Back with Brazel - Adelaide Lightning development player and Sturt Sabres Tayla Brazel made a promising comeback against the Flames last Sunday - and could be the difference for the Sabres going one better by seasons end - Picture by @snapshotphotography31 @Snap Shot Photography / Emma Hoppo
3-Minute Read
For full season preview – checkout the Pick and Roll Australia
Round 2
Friday 31/03/2023
Norwood Flames vs West Adelaide Bearcats (The ARC – The Firedome)
Women (6:30pm)
The fire alarm isn’t going off just yet for the Flames but there are some alarming signs after being dismantled by the Sabres last Sunday. Likely to miss Ally Wilson for the second week in a row due to Australian 3×3 commitments – they will need to find a winner against a Bearcats team that looked good for its first hit out. Sharni Thompson was terrific with 22 points in her first hit out but is battling an ankle injury coming into tonight’s contest and Alek Akuen grabbed a double double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. The player to take the next step could be Annika Uzcategui-Montenegro who stepped up into the starting five last week. The Bearcats were challenged solidly by the Warriors but rallied through their perimeter shooters from the pine including Keeley Pearce and Annaliese Watkinson who dropped six of seven between them – and that’s why the red and black will win this one comfortably…
Key Stat – The Bearcats shot 48 percent from beyond the arc (10/21) – the best clearly in Round one.
COD Prediction: Bearcats by 21 points
Men (8:15pm)
For two teams I thought might be around each other in 2023 – it did not quite go the way even I expected. The inclusion of Jack Stanwix from the Hobart Chargers looks like a tick with 22 points and Moses Nuangki showed he might rise to a new level with eleven points and eight rebounds. It might be youth watch for the Flames in 2023 with Alex Dodson lodging eight points in ten minutes. The Bearcats had first up gelling issues against their western rivals in the Warriors and I imagine another week of full training together will help define the roles. It could be a daunting prospect for the Flames with McCarron, Drmic, De Santis and Spear ready to do some big damage – and I think a first convincing win for the Bearcats is likely to happen…
Key Stat – The Bearcats had 15 turnovers last week – can’t see them giving up that many again.
COD Prediction: Bearcats by 30 points
Saturday 1/04/2023
Woodville Warriors vs Central District Lions – (St Clair – The Castle)
Women (6:30pm)
It was a solid showing from Glenn Shaw’s Warriors first up showing some promising signs – namely that they’ve got a good one in Nicole Fransson as an import. Fransson grabbed a double double of 18 points and 10 rebounds and looks a real player for the league in 2023. Naomi Allotey got plenty of opportunity to show her all-round game and it was successful first hit out for Chloe Purvis. The Lions equally showed some quality signs and hung with a Mansfield led Rockets but should hopefully get some reinforcements back to support Imani Guy (25 points and eight rebounds) and Jayden De La Cerda (20 points, eight assists and seven rebounds). Looking after the basketball is key for both these teams averaging 20 turnovers each for the round – you feel the Lions have the better ball handlers however I will take the home-side in what’s bound to be a very close ball game.
Key Stat – Both teams were last in ball security conceding an average of 21 turnovers and giving up 21 assists in 2022 – whoever can nail this category down is going to go furthest in 2023.
COD Prediction: Warriors by 2 points
Men (8:15pm)
The Warriors men were clicking with a first up victory over the Bearcats – showing some key moments in the final term that defined their game. Riley Meldrum and Jawan Stepney made key plays down the stretch and highlights the continuity they have. The Lions showed glimpses of brilliance making a bright start with Brandon Jenkins living up to his hype from last season with 29 points, five rebounds and four steals and new import Kevin Baker notched a “Baker’s dozen” with 10 points and 11 rebounds. If they are to challenge the Warriors though – they will need Sunday Bol and Kalani Sapwell to make double figures. For me thre Warriors just have too much continual firepower that keeps coming at you and rim protection to let this one slip.
Key Stat – The Warriors got plenty from their pine 34 points in all so when you have Dev McGee leading Ben Janssen and Tyrone McLennan – emulating that 95 point average per game is achievable once again
COD Prediction: Warriors by 15 points
Eastern Mavericks vs Southern Tigers – (St Francis De Sales – The Shooting Gallery)
Women (6:30pm)
The Mavs women were highly competitive for a half before the Panthers dropped them away in the third 21-9. Its Olivia Bradley’s young team right now which is saying something, Taylah Levy looked the goods at the point and import Jannon Otto while still settling in limited minutes provided some interior presence. The Tigers took some time to warmup, but my goodness did they come home in a rush with a 28-point last quarter driven by Mollie McKendrick (26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists) but also a few new faces. Watch out for Brittany Hernandez and her handles and moves finishing with 15 points and six rebounds and Bianca Stasinowsky who had a great second half when the home side needed it. The Tigers were missing some key pieces last week so if Morgan Yaeger is back at least with Martin to join soon – the Tigers should bounce back from their loss.
Key Stat – Un-Tiger like – Southern only scored 30 points in three quarters last week but the Mavs only dropped 31 points at the same time before both teams scored 28 and 26 respectively…
COD Prediction: Tigers by 22 points
Men (8:15pm)
The Mavs were also pretty solid on debut with a newish lineup under coach Dan Wray and held their own against the Panthers for parts of the match. New import Jack Hemphill was impressive but foul trouble restricted his ability while still finishing with 26 points and nine rebounds. James Legan found Alex Starling a constant shadow and couldn’t hit the scoreboard as he liked but still added eight rebounds to his ten points – and that’s danger signs for a team he enjoys playing against. The Tigers were aerial early and up and about but the reality of the NBL1 landscape set in quickly for the young Tiges at the claws of the Eagles. Jett Thompson is still to find his feet, Green started strong but faded a little in his first game, but the spark of the night came from the 15 year old in Alex Dickeson with “the professor” nailing eight points in 13 minutes. While even on paper – I feel like the Mavs just have that bit more experience and in the battle of two rookie coaches the Mavs should keep their incredible Tigers winning streak going (despite wins very rare in the last five seasons) of three in a row.
Key Stat – Legan twice was the difference between the sides in 2022 in both elusive wins with 24 points and nine rebounds in Round 9 and 30 points in Round 18 – bound to be the same again…
COD Prediction: Mavericks by 3 points
Sturt Sabres vs South Adelaide Panthers – (Springbank – The Cave)
Women (6:30pm)
That was a strong start from the Sabres last Sunday who took over the contest in the second half – they blew away the Flames with 55 points courtesy of the return of young rising talent Tayla Brazel. Her game can be the differentiation for the Sabres in 2023 with 17 points, seven rebounds, fours steals and three assists and it was great to see a successful return from her long term ACL injury. The Panthers new pieces fit in immediately to their lineup for 2023 with Sam Defrancesco showing with Jade Johnson back – she’ll be a handy foil for the Panthers when they need some scoring punch. Ash “Splash” Spencer only played 14 minutes last week as well with the Panthers able to test their bench depth with Bianca McDonald also impressive with 12 points and nine rebounds. Both teams have plenty of depth and scoring down the stretch will be the key to winning this one – that’s where it’s been decided in the past. The Sabres looked the more in-tune early, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Panthers get the win either way.
Key Stat – The rebounding count will be a marker of impact with the Panthers grabbing 68 and the Sabres 54 with Forbes and Williams matchup pivotal in this contest.
COD Prediction: Sabres by 4 points
Men (8:15pm)
The intrigue around this Sabres lineup is what is this team going to be? They doused the Flames last round with impressive first up showings from one of the quietly kept signings of the off season in Cactus Tbilisi Euro league guard Jordan Forbes (19 points, five rebounds and assists) and Tobias Dowdell (17 points). Jack Turnbull was firing them from everywhere again but the first true test comes against the Panthers. The Panthers did their business as expected led by the grand final MVP Starling who once again is the key to stop. The Sabres have to stop him if they are to win this one – but who can from the current lineup.
Key Stat – There’s no Joel Spear to stop Starling this time with the Sabres holding him to 14 in their first encounter and when he wasn’t there – it was 21 points in their loss last season.
COD Prediction: Panthers by 11 points
Sunday 2/04/2023
Forestville Eagles vs North Adelaide Rockets (Wayville – The Nest) – Kayo Game of the Week
Women (3:00pm)
No Borlase was no worries for the Eagles but a much tougher test awaits this week with the Mansfield-less Rockets. One of the big observations I made calling the Eagles last week was the impact of Katia Stamatelopoulos who influenced the game at both ends with an all-rounded eight points, ten rebounds, five assists and steals. While Rach Hines is the gun of this team after a solid time as a development player at the Adelaide Lightning – Maddy Freer got the momentum going at the start with seven points in a low scoring tied half of 21-21 between them and the Tigers.
The Rockets look like they’ve got all the pieces this year with one I anticipate will suit up this weekend in late signing in Mansfield’s teammate Brooke Basham. Basham’s inclusion will be intriguing in a team that shared the ball around to find its offensive kick and if Bash catches on while picking her lightning shot – look out everyone. With her likely inclusion I think the Rockets will grab two in a row and set themselves up for Mansfield’s return in the coming weeks.
Key Stat – The Rockets dished 20 assists created by Mansfield and Lauren Badenoch (seven) setting up their game – watch with interest if those numbers can remain the same with B & B serving up for Jordan Freer, Corrigan and Meyer.
COD Prediction: Rockets by 15 points
Men (4:45pm)
Both teams had the perfect opening game to shake the cobwebs off preseason – the Eagles and Rockets both putting away the Tigers and Lions respectively. Andy Simons’ team were comprehensive through the Melbourne United version of Malith Machar who looked stronger, quicker and more athletic than last years version. Greg Mays and Jake Rios did the damage too minus Adam Doyle who should return this week. The Rockets under Mikey Rogers were potent with new faces Durrell McDonald (17 points, seven rebounds, five steals and three assists) and Akech Aliir (21 points, seven rebounds and three assists) most impressive. Riley Harrap was the one though with 31 points including five of ten beyond the perimeter, with six rebounds and three assists that really made this Rockets team one to watch closely in 2023. Both teams have plenty of ability at both ends of the floor – I’ll take the home side in a close one in what is bound to be one of the games of the weekend.
Key Stat – The Rockets and Eagles last season were number one and two in rebounding – they both had 51 and 52 respectively.
COD Prediction: Eagles by 1 point
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 1 between the Forestville Eagles and the North Adelaide Rockets on Kayo and Kayo Freebies Sunday.
Please continue to support SA basketball news and features content being written as well as national/international with the Pick and Roll – with our influx of work we are making content all free to read but need constant contributions to make this happen. $5 a month is all we are asking – If not keen to subscribe then please message to receive direct debit details how you can keep these quality features being produced
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 