Eddie69
Years ago

BSA Premier League Prelim Review and GF Preview

Now it's down to four Grand Final aspirants to determine which two will be crowned League Champions.

Norwood Men and Southern Tigers Women succumbed to Sturt and West Adelaide respectively in the Preliminary Final who both have now made into the Grand Final showdowns.

At Port Adelaide, the Bearcats and Tigers put on a free flowing, high scoring and extremely entertaining contest in front of two very parochial and loud groups of supporters.

West held their nerve and the lead for most of the game, bar for a few brief periods, they always managed to wrestle back the momentum. The 11 point margin the Bearcats got out to with 3 minutes left on the clock, proved too much for the Tigers to overcome. Defensive pressure from both sides resulted in many turnovers, and for Southern, the most costly.

Mollie McKendrick did her best to keep Southern in the contest. She had good support from Denelle Fawcett and Ta'Rea Cunnigan, but a lack of input and turnovers from some quite experienced players contributed to the Tigers demise.

Ashlea Vordemaier led the way for the Home team with 16 points, Teonna Campbell grabbed a Double/Double (12pts/10rebs to go with her 7 steals) and they were backed up with solid performances from Sky Langenbrinck (15pts) and Tahlia Fejo (7pts).

At Marden, Sturt overcame its recent Nemesis in Norwood, to advance to their second consecutive title shot. The Flames got out to a 10 point lead before the Sabres clawed their way back and were never headed after the half way mark of the third stanza.

Matthew Lycett (30pts/7reb) and Daniel Webber (22pts/5reb/5ass) tried their best to keep Norwood in it. Holmes and O'Boyle both fouled out late. By then their fate was sealed.

The Sabres, for the second consecutive vweek, shot an astonishing 29-35 free throws. Isaac White(28pts) continued his amazing season and was superbly supported by DJ (21pts), Rigoni (15pts) and Klaosen scratched up plenty of stars for the first time in about 6 weeks.

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Eddie69
Years ago

Will there be a change of the guard? Certainly could in the Men's title, where Southern Tigers could take the Championship home to a success starved region. This might be the predecessor for a flurry of titles to the district if South Adelaide Panthers can get the job done in the SANFL and get their colours painted atop the West End Brewery chimney for the first time since 1964.

The Tigers average around 100 points a game and the two most exciting and stadium filling players in the League, in Mitch Creek and Alex Starling contribute half that score. They have been the form side of the competition and Dean Nyberg's team have lived up to expectations.

Sturt have quietly gone about their business and will go to the big dance for the second successive year. The late recruitment of DJ was a huge coup for the Sabres at the same time the game of a few of Paul Rigoni's outstanding younger brigade had really come on.

Mitch Creek missed out on a SEABL championship when his Nunawading Spectres were runners up in 2014. The NBL title also alluded him in that previous summer. His 2015 Premier League campaign ended in the Preliminary Final with Woodville and will be desperate to atone and claim his ring. But will the pressure of the ultimate success for the newly announced Adelaide 36ers Captain be yet another undoing?

In almost a mirror image, the girls have had one dominant team and their challenger has gone a little under the radar. But will Jess Foley and her Flames be like Port Adelaide FC of a decade ago, with 3 or 4 years of competition dominance for only one Premiership?

West Adelaide will take some momentum into the decider but the Bearcat players will need to make baskets and Coach Tim Brenton's game plan will have to include some answers to the questions that were put to them two weeks ago by the same opponent.

These will both be terrific encounters and games that all basketball fans should get along to and experience the atmosphere.

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Anonymous
Years ago

Southern should be too good with its big 2 of Creek and Starling and its great role players, Sturt will only have a chance if Johnson shows a little bit of interest.
The womens should be a lot more interesting with west the form team against the seemingly dominant team in Norwood, but will Foley be able to recapture preinjury form and will the pressure get to the flames.
Southern by 22 and west by 7.

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Ingles13
Years ago

Why does DJ never get called for travel when he hops in the post before he bounces the ball?

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mr magorium's hooporium
Years ago

west have done a great job - the playing list is a good one - most of those players are very competent. They are back to playing at their best which had been missing.

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BMF
Years ago

Shame this game is on the same night as the Crows, would love to have seen both but have my tickets to the Crows game now.

Great fun night out for a family too. Cheap entertainment.

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mr magorium's hooporium
Years ago

Tigers off to a great start over Sturt - reserve men and youth league 1 both beating sturt for GF berths - in one grade sturt was unbeaten

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Hoops

BSA Premier League Prelim Review and GF Preview

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