Central ABL Round 12 - Gibson and Gerlach Lead Eagles Season Revival
Eastern Mavericks v Southern Tigers
Women’s: Eastern Mavericks 72 – 60 Southern Tigers
The Eastern Mavericks women have recorded their second win of the season, taking out the struggling Southern Tigers by 12 in the Adelaide Hills.
It was a tight contest up until half time, with the Mavericks holding a slim 1-point lead going into the main break. A fourth quarter capitulation from Southern saw them all but throw the game away.
Eastern were once again led by Shannon Tarran (18 points and 12 rebounds), Emma Hooley (11 points and 12 rebounds) and Amanda Macdermot (17 points and 4 rebounds), who have all been outstanding for the struggling side since Round 1.
The Tigers saw production from Kaylee Biddell (15 points and 8 rebounds) and Shayde Quintrell (7 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks). A poor shooting night summed up the Tigers fate, with Lauren Fisher and Kelsie Rutland going a combined 10 from 39 for 26 points.
Eastern in 9th place creep one game closer to the Tigers in 8th, only one game ahead.
Credit: Photo Credit: Tanya Fielding Photography
Men’s: Eastern Mavericks 62 – 105 Southern Tigers
The Tigers men looked to steady the ship against the Mavericks, breaking their six game losing streak, downing the challenging Mavericks side by 43 points. The game was set up with an enormous 37-5 second period, and the Tigers winning every period from there on.
The Mavericks struggled for output, with only Dylan Shorne (20 points and 5 rebounds) managing to hit double figures.
The Tigers saw five players in double figures, with Codey Ellison (17 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks) their best for the game. Sam McDaniel (19 points), Sam Johns (16 points and 6 rebounds) also putting in highly efficient games in the win.
The Mavericks are still in 10th place, with the one win. The Tigers are in 7th place, two games behind the Sabres and Lions. With the Lions missing import Kyle Miller, one spot in the five looks to be opening up, but they will need to find their early season form to see playoff action.
North Adelaide Rockets v Sturt Sabres
Women’s: North Adelaide Rockets 60 – 77 Sturt Sabres
In the game of the Round, the Sabres continued to flex their might, defeating the contending Rockets side by 17 points, in what is looming to be this years Preliminary Final match up.
The Rockets started out slow, behind by 6 after ten minutes. A tied second quarter saw that margin maintained into the half. The damage all came in the third period as the Sabres outscored the Rockets 24-12, the Sabres shooting their best clip, and the Rockets their worst, for the game. From there the Sabres held out the dangerous North side, to take an imposing win.
Sturt have seen a huge improvement with Natalie Novosel (15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists) taking significant defensive pressure from opposing sides, allowing Hannah Richards (20 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks) and Lucy Spalding (16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists) to go to work, upping their production creating a multipronged attack.
The Rockets veteran star captain Jo Hill (5 points, 4 assists and 5 rebounds) could only manage 19 minutes of game time, fouling out in frustrating fashion. In her absence, Jamie-Lee Peris (20 points and 16 rebounds) saw more of the ball, and proving to be effective at both ends.
Sturt sit in 3rd place, on equal wins with the Rockets and Panthers, making this weeks Round 13 clash between the Sabres and Panthers a highly anticipated affair. The Rockets are in 2nd place on percentage, however are yet to meet the Flames for their second go round this season in Round 14.
Men’s: North Adelaide 66 – 84 Sturt Sabres
The Rockets men are in the hurt locker, losing game number nine for the year in one of their worst seasons for years. The Sabres held a 17 point first half lead, before rotating the bench and taking away a solid 18 point win.
North again struggled to get points on the board, managing only 38% from the field and 28% behind the arc. The Sabres converted at 45% from the field, and 41% from three. North won on the boards with a +7 advantage, however 15 turnovers to the Sabres 6 resulted in costly points.
For the Rockets, Daniel Goodluck (22 points, 4 assists) proved himself again as his stock continues to grow, and Adam Schild (14 points and 9 rebounds) relished in the first extended minutes he had played this season.
The Sabres found production from Tim Klaosen (20 points and 10 rebounds) and Jordan Heading (26 points on 6 of 8 from three), whilst import Dexter Moore had a quiet night with 9 points, in what is promising signs for the side.
Sturt hold onto 5th place, one game ahead of the Eagles and one game behind the Warriors. North stay locked in 9th spot, and likely going to finish there.
South Adelaide Panthers v West Adelaide Bearcats
Women’s: South Adelaide Panthers 91 – 84 West Adelaide Bearcats
The Panthers managed to hold off a fast finishing Bearcats side to secure win number nine for the season. The first half saw both sides put up big numbers, the Panthers ahead 52-48 at the break, with both sides shooting in the high 50% mark. The third period saw the Panthers maintain that clip, whilst the Bearcats fell off the pace, and gave up important offensive boards. South held a 15 point lead into the last quarter, when West fought back with a 22-14 quarter, but ran out of time to close the gap further.
For South, Ashleigh Spencer (28 points and 7 rebounds @ 62%), Janae Howard (18 points and 8 rebounds) and Jess Mahony (13 points and 15 assists) provided the biggest production, however they had significant support from role players putting up efficient numbers and crashing the boards.
West rode on the back of two players, with Anna Carbo (23 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists) and Kate Shierlaw (32 points @ 74%), however struggled to find good options of the offensive end of the floor outside of Carbo and Shierlaw.
South maintain their grip on the top five sitting in 4th place, on equal wins with both North and Sturt, and face a huge challenge in the Sabres next week, but with the massive reward of 2nd place if they can knock them off. West stay stuck in the bottom five in 6th place, now two games back from the Eagles, and now needing to make their final push towards August.
Men’s: South Adelaide Panthers 73 – West Adelaide Bearcats 86
West have found revenge on the Panthers after their shock 1-point loss earlier this season. In a close game, the Bearcats found their way to the line 15 extra times to secure an important win. The Panthers couldn’t hit the side of a barn in the final ten minutes, going only 3 of 18 for the period, giving up a 20-9 quarter.
For the Panthers, Tom McKenzie (15 points and 11 rebounds) continues to wind back the clock, whilst Ryan Gardner (18 points), Shane Boal (15 points) and Bradley Reid (11 points and 6 rebounds) all played well to keep South in with a chance.
West were led by big man Blake Truslove (16 points and 15 rebounds) having his best season in years and Kurtis Phillips (19 points and 12 rebounds) also having a hot night.
The Bearcats sit atop the ladder, ever so slightly ahead of the Flames by .44 of a percent. The Panthers are back in 8th place, two games outside the five and now in a do or die position to play finals.
Norwood Flames v Central District Lions
Women’s: Norwood Flames 106 – 48 Central District Lions
The Flames punished the winless Lions side for the second time this season, with a 58 point demolition at MARS.
Norwood rotated their bench on the night, with no player clocking more than 23 minutes for the game. The Flames probably should have won by more, but the Lions shooting effort of 36.7% would be on par with their best all season prevented a larger loss.
For the Flames, Jess Good (24 points, 9 rebounds in 22 minutes), Jess Foley (19 points and 6 assists in 20 minutes) and Amy Lewis (18 points, 8 steals, 5 assists and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes) were dominant.
Centrals had little resistance. Caitlin Arnold (11 points) and Aimee Herriman (9 points and 4 rebounds) the Lions best on the night. The most dominating statistic for the Lions was their 31 turnovers, crumbling under the defensive pressure.
Norwood are still on top of the ladder, with the solitary loss this year. The Lions at the other end of the world, winless after 12 games.
Men’s: Norwood Flames 74 – 51 Central District Lions
The Flames have won game number 7 in a row, and now are desperately close to sitting on top of the ladder. Norwood put away the Kyle Miller-less Lions side, as Centrals offensive struggles became apparent, in one of the lowest scoring performances of the year.
The Lions stayed with the Flames to the half, only 3-points behind, before a 20-point second half smashing. Centrals Dan Carlin (14 points, 3 blocks and 10 rebounds) had a quality night out, whilst the reliable Chris Clausen (7 points and 9 rebounds) was below his usual output.
Norwood found buckets from star Matthew Lycett (20 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds) and Keith Krause (10 points and 6 rebounds). However it was a team game again for the Flames with all but three players registering a point.
The Flames look imposing after a bad start to the season, and sit in 2nd place on the ladder. The Lions are in 4th place, but based on their current form, likely to slip over the coming weeks.
Woodville Warriors v Forestville Eagles
Women’s: Woodville Warriors 53 – 68 Forestville Eagles
Woodville’s finals chances were dealt an almost lethal blow at the hands of the Eagles, going down by 15 points after a fourth quarter collapse by the Warriors.
The game was a tight contest, however the Eagles managed to shoot the better clip, and make it to the line regularly. A 21-7 last period, that saw Woodville shoot 18%, put the game out of question.
Woodville found production from their go to players again this round, with Katherine Perkas (17 points and 11 rebounds) and Carmen Reynolds (12 points and 9 rebounds) shoulder the load all year.
The Eagles relied on long serving point guard Jess Fergus (16 points), Jade Johnson (19 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks) and National Netball star come State League Basketball acquisition Carla Borrego-Williams (14 points and 16 rebounds) to get them over the line.
The Warriors sit in 7th place, two games behind the 5th placed Eagles. The Warriors will need to find some late season wins to contend in the post season, whilst the Eagles are strengthening in typical fashion, looking to steal the title from 5th place, which wouldn’t be the first time in recent memory.
Men’s: Woodville Warriors 69 – 84 Forestville Eagles
Its about this time that the big guns start to fire, and the Eagles sent a message that they are still serious about raising the flag this season, defeating title favourites Woodville by 15 at St Clair.
The game was tied after 20 minutes, before the Eagles turned up the defensive pressure in the third holding the Warriors to 11 points for the period. A final quarter push shooting at 50% from the field took the game away from Woodville.
The Warriors were led by import Alexander Starling (25 points and 10 rebounds) who looks to be over his mid season injury, and Luke Stanbriudge (11 points and 5 rebounds) the only other player to break double figures.
Forestville had five players in double figures, Brad Gerlach (15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists) their best for the game, with Adam Gibson (16 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists) his highly efficient self, whilst Trent Fildes (15 points), Brad Haydon (15 points) and Jake Rios (14 points), all giving the Eagles some serious potency.
The Eagles now sit in 6th place, one game back from the Sabres but likely to improve as the Lions fall away. The Warriors sit in 3rd place, and sit must be considered a contender for the title, however no longer favourites.
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