RJ
Years ago
Junior Finals Round One Preview
Another long fluff piece but my fans (yeah all two of them) have asked and therefore here it is. My meaningless two cents worth on the big games, which ended up being a lot more then orginally intended, coming up this Friday Night.
Stadium by Stadium
THE DOME
The Highlight double at the Dome would have to be the U16 Boys. West and North (Crt.2 20:15) meet in a return stoush of the State Champs Grand Finalist and both teams have the talent to go all the way. I'd be expecting a tough hard game with a number of Metro and Country State reps trying to ensure a spot in the double chance semi against Sturt next weekend. I'm tipping West. Norwood and South (Crt.3 20:15) have both limped into the Finals with the Panthers sneaking through due to their 3-0 split with the equally (11-10-1) Mavericks. Norwood on the other hand comes into the finals series suffering a defeat at the hands of the 7th placed Eagles. (For the second time this season Arnie's managed to get the wood on his State Assistant; some things never change it seems.) Both teams will be relying on a few to step up; the Panthers buoyed by Matt Dubrich's recent selection for the All-Oz Camp. The Panthers have the ability but I'm going to go with the higher placed Flames in this one.
Other bouts at the Dome to be on the look for are National Classic champions and second-placed Sturt Sabres battling the Southern Tigers in the U12 girls (Crt.2 18:15) along with the very interesting battle between finals stalwarts North and the surging South Adelaide Panthers girls (Crt.3 18:!5).
Of great interest on this forum would be the two Under 18 Division Two games. Sturt 1 and South (Crt.2 21:30) will go head-to-head in a battle for a shot at Forestville (1) before the Grand Final; I'm assuming like most others the Eagles will be there. South has quietly gone about their business this year while the Sabres have plenty of names to throw at the Panthers in this tussle. I'm tipping a surprise and the Panthers to sneak past the Sabres in this one. (And I'm sure Mikele and others will let me know all about it if they prove me wrong.) In the other game the dangerous North Adelaide Rockets will be trying to keep their finals dream alive against the talented and disciplined Forestville 2 (Crt.3 21:30). Despite the hype surrounding the Eagles late season form I'm going to go with the Rockets.
HILLCREST
20 mens Division Two is always a hard fought finals series with a number of players hoping to end their junior careers on a high. Norwood should be too deep and talented for the Bearcats (Crt.1 20:30) and set up a semi with the undefeated North Adelaide Rockets. (Hey no mention of their coach in that other thread, see Sturt and Forestville do get all the attention; but I digress.) In the knock out game between the Eagles and Tigers (Crt.2 20:30) I'm tipping that Forestville will be too controlled, poised and structured for the scrappy, hustle and bustle Tigers outfit.
MARION
One of the major interests this time of year not only is focused on the finals series but also the exploits of our soon to be travelling Under 14 Club teams headed for National Club Championships. Three of those teams will be in action at Marion Friday in the Under 14 Boys Competition. In the first game the second place Sabres will match up with the Flames (Crt.1 18:30) in what will definitely be a closely fought contest. Both teams are lead by experienced coaches and boast two of the biggest names in this grade (if you can say that about Under 14's) and the battle between the guns in each side will be very entertaining to watch. I'm tipping the Sabres who are 2-1 v the Flames in the Winter Season will again have just enough to get the win here and face West Adelaide next week. In the other match National's hosts North Adelaide Rockets will face the equally improved Forestville Eagles (Crt.2 18:30) to stay alive in this finals series. North have shown this season they have the tools to go with the big three and I feel probably have too much for the Eagles to contend with.
The Under 16 girls 1 finals will also be here and these match-ups will spark plenty of interest. A star studded Norwood Flames side will face the West Adelaide Bearcats (Crt.1 19:45) for a spot in the double-chance semi v North. The Bearcats have surprised many this year and have knocked off the Flames twice this winter season. As I've said here before I like this Flames group a lot and am tipping them to have enough on the night against the Bearcats. In the other match-up SA Country and All-Oz Camp selection Tess Madgen will lead the exciting Mavericks side against the deep and diligent Eagles side. (Coach Glen Mathieson has also received selection for Oz-Camp) The Eagles large country contingent makes this group difficult to gauge but I'll stick with them to knock off the Mavs.
PASADENA - Definitely the stadium to be at Friday night ;-)
Aside from the league leading Sturt Sabres the 12 boys 1 competition has been closely fought all year. The structured and precise West Adelaide Bearcats face the hectic mosquito squad from South Adelaide (Crt.1 18:15). In what should be a very tight contest I'm going to go with the Bearcats on Friday. In the other contest the very improved Forestville Eagles will go up against the inconsistent Southern Tigers side. The Tigers have been as equally impressive at times as they've been disappointing at others. (I guess that comes with the territory with Under 12's) And I'd imagine a handful to coach this year too. Both teams are quite skill full and like the previous game this one should be a close entertaining match to see. For the sake of their coach I'm going to go with the Tigers.
The highlight grade in S.A. Junior basketball has to be the Under 18 Boys Division One competition. Always full of big tough bodies willing to put it all on the line and plenty of talent this year has been no exception. After a disappointing Summer the Tigers have held onto top spot in the winter and will enjoy the weekend off after playing a number of extra games in the past few weeks. The second placed Forestville Eagles will battle with the West Adelaide Bearcats (Crt.1 20:15) for the first chance at the league leaders. The Eagles have depth across the court while the Bearcats will rely on their three guns to get most of the work done. If the Eagles can contain Molitor then this one should be theirs and while I like the way the Bearcats play I'm going to go with the Eagles in this one. (It should also be noted that two of the three All-Oz camp selections Chris Molitor from West and Shannon Seebohm of the Eagles will be playing.) The Sturt Sabres will face the Woodville Warriors (Crt.1 21:30) who get through with a 2-1 split over the Norwood Flames (I'm not going anywhere near that discussion). The Sabres were pushed last Sunday by the 8th placed Panthers but will definitely come out ready to play Friday night. This one could go either way and I'll leave it up to you guys to tip who'll win it.
S.A.'s Under 18 girls have tasted success interstate this year and now it's time for us to go to battle locally. Despite the detractors (and I guess you could included me there) the Rockets have maintained top spot and will enjoy the break this week. The second placed Eagles led by All-Oz selections Martin and Newley will face the Francis led Mavs in what should be a closer battle then some may expect. We all remember the Mavs having a hand in bundling the Eagles out of the finals at State Champs (I'm sure the Forestville girls haven't forgotten) and they definitely have more then just Francis in their arsenal. Another close encounter and again sorry but I'm not willing to tip a winner. Either way it's bound to be a high-standard, enthralling match up. Sturt and Norwood (Crt.2 21:30) both boast All-Oz selections of their own (Langford for Sturt/SA Country and Romeo from Norwood) and both have shown so far this year they have the talent to go with the three teams above them. Sturt probably have more tools and led by Coach Mesecke should have enough to get over the Flames.
One of the forgotten grades this year would be the Under 21 women. For proof just look at where they're playing this week ... Pasadena COURT THREE! While the number of teams has dropped off the talent on display certainly hasn't and these will be very engrossing games to watch. The Flames have been undefeated this season (don't get me started, I tell ya it's all Sturt and Forestville on here) and will sit back and, well do whatever teenage girls do on a weekend off from basketball. First up the consistent Eagles will face a talented Tigers outfit (Crt.3 20:30) to stay alive in 2005. If the Tigers can get it together they clearly have more firepower and no doubt this match-up will be interesting for more reasons then just the final outcome. I'm tipping the Tigers to sneak by this time round. A lot of this grade is based on just who's in uniform with Sturt and West (Crt.3 21:45) two such teams that are hard to pick. Assuming both will be close to full strength the Sabres should have too much size and scoring punch for the talented group of guards the Bearcats will put on the floor.
PORT ADELAIDE
Another grade with National interest is the Under 14 girls. Darwin bound Sturt will face Forestville (Crt.1 18:30) in what should be another tough contest between these two sides. Forestville's form of late has been good while the Sabres have had a somewhat easy ride into the finals. I'm going to tip a bit of an upset here and suggest the Eagles depth and diversity will be enough to get them by the talented Sabres. In an interesting battle the Southern Tigers will battle South Adelaide (Crt.1 19:45) for elimination. Despite major player losses the Panthers have held onto 5th place and a finals spot but I just don't think they have the talent or depth to go with the big four in this grade. (Would be five ... but ... well lets not open up that topic again.) The Tigers size and current form would suggest they'd get by the Panthers with little problem. (I know as soon as I say something like that, it's bound to come back to haunt me.)
Lastly we come to the Under 20 men's grade. Despite a last round hiccup the Rockets have held on for a top spot finish and week off. Norwood and Woodville (Crt.1 21:00) will battle for the chance at the Rockets in the semi and both teams will have plenty of reason to have a successful finals series. Both teams play with intensity and determination rarely seen these days in Under 20 1's and this should be a very interesting match-up. The Flames have a 2-1 record on the Warriors this season and I'm tipping they'll make it 3-1 after this weekend. West Adelaide and Forestville (Crt.2 20:30) will also be an interesting tussle. The Bearcats will be buoyed by their final round win over the Rockets while the hard-working Eagles have shown all season that even without the big names they can stay with the best teams in the competition. Those big names may be too much in this one though and I'm tipping Academy bound Cradock and Co. to have enough poise and firepower to knock the Eagles out of the finals race.
