West Adelaide defeats 2018 title winners Southern Tigers in Adelaide Premier League basketball
A pair of American big men have led a defensive masterclass as West Adelaide defeated the reigning Premier League basketball premiers to announce itself as an early season contender.
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A pair of American big men have led a defensive masterclass as West Adelaide defeated the reigning Premier League basketball premiers to its authority early in the season.
The Bearcats were the big winners, Forestville shot the lights out at Wayville and two sides extended their unbeaten starts as round two tipped off on Friday night.
Here is a wrap of all the action from the Messenger Community News sports team.
BEARCATS SEND MESSAGE
West Adelaide’s focus on lockdown defence has led it to a dream start in the men’s competition with a convincing win over reigning premiers Southern Tigers.
It was an open scoring affair in the first half at Port Adelaide on Friday night, especially in a 36-31 second term as the Tigers led at the main break.
But the Bearcats put the clamps on in the second half and restricted Southern to eight and then 10 points in the next two quarters to take a 89-74 victory.
West coach Corey Maclean was pleased his side bought into the game plan developed in the off-season.
“We had a long summer changing some things, so it was great to be able to win the way we’ve been talking about,” Maclean said.
“The focus has been more of a consistent buy-in defensively – that was one area we felt we let ourselves down in last year.
“That second quarter both teams were scoring. We thought we played OK defence but Drmic and Turnage hit some tough ones.
“The message at half-time was to lock down, especially on those two, contest every shot and really grind it out.”
The Bearcats’ two new imports also impressed on debut.
Forward Bryan Jefferson had 22 points and seven rebounds but most importantly restricted Southern star CJ Turnage in the second half.
Shane Hayward was a beast down low, blocking six shots and changing many others to go along with 17 points and 11 boards.
Captain Patrick Thomas recorded 17 points and five assists.
“Both our imports delivered what we were expecting of them,” Maclean said.
“Jefferson played some really good defence on Turnage and that was important because we know how damaging Turnage can be.
“Hayward gives us a different dimension defending the rim.”
For Southern, Anthony Drmic scored 20 points and pulled in 10 rebounds in his first game back in a Tigers jersey.
Import Calvin Turnage had 18 points and nine boards, while Isaiah Omamogho and captain Sam Johns recorded 11 and 10 points respectively.
Southern shot just 37 per cent from the field, compared to West’s 57 per cent.
It will not get any easier for the Tigers this Saturday night, when they have the unenviable task of being the first team to take on new club Mt Gambier at the Ice House.
West will look to continue its hot start with a double-header weekend as it takes on South Adelaide at Marion on Saturday night and then Sturt at Port Adelaide on Sunday.
New West women’s coach Boti Nagy and his team got its season going with a 76-56 triumph against Southern on Friday night.
Captain Sky Langenbrinck shot 52 per cent from the field to lead all scorers with 21 points.
Isabella Stratford led the way for the Tigers with 18 points and seven boards.
LIGHTS OUT AT WAYVILLE
Michael Harris’ dynamic scoring power was on full display as he piled on 40 of Forestville’s 123 points in a dominant victory over Woodville at Wayville on Friday night.
Harris nailed seven three-pointers and was 59 per cent from the field to lead the Eagles to a 123-98 win.
Adelaide 36ers duo Majok Deng (21 points) and Brendan Teys (19 points, 10 assists) were prolific again along with import Greg Mays (18 points, 12 rebounds).
Woodville will be searching for answers after suffering its second-straight defeat to begin the campaign.
The loss came a week after the Warriors fell to Central Districts in the opening round.
Jonathan Perry top scored with 26 points against the Eagles.
They will need a better performance when they travel to Mt Barker to take on Eastern Mavericks this Saturday night.
Forestville plays the Lions at Starplex in round three.
In women’s action, the Eagles were too good for Woodville, downing the Warriors 71-58.
BATTLE AT THE ARC
One of Norwood or North Adelaide’s unbeaten runs to begin the season will end when they clash at the ARC Campbelltown on Saturday night.
The 3-0 Flames and 2-0 Rockets both secured victories last Friday night to continue their hot starts.
North recruit Tobias Dowdell showed his worth with 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead his side to a 93-78 win over Sturt at Pasadena.
Woollacott Medallist Alex Starling had 22 points and 10 boards while Jack McVeigh chipped in with 16 points.
The Rockets dominated in the paint with a 60-34 advantage and also outworked the Sabres on the glass 43-34.
Norwood made it three straight wins to start the season as it triumphed 86-79 away to Eastern Mavericks on Friday night.
James Legan topscored for the Flames with 23 points.
In women’s action, Norwood bounced back from back-to-back losses last weekend to defeat the Mavericks 82-70 in an even team performance.
Reigning premiers North Adelaide went down to Sturt 83-63 at Pasadena.
The Rockets shot a paltry 30 per cent from the field and only managed four points in the third quarter.
SABRES SHOOT TO 3-0
Sturt’s men are winless this season but the Sabres’ women have started the season on fire with three-straight wins.
Australian under-19 representative Ruby Porter has starred, top scoring in her side’s opening three victories.
In the latest, a 83-63 defeat of North, Porter led the way with 24 points while Danielle Angley had a great all-round game as she recorded nine points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.
It has been a different story for Sturt’s men after defeats to the Rockets, Flames and Pioneers to begin the campaign.
THIS WEEK
Saturday, March 16
■ South Adelaide v West Adelaide – at Marion
■ Mt Gambier v Southern Tigers – at Mt Gambier Ice House
■ Eastern Mavericks v Woodville – at Mt Barker
■ Central Districts v Forestville – at Starplex
■ Norwood v North Adelaide – at the ARC Campbelltown
Sunday, March 17
■ West Adelaide v Sturt – at Port Adelaide
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