South Adelaide Panthers (2-10, 10th) v Norwood Flames (11-1, 1st)
Saturday June 30, 6.30pm at Marion

The Norwood Flames can edge closer to another Minor Premiership when they visit the South Adelaide Panthers in Round 13.

The Flames made a statement to the rest of the competition with a huge double over North and Southern. The Rockets had won seven straight before the Flames trounced them 88-61. Jess Foley scored 27 and Jordan Walker-Roberts 15. They then recovered well enough to beat the Tigers 63-55 less than 24 hours later, with Foley adding another 19 and Amy Lewis 15.

The Panthers’ weekend got off to a rough start, copping a 41-72 shellacking from Southern. Jess Hansberry (10 points) was the only Panther in double-figures. However, the Panthers responded well the following day by upsetting West Adelaide 57-54. Hajnal Nagy top-scored with 16, while Lauren Gibbons and Sally Mostert each scored 10.

Last time they met, the Flames had a comprehensive 83-53 win, and expect a similar margin this time out.

Southern Tigers (8-4, 5th) v Eastern Mavericks (5-7, 6th)
Saturday June 30, 6.30pm at Morphett Vale

In the Match of the Round, the Southern Tigers can put a dagger through the hearts of the Eastern Mavericks with a victory at Morphett Vale on Saturday.

A Tiger loss would narrow their advantage over the Mavericks, with the Mavericks holding the series split, thanks to their win in Round 4. However, if the Tigers win, the Mavericks would have to win all their remaining games and rely on the Tigers losing all of theirs, in order to make the finals.

The Tigers split last weekend’s double-header, flogging South before going down to Norwood. Ashleigh Spencer (17 points), Genna Anderson (17 points) and Alex Ciabattoni (16 points) were the game’s highest scorers against South. Spencer (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Simone Nelson (7 points, 11 rebounds, 8 blocks) were standouts in the loss to the Flames.

Mavs star Tess Madgen has missed her team’s last three games, and her teammates have struggled without her. They most recently lost 46-71 at home to Centrals (Madison Bycroft 9, Jamie Thacker 9) and 45-90 to North (Tenille Searl 10, Bycroft 10, Caitlin Sampson 10).

With Madgen, the Mavs have already shown they can beat a team with as much quality as the Tigers, but with or without her doing it a second time will be a very tough ask.

Woodville Warriors (3-8, 7th) v Central District Lions (8-4, 4th)
Saturday June 30, 6.30pm at St Clair

The Central District Lions have regained some of their top form, and can push towards securing a double-chance if they can beat the Woodville Warriors this week.

The Lions took advantage of Tess Madgen’s absence, overcoming Eastern to end their three game losing streak; Elizabeth Keane scoring 14 and Taya Crockford 13. They found the going tough against the Sabres, but finished the stronger of the two sides to win 85-79. Jess Mahony was outstanding with 28 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals.

The Warriors have made great progress since last season, but they will surely be confined to another season at the bottom half of the table. A must-win game against West in Round 11 was lost 56-66, despite 14 points from Emily Sims and 13 from Tara Buttress. Sims and Buttress faced former side Forestville the following day, but it was another unsuccessful day at the office, with the Warriors losing 43-67. Buttress had a team-high 9 points.

Last time they met, the Lions won 88-46. Keane and Fiona Perso each scored 20 for the Lions, while Alissa Hampton and Katherine Perkas had 15 apiece for the Warriors.

The difference between the two sides is probably not as great as that scoreline suggests, but the Lions should sweep the Warriors for a second successive season.

Sturt Sabres (3-9, 8th) v North Adelaide Rockets (8-3, 2nd)
Saturday June 30, 8.15pm at Pasadena

The Sturt Sabres can test how far they have come in recent weeks when they host the North Adelaide Rockets on Saturday.

After struggling through the first two months of the season, the Sabres have had their best four weeks of 2012, winning twice and losing two close ones. They started last weekend in the best possible fashion, defeating Forestville 77-63 in what was their best result of the season. Caroline Burgess had a team-high 18 points, while Natalie Chaloner scored 15 and Ashleigh Bow 12. They almost produced another upset against Centrals, but fell six points short. Amy Shaw, Kate Gladstone and Katrina Fitzpatrick scored 13 apiece.

The Rockets took a turn for the worse against Norwood. Their 27 point loss suggests they still have a ways to go if they want to compete for a premiership this season. Jo Hill had a team-high 20 points, while Jamie-Lee Peris scored 15. Their win last Sunday against Eastern has the Rockets pretty much assured of post-season action for the first time since 2009. Kirsty Williams (15 points) was one of six Rockets with at least nine points.

The last time they met was the Rockets’ second win of 2012, a 72-52 triumph. Hill and Peris each had double-doubles that night.

The Rockets should win again, although the Sabres are starting to make some noise.

West Adelaide Bearcats (3-9, 9th) v Forestville Eagles (8-4, 3rd)
Saturday June 30, 8.15pm at Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide has been a happy hunting ground for the Forestville Eagles in recent finals series, but they need to make the most of their last trip there this season if they are to maintain a spot in the top three.

The Eagles are one of four clubs on eight wins, and if the season ended before this round, they would be fifth. A loss to lowly Sturt last weekend cost the Eagles a spot in the top two. Georgia Minear’s absence clearly hurt, with Olivia Thompson’s best efforts (25 points, 22 rebounds) not enough to help her team come back from a 17-38 half-time deficit. The Eagles did respond well the next day against the Warriors, with Thompson (25 points, 14 rebounds) starring again and Jess Fergus (21 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists) stepping up.

The Bearcats’ 66-56 win over Woodville in Round 11 was their second in a row, a season-high. Ashlea Vordermaier had 17 points and Meg McLeod 14. However, the Bearcats had little time to savour their achievement, losing at home to bottom-placed South the following afternoon. Narelle Van Leuven (10 points) was the only Bearcat in double figures.

Back in Round 4, the Bearcats gave the Eagles a run for their money, but fell to a 57-69 defeat. Thompson and Tara Robinson each had double-doubles for the Eagles. Trudy Holland and Vordermaier did likewise for the Bearcats.

This one should not be a matter of whom, but simply by how much?

By James Woite