Tag: sports

Photo Credit – Adelaide University Sport

3-Minute Read

The Adelaide Waatu Women’s historic season rolls on with a strong final term over UBL powerhouse USYD with a first ever quarter finals win 74-64 at the Pridham Hall.

Alex Oliver and Lauryn Walker made the first initial baskets with the Waatu hitting back quick but neither team could be split after the first term 21-19 to the Waatu thanks to yet another Caitlin Shillabeer timely triple.

Terran Wright began a tear of her own with a step-back triple and scoring off the very next play courtesy of the shifty hands of Jemima Whitton (Nine points, six rebounds & steals with five assists) who then added one of her own to open up the lead 28-21. Enter Alecia Saldavia with a deep triple from the corner then Zahlia Niemann dropped a pair to create a 15-3 run for the Waatu 36-21 and a commanding lead. Yvette Volk and Oliver pinched back a couple however to cut it to 42-34 at the half.

USYD needed an answer at the half and as good quality UBL sides over multiple years do they found something extra with Rena Cao making a cameo appearance followed by some more Volk voltage to spark the away side back into a 57-57 a piece game. Sasha Hardin (10 points, seven rebounds & three assists) however had other ideas with a steal and floater to sneak the Waatu in front at three quarter time with one to play 59-57 – the first time in the season however that the Waatu had lost the third term in one of the greatest strengths after half time breaks.

Wright (Seven points, nine rebounds and three assists) again showed up exactly on time with an early make at the basket with one of the key moments of the game where Niemann drew a fifth foul on Waatu problem-maker in Oliver who fouled out minutes into the final term. Taking advantage of the smaller front court was Annika Uzcategui-Montenegro with seven of the Waatu’s 15 last quarter points and locked down USYD at the defensive end – the highlight a huge spike rejection of a Volk drive. She closed the match out with the jumper and Shillabeer hit the key free throws to not only send the Waatu to the semi-finals but also host the semi-final and grand final series in Adelaide for the first time in league history.

In very even performances – Shillabeer led the way with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Uzcategui Montenegro’s final term saw her finish with her game of the season 11 points, eight rebounds & two blocks

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Women’s Quarter Final – AU Waatu 74 (Shillabeer 18, Uzcategui-Montenegro 11, Hardin, Turnbull 10, Whitton 9, Wright 7) defeated USYD 64 (Volk 18, Walker 15, Oliver 10, Cao 8)

Catch all of the action from our Mens season on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features post season.

Catch up on all the action of the UBL through the new weekly show for the league in UBL Extra…

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES OF SA BASKETBALL

Every game deserves to be reported on including the history and background of our leagues – in 20 years time we may find it very difficult to look back at history and find data (as we are finding already in searching for past results and impact) so writing these articles is essential for capturing the essence of our leagues.

We have so many players who love reading their hoops weekly history and – $5 a week from every player and the NBL1 community will help you make sure you get written about by a local who knows our leagues in and out and has been active in the space the last five years and beyond. We need your support with more so please consider our options or consider sponsoring the website which also has an accompanying podcast and broadcasting of the NBL and WNBL through the Collective group.

All Episodes of the SA Shotclock now available on Spotify

Photo Credit – NUSport UON

2-Minute Read

Men

The Adelaide Waatu’s season has come to an end at the hands of UON in a thrilling overtime game at NUSport at the Forum 78-74.

Nemesis since their opening encounter in 2025 Jude Jennings started red-hot again with an opening eight point quarter after the Waatu splashed a brace of triples from Isaac Hampel, Thomas Mestrov and Malang Deng with the home side taking the 21-13 early advantage.

Deng continued to have a strong impact with some key triples and attack on the rim helping lead the Waatu to an unanswered 0-8 run. Jude Jennings responded with a quick fire five points with the scores remaining tight until Deng’s hook shot just prior to the halftime buzzer gave the Waatu a slim 33-34 lead at the half.

Another tight third term ensured as both teams went blow for blow in attempts but came up empty in a low scoring five minutes when Angus Seymour started to find presence in the post for UON. Matthew Thomson (six points & 15 rebounds) engaged in the battle then Mestrov’s finish once again place the Waatu just in front of UON with a lap to go 46-48.

UON turned back to a pair of Jennings with the Waatu finding some Ayual Garang hits from in close and deep. Curtis Scott started to have an impact and Jamal Shoaib also found some key baskets as the red numbers approached deep into the fourth term. Jack Sleap quiet majority of the contest for UON awoke with force and was super effective with a late seven points including the game tying wrestled layup 66-66. Both teams missed their opportunities late with Jude Jennings heavily contested layup missed and the game needing extra time in overtime to decide who moves forward.

Sleap and Jude Jennings made the moves early in OT with a small 71-66 lead opened up – Garang responded with a free throw but Sleap went to work also at the charity stripe as well as around the basket to put the game to bed but suddenly alarm bells rang for UON with a Mestrov triple very late and a glimpse of forcing a second overtime. He forced the steal and finish for Scott to cut it to 76-74 with the foul game forced onto Shoaib who made both to finally see off the Waatu who again went down in a quarter final in gallant defeat.

Curtis Scott had a strong second half to finish with 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds with two blocks backed up by Malang Deng with 16 points & seven rebounds.

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Men – UON 78 (J Jennings 25, Shoaib 19, Sleap 12, Seymour 8) defeated AU Waatu 74 (Scott 18, Deng 16, Garang, Mestrov 10, Hampel 9) in OVERTIME

Catch all of the action from our Mens season on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features post season.

Catch up on all the action of the UBL through the new weekly show for the league in UBL Extra…

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES OF SA BASKETBALL

Every game deserves to be reported on including the history and background of our leagues – in 20 years time we may find it very difficult to look back at history and find data (as we are finding already in searching for past results and impact) so writing these articles is essential for capturing the essence of our leagues.

We have so many players who love reading their hoops weekly history and – $5 a week from every player and the NBL1 community will help you make sure you get written about by a local who knows our leagues in and out and has been active in the space the last five years and beyond. We need your support with more so please consider our options or consider sponsoring the website which also has an accompanying podcast and broadcasting of the NBL and WNBL through the Collective group.

All Episodes of the SA Shotclock now available on Spotify

Photo Credit – Anthony Furina / Adelaide University

2-Minute Read

Women

The Women booked their home final at the Pridham Hall with a strong performance over the University of Newcastle 62-71 at the Forum in New South Wales.

With UON coming off a tough matchup with UNSW the previous day despite no travel the Waatu had them ripe for the picking but it took some time to reap the fruits. In a script similar to previous matches the Waatu found themselves in a first half dog fight also down star player Caitlin Shillabeer. UON’s Sophie Brennan off the back of a strong game the previous day proved to be a tough cover for the Waatu however they kept pace with the home side despite trailing 33-24 at the main change.

The script continued to follow suite as the Waatu swung momentum their own way thanks to their own sharpshooter. Enter Alecia Saldavia as she splashed a triple with the step back and along with the usual suspects of Wright and Turnbull flipped the game back in the Waatu’s team with a 9-27 term. It ensured a 42-51 lead heading into the last change.

Terran took charge in the fourth early on to take the Waatu to a 13-2 run to bury the game result nice and early. With both teams locked into finals heading into the final round both teams took the opportunity to release their bench and prepare for the Uni Nationals the week ahead before their quarter final match-ups.

Saldavia with four of five beyond the arc produced the season high 18 points while Sasha Hardin was consistent across four quarters with 13 points and Wright missed out on a triple double with a nine point, seven rebound and six steal performance along with four assists.

Men

It was a different story for the mens unfortunately falling to their 2025 opening round opponents in UON 82-74 at the Forum at NUSport.

Both Eddy and Jude Jennings again caused problems for the Waatu in the first term to have the Waatu down at the first change 24-15. It didn’t get much better in the second with the UON very conscious of Curtis Scott and his arsenal of offence – the Waatu struggling to string baskets together at a consistent rate. Coach Scott Freer turned to his pine and got some quality minutes from Mitch Cretan and Angus Crosby however still trailed 43-25 at the main break.

An attempted comeback was launched by Matt Thomson and Scott who made some key in roads to cut it back to 47-32 however the answers came from UON again through Jamal Shoaib and Jennings times two as they held a comfortable lead 59-45 heading into the last quarter.

Freer threw Thomas Mestrov into the contest looking for a spark and got some response as the Waatu finally got the margin under double digits 63-54. Charging home through Ayual Garang and Scott again with a huge triple reducing the margin to seven. Jude Jennings dropped a couple of handy ones for the home team but the Waatu continued to spar but wanted to get back in the fight. The story of the match continued however with every attempt to whittle the margin down including Garang’s get to the basket make as UON finally put the spirited Waatu out of the contest and setup a rematch for the quarter finals.

Curtis Scott finished with 25 points, five rebounds, four assists and steals with two blocks with Garang coming home strong for 17 points.

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The Waatu Women and Men next their quarter final match-ups with the Men back in a rematch with UON tonight in Newcastle while the Women will be gearing up for their first home final against their quarter final opponents of 2025 in USYD but this time it’s on the new floor at the Pridham Hall

Women – UON 62 (Brennan 26, Kirkby 13, Rudder 9) defeated by AU Waatu 71 (Saldavia 18, Hardin 13, Wright 9, Uzcategui-Montenegro, Turnbull 9)

Men – UON 82 (J Jennings 18, Shoaib 17, Sleap 14, E Jennings, Marsters 10) defeated AU Waatu 74 (Scott 25, Garang 17, Crosby 15, Mestrov 10)

Catch all the action of the Mens Quarter Final against UON from this Tuesday 6 October & our home Womens Quarter Final against USYD on Thursday 8 October on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features throughout the season.

Catch up on all the action of the UBL through the new weekly show for the league in UBL Extra…

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES OF SA BASKETBALL

Every game deserves to be reported on including the history and background of our leagues – in 20 years time we may find it very difficult to look back at history and find data (as we are finding already in searching for past results and impact) so writing these articles is essential for capturing the essence of our leagues.

We have so many players who love reading their hoops weekly history and – $5 a week from every player and the NBL1 community will help you make sure you get written about by a local who knows our leagues in and out and has been active in the space the last five years and beyond. We need your support with more so please consider our options or consider sponsoring the website which also has an accompanying podcast and broadcasting of the NBL and WNBL through the Collective group.

All Episodes of the SA Shotclock now available on Spotify