Central ABL Round 3 - Fildes Clinic As Eagles Down Warriors
Sturt Sabres v North Adelaide Rockets
Women: Sturt Sabres 45 – 71 North Adelaide Rockets
The Rockets led from the tip-off to the final siren, on the back of a first half domination, to remain the second best side in the league.
Jo Hill was in stellar form, putting up a double-double (17 Points, 11 Rebounds), in 29 minutes of game time. Every North player registered a score, in a game where the bench saw good minutes. Lucy Spalding (13 Points, 12 Rebounds) was the home sides best player.
North led by 22 at the main break, keeping the Sabres to only 14 first half points. Sturt rallied in the third period, to double their score, however still lost the quarter. It was elementary from there, with the Rockets bench bringing the game home.
The Rockets remain undefeated and in 2nd place, the Sabres with just the one win stay in 6th place.
Men: Sturt Sabres 88 – 69 North Adelaide Rockets
Sturt are off to their best start since 2005, in a season that saw them make it to the preliminary final, only to taste defeat at the hands of the Warriors. The Rockets however, are off to their equal worst start in the last decade.
Sturt came out of the blocks with a blast, winning the first period 33 to 11. The pain continued in the second for the Rockets, with the home side pouring on another 24 to 16 period, to lead by 30 at the half. The Rockets had a late charge, winning the second half, but Sturt were always in control. Sturt managed to secure 12 steals for the game, and converting them into easy transition offence.
The Sabres had multiple contributors for the game; their best on the night was Tim Klaosen (16 Points, 6 Rebounds) making seven of eleven field goal attempts. Youngster Hamish Burns continued his expected rise, taking home 16 Points. North Adelaide saw better contribution on the offensive end compared with previous rounds, with Daniel Goodluck (24 Points) the standout.
The Rockets will need to repeat their 2011 season, after a 0 win and 3 loss start that year, they managed to finish with 11 wins and 7 losses, to stand any chance of seeing playoff action this year. The Sabres are now 2nd on the ladder, and only one of two teams to remain undefeated.
West Adelaide Bearcats v South Adelaide Panthers
Women: West Adelaide Bearcats 55 - 66 South Adelaide Panthers
What on off-season South Adelaide have had. Securing the services of 2012 Halls medallist Jess Mahony, and stud import Janae Howard, the Panthers are off to a blinder, their best start since the 2007 season.
The Bearcats were down 19 at the half, but made a late run in the fourth period, however ran out of time to close the gap.
Jess Mahony (15 Points and 8 Rebounds) should poll well this game, as well as the league leading scorer Janae Howard (24 Points and 8 Rebounds). The Bearcats had a number of players perform well, Kate Shierlaw their best with 14 Points and 8 rebounds.
West struggled to find the bottom of the net on their home court, only managing 30% from the field, South were 5% better and had seven extra looks.
The Bearcats have registered just the one win for the season, and are 7th on the ladder, the Panthers remain undefeated for 3rd place.
Men: West Adelaide Bearcats 73 – 74 South Adelaide Panthers
In what was the Match of the Round, the South Adelaide Panthers were the shock of the Round, with their upset of the highly fancied West Adelaide Bearcats. Prior to this game the Panthers were on the bottom of the ladder, and the Bearcats equal first.
Jordan Robertson was back to his best for the visitors, dropping 23 points and pulling 6 rebounds. Brad Reid provided support with 20 points and 14 boards. Import Jason Dawson (27 points and 11 rebound) was the home sides best, and supported by big man Blake Truslove for 9 points and 14 rebounds. West were missing stud starting 2 guard Tristan Braithwaite, who has been arguably their best this year.
South trailed by 9 points at the last change, before getting hot, outscoring the Bearcats 30-20. Jordan Robertson converted free throws in the clutch, to push the Panthers one point ahead, with West unable to convert in the dying moments of the game. The Panthers shot the ball better on West’s home court, managing 39% for the field, whilst the Bearcats could only manage 34%
The Bearcats slip to 3rd place on the ladder with the loss, and the Panthers climb to 8th with the win.
Central District Lions v Norwood Flames
Women: Central District Lions 34 – 105 Norwood Flames
The result of this game was never in doubt, but the margin was. The Flames punished the Lions offense, allowing only 13 made field goals, from 72 attempted.
Norwood are now undefeated since the 2012 preliminary final, and the Lions didn’t stand a chance of changing that this round. Jessica Good was the Flames best, with 25 Points on 10-13 FG’s, and 10 Rebounds. Multiple Flames players cashed in on this stats booster, Amy Lewis (18 Points, 9 Rebounds), Cara Boothey (11 Points, 10 Rebounds), Dusty Rodda (14 Points), and veteran Elizabeth Keane (12 Points, 6 Rebounds) in 15 minutes of game time. Centrals only resistance was Brianna Wedding, taking home 6 points and 7 rebounds.
Centrals only managed a dismal 16% from the field, plus were forced into 28 turnovers.
Credit: Photo Credit: Tanya Fielding Photography
Norwood are still on top of the ladder, whilst the Lions crash to the bottom spot.
Men: Central District Lions 79 – 96 Norwood Flames
The Flames men were desperate to mark their first win for the season, and managed to do it against fellow contender Centrals.
The Lions held an 8 point lead at the main break, however the Flames regrouped and took out the third period 34-13, before holding off the dangerous Centrals men.
The visiting Flames gun 3 man Matthew Lycett (30 Points and 10 Rebounds) was the nights best player, with Daniel Webber coming off the bench for 15 points and 6 rebounds in 17 minutes of court time. The Lions dangerous combination of league leading scorer Kyle Miller (20 points and 7 assists) and Chris Clausen (16 points and 10 rebounds), were both down on their season averages, however needed more support.
The Flames men looked after the ball better than the Lions, only throwing away six turnovers compared to the lions sixteen. The Flames shooting 52% from the field for the game was good for 7% better than the Lions.
The Lions have only the one win for the season, which sees them take 7th. Norwood have racked up their first win, and have taken 6th spot.
Southern Tigers v Eastern Mavericks
Women: Southern Tigers 73 – 55 Eastern Mavericks
Southern Tigers have managed to keep a winning record, after overcoming a first quarter scare to comfortably beat the lowly placed Eastern Mavericks.
Defending their home court, the Tigers had a horrid first 10 minutes, giving up 23 points to 9, their defence unable to contain the Mavericks spreading the floor. Southern then found their offence for the next three quarters not scoring under 20 points in each period, eventually taking the lead in the third period and not looking back.
Shayde Quintrell (16 points and 15 rebounds) was the home sides best, with import Jade Barber (10 points and 15 rebounds) terrorising the paint and glass. For the visitors Emma Hooley (13 points and 9 rebounds) was important in putting up a fight, as well as Shannon Tarran with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Southern are now in the 5, with Eastern in 9th place and without a win.
Men: Southern Tigers 96 – 65 Eastern Mavericks
Southern Tigers men defended their home court, with a solid 31-point win over the Mavericks. Eastern were around the mark for most of the afternoon, trailing by low double digits, however Southern turned up the heat in the last period, piling on 34 points, and running away with the game.
Veteran 4-man Tim Smyth was the home teams best, racking up 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in only 20 minutes of game time, with back up SG Todd Davies had 16 points and 4 rebounds in 18 minutes of play. The Tigers rotated their list, with all but one player seeing 10 minutes or more. Isaac Nyembo was the visiting sides best, managing 16 points and 4 rebounds, with starting point Curtis Scipio leading all scorers with 19 points, however 6 turnovers hurt his efficiency.
The Tigers defence was stifling, with the Mavericks only managing 31% from the field. Southern’s efficient ball movement and structure, allowed them to convert at 45%.
The win puts the Tigers to top spot of the ladder and undefeated, and Eastern crashing to 9th place.
Forestville Eagles v Woodville Warriors
Women: Forestville Eagles 75 - 73 Woodville Warriors
In what was the Match of the Round, the Forestville Eagles have managed to hold off the fast finishing Woodville Warriors, securing victory by 2 points. Star PG Jess Fergus made the go ahead bucket with only 2 seconds left, with the Warriors Carmen Reynolds unable to force the game into overtime on the buzzer.
Jess Fergus (22 points, 5 rebounds) was outstanding for the Eagles, as was Jade Johnson (22 points) and Sarah Petrie (7 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists). For the Warriors Carmen Reynolds (20 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists), with help from young gun Ashleigh White (24 points and 9 rebounds).
Woodville have now suffered back-to-back losses with the slimmest of margins, for 8th place on the ladder. The Eagles have now jumped to 4th on the ladder, in more familiar territory.
Men: Forestville Eagles 97 – 84 Woodville Warriors
The Eagles men have made a statement, and declared their intentions on competition favourite Woodville, in a fourth quarter effort to get over the line by 13 points.
Trent Fildes had a night to remember for the Eagles, in what would have to be one of the best shooting performances in Central ABL history. Fildes had 46 points for the game, shooting 9 of 10 three’s, to go with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Brad Gerlach played an important role with 11 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. For the Warriors, league second leading scorer Alex Starling (26 points, 19 rebounds) was a monster, the Warriors also saw good bench production from Luke Stanbridge with 16 points and 5 rebounds in 17 minutes.
The Warriors started quick, leading by 7 at the first change, then maintaining that lead into the main break. The Eagles rallied in the third, outscoring the Warriors by 9, and taking the lead late in the quarter. The highly fancied Warriors ran out of steam, only converting 3 of 17 baskets in the final period.
The Eagles sit in 5th spot on the ladder, the Warriors just ahead for 4th place.
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