Hang BASKETBALL SA PREMIER LEAGUE • FINALS WEEK 3, 2017
PREMIER LEAGUE
T I M E
ONE MORE CHANCE... ROCKETS B E A R C AT S
WOMEN’S PF >>> TIGERS V FLAMES
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THE FINALS WOMEN’S PRELIMINARY FINAL
SOUTHERN TIGERS VS NORWOOD FLAMES AT MORPHETT VALE SATURDAY @ 6.30pm
MEN’S PRELIMINARY FINAL
NORTH ADELAIDE VS WEST ADELAIDE AT HILLCREST SATURDAY @ 7.15pm EDITOR
David Penrose
WRITERS
Benito Carbone
Sam Phillips
Joseph Campbell
Kieren Vartuli
Tom Edwards
James Woite
Jakob Fairbank
Alex Jacobs
David Penrose DESIGN
David Penrose
PHOTOS
AllStar Photos
NORTH ADELAIDE’S ALEX STARLING SCORED A GAME-HIGH 28 PTS AS THE ROCKETS DEFEATED WEST ADELAIDE LAST TIME THEY MET
THE FINALS WEEK 3
NO MORE CHANCES AS 2017 DRAWS TO A CLOSE M
en’s minor premier North Adelaide will look to end a 10-game finals losing streak and book a rematch with the Southern Tigers in the grand final when it hosts West Adelaide on Saturday night. The Rockets’ finals struggles continued last weekend when they fell to the Tigers at home following a first round finals bye. Now North finds itself needing a win over West to extends its season another week.
4
The Rockets’ loss to Southern was its 10th finals defeat in a row, with its last win coming in the 2007 grand final.
going head-to-head with Rockets’
North comes up against a Bearcats side on track to match its 2014 run from an elimination final to a grand final.
up a grand final with North Adelaide
West was brilliant in knocking out Norwood on the road last weekend.
Norwood will be aiming to win
Dee Oldham starred for the Bearcats and looms as a matchwinner in the preliminary final. He will need plenty of support
HANG TIME THE FINALS - WEEK 3
stars Alex Starling and Aric Miller. In the women’s, Southern can set and a chance for revenge following last weekend’s loss to the Rockets. through to the decider from fourth and have a shot at its third-straight premiership. Full previews on pages 6-9.
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THE FINALS - WEEK 3 HANG TIME
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PREVIEW WOMEN’S PRELIMINARY FINAL
SOUTHERN TIGERS NORWOOD FLAMES
AT MORPHETT VALE | SATURDAY AUGUST 12 | TIP-OFF 6.30PM
N
orwood coach Darren Golley is confident his team can use its finals experience to complete a snatch-and-grab job of the second grand final spot at Morphett Vale on Saturday night. The Flames enter the preliminary final clash against minor premiers Southern on the back of two impressive wins in sudden-death finals and with a chance to keep their three-peat hopes alive. The Tigers came into the finals series warm favourites to reach their first women’s grand final since 1996 but following a loss to North Adelaide – another side with a wealth of finals experience – last weekend find themselves in a mustwin clash on their home court. “We have some of that experience
(like North Adelaide) and the girls know what to do,” Golley said.
who we have to contain,” he said.
“It’s finals so anything can happen but we just hope that our experience like North’s helps in the situations where we don’t panic.
“We’ve got to be on our game and aware of every scenario.”
“If we get down by seven or eight we don’t panic and keep going with our gameplan.” Norwood lost its first encounter against Southern by two points at home and went down 94-62 in the most recent encounter at Morphett Vale. Golley said it was a different ballgame now but his side needed to be aware of the Tigers’ threats. “We know who their scorers are, we know who their shooters are and
“That’s what we need to get done.
The Flames have overturned lateseason defeats to Sturt and Eastern in the opening fortnight of the finals, allowing 64.5 points per game. “Our starts have been fantastic and that’s what we’re aiming to do ... get off to a good start and roll the dice after that,” he said. “We thrive off the fact we stop other teams and get our offence started from that. “For us it starts on the defensive end and if we’re switched on early we’re going to be hard to beat.” For Tracy York and the Tigers it is a second-straight chance at reaching a grand final after falling in a preliminary final in 2016. Southern was the pacesetter during the regular season and went toe-to-toe with North last weekend. The Tigers opened up a seven-point lead midway through the last period before the Rockets surged home. Southern will be keen to build on that experience, and that of last season’s preliminary final, with a spot in its first grand final since 1996 on the line. Mollie McKendrick will play a key role having averaged 22.5 points and 5.5 boards against the Flames this season.
MEG PRITCHARD HAD 14 PTS & 10 REB FOR THE FLAMES AGAINST EASTERN
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HANG TIME THE FINALS - WEEK 3
BY DAVID PENROSE @David_Penrose
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SOUTHERN’S JEMMA THACKER HAD 10 PTS & 8 REB AGAINST NORTH ADELAIDE
TIGERS WOMEN
FLAMES WOMEN
COACH TRACY YORK #
PLAYER
COACH DARREN GOLLEY
POS PPG RPG APG
#
PLAYER
00 Alexandra GREEN
G
13.4 4.5
4.3
5
Chelsea ROBERTS
3
Hannah FISHER
F
2.6
1.1
0.4
6
Shannon MCKAY
4
Jess FROST
G
4.7
3.2
0.8
7
7
Denelle FAWCETT
G
7.7
3.5
1.2
8
Bianca THACKER
F/C
4.2
4.7
9
Jemma THACKER
6.8
POS PPG RPG APG 1.5
1.9
0.7
G
13.4 3.1
2.6
Kelsey MCKAY
G
1.4
2.8
1.6
8
Khaleisha BARNETT
F
1.5
1.2
0.7
1.7
9
Jessy WARD
G
10.3 2.6
2.6
5.0
1.0
10 Marisa STABILE
F/C 12.4 7.1
1.2
11 Brittany WINTER
F
1.5
1.0
0.3
11 Kiersten TINDALL
12 Raynisha WASHINGTON
C
9.8
5.5
1.2
12 Jessica GOOD
G/F 18.2 13.5 6.2
13 Madison ROUND
G
0.7
0.6
0.4
14 Chelsea BROOK
F/C 12.7 7.0
14 Tara DODMAN
F
8.8
5.5
1.7
15 Kelsey IRELAND
G
3.0
3.4
3.0
21 Mollie MCKENDRICK
F/C 15.5 7.1
3.2
16 Megan PRITCHARD
G
10.4 5.1
1.3
24 Demi SKINNER
G/F 10.7 3.3
2.1
23 Natalia LALIC
G
2.7
0.8
0.4
0.6
32 Renee TAYLOR
G
0.6
0.1
0.0
40 Teresa KINROSS
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F
4.1
3.1
G
1.7
0.7
THE FINALS - WEEK 3 HANG TIME
0.4 1.2
7
PREVIEW MEN’S PRELIMINARY FINAL
NORTH ADELAIDE WEST ADELAIDE
AT HILLCREST | SATURDAY AUGUST 12 | TIP-OFF 7.15PM
N
for a rematch with Southern or talk of the grand final at this point,” Hawkes said.
Stopping Dee Oldham will be a key to Hawkes’ side advancing to the grand final.
After dropping a tight contest to the Tigers last weekend, the Rockets will be looking for redemption as they look to avoid a straight-sets exit from the finals.
“Our only focus is beating West on Saturday night.” The Rockets went down by 12 points to the Tigers as they used their first chance after finishing minor premiers.
Oldham scored 21 points in West’s semi-final win and averaged 20 points and 4.5 assists in two games against North during the regular season.
orth Adelaide and West Adelaide will face off for a chance to face Southern Tigers in the grand final at Hillcrest on Saturday.
On the other hand, the Bearcats knocked off the Norwood Flames by 16 points in their semi-final and remain a chance to make the final game of the season from a fourthspot finish. North coach Nathan Hawkes is not even thinking about having another shot at Southern. “(We) are not interested in preparing
Hawkes was disappointed but took plenty out of the loss. “It was a much closer game against Southern than the final score reflected,” he said. “Despite our shooting woes from the floor and foul line, the game was still up for grabs during the last quarter and Southern played the better ball down the stretch.”
“(He) is a genuine threat and as a team we need to limit his opportunities to get going, be prepared to help and definitely keep him off the boards,” Hawkes said. The Bearcats will be aiming to overturn a 19-point defeat at Hillcrest in the final round of the season. Alex Starling scored 28 points for North in the final round contest while Darcy Aistrope (20) and Aric Miller (17) also proved hard to contain. West coach Corey Maclean said he side needed to do a better job defensively. “We need to be honest and hardworking defensively and not only focus our attention on Miller and Starling but make sure we are playing solid team defence on all five guys,” Maclean said. “Alex and Aric are both terrific scorers in this league.
DEE OLDHAM SCORED A TEAM-HIGH 21 PTS FOR WEST IN ITS WIN OVER NORWOOD LAST SATURDAY NIGHT
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HANG TIME THE FINALS - WEEK 3
“Our goal defensively is to only give them tough shots and we will then live with whether they make them or miss them. The key will be keeping them away from their strengths.” BY KIEREN VARTULI @kierenvartuli
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ARIC MILLER SCORED 17 PTS FOR NORTH IN ITS LOSS TO SOUTHERN LAST WEEKEND
ROCKETS MEN
BEARCATS MEN
COACH NATHAN HAWKES #
PLAYER
COACH COREY MACLEAN
POS PPG RPG APG
#
POS PPG RPG APG
1
Nicholas MARSHALL
G/F
1.2
0.5
2
Dee OLDHAM
G
26.3 8.3
3.4
2
Aric MILLER
G/F 24.0 4.2
3.8
3
Tom KUBANK
F
7.7
3.6
1.6
3
Darcy AISTROPE
G
10.5 2.4
1.8
4
Patrick THOMAS
G
12.4 7.3
6.0
7
John WERNHAM
G/F
5.3
3.7
0.6
6
Lucas VALK
G
1.7
0.7
1.1
10 Brad JONNEK
F/C 12.5 4.8
1.6
8
Lachlan HAUFE
G/F
2.7
1.4
0.7
13 Nathan FURSE
G/F
0.0
0.6
0.0
9
Paul RANKIN
F
1.4
1.2
0.2
14 Joshua GRAETZ
C
1.3
2.0
0.2
11 Tristan BRAITHWAITE
G
10.6 0.7
1.3
15 Adam SCHILD
C
2.2
6.6
0.8
14 Blake TRUSLOVE
C
6.4
7.0
1.1
G/F
6.0
3.3
2.3
20 Todd WINTER
G/F
1.1
0.3
0.2
30 Luke MAPUNDA
F
9.5
6.0
3.2
21 Harold RIDGEWAY
F/C 13.1 7.9
0.4
32 Alexander STARLING
G
23.7 12.8 3.0
30 Jordan WEST
33 Matthew TRANDAFIL
F
0.8
0.2
0.0
31 Anthony SPADAVECCHIA G
F/C
0.5
0.3
1.0
25 Raymond HARDING
50 Jordan MURPHY
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1.8
PLAYER
C
13.5 5.7
1.5
1.8
3.5
1.5
THE FINALS - WEEK 3 HANG TIME
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NORWOOD’S MARISA STABILE LED THE WAY WITH 21 PTS IN THE FLAMES’ WIN OVER EASTERN ON SUNDAY
RECAP WOMEN’S SEMI FINAL 1
FLAMES KNOCK MAVS OUT IN SUDDEN-DEATH SEMI N
The Mavericks were on the cancas at half-time, trailing by 25 points.
double-figures in support as the Flames completed a shutdown job.
The Flames made a red-hot start and the Mavericks were unable to fight back as they bowed out of the finals in straight-sets at Adelaide Hills.
The Flames’ finals experience was clearly evident and try as they might Eastern could not find a way to get its offence rolling.
Eastern showed fight in the second half but never mounted a genuine threat to Norwood’s lead.
That was no problem for Norwood, led by 21 points from Marisa Stabile.
orwood has set up a preliminary final with minor premier Southern Tigers after knocking Eastern out of the 2017 finals series on Sunday.
Norwood went on a 13-0 run after the hosts scored the first five points of the game and had outscored Eastern 21-10 by the end of the first quarter.
Meg Pritchard added 14, Jess Good 13 and all up five Flames players reached double-digits. Alex Wilson topscored for the Mavericks with 34 points as only Rachael Hines (11 points) reached
10 HANG TIME THE FINALS - WEEK 3
The Mavericks won the second half but would be frustrated by how a season with so much promise ended so meekly. The Flames on the other hand are headed for a showdown with Southern at Morphett Vale and their three-peat hopes alive.
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RECAP WOMEN’S SEMI FINAL 2
NORTH ROCKETS INTO 2017 WOMEN’S GRAND FINAL N
orth Adelaide is the first side through to the 2017 women’s Premier League Grand Final after Jo Hill guided them to victory over an erratic Southern at Morphett Vale on Saturday Night. The former Opals star accumulated 18 points, 11 boards and five steals, and was at her commanding best in the final minutes as the Rockets made a late run to take the win. Up 56-49 with under 6:00 remaining in the fourth, the Tigers were left shell-shocked after Hill and Opal Mader (11 points) pioneered an
awesome four-minute, 13-point run, to completely reverse the score-line. Despite a drought-breaking jumper from Demi Skinner the match slipped away from Southern, eventually losing out by six. “We just had to dig deep,” Hill said. “You find things wherever you can. “We hadn’t beaten (Southern) all year and to beat them tonight and go straight into the grand final was fantastic.” It was an impressive start for the
home side, who built a seven-point lead in the first term through strong transition plays and the presence of Mollie McKendrick (12 points). The visitors responded to take the lead late in the second and led by four at half-time after Norrisha Victrum buried a crowd-silencing layup as time expired. The third term saw the margin chop-and-change, before Jemma Thacker (10 points, eight boards) was the catalyst in a 13-2 run for the Tigers at the start of the final period.
THE FINALS WOMEN’S ROAD TO GLORY
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THE FINALS - WEEK 3 HANG TIME 11
WEST ADELAIDE’S JORDAN WEST DRIVES TO THE BASKET IN THE WIN OVER NORWOOD
RECAP MEN’S SEMI FINAL 1
BEARCATS KNOCK FLAMES OUT IN STRAIGHT SETS W
est Adelaide booked its preliminary final spot after defeating Norwood in front of a packed MARS, asserting themselves in the key and taking their chances to finish 16-point winners. The Bearcats looked sharp from the opening tip-off, shifting the ball quickly to find Tristan Braithwaite who knocked down a three. Matthew Lycett got Norwood’s offence going, driving hard to the rim and nailing the basket while drawing the bonus shot.
He had seven first quarter points, combining well with Kellen Smith (five assists) to push the momentum the Flames way as they opened up a four-point lead after 10 minutes. West upped the ante in the second as Blake Truslove started to have an impact on the game. Back-to-back buckets by Truslove prompted Norwood mentor Kevin Brooks to inject fan-favourite Jerrell Sanders in his return from injury. At the other end, Darrius Oldham was at his lively best- capitalising
12 HANG TIME THE FINALS - WEEK 3
on a second chance opportunity to tip in a hard fought basket. Oldham led all comers with 11 first half points as West took their chances, shooting at nearly 70 per cent. The Bearcats kept pushing Norwood, threatening to blow the game open with a 10-2 run to start the third. In the final minutes it was party time for West as Harold Ridgeway climbed above the rest with two ring-bending dunks.
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RECAP MEN’S SEMI FINAL 2
SOUTHERN SINKS NORTH TO RETURN TO DECIDER T
he Southern Tigers are one step closer to defending their crown after confirming their spot in the 2017 grand final. Southern will return to the Premier League’s big stage for a second consecutive year after defeating minor premiers North Adelaide 7866 at Hillcrest on Saturday night. The contest was anticipated to have some hard-hitting defence and stellar offence and both were seen right through the entire contest.
after 10 minutes and trailed by two at half-time before entering the final period down by one. In what was a hard night from the field for the Rockets, they finished the game shooting just under 28 per cent from the field and 20 per cent from deep. Despite this negative for the Rockets, the Tigers too struggled on the floor finishing with 14 turnovers compared to the Rockets’ five.
TH E ROA D TO G LORY
The Rockets were ahead 15-14
Southern did a fantastic job on the defensive end of the floor, especially
trying to contain Alex Starling. Despite finishing with an equal game-high 26 points, Starling shot 10-26 from the field and struggled at the free throw line finishing 5-14. On the other end of the floor the Rockets struggled to contain the breakout performance of Jordan Dodman. Dodman finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds (6-offensive) and a block. Adelaide 36er Anthony Drmic also finished with 26 points off 45 per cent shooting.
MEN’S FINALS FIXTURES
THE FINALS MEN’S ROAD TO GLORY EL I MI N ATION FIN A L
W EST A DE L A ID E
vs
QUA L IF Y IN G F IN A L
ST U RT SA B R ES
S O UTHE RN TI G E RS
S EMI FIN AL 1 N O RWOO D FL AMES
vs
vs
N O RWOOD F LA M ES
SE MI F IN A L 2
W EST A D E LA I DE
N O RTH A DE LA I DE
vs
S O UTHER N TI G E R S
P REL IM IN A RY F IN A L N O RT H A D E LA I DE
vs
WEST A DE LA I DE
G RA N D F IN A L SOUTHERN T I GE R S #LEAGUEOFOUROWN
vs
WI N N E R PF THE FINALS - WEEK 3 HANG TIME 13 #LEAGUEOFOUROWN
STATS LADDERS
WOMEN’S & MEN’S AFTER ROUND 18
WOMEN’S LADDER P
W
L
%W PTS
F
A
1 Southern Tigers
18 15
3
83.3
48 1508 1074 140.41
7
2
8
1
WWWWW
2 Eastern Mavericks
18 14
4
77.7
46 1438 1317 109.19
8
1
6
3
LWWWL
3 North Adelaide Rockets
18 12
6
66.6
42 1305 1117 116.83
7
2
5
4
WWWLL
4 Norwood Flames
18 12
6
66.6
42 1373 1177 116.65
6
3
6
3
WLLLW
5 Sturt Sabres
18 12
6
66.6
42 1309 1078 121.43
6
3
6
3
WWWWW
6 Forestville Eagles
18 11
7
61.1
40 1373 1196 114.80
6
3
5
4
W L LW W
7 West Adelaide Bearcats
18
7
11
38.8
32 1248 1267
98.50
3
6
4
5
LW W LW
8 Woodville Warriors
18
4
14
22.2
26 1238 1392
88.94
3
6
1
8
L L LW L
9 South Adelaide Panthers
18
2
16
11.1
22
935
1397
66.93
1
8
1
8
LLLLL
10 Central Districts Lions
18
1
17
5.55
20
893
1605
55.64
1
8
0
9
LLLLL
HW HL AW AL
LAST 5
AFTER ROUND 18
MEN’S LADDER P
%
W
L
%W PTS
1 North Adelaide Rockets
18 14
4
77.7
46 1652 1496 110.43
9
0
5
4
WWWLW
2 Southern Tigers
18 13
5
72.2
44 1690 1451 116.47
7
2
6
3
WWWWW
3 Norwood Flames
18 12
6
66.6
42 1559 1396 111.68
7
2
5
4
WLWWW
4 West Adelaide Bearcats
18 11
7
61.1
40 1559 1476 105.62
5
4
6
3
LWWWL
5 Sturt Sabres
18 11
7
61.1
40 1474 1387 106.27
7
2
4
5
WWWLL
6 South Adelaide Panthers
18
9
9
50.0
36 1531 1577
97.08
5
4
4
5
W L LW W
7 Forestville Eagles
18
8
10
44.4
34 1602 1470 108.98
4
5
4
5
LLLLL
8 Woodville Warriors
18
7
11
38.8
32 1369 1471
93.07
4
5
3
6
LW L LW
9 Central Districts Lions
18
3
15
16.6
24 1402 1733
80.90
1
8
2
7
L LW L L
10 Eastern Mavericks
18
2
16
11.1
22 1295 1676
77.27
2
7
0
9
L L LW L
14 HANG TIME THE FINALS - WEEK 3
F
A
%
HW HL AW AL
LAST 5
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