 9)

Men – VU Vultures 87 (Makuac 20, B Bruce 17, Gandolfo 16) defeated AU Waatu 84 (C Scott 31, Garang 14, Hampel, Nathan, Nawasany 9)           

Catch all the action from this Thursday September 11 from 12:30pm ACDT on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features throughout the season.

We want to continue our work telling the stories of SA Basketball this winter and beyond with world championships, local legends, NBL and WNBL previews, reviews and NBL1 off season news and predictions – Can you PLEASE HELP US with a shotclock sub of $14 or $24 a year to help us do this?

NEW – PITCH TO THE PUBLIC 

It takes 4 hours a week to write, research and produce our content but we want to write extra content this next few months so we thought we’d pitch to the public

Here are the next lot of articles up for pitching – subscribe to get these written

“All about Ability – the last five year’s of the Men’s Ivor Burge Program”

“The all-time Adelaide Lightning All-Stars Team – Naming the team of the past 30 years of Adelaide Lightning players”

Eight new $24 Shotclock subscribers will have the remaining of piece produced on the topic of

Another eight new $24 Shotclock subscribers or contributors directly will have both pieces done for production

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All Episodes of the SA Shotclock available on podcasting platforms in the coming months