Extra DLC - Jaedyn De La Cerda has been a must have addition for the Lions in 2023 - a huge task likely looms tonight against the 3x3 Asia Cup Champion in Ally Wilson - Picture by Picture IT Sport Photography/Sharnee Jones
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Round 3
Thursday 6/04/2023
Central District Lions vs Norwood Flames (STARPLEX – The Den)
Women (6:30pm)
The Lions women have roared in 2023 without chalking up a win just yet but you get the feeling its not too far around the corner. The combination of Imani Guy, Jaedyn De La Cerda and Tiahna Sears is starting to gel and they’ve already shown some improvement in patches under coach Jo Noone. The Flames fought hard minus some key players and should gain a superstar of the league Ally Wilson from a successful 3×3 Asia Cup trip.
Wilson’s inclusion is huge for the inexperienced but heart-fighting Flames who showed up against the Bearcats last Friday evening. It’s been a while since the Lions beat the Flames and I think they are a strong chance to win this one with De La Cerda and Wilson likely to go head to head in a thrilling clash – the Lions will hang on with their claws in this one just
Key Stat – The Flames had 28 turnovers last week against the Bearcats and Wilson’s inclusion should drop these numbers.
COD Prediction: Lions by 3 points
Men (8:15pm)
The Lions have some good pieces in place but just need that time to find continuity together under coach Rupert Sapwell. Jenkins kept his team in the contest with 30 points* and Sunday Bol stepped up after half-time to keep the Lions in the contest – they made it a scrappy game keeping pace with the Warriors. The Flames got everything they needed out of Matt Lycett with his 30-point haul but they’ll need some more out of Collin Smith again who started brightly but finished a little short of gas with 16 points and six rebounds.
How soon the inclusion of Trey McBride occurs is up to Itzehoe in Germany who are seventh in the North ProB league and may have at least a few more games remaining having made the playoffs. Until that happens the Flames look a little under-stocked so on their home floor and having seen how they can grind a team like the Warriors – the Lions may take victory here at the Den.
Key Stat – The Flames gave up 25 turnovers to the Bearcats and conceded 23 points from them – they’ve got to find a way to look after the ball if they are to win this one…
COD Prediction: Lions by 14 points
Forestville Eagles vs Eastern Mavericks – (The Nest – Wayville Sports Centre)
Women (6:30pm)
The sisters stepped out of the shadow of their older siblings last week with Jess Simons (20 points) and Maddy Freer (16 points and 14 rebounds) – and they are doing all this minus gun recruit Izzy Borlase who was in Australia camp this week. In some ways this Eagles team led by Georgia Crouch has been the surprise of the season so far with players like Stamatelopoulos, Hines and Annetts -what’s been most apparent is the inside game and presence has increased for the Eagles.
The Mavs meanwhile have shown two incredibly competitive efforts – a 23 point third quarter showed the potential the Mavs have to hang with the big players in the league and with another week under her belt – Jannon Otto looks another superstar with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Keyway presence looks the decider in this one and in the past the Mavs have played reasonably well at the Nest – but I think the Eagles on their home floor will sneak over the top in a much tighter game that could swing either way.
Key Stat – The Eagles were the cleanest with the ball in hand in Round two with just the five turnovers conceded…
COD Prediction: Eagles by 5 points
Men (8:15pm)
The Eagles have looked really balanced since the opening round and it again was started by the MU version of Malith Machar. However, Greg Mays once again looks like a new man in his freedom in the front court, Jake Rios has been freed to be a scoring machines, Brad Rathjen fills the pieces whether its scoring, rebounding or defence when needed and Doyle returned with a bang with 27 points, seven assists at over 60 percent from the field. The Mavs have that win early in the season over the Tigers but the big questions for any new side is – do they have a plan B. Jack Hemphill (33 points and 10 rebounds) has been huge for the Mavs with his impact but the Eagles do have the ability to shutdown both him and Legan (23 points, five rebounds and four assists) – that is my greatest concern for the visiting team from Mt Barker. I think the Eagles have a little more polish and nous now, but I expect the Mavs to hang deep in this contest until about mid-way in the third – when the Eagles will swoop in and claim their third straight win.
Key Stat – It was a fast-paced game at the Nest on Sunday – with a combined 36 points from fast break…
COD Prediction: Eagles by 18 points
North Adelaide Rockets vs Sturt Sabres – (The Launch Pad – Lights Community and Sports Centre)
Women (6:30pm)
We get to see it for the first time with the combination of Lauren Mansfield and Brooke Basham for the Rockets on the floor together in round three. A potent combination they’ll need to counter the Sturt Sabres who have been ultra impressive but are we really that surprised about this? Tayla Brazel and Mikayla Williams have started superbly but still have plenty of ceiling to reach and credit to Zoe Walker-Roberts who dropped another double double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Tim Shortt has got his players rolling but the experience of WNBL for the Rockets and veteran savviness of Brenton Johnston on the other side makes this one – one of the games to watch. I think the Sabres will continue their run but would not be surprised if the Rockets swung it their way in another close to call to the finish line.
Key Stat – The Sabres scored 79 points with six players notching double figures showing the “Sturt System” is still working..
COD Prediction: Sabres by 4 points
Men (8:15pm)
The Rockets did many things right last Sunday against the Eagles including putting a bunch of points on the board – it was the other end where it unravelled for a five minute period that cost them the win. They have a big four now with Riley Harrap, Durrell McDonald, Akech Aliir and Koop McCalop who contributed 83 points between them and if the Sabres are to get within striking distance – they’ll need to handle these players defensively. The Sabres only put 64 points on the board only making four triples from 27 attempts the main culprit of the lack of offensive firepower.
Jordan Forbes continues to impress with another double double of 19 points and 11 rebounds and Keanu Rasmussen’s return was handy with 14 points including a halacious dunk over one of the Panthers forwards. The Rockets at the moment have a little too much firepower and with the Sabres lack of ability to put big points on the board – they’ll get the win here you feel.
Key Stat – The Sabres bench power has been their strength in the past – but only got the eight points out of it in their match against the Panthers.
COD Prediction: Rockets by 15 points
Southern Tigers vs Woodville Warriors – (The Cage – Morphett Vale Stadium)
Women (6:30pm)
What a debut it was from someone who just arrived in the country and that’s the scary thought for the rest of the league. Mariah Martin the All-RMAC first team member for the Mavericks of Colorado Mesa University stepped off the plane literally with 22 points and seven assists – for the Tigers against ironically the Mavs. McKendrick meanwhile went close to a triple double missing by one assist with 19 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. The big Canadian centre Nicole Fransson made a few take notice with a huge 30 points and 15 rebounds and in a twist of irony again – there are some real Teige Morrell vibes about not only her play but also her off-court demeanour as well that is to watch for as a genuine big of the league. Fransson holds the key in this one and I feel the Tigers have the ability to limit her capacity having shutdown other bigs in the league in the cage in the past. The Tigers look like they are starting to find their stripes and think they’ll get the win here.
Key Stat – The Warriors smashed the Lions in the paint with over 50* plus points in that area – with 30 of them coming from the Canadian centre.
COD Prediction: Tigers by 9 points
Men (8:15pm)
The Tigers reality has hit early in 2023 with the need for more time and development needed for Scott Freer’s lineup. The task gets no easier as they take on the unbeaten Warriors tonight. In positive signs a near triple double to Jett Thompson with 15 points, nine assists and rebounds showed his potential and Nic Logan broke through for 18 points and eight rebounds in one of his best showings in the league.
The Warriors have shown they can cover for the absences from their grand final side of 2022 with Ben Janssan stepping up from beyond the arc with five triples for 17 points and Jawan Stepney steering the ship with 24 points and nine rebounds. Both Anthony Green and Joe Jackson hold the key in this game with both nullified and quietish so far in 2023. I expect Jackson is going to be for real once again and lift the Warriors to their third win of the season but meet some fight from the Tigers.
Key Stat – Despite the loss the Tigers shot 44 percent from the field with a majority coming from inside eight feet.
COD Prediction: Warriors by 16 points
Friday 7/04/2023
West Adelaide Bearcats vs South Adelaide Panthers (The Bearcat Cave – Port Adelaide Recreation Centre) – Kayo Game of the Week
Women (4:00pm)
A box office clash for Good Friday in the women’s will be indeed the game of the week – The Bearcats taking care of business against the Flames. Veteran Sky Langenbrinck filled it up with 20 points and Lightning rookie Molly Coleman chalked up another double double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and five steals to comfortably put away their young opponents.
The Panthers started well but then got done in the second quarter by the Sabres only managing to score 22 points across two quarters with rebounding and turnovers a huge problem. The Panthers were out boarded 36-54 and gave up 18 turnovers – that’ll need tidying up to the take on the Bearcats. The Bearcats should win this one but the special day on the calendar for NBL1 can throw up some big-time results.
Key Stat – The three-point show continued for the Bearcats with Keely Pearce, Annaliese Watkinson and Langenbrinck draining nine of 22 from beyond the arc.
COD Prediction: Bearcats by 11 points
Men (5:45pm)
The contender against the champion in game of the week without a doubt. Current 36ers versus ex-36ers, superstars of the league only need to be listed to know this is a must watch. Drmic, McCarron, De Santis, Spear, Starling, Johns and of course likely this Friday returning to the club Daniel Johnson. What matchups eventuate out of this one is anyone’s guess – you could have Drmic guarding Johnson or Starling even guarding McCarron.
This one I genuinely have no idea how its going to play out as it could fall either way. It’s a big occasion for the home team needing a win over a top contender to prove their credentials – I however think the Panthers may sneak this one until the Bearcats show us how to stop the Grand Final MVP in Alex Starling.
That has not been proven by any team yet in 2023…
Key Stat – Starling has been unstoppable against the Nyberg sides as well as the Bearcats with 26 points and nine rebounds (Bearcats first meeting) and 19 points, 13 rebounds and five assists (Rockets first meeting) at full fitness.
COD Prediction: Panthers by 3 points in OT
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 3 between the West Adelaide Bearcats and South Adelaide Panthers on Kayo and Kayo Freebies Friday.
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