North Adelaide Rockets (4-2, 5th) v Southern Tigers (2-4, 8th)
Saturday May 18, 6.30 pm at Hillcrest

The Southern Tigers have another tough test ahead of them when they visit the North Adelaide Rockets.

The Tigers have played 3of the 4 top 5 sides already, and have lost all of those matches by an average of 45 points. This includes a 50-82 home defeat to Forestville in Round 6.

Denelle Fawcett was the Tigers’ best statistically with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Stana Zecevic tallied 9 rebounds and 6 points.

The Tigers were behind the eight ball after a damaging 5-23 first quarter. On the night, they shot less than 31 per cent from the field, had 10 extra turnovers and 14 fewer rebounds.

The Rockets have done everything in braces thus far - two wins, followed by two losses, and then another two victories.

They enter this match following a 77-63 triumph over West Adelaide. Shannon McKay shot the ball well for 16 points, while Jamie-Lee Peris had a double-double.

However, it was Jo Hill (21 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals) who stole the show. Hill’s averages of 19.4 ppg, 14 rpg, 3.8 apg and 55.1% FG are her best in the last eight years.

Despite the Tigers being one of only two teams to defeat the Rockets in 2012, the home side should further distance themselves from the bottom five with another win here.

South Adelaide Panthers (0-6, 9th) v Norwood Flames (6-0, 1st)
Saturday May 18, 6.30pm at Marion

The South Adelaide Panthers have a mountain to climb if they are to win for the first time this year with the all-conquering Norwood Flames as their Round 7 opponents.

The Panthers looked set to finally break their drought when they led the Warriors by 4 points with just over five minutes remaining on Mother’s Day. However, they were out-scored 0-10 in the final 5.09 and lost by 6.

Danielle Greaves (12 points) and Teresa Kinross (10 points, 8 rebounds) combined for more than half the Panthers’ points. They gave up 11 extra offensive boards to their opponents, losing the overall rebound count 44-57.

Amy Lewis returned to the Flames’ line-up for the first time in 2013 and connected on all 6 of her field goal attempts; her team cruising to a 94-38 win over Centrals. Dusty Rodda (15 points, 5 rebounds) and Megan Pritchard (13 points, 7 rebounds) made the most of some rare big minutes by posting career best figures in scoring and rebounding.

The Flames made 48 per cent of their field goal attempts, while holding the Lions to under 23 per cent. They also held sway 56-30 on the boards.

The Flames came close to cracking a century last week. Maybe they can do it this time?

Sturt Sabres (5-1, 2nd) v Woodville Warriors (2-4, 6th)
Saturday May 18, 6.30pm at St Clair

The Sturt Sabres will be keen to bounce back from their shock blowout loss to Eastern when they welcome the Woodville Warriors to Pasadena.

The Sabres were comprehensively beaten by the Mavericks 79-95. They were out-scored 13-32 in the second period and trailed by as many as 32 points.

Amy Shaw put up 24 points and 9 rebounds, while Hannah Bowley (16 points) and Molly Lewis (15 points, 10 rebounds) were also productive.

The Sabres made less than a third of their shots and were out-rebounded 30-51.

The Warriors have put together a 2 game winning streak, thanks to a come-from-behind 46-40 win over South in Round 6. The Warriors had 11 more rebounds than points, which saved them from the jaws of defeat.

Katherine Perkas (18 rebounds, 10 points) and Ashleigh White (12 rebounds, 2 points) reached double figures in rebounding, while Tess Keenan and Jessica Koch combined for 23 points.

The Sabres have a fantastic record against the Warriors and they should prove last week’s trip to the Hills was purely an off night.

Central District Lions (0-6, 10th) v West Adelaide Bearcats (2-4, 6th)
Saturday May 18, 6.30pm at Starplex

The West Adelaide Bearcats have been splendid away from home thus far, and a match against the winless Central District Lions provides them with an opportunity to go 3-0 on their travels.

The Bearcats have dropped two games straight at Port Adelaide in the last two weeks, meaning they badly need a win to keep pace with the top five.

After a decent start against the North Adelaide Rockets, the Bearcats fell away to lose by 14. The Bearcats sorely missed reigning Halls Medallist Jessica Mahony, although Amy Porter (14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists) and Kate Shierlaw (11 points, 6 steals, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) put in solid shifts.

The Bearcats allowed the Rockets to make nearly half of their shots, while making just over a third of their own. They were also crushed 22-56 on the boards.

Nothing went right for the Lions in their huge loss to Norwood. Tamika Dukes shot just 7/29 but her 16 points allows her to retain the “Second in Scoring Title” for now, while Brianna Wedding’s 10 boards keep her amongst the league’s best rebounders.

The Lions took both games from the Bearcats in 2013 but are unlikely to be so fortunate this time out.

Forestville Eagles (4-2, 4th) v Eastern Mavericks (5-1, 3rd)
Saturday May 18, 6.30pm at Wayville

In the Match of the Round, the Eastern Mavericks can maintain their place in the top five if they can earn a rare win over the Forestville Eagles.

The Mavericks have not beaten the Eagles since March 17, 2007. For the record, Mavericks’ star Tess Madgen had 10 points and 9 rebounds in that game, while Eagles captain Jess Fergus scored only 7 points. Expect both to have a bigger impact this time out.

Madgen (37 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists) finished one turnover shy of a quadruple-double in the Mavericks’ win over previously undefeated Sturt in Round 6. Shannon Tarran was also impressive with 22 points and 9 rebounds.

The Mavericks shot over 53 per cent during the first three quarters. Their +21 edge in rebounds made up for their 12 additional turnovers.

The Eagles are back at home following two away games. Their last match at Wayville resulted in a 56-71 loss to Sturt.

Last week, the Eagles defeated Southern in comfortable fashion at Morphett Vale. Fergus had a season best 33 points, while Olivia Thompson registered 18 points and 6 rebounds. Tara Robinson tallied only two points, but had game-highs of 12 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Other than free throw percentage, the Eagles were the better team in all key statistical areas.

Right now, the Mavericks are flying higher than the Eagles and so long as Madgen stays hot, win number six is theirs for the taking.

By James Woite

Photo courtesy of Tanya Fielding