After a loss to Sturt last week, the Tigers faced the Panthers at home in a big-cat battle for jungle supremacy. In the end, Southern claimed the points, to stretch their winning streak against the Panthers to four games.

Southern got things started early as Robert Linton scoring inside the first four seconds. Linton then followed up with a classy three-pointer to get the Tigers off to a good start. Eian Davis kicked things off for the Panthers and the game was on. After Michael Nwelue slammed home a big dunk, both teams traded baskets for a while. The Panthers were probably the better team in the first quarter, but committed a few errors, which the Tigers capitalised on. The Tiger’s free-throw shooting was better all night, sinking a total of 26 to the Panther’s 15. At quarter time the score was 25-22 with Southern holding a narrow lead. The Panthers came out in the second term looking more determined. They’d sharpened up their skills and were ready to play. The second quarter was much like the first. With 5:35 to go Andrew Barton sunk consecutive three-pointers to stretch the Tigers lead a little. Most of the play went the way of Tigers, with Eian Davis and Ryan Gardner the only two shining lights for the Panthers. Davis scored consecutive baskets at the 5:10 mark and sunk two free-throws after the siren to put the Panthers just 8 points down at half time. Whilst the Panthers were reliant on Gardner and Davis, the Tigers shared it around, sinking free-throws and making the most of their opportunities. So the Tigers led at the main break 46-38 in what had, so far been a war of attrition, with both sides having good defence and blocking up the key. An 8 point lead at half time is far from unassailable, and the Panthers must have gone into half time feeling pleased with their efforts. The second half was poised to be a crucial one.

South Adelaide started the second half on fire, with Ryan Gardner opening their account with a classy three-pointer. Eain Davis took it up another level too, despite having strapping on his left arm, the result of an injury earlier in the match. The game opened up a bit in the second half, and play was a lot smoother. Anthony Drmic and captain Daniel Peacock got things started for the Tigers. After this, both teams traded baskets for most of the third quarter until Mike Nwelue sunk one with just four seconds on the clock. The Tigers gave away a few more free-throws in the third quarter, but nevertheless were able to stretch their lead to 13 points at three-quarter time, leading the Panthers 74-61. It was much the same in the final quarter. End-to-end, riveting basketball. Davis was sublime for Panthers and Drmic took it to another level for the Tigers. Mike Nwelue slammed home a massive dunk to get the home crowd excited. After that, it was just a formality for the Tigers, really. All the home side had to do was keep doing what they had been all game, exerting defensive pressure on the Panthers.

At the final siren, the score was 96 – 76 in favour of the Tigers. Davis and Gardner were the best for the Panthers, with 55 points between them, 40 for Davis and 15 for Gardner. 9 of Gardner’s 15 points came from three-pointers. For Southern, it was a team effort. They shared it around a bit, with Anthony Drmic sinking 32 points, including 4 threes, Mike Nwelue scoring 21 points and 11 each for Robert Linton and Jordan Dodman. South Adelaide gets a chance for redemption next week in a must-win game against the Woodville Warriors and Southern travel to the Starplex for yet another big-cat battle against the Central Districts Lions.