Category: Basketball Features

Photo Credit – Anthony Furina (AU) – Meaza Otto pictured in the first home games rattled off a game defining 24 points on the road to snare the points

3-Minute Read

Men    

The Waatu Men have continued their undefeated UBL record against the Fed Falcons with another all-around and beyond arc display to strike gold again in Ballarat 70-107 at the Fed Sport and Recreation Centre.  

Angus Crosby (Physiotherapy) got things rolling for the Waatu in a tight opening term – Bailey Nathan (Computer Science) picking up his mark from outside with multiple triples. Standing in their way was Luke Logan (Eight first term points) as the best for the Falcons made money from outside in the land of plenty. Harry Bruce (Commerce) closed out the first quarter with some timely makes on schedule to make it 26-29 after one.

Waatu burst out of the second term break with a quick 0-7 run led by Ayual Garang (The architectural designer with five quick points) executing the plans for the Waatu as FED coach Tyler Kennedy took the timeout 26-36. The Waatu upped their defensive intensity to clamp down on the home side but an off balance make from Matthew McAuliffe finally got the Falcons going breaking a 0-15 run. Bruce (15 points) however closed it out with a triple to take Scott Freer’s crew to a comprehensive 32-51 lead into the main change.

Isaac Hampel (the Engineer electrical with 13 points) sparked with a triple then followed it up with another then created the play on the rim to give him eight quick points. Heath McPherson made a cameo for the home side with some timely baskets but chipping into the margin was not easy as the Waatu maintained control. Crosby (15 points and four rebounds) continued to be active with ball in hand with Garang fancy with ball in hand crossing over his opponent and blowing by for the two off the window pushing the Waatu out beyond thirty with Lachlan Drummond and Carly Baptiste cutting it back slightly to a 48-75 three quarter time margin.

Trying to bring them back into the game Drummond nailed some quick shots with an aggressive layup and a turn around jumper with Freer calling the timeout just to settle down the away side 55-82. Thomas Mestrov (Banking & Finance) responded best on the numbers with five points of his own with Garang’s tip in pushing it out further and to pine time. Mitch Cretan nailed the triple in his first minutes before Everett Webb scored his first points in Waatu colours with a triple to complete the comprehensive 70-107 performance at Fed Sports and Recreation Centre.

With six players reaching double figures the two standouts across the four terms were Mestrov with 19 points and 12 rebounds and Ayual Garang with 14 points and 5 rebounds. Drummond the sure hand of the Falcons led from the front with 20 points, seven rebounds while Luke Logan proved tricky to handle at times with 16 points with four triples.               

Women

The Waatu Women returned to where they won their first ever UBL match in 2023 and got the job done once again in Ballarat 52-61 at the Fed Sport and Recreation Centre.  

Meaza Otto (Health and Medical Science) who missed the last trip in 2024 started healthily with some early scores for the away side as Bella Woosnam (Exercise & Sports Science with Nutrition) made an opening stanza triple 3-9. The Falcons hit back through Georgia Bodey and Millie Cracknell, but the opening quarter belonged to Otto with another two off the inbound then followed it up with a block on Emily Smyth to give the Waatu a slender 8-13 lead at the first change.

Demi Thompson opened the scoring in the second term with the triple with Woosnam returning the favour with two rainbow rainmakers of her own 11-19. Faith McKenzie made a couple of big baskets in a row who made some tough looks to bring it back to 18-23 with timeout going to Lachlan Coppick and the Waatu. McKenzie put the home side in front with the Waatu turning to Tamika Reid for the response with the finger roll and1 then stealing the lead back in through Chloe Gray (Primary Education) as she edged the away side in front 27-28 at the main change.

Abbey Noblett nipped away at the margin early in the third with an outside strike helping her Falcons to a 7-0 run to snare the lead back 34-31. Otto and Woosnam however found their money at the charity stripe, Madi Hughes (Occupational Therapy) made the huge block and Otto’s third stanza superb with nine points for the quarter as the Waatu won the term and took the ascendancy 38-45 with one to go.

Otto continued her run at the rack with another deuce to open the fourth before Noblett broke the run of points for the home side with a triple in the corner 41-48. Otto attacked from the front again, but Thompson kept the Falcons in touch 50-56. FED went for the press but left the back door open for an easy Reid finish off the window. Thompson brought them back within range of the margin again the curtain closed on this one once Otto’s final nail from outside finished things off 52-61.

Meaza Otto produced her best game of the season so far with 24 points, seven rebounds, six assists and fours steals backed up by the work of Bella Woosnam with 13 points with three triples, nine rebounds with fours steals. Faith McKenzie led from the front as skipper again for the Falcons with 16 points and 21 rebounds with eight offensive while Demi Thompson helped keep the home side in the contest with 10 points, seven steals and five rebounds.                       

Men – FED FALCONS 70 (Drummond 20, Logan 16, McPherson, Oellering 9) defeated by AU Waatu 107 (Mestrov 19, Bruce, Crosby 15, Garang 14)

Women – FED FALCONS 52 (McKenzie 16, Thompson, Bodey 10, Noblett 9) defeated by AU Waatu 61 (Otto 24, Woosnam 13)                

Catch all the action from this Wednesday August 27 from 11:00am 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 – LaTrobe University Eagles Sports

3-Minute Read

Men    

The AU Waatu pushed last years champions to the edge of their nest, but the LTU Eagles eventually broke it open after three and a half quarters 92-73 at LaTrobe Sports Stadium

Missing Ayual Garang the Waatu’s nemesis from their last meeting in Sam Holland (eight first quarter points from the captain) came up big in the first term but Isaac Hampel (Engineering- Electrical) sparked the Waatu back into the contest with drives, drawings and dropping a big triple to bring the margin back to 21-19 at the first change.

Thomas Mestrov (Banking and Finance) begun the term well with a quick score out of the mini break, but Sam Tresize was proving to be an issue for the Waatu as the Eagles kept their beaks in front on the scoreboard 33-27. The timeout saw West Adelaide Bearcats back up bench guard Harry Bruce (Commerce) light up very quickly as he got down to business with a quick seven points but matching him was Nick Day at the other end for the Eagles as they took the 42-40 slight edge at the half.   

The issue for the Waatu at the start of third was the offensive rebounds which created opportunities for the Eagles with Matt Debney (12 points and 17 rebounds with eight offensive) once again difficult to guard against. Tresize threw down a couple of thunderous dunks for LTU but Hampel (12 for the term) once again kept their Waatu in the contest in their closest match against last years champions 62-56 with one left to play.

The Waatu kept on the heels of the Eagles containing both Holland and Day early in the fourth but a quick 8-2 run to the Eagles saw it slip out to 77-65 with coach Scott Freer taking a timeout to see of the Waatu could have another swing at the champions. Tresize, Holland (14 points, five rebounds, four assists) and Day thundering to the rim with the one-handed hammer finishing it off in style for the home side to take a solid victory but the Waatu hung hard for the full four terms in a much-improved performance from previous seasons against LTU.

LTU were led by player of the game Nick Day with 21 points and 5 rebounds while Sam Tresize compiled 27 points and seven rebounds. The Waatu got a great contribution from Hampel with one of his best for AU with 24 points and three assists backed up by Crosby (Physiotherapy – Honours) continuing to stretch his scores for the season with 16 points and three rebounds.   

Women

A similar story developed in the Women with the LTU Eagles eventually seeing off the AU Waatu but not without a fight and some tres in the fourth term 89-72 at LaTrobe Sports Stadium.

It was a tight opening in the quarter with neither team able to break away from the other. The Waatu grabbed the early lead through a pair of Flames in Annika Uzcategui-Montenegro (Project Management) and Caitlin Shillabeer (Physiotherapy) as they both set the assignment for the Waatu in motion. The Eagles Tahlia Leeson with seven points including a long triple however grabbed the lead back for the home side 25-20 at the first change.

LTU the champions of 2022 and 2023 got take-off to extend their margin through Jaida Reid with three consecutive triples forcing timeout to AU Waatu and coach Lachlan Coppick down 36-23. The response was swift through Jemima Whitton (The Viticulture expert sampling six for the quarter) as they cut it back to six points 37-31 with Shillabeer and Uzcategui-Montenegro making it a one basket game 39-38. Waatu however were beaten at the buzzer on the half 42-38 by Reid again with the bank triple off the window to finish with 13 points for the term.

Reid and Eleanor Bollands kept up their scoreboard pressure stretching it back out to double figures and holding it there for multiple minutes on end. Bella Woosnam (Exercise and Sports Science – Nutrition and Food science) finished the third quarter exceptionally well serving up a tough drive and the triple to close it to 66-53 with one to go.

Reid again was the catalyst for the Eagles with another brace of points including her fifth triple of the afternoon but Shillabeer with a couple of outside hits tried to keep the Waatu in distance. Getting it back to 15 points the Waatu suddenly were not out of it but steadying hoops to the Eagles saw them take the win in the final minutes 89-72.

Jaida Reid was dangerous throughout the match with 23 points with six triples along with four rebounds – Eleanor Bollands excellent in the second half with 15 points and three rebounds.

Shillabeer was the clear standout for the Waatu again in her second match with 25 points with five triples and nine rebounds while Annika Uzcategui-Montenegro dropped 11 points and nine rebounds in one of her best early in her debut season with AU.                       

Men – LTU 92 (Tresize 26, Day 21, Holland 14) defeated AU Waatu 73 (Hampel 24, Crosby 16, Bruce, Mestrov 7)

Women – LTU 89 (Reid 23, Bollands 14, Poulton 10) defeated AU Waatu 72 (Shillabeer 25, Uzcategui-Montenegro 11, Whitton, Woosnam 10)                 

Catch all the action from this Wednesday August 20 from 4:15pm 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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“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”

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Photo Credit – Anthony Furina (Via Adelaide University)

3-Minute Read

Women

The Waatu Women were undone on day two of the season at home by a returning familiar face from University of Sunshine Coast (UNISC) as a second quarter push elevated the margin in their favour 55-66 at the State Basketball Centre.

A quick start led by Bella Heath saw UNISC out incredibly quick, but the Waatu fought back through Bella Woosnam (Exercise/Sports Science – Nutrition and Food Sciences) and Jemima Whitton (Viticulture/Oenology) as they close it to 9-13 at the first change.

Coach of UNISC Nathan Arousi (NBL1 North Brisbane Capitals) pulled a run of six from his chargers as his team consistently shared the scoring around. Former Forestville Eagle Terran Wright having the biggest impact for the away side across all areas of the floor. Another 0-8 run making the Waatu’s task even tougher at the main break in the low scoring affair 19-32 but still very much in the contest.

Third term saw the Waatu mix it up through Whitton and Meaza Otto (Health/Medical Sciences) hitting the hoops needed to keep them in touch. Jazmin Blundell dropped a couple of key points for the UNISC crew to hold their 36-49 advantage with one to play.

The last term belonged to Wright though as she overcame any challenge thrown at her by the Waatu as they unfortunately fell short 55-66 in the finish.

Wright was the standout with 15 points at 71 percent, 13 rebounds and six assists along with Heath who accumulated 17 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Georgia Berry also grabbed a double double with 11 points and 13 rebounds with five assists. The Waatu were led by Whitton as she produced 14 points and seven rebounds with Woosnam getting her best numbers in her debut season with 11 points and seven rebounds.        

Men    

The Waatu Men bounce back after a disappointing final term the previous day as they downed the UNISC 88-80 in a highly entertaining contest at the State Basketball Centre.

A good start was achieved out of the first tip-off with Ayual Garang (Architectural Design) playing his third match within 24 hours as the Central Districts Lions roared early to give the Waatu a slight edge. The big imposing presence of James O’Hara however though a 0-10 run brought scores level 23-23 after the first stanza.

The game remained extremely tight but both teams had their moment – The Waatu first with a 0-7 run of their own got plenty through Angus Crosby (Physiotherapy) and Thomas Mestrov (Banking/Finance- Mathematics/Computer Science) to cash in on a 32-28 advantage. RJ Spicer and O’Hara helping UNISC back into the contest 39-39 at half time.

With only five points between them in the first half – Bailey Nathan (Computer Science) and Emil Kourani (Occupational Therapy) recalibrated their shot making abilities with great success. Nathan with nine points for the term and Kourani with six of his own shifting the momentum in the Waatu’s favour 27-19 for the quarter. Mestrov took care of O’Hara keeping him quiet. Only Spicer and a huge dunk from Oyin Oguntoyinbo keeping UNISC in it 66-58 with one to play.

Oyin continued to be a problem in the fourth term for the Waatu but so was Nathan and Kourani along with Crosby as neither team could break the in-term deadlock. The Waatu closing it out in strong fashion to split their first week of the season 1-1. Mestrov’s finishing touches bringing it to an 88-80 final note for the match.

Player of the Game was Bailey Nathan who’s impact after half time was immeasurable hitting a timely 15 points for the half with five triples and five rebounds but not far behind him was Kourani with 20 points with six triples, 10 rebounds and three assists. Mestrov was equally impressive with 14 points and 14 rebounds while Crosby backed up his total the following day with another 14 points and five rebounds.         

Both teams move on to play one of the strongest in the competition traditionally in Randy Shanklin’s Latrobe University (LTU) in Round Two action of the UBL.    

Women – AU Waatu 55 (Whitton 14, Woosnam 11, Otto 10) defeated by UNISC 66 (Heath 17, Wright 15, Berry 11)

Men – AU Waatu 88 (Kourani 20, Nathan 15, Crosby, Mestrov 14) defeated UNISC 80 (O’Hara 24, Spicer 22, Oyin Oguntoyinbo 12)                    

Catch all the action from this Wednesday August 13 from 10:45am 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

Please DM if you’d like to support another way than subscription

See if you can provide the assist we need to tell the South Australian Basketball story

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