Replay: Sturt, Forestville and Southern Tigers set for Adelaide Basketball Challenge grand finals live stream

Forestville have completed their undefeated season at the expense of Sturt. Watch the exclusive live stream replay here.

The inaugural Adelaide Basketball Challenge men’s and women’s grand finals this Saturday are poised in eerily similar circumstances.

Forestville, who have blitzed the men’s season undefeated, will face a 9-2 Sturt outfit looking to avenge round nine’s seven-point loss to the Eagles.

Meanwhile in the women’s league, the table topping Sabres are in a comparable position.

A spotless 11-week stretch will climax with a grand final clash against the 10-1 Southern Tigers, who eager to provide payback for a 17-point loss in round eleven.

Both games of Saturday’s matches at The Lights Community and Sports Centre will be live streamed at advertiser.com.au.

The women’s grand final will tip off at 6pm, followed by the men’s decider at 7.45pm.

The Adelaide Basketball Challenge is a newly-formed, condensed league, comprising of 10 top tier clubs.

Sturt’s Kayla Mathews and Tom Kubank with Forestville president Rod Cocks and Southern Tigers player Jemma Thacker. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

Clubs were set to take part in the NBL1 Central competition this year before it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tiger Jemma Thacker said it had been a season like no other for a number of reasons after bouncing back from a calf injury before the games began, the restrictions of COVID-19 and a constantly changing line up.

“It’s been up and down but we’re happy to be at this point,” Thacker said.

However, Sturt’s Kayla Mathews is taking everything in her stride and said she was excited about the prospect of playing to online crowds.

“I think it’s cool we’re finally getting a bit of exposure,” Mathews said.

“Gives people an opportunity if they can’t make it to watch what we can do.”

While relaxed, Mathews was keen to erase the memories of a three-point grand final loss last season to Forestville.

“That adds a little bit (of extra pressure), but it also makes us want it that little bit more,” she said.

“We played terrible to be honest. We just put it out of our minds I guess, we don’t talk about it anymore.”

Meanwhile, small forward Tom Kubank said Sturt producing dual grand finalists was a sign of a vibrant club.

Returning to the Sabres this year where he honed his craft as a junior – after winning a premiership at West Adelaide 2017 in a switch to gain more opportunities – he’s also keen to put on a live streaming show again.

He said the last live streamed men’s clash against Forestville on October 20 “brought an element of excitement” to the game.

“I was trying to go harder … there was a bit of buzz around it,” he said.

“Brings an element of professionalism as well.”

But he knows his team is facing a tough test, after going down to Forestville that day despite the Eagles missing two of their better players – Brandon Brine and Adam Doyle.

Meanwhile, Forestville president Rod Cocks said his players would welcome the pressure to achieve a “clean sweep” in 2020, and also complete back-to-back premierships.