Eastern Mavericks (0-7, 10^th) v Southern Tigers (3-4, 8^th)

Saturday May 25, 8.15 pm at Adelaide Hills

The Southern Tigers will be hoping to avoid a maiden three game losing streak in 2013 when they travel to Eastern.

The Tigers are coming off their worst result of the season – a 76-92 loss to North. They scored just 11 points in the third quarter while giving up double, which ultimately proved decisive.

Samuel McDaniel (16.3 ppg, 62% FG, 8.7 rpg), Michael Florance (13 ppg, 5 rpg) and Samuel Johns (13 ppg, 4.6 rpg) are players to watch. The numbers for Codey Ellison (9.7 ppg, 37% FG 6.6 rpg) are down on last year, so he is due for a breakout game.

The Mavericks fell to 0-7 after an 89-109 loss to Forestville last week. They were outscored 20-36 in the first 10 minutes.

Curtis Scipio (15.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.3 apg) is top five in the league in steals and turnovers. Shane Breheny (15 ppg, 7.3 rpg) is scoring more than last season but rebounding less, while Stuart Breheny (9.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg) is having his best season statistically.

Other than last season, where they were swept 2-0, the Mavericks have a decent recent record against the Tigers.

The Tigers have been solid all season while the Mavericks have not looked like winning, so it would go against all odds for the Mavs to pull this one off.

Norwood Flames (4-3, 5^th) v Sturt Sabres (3-4, 7^th)

Saturday May 25, 8.15pm at Mars

It may not quite be the Match of the Round (as it usually is), but this week’s Norwood v Sturt clash has just as much riding on it as per usual.

Fifth place is well and truly up for grabs for the winner, while the Flames could see themselves in the top three if they get fortunate with other results.

Both teams have won two straight, with the Flames triumphant at the expense of Centrals and South, and the Sabres KO-ing Eastern and Woodville as they have done so many times in recent seasons.

Edward Millard (20.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg) is coming off a season low 14 points in the Flames’ win over South. In contrast, Keith Krause (12.5 ppg, 6 rpg) had season highs of 19 points and 13 rebounds in that match. Andrew Webber is another key player, averaging 12.7 ppg, 4.6 apg and 4.1 rpg.

For the Sabres, Sam Daly has really stepped up the last two weeks, scoring 41 points, including the game-winner against Woodville. In addition, he is averaging 5.7 apg and 4.7 rpg in the Sabres’ wins.

Matthew Dougherty (18.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg) has been a real find, while John Marriott is leading the league in rejections and has just registered back-to-back double-doubles for the first time in his career.

These teams split their series last season, the away team winning on both occasions.

Although the Flames do look the better side on paper, this game has upset of the week, to coin a phrase, “written all over it”.

West Adelaide Bearcats (6-1, 1^st) v South Adelaide Panthers (1-6, 9^th)

Saturday May 25, 8.15pm at Port Adelaide

Following their first loss of the season, the West Adelaide Bearcats will be glad to see their beloved home court again when they take to the field against South Adelaide.

In four home games, the Bearcats’ point differential is +95. On the road, they are +7 in three outings.

The Bearcats showed how vulnerable they can be without former Panther Daniel Johnson in losing 80-89 at Centrals in Round 7. Johnson had been in dynamic touch since tipoff in Round 1. The big man’s “weakest” game thus far is a 20 point-9 rebound effort against the Mavericks in Round 3.

Also central to the Bearcats’ play is Jason Cadee (18.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.7 apg) and Tristan Braithwaite. Braithwaite’s shooting percentages are higher than ever this season, and he has scored 40 points on 9/19 3FG the last three weeks, despite playing limited minutes off the bench.

The Panthers look set to miss the finals once more. A win against Norwood last week would have put them in the mix, given the evenness of this season, but they could not come up with the goods, going down 63-80.

Thomas McKenzie (19.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg), Shane Boal (17.7 ppg, 12/58 3FG, 8 rpg) and Jordan Robertson (12.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg) have done their best this season, though the club will have been boosted by the return of Kyle Howe-Tipene.

The Panthers have not beaten the Bearcats at Port Adelaide since May 24, 2008, and they will need the Basketball Gods well and truly on their side to change the that this week.

Woodville Warriors (5-2, 2^nd) v Forestville Eagles (5-2, 3^rd)

Saturday May 25, 8.15pm at St Clair

In the Match of the Round, the Woodville Warriors will be fighting to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time in 2013 when they host the Forestville Eagles.

In Round 7, the Warriors blew the chance to join West Adelaide at the summit, losing 75-79 to Sturt. The Warriors let themselves down with a 21-31 first quarter, but outscored the Sabres the rest of the game. They were in front inside the final four minutes, but were unable to hold on.

The Warriors scored just one point on their final three possessions, which included an Aaron Wyatt travel when the team required a three to win.

Wyatt (22.3 ppg, 51% FG, 3.6 rpg) has been the Warriors’ outstanding player this season. He leads the league in total points and three point percentage and is third in threes made. He has been well-supported by Steve Pilkington (12.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg) and Luke Stanbridge (10.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg).

Darren Ng is averaging just 14.1 ppg on 32% FG and 28% 3FG, his worst percentages in the last eight years. It is surely only a matter of time before he fires.

The Eagles made a slow start to the season, but have come good with three straight wins against North, Southern and most recently Eastern. Adam Doyle is becoming more familiar with his bigger role, scoring a career high 35 points against Eastern after a best ever 27 the previous round. Doyle’s 14 rebounds were also a personal best.

Jake Rios leads the league with 24 three-pointers, and is fourth in the league in scoring with 21.6 ppg. Charles Newland (8 ppg, 5.3 rpg) is having a breakout season while heading the competition in fouls.

The last time they met at St Clair, the Warriors pulled off an overtime victory – one of only three for the year.

A victory in this fixture would make it three home wins already for the men in green, and if they can play the way they did in the first six weeks, then they should hold on to their top two spot.

Central District Lions (5-2, 4^th) v North Adelaide Rockets (3-4, 6^th)

Saturday May 25, 8.15pm at Starplex

This week’s trip to Centrals is a crucial match for North Adelaide.

The Rockets are 0-4 against the other top five sides, so desperately need a victory to show they are finals material. They sit in sixth place right now, having defeated the Southern Tigers in Round 7.

Anthony John Petrie and Pero Vasilijevic showed what a damaging pair they could be in their team’s dismantling of the Tigers – who have been ultra competitive in every other match. The duo combined for 41 points on 16/29 shooting, 20 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks.

Joseph Campbell (13.4 ppg, 59% FG, 7.7 rpg) has been an excellent pickup and will face his former club for the first time this week.

The Lions are roaring once more, having just become the first club to defeat West Adelaide in 2013. Kyle Miller had a season best 35 points on a night when everything went right for the Gawler club.

Christopher Clausen (17 ppg, 8 rpg) is having a great season, while Matthew Atkins and Joel Goodenough have made 27 of their 34 field goals from beyond the arc.

The Rockets swept last season’s series for the first time in four years.

Taking on two skilled big men will be a tough challenge for the smaller Lions. The Rockets badly need a win and should snuff out a close one. That being said, if Miller can reproduce his form from last week then the Lions will be difficult to stop.

By James Woite

Photo courtesy of Tanya Fielding