SA Premier League basketball round seven match reports
Another week, another set of intriguing results in SA Premier League basketball season. The pick of the bunch was Norwood hitting a last-gasp three-pointer to edge Forestville by one point.Here is Messenger Community News’ recap of round-seven action.
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Another week, another set of intriguing results in SA Premier League basketball season.
The pick of the bunch was Norwood hitting a last-gasp three-pointer to edge Forestville by one point.
Here is Messenger Community News’ recap of round-seven action.
LAST-GASP THREE WINS IT
Matthew Lycett drained a three-pointer with just three seconds remaining to seal a thrilling home win for Norwood’s men over Forestville on Saturday night.
With the Flames trailing by two points, Lycett received the ball from an inbound and nailed the jumper to seal the 85-84 triumph at the ARC Campbelltown.
Forestville import Greg Mays then missed an attempt in the paint as time expired.
Flames coach Michael Rogers said Lycett’s shot was one he took regularly and was helped by some excellent teamwork.
“It looked good out of his hand and … he got space created by Daniel (Webber) giving him a really good pass, in his shot pocket, where he needed the ball and Brandon (Brine) did a really good job setting him a screen to give him enough room to get open,” Rogers said.
“Lycett’s a great shooter and has been a great shooter for us consistently for the last number of years.
“I got to training for a 6pm training at 5pm this week and Lycett’s already there shooting the ball when I’m walking in the gym – and I don’t know how many shots he got off before I got there.
“He puts in the extra so we have confidence in him shooting the ball and all our guys shooting the ball.”
Norwood came from seven points down at the final break and charged back by outscoring the Eagles 23-15 during the fourth quarter.
All five Flames starters registered double figures in points and no points were scored from their bench.
Forward Brandon Brine (25 points, seven rebounds) and James Legan (25 points, eight boards) topscored for Norwood.
Mays (27 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks) and Majok Deng (26 points, 14 boards) led the way for the Eagles.
“We’ve been talking about a few things we needed to improve on when we were disappointing the week before (in a loss) against Woodville and we cleaned up some defensive errors and forced Forestville into some tougher shots,” Rogers said.
Norwood sits in top spot with a 7-1 record, one win ahead of Forestville, which has a game in hand.
“We’re pretty happy … but we’re also very aware we’ve had three games a one-point game or overtime game, which very easily could’ve gone the other way, so we can’t relax,” Rogers said.
In women’s action, the Eagles moved to a 5-2 record after beating Norwood 71-49.
Gabi Vidmar starred for Forestville with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Import Tess Bruffey (15 points, 10 rebounds) topscored for the hosts.
The Flames are sixth with a 3-5 record.
‘SWAGGER’ HELPS WIN TWO IN A ROW
Woodville’s men notched its second win in a row when it beat Sturt by 12 points at home on Saturday night.
Import Jon Perry (40 points, six rebounds) led the way for the Warriors in their 88-76 victory at St Clair.
Woodville coach Scott Whitmore was pleased with the performance, especially after his side was three points down at half-time.
“It’s good to get two in a row,” Whitmore said.
“Part of it has been trying to tap into the confidence and work ethic that got us through Norwood (the week before).
“I just think there’s starting to be a bit more belief in the group.
“I don’t want to use the word ‘swagger’ but just confidence and trust in each other and the preparation they’ve done is enough to carry them through.
“Clearly we had an outstanding contribution from Jon Perry.
“We changed a few things defensively in the third and that really helped.
“I thought when we got up by five or six, we’d have the capability to go on with it and we did.”
Brodie Nathan (12 points off the bench) was Woodville’s next highest scorer.
Hayden Meakes (14 points, seven boards off the bench) and Tom Goodall (14 points, six rebounds) had the biggest influence for Sturt, which were coming off a bye.
Woodville plays West Adelaide at Port Adelaide on Anzac Day after the league-wide bye this weekend.
The Sabres’ women triumphed 70-56 over the Warriors in the earlier game at St Clair.
Sturt was down by one point at half-time but outscored the hosts 15-10 in the third period and continued the momentum in the last.
Kylee Smith (20 points, six boards) and Kayla Mathews (18 points, seven rebounds, four assists) topscored for Sturt, while Teige Morrell (22 rebounds, 13 boards) impressed for the hosts.
LIONS’ MEN CONTINUE TO ROAR
Central Districts’ men already more wins after seven rounds this season than all of 2018 after beating South Adelaide by nine points at Starplex on Saturday night.
The Lions prevailed 87-78, moving them to fourth on the ladder a 4-3 record.
Central finished last year with a 3-15 ratio and in ninth spot.
Jordan Riewer (24 points) topscored for the Lions, who jumped out to a 25-16 lead at the first break and did not look back.
De’Vaughn Jones and Lual Diing both recorded handy 14-point, 12-rebound double-doubles, while Chol Luk contributed 17 points.
The Lions have put themselves in finals contention after beating Woodville, West Adelaide, Eastern and now South.
It is a different story for Central’s women, who are still searching for their first victory of the season.
The Lions fell 77-67 against the Panthers after a costly slow start.
South led 28-21 at quarter-time and 41-37 at half-time before holding its nerve down the stretch.
Jazmen Boone (25 points, 17 rebounds, five steals) was again the Lions’ leading light.
Import Brianti Saunders (25 points, eight rebounds) and Mollie McKendrick (14 points, 11 boards) were crucial to South getting the win.
The Panthers are now eighth with a 3-3 record ahead of their away Anzac Day clash with Sturt.
Central takes on Forestville at Wayville on Anzac Day.
ROCKETS’ TITLE DEFENCE IN TATTERS
Defending women’s champion North Adelaide continues to struggle, slumping to a 2-5 record after a fourth consecutive defeat – an 87-62 away loss to Mount Gambier on Saturday night.
The Rockets opened the season with wins in two of their first three games but have since fallen to Forestville, South Adelaide and Eastern at home, and the Pioneers in the Ice House.
It is a new-look North team following the retirements of club legend Jo Hill, as well as Kirsty Williams and Lauren Thornett.
The Rockets were 12 points down at quarter-time on Saturday night and never recovered.
Tayla Corrigan (17 points, 15 rebounds) topscored for the visitors.
Amanda Frost (34 points) starred for the Pioneers.
North is already two wins outside of fifth spot and has played an extra game than three clubs in the top five.
The Rockets’ men also went down to Mount Gambier, 105-88.
North led 27-24 at the first break but was outscored in each of the next three periods.
Import Kentrell Barkley (29 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, four steals) had a huge all-round game for the hosts, while captain Tom Daly (24 points) also impressed.
All five North starters hit double figures for points as dual Woollacott medallist Alex Starling (18 points) topscored.
The Rockets now have a 4-3 record, while Mount Gambier is 4-2.
FOUR ON THE BOUNCE FOR TIGERS
Reigning men’s premiers Southern Tigers made it four straight wins with a thrilling 105-101 overtime triumph against Eastern Mavericks at Mount Barker on Saturday night.
The visitors trailed by eight going into the last quarter and roared back to take the lead, before Eastern tied the game up at the end of regulation via a Brandon Morris free throw.
The Mavericks were up by a point with 52 seconds remaining in the extra period but an Anthony Drmic bucket put them ahead with 23 seconds left.
CJ Turnage made it a three-point lead for the Tigers when he capitalised on an Eastern turnover.
After Novian Cherry missed his three-point attempt, a Turnage free throw helped secure the victory.
Southern now sits sixth with a 4-2 record, while Eastern is ninth at 2-5.
The Tigers’ women – a preliminary finalist last year – slipped to a 2-4 win/loss ratio after their 78-66 defeat to the Mavericks.
Eastern outscored Southern in the first, third and fourth periods as Carmen Tyson-Thomas (30 points, eight rebounds) proved tough to stop.
Import Ta’Rea Cunnigan (20 points) topscored for the visitors.
Southern hosts West Adelaide on Thursday night to end round seven action.
ROUND EIGHT
Thursday, April 25
■ Sturt v South Adelaide, at Adelaide Arena, from 1.30pm
■ North Adelaide v Southern Tigers, at Hillcrest Stadium, from 1.30pm
■ West Adelaide v Woodville, at Port Adelaide, from 1.30pm
■ Norwood v Eastern, at the ARC Campbelltown, from 1.30pm
■ Forestville v Central Districts, at Wayville, from 3pm.
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