NBL1 – Page 34 – CROSS OVER DRIBBLE

NBL1 Central Round 7 Preview

The COE are calling this weekend as part of the Wildcard series and after a short break, proceedings resume with some key clashes in the NBL1 Central. No time to waste with a huge lot of games to run our eye over so here is the preview of Round 7…

Their goals are different but both Samuels and Levicki will be looking to lead their respective sides to victory, in the Lions case their best chance may have arrived. Picture by Archie Creative

4-Minute Read

Saturday 21/05/2022

Norwood Flames vs Eastern Mavericks – (ARC – The Firedome)

Women (6:00pm)

The Flames are looking to climb themselves back up into the top four while the Mavs are trying to lift themselves back into the middle of the table. With a tough double header for both this weekend this looms as a must win. The Mavs have the ability to stop Wilson and Basham having had both play for them in the past. Lefebvre-Okankwu looks the game breaker here as in both of the Flames losses it’s been a dominant post player (Williams and Levicki) that have caused them the most problems. Defensively the Mavs can keep the scores low and if the sole SA Sapphire in Bradley can hit the scoreboard; they are a big chance at an upset here.

Key Stat – The Mavs in all games keep their opponents to 73.8 points or less

ESPN Prediction: Mavericks by 4 points

Men (7:45pm)

The record for Norwood is that they’ve beaten West and South in the bottom part of the table and while the Mavs are winless this looms as a huge danger game for the homes side. The former clubman James Legan returns, and Anthony Green will have his hands full with an inform Koop McCalop. Points on the scoreboard has been a problem for the Flames mainly due to rebounding; so McBride needs to grab 20+ for this team to win as Harding has been producing consistently. I think this is the game Green reminds us how good he is as he’s produced double figures back to back leading in and ready for a monster.

Key Stat – Both teams rank second last and last in rebounds per game with 34.8 and 36.6

ESPN Prediction: Flames by 7 points

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NBL1 Central Round 6 – Eagle eye Doyle, DJ lever Legan Mavs, Sabres sixth women win downs Eagles

The “Eagle Eye” was locked in for Adam Doyle this weekend as the Eagles men raised up for a double header, the Sabres women swathe their way to the top of the table, Jamar’s the man as Rockets run continues and the “Next Step” is taken by the Warriors. Here’s the Round 6 wrap of the NBL1 Central 2022…

An early poke in his "Eagle Eye" did not stop Adam Doyle from draining 21 points in the third quarter Saturday night; his weekend accumulation of 50 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds was damaging. Picture supplied by AllStar Photos

5-Minute Read

Saturday 7/05/22

Eastern Mavericks vs Forestville Eagles

Sister act Eagles exile Mavs

It wasn’t just one but two pairs of sisters that setup a comfortable 53-89 win for the Forestville Eagles over the Eastern Mavericks at the Shooting Gallery. The Freer sisters Maddy and Jordyn scored 13 of the Eagles 27-42 in the first half before the Simons took over with Sam finishing with 20 points at 62.5 percent and 6 assists and Jess 21 points at 72 percent with 5/7 triples. Izzy Stratford was the big winner across four quarters with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. The Mavericks were led by their two imports Lefebvre-Okankwu with a 16 point, 12 rebound and 7 steal double double and Gouchie-Provencher with 11 points and 9 rebounds. Olivia Bradley finished the game well late to bring up 14 points to be the next best.

Eagle eye Doyle and DJ lever Legan Mavs

The Forestville Eagles bounced back in a big way as they eventually levered away from the enthusiastic energetic Eastern Mavericks 84-121 at the Shooting Gallery. Adam Doyle despite a poke in the eye early in the first quarter got his eye in more ways than one in the 12–38-point third quarter as he drained 6 of 6 beyond the arc to notch a 21 point quarter to finish with 27 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds. Daniel Johnson got the Eagles going early to finish with a huge bacon double double of 21 points, 20 rebounds and 7 assists, Brandon Brine double doubled as well for 23 points and 12 rebounds while Fiston Ipassou dropped 18 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. James Legan in his first game in Mavs colours returned with a bang with 32 points including 7 triples while Koop McCalop shot, dunked, and blocked his way to 20 points and 9 rebounds before fouling out in 30 minutes of high octane action.

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NBL1 Central Round 6 Preview

There’s only three teams that could continue the perfect start to their season with wins this weekend. Will the “splash sisters” continue the Panthers unbeaten run, can the Sabres lock down Wilson again to join them at the top, will Terry Winn continue the winning run for the Rockets men and which of the “mid-range marvel” and the “next step” take their team into another position up the table. Here’s the preview of this weekend’s NBL1 Central Round 6…

One half of the "Splash Sisters" in Ash Spencer has been on fire this season already averaging 28.5 points of the Panthers 82 per game. Picture by Snap Shot Photography

5-Minute Read

Saturday 7/05/2022

Eastern Mavericks vs Forestville Eagles – (St Francis – The Shooting Gallery)

Women (6:30pm)

The Mavs women have been considerably unlucky this season so far and perhaps a return to the Shooting Gallery for a second week in a row can help them get their winning ways happening. The Eagles though are contending for the top five and with Sam Simons leading the way third in the competition for points (25.5), second in assists (6) and tenth in steals (2.5) is who they must stop. She was the difference in 2021 when they snuck home 68-69 and tonight’s match looks to be the same type of game. This time though I think the Mavs who need to get some reward for effort can get this one at home.

Key Stat – Ball security is the game breaker here, the Mavs average 11.3 steals per game; the Eagles 9.8

ESPN Prediction: Mavericks by 1 point

Men (8:15pm)

The Leg-an up has arrived for the Mavs in the form of import James Legan who I flagged weeks ago as the player who averaged 20 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 33 percent beyond the arc in 20 games in 2018 for the Norwood Flames. His presence alone along with McCalop’s initial season form bring this game into a much closer contest than before. After reading the headline “Simo furious” on my socials I thought the AFL were covering the reaction from the Eagles camp last Saturday night but alas no doubt a similar reaction from their head coach Andy Simons I think will see a very fired up Forestville in this one. Do not expect certain players to lodge a donut two weeks in a row, I’m predicting a 30-40 point game from him alone in response and the Eagles to close this out after the Mavs battle hard for three and a bit quarters.

Key Stat – Last week the Eagles were 31 percent from the field and 21 percent from beyond the perimeter compared to their season average of 44.3 and 28.9.

ESPN Prediction: Eagles by 7 points

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