Eastern Mavericks (0-5, 10th) v Sturt Sabres (1-4, 8th)
Saturday May 11, 8.15 pm at Adelaide Hills

The Eastern Mavericks will be searching for a first home win over Sturt since prior to 2005 when they meet at Adelaide Hills on Saturday.

The Mavericks’ last win against the Sabres was Round 2, 2011. However, unlike years gone by, the Sabres have not made their mark as a premiership threat. Centrals and Southern have already posted rare wins over the double blues, so the Mavericks should go into this one with their heads held high.

In Round 5, the Mavericks threw away their best chance to get a tick in the W column, losing to previously winless South 67-88. Curtis Scipio top-scored with 14 points, while Shane Breheny and Haydn Barns each added 10.

Meanwhile, the Sabres surrendered a 19 point second quarter lead to Southern, losing by 10. Matthew Dougherty had a team-high 15 points. Sam Daly scored 14 and Adam Gavranovich 11.

Consistency has been a problem for the young Sabres this year, but they should have enough class to build a couple of runs and secure win #2.


Norwood Flames (2-3, 7th) v Central District Lions (4-1, 3rd)
Saturday May 11, 8.15pm at Mars

The Norwood Flames are in a potentially make-or-break situation heading into their Round 6 game with Centrals.

Having already dropped winnable contests at home to second-placed Woodville and fifth-placed Southern, the last thing the red and the blue need is a first loss at Mars to the Lions since 2009. A win could possibly see the Flames in the top five at the end of the round, but a loss would have them struggling to keep pace.

The Flames matched undefeated West for a quarter in their last outing, before falling away to lose 73-100. Edward Millard put up 18 points and 8 rebounds, while Keith Krause’s four threes helped him to 16 points.

Round 5 saw the Lions end one long losing streak, but continue another. Their win over Forestville, their fourth consecutive this season, was their first against the Eagles since prior to 2005. They could not butter up two nights later though, dropping a seventh straight contest to the Woodville Warriors. Kyle Miller had a season-high 28 points, while Chris Clausen scored 16.

Although the Lions have played the better basketball so far this season, the Flames are always dangerous on their home court. They know how to perform in big games and may just sneak out of Mars the happier side.


Southern Tigers (3-2, 5th) v Forestville Eagles (3-2, 4th)
Saturday May 11, 8.15pm at Morphett Vale

The Southern Tigers will attempt to pull off a third big scalp in the opening six rounds when they tackle the Forestville Eagles.

The Tigers have already come up big against two of the biggest clubs in the competition, posting rare road wins against Norwood and Sturt. Now it is time for them to face the music on their home floor.

The fighting spirit that was present in the Tigers’ unfortunate Round 2 loss to West was again a feature of this new-look side in Round 5. Down 19 points at Pasadena, the Tigers quickly turned a seemingly lop-sided defeat into a comfortable win, edging back into the top five in the process.

After a quiet start to 2013, Michael Florance turned in a second straight big performance, scoring 26 points (12/16 FT) and grabbing 9 boards. Tim Smyth chipped in with 13 points and 9 rebounds, while Anthony Matthews scored 12.

Following an unexpected loss to Centrals, the Eagles bounced back with their best performance of the season, knocking off the Rockets 75-67. Charles Newland hustled and bustled his way to 17 points and 5 rebounds in a Man-of-the-Match display.

Jake Rios had a career-high 25 points, while Adam Doyle performed admirably in the clutch for 14 points. The win was achieved despite Trent Fildes and Neil Mottram sitting out.

The Tigers have not beaten the Eagles since April 5, 2008.

That could quite well change following Saturday’s game. Tigers coach Rashad Tucker knows the Eagles inside-out and has his team playing its best basketball in years.

Tigers in a thriller!


West Adelaide Bearcats (5-0, 1st) v North Adelaide Rockets (2-3, 6th)
Saturday May 11, 8.15pm at Port Adelaide

In the Match of the Round, Anthony Petrie is expected to make his debut for North Adelaide in this week’s battle with the undefeated West Adelaide Bearcats.

Petrie was one of the best performers in another dark year for the 36ers, and now joins Pero Vasilijevic in coming up against his 36er teammates Daniel Johnson and Jason Cadee. The Rockets were perhaps too guard-heavy over the opening five weeks, but the Vasilijevic-Petrie combination now gives them arguably the best front court in the league.

Petrie needs to make an immediate impact, as the Rockets season could be on the brink if they drop a third straight contest. Despite 18 points and 14 rebounds from Vasilijevic, the Rockets were unable to defeat a depleted Eagles team in Round 5. Brett Collins and Daniel Goodluck each scored 12 points, while the normally prominent Joseph Campbell was held to 7.

The Bearcats continue to make Port Adelaide a dungeon for visiting teams. Their 27 point triumph over Norwood was their third home win by at 24 points or more – an ominous sign for the visiting Rockets.

Johnson (28 points, 14 rebounds) and Cadee (22 points, 6 assists) were on fire. Patrick Thomas (14 points, 7 rebounds) once again made the most of the extended playing time awarded to him by Coach Paul Bell, while Dylan Shorne scored his first career point and Macca Sexton joined him on the scoreboard for the first time this year.

The Rockets were the only club to sweep the Bearcats last season. In Round 15 at Port Adelaide, the Bearcats led the Rockets by 13 with less than three minutes remaining, yet lost in overtime. This result proved particularly vital in the Rockets (13-5) finishing third and the Bearcats (also 13-5) fourth, with the Bearcats eliminated in the Elimination Final by Norwood.

Although the Rockets have been a traditionally better road team, Port Adelaide has not been a happy hunting ground for them (aside from last season). Even with Petrie in the side, it is hard to see them getting over the line against the in-form Bearcats.


Woodville Warriors (4-1, 2nd) v South Adelaide Panthers (1-4, 9th)
Sunday May 12, 6.15pm at St Clair

The visit of the South Adelaide Panthers this Saturday poses danger for the red-hot Woodville Warriors.

For the Panthers, a 5-1 record would look far different to a 4-2 one, and this is the sort of game the Warriors have become accustomed to losing.

The Warriors were 4-1 after five games last season, but then went down to an undermanned Norwood Flames at home the following week. They were still above the Flames come Round 15, but then they lost at home to the Southern Tigers who were 4-10.

Given there were just three games between the Warriors and Flames after Round 18, it is fair to say that these losses had a huge impact on the Warriors missing the finals.

If the Warriors fail to pull off a win against the 1-4 South Adelaide Panthers, it will undo a lot of the good work they have already done, winning road games against finals hopefuls North, Norwood and, most recently, previously undefeated Centrals. Aaron Wyatt (27 points, 8/11 FG, 6/7 3FG) certainly made the most of the friendly Starplex rings, while Luke Stanbridge (21 points, 8/12 FG) did likewise.

The Panthers will be in their best mood of the season, having just won for the first time in 17 attempts during their rout of Eastern. Shane Boal (26 points, 10 rebounds) and Thomas McKenzie (20 points, 12 rebounds) were standouts.

The Panthers are building some momentum and should make a contest, but the Warriors should get this one. Watch out for a big third quarter run from the men in green!