By Sam Phillips
West Adelaide Bearcats 75 | South Adelaide Panthers 57

The Bearcats have completed a double over the Panthers, winning away and pressing their claims for a finals spot, 75-57 on Saturday.

Looking to make it four in a row after beating Sturt last week, the Bearcats started with enthusiasm and forced South into a number of turnovers early on. Sky Langenbrinck (17 pts) was lively and deadly accurate, shooting at 100% for the first half with 10 points. Coach Tim Brenton was vocal and urged the girls not to rest on their laurels.   

The injection of Maddie Cunningham (12 points) into the game provided South with some much needed energy as she drove hard into the key. Ieva Nagy was ever reliable, hitting back to back shots with 6 points for the quarter. West however had the momentum and the lead at the break, 20-13.  

Cunningham continued her good work in the second, picking up 6 points as South began to exert more pressure on West.

Teonna Campbell, perhaps the best player across the night, looked lively with a couple of great steals and 8 points. She also helped gain a rebound dominance for the Bearcats with 7 herself in the first half. This trend continued across the night with West out rebounding South by 10, giving their players first use and access to a number of second chance points (22 for the match).

Despite an improved quarter, South trailed by 7 at the main change.

In what was a tense third term, South was able to get a number of important stops early, restricting West’s ability to get open shots.

Tayla Corrigan (12 pts, 11 rebounds) was instrumental collecting 7 rebounds and 6 points in the second half, aiding South to cut the margin to just one midway through the quarter. West held a narrow 3 point lead at the last break, with the match firmly in the balance.

The Bearcats started the last quarter with strong defence, never allowing the Panthers to take control of the match and opening up a double digit lead. Stana Zecevic (16 pts, 6 rebounds) and Teonna Campbell (20 pts, 14 rebounds, 7 steals) were able to show their athleticism capitalising on some loose South Adelaide passing.

Ieva Nagy never stopped trying, collecting some late points on her way to a game leading 24 (also 8 rebounds). While the game finished in uncompetitive fashion, it was an entertaining affair that gave West Adelaide a chance to further prove they could be a threat come finals time if their form continues.

Round 15: Saturday, 2July at 6:30pm
Southern Tigers v South Adelaide Panthers @ Morphett Vale
Woodville Warriors v West Adelaide Bearcats @ St Clair