CROSS OVER DRIBBLE

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.

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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?

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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 started their season in sensational fashion with a convincing 83-52 win over newcomers the University of Newcastle (UON) in the first game of the day.

Led from the front by new Norwood Flames starter Caitlin Shillabeer (Physiotherapy) – they jumped out to a 10-2 start before the UON team led by their NBL1 East Newcastle Falcons Charlotte Cougle helped them back into the game 15-10. A quick run from the Waatu led by Eastern Mavericks Claire Hunter (Oral Health) splash them to a 20-12 advantage at the first change.

The second term under returning coach Lachlan Coppick started ideally for the home side with six Waatu players scoring four or more for the term as they rolled out a 14-0 run on UON. Dealing with injuries to key players early like Chloe Fraser and Cougle (10 points and nine rebounds) – the players through new coach Delion Sims rallied back with Georgia Bickhoff starting to show her potential. The Waatu’s 27-12 quarter putting them in a strong position with Scarlett Miles (Laws – Philosophy, Politics and Economics) taking advantage in her return to action this season as they led 47-24 at the main break.

The third quarter was scrappy as UON brought a defensive edge to the contest, but the Waatu also brought their hardened nature in the second half. Meaza Otto (Health/Medical Sciences) filling presecriptions on small opportunities to keep the Waatu very much in control 55-35 with one to play.

The Waatu women have been starved of success in recent years and that was not going to see them let this one slip. Every answer UON threw at them through Bickhoff (18 points and six steals with five rebounds) and Boston Pate (14 points with three assists and rebounds) who emerged in the second half was counteracted. Chloe Gray (Primary Education) and other fringe NBL1, Reserves and Youth players helping the Waatu women pass their first assignment guiding them to an 83-52 in the finish.

Shillabeer was the Player of the Game with 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and steals to lead the way for the Waatu backed up by Gray with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Men    

The Waatu Men faced a different prospect with a couple of significantly strong NBL1 East players – the talented group held their own for three quarters but the fourth proved to be the downfall as they went down to UON in it’s inaugural match 78-97.

UON started strong through Waratah League star Jude Jennings and along with Central Coast Crusader Alex Bailey swinging it in the away sides favour. The Waatu striking back though through Bailey Nathan (Computer Science) as they levelled it up 18-16 at the first change.

A high scoring second term entertained the crowd at the State Basketball Centre going toe-to-toe and basket for basket. North Adelaide Rockets Angus Crosby (Physiotherapy) announced his skill set early with a 10-point term but the big man from UON in Angus Seymour (10 for the term) and Cooper Harris (11 for the term) snuck UON in front at the main change 48-50.

The game remained tight in the third with Bailey Nathan continuing to hit the scoreboard and Harry Bruce (Commerce) was business as usual from his range as well. UON however kept lifting through Jude Jennings and Bailey again to have them just behind the Waatu 71-70 with one to play.

The cream of the inaugural UON rose to the top on the fourth as the Waatu’s scoring dried up against the Todd Turner led team. Head coach Scott Freer searching for answers turned to multiple familiar and new faces but UON”s 7-27 final term was too potent as they took their first victory in the new campaign 78-97.

While a tough first up assignment for the Men – Nathan’s return to the side yielded 19 points and five rebounds to be the Waatu’s player of the game. Crosby showing his scoring ability accumulating 14 points with seven rebounds.

Both teams would move on to play the UNISC team in the second of their opening round double header for the week.   

Women – AU Waatu 83 (Shillabeer 14, Gray 13, Miles 10) defeated UON 52 (Bickhoff 18, Pate 14, Cougle 10)

Men – AU Waatu 78 (Nathan 19, Crosby 14, Hampel 11) defeated by UON 97 (J Jennings 27, Bailey 21, Harris 20)            

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