Round 12 WNBL Preview | Thebigtip

Round 11 Roundups<?xml:namespace prefix = o />

Unfortunately due to fatigue and various issues, I was unable to complete my usual review of the action. The player of the year results for this round is also hidden but will return as usual at the end of Round 12

Here are the results of the round and the ladder at the end of Round 11

AIS 69 def by Canberra 87
Logan 61 def by Townsville 69
Dandenong 76 def by Bulleen 86
Sydney 79 def by Townsville 85
Bendigo 92 def Dandenong 63
West Coast 57 def by Adelaide 78
Canberra 85 def Bulleen 78

Adelaide 11-2
Bulleen 9-4
Sydney 9-4
Townsville 10-5
Dandenong 8-6
-------------------------------------
Bendigo 7-6
Logan 6-6
Canberra 6-9
West Coast 1-13
AIS 1-13

Round 12 Previews

Friday night: Canberra vs Sydney @ AIS Arena

Canberra finished off the year with a 2 win weekend, first taking care of the AIS and then coming from behind to stun Bulleen in the Grand Final Rematch while Sydney slumped to a shock loss against Townsville

Key Matchup: Nicole Hunt vs Alicia Poto
This matchup promises to be an exciting one with the two point guards set to battle each other. Poto statistically is far and wide better than Nicole Hunt in all the key categories and Nicole Hunt is going to have a very tough task keeping Poto in check. Poto averages 12.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game compared to Hunt’s 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists so it’s a tough ask for Hunt to stop the all round game of Poto

Final Word
Canberra are in a sudden death situation where if they lose any game, they will rule themselves out of any mathematical chance of making the finals. Sydney are dealing with quite a few injuries at the moment having lost Eva Afeaki (season) and Belinda Snell. It’ll be a very tough game and really, I think Sydney are beginning to struggle a little bit and Canberra could very well spring a surprise if everything goes right for them. Will Sydney hit back or will Canberra keep the dream alive for another week?

Canberra by 5 points

Friday night: Bulleen vs Townsville @ The Veneto Club (Replayed on ABC1 @ 1pm on Saturday)
Bulleen split the round before Christmas with a win over Dandenong before slipping to a shock loss against Canberra while Townsville won against Logan and Sydney on a vital weekend for them.

Key Matchup: Elizabeth Cambage vs Shanavia Dowdell
My god this is a matchup worth watching. Both girls have been exceptional for their respective sides. Cambage averages 22.2 points and 10 rebounds per game while Shanavia Dowdell averages 17.7 points and 10 rebounds. Cambage should claim the points in this duel but Dowdell is a fighter so it could be one well worth watching on the ABC

Final Word
This is a blockbuster of sorts with the loser potentially slipping into the vulnerable battle for 4^th and 5^th and neither team can really afford to lose this game. At the Veneto Club, Bulleen are absolutely exceptional but Townsville have been the league’s surprise packets this season and if anyone can cause an upset, they certainly can. Do Townsville have the consistency needed to topple Bulleen or can the Boomers maintain their charge for back to back titles?

Bulleen by 9 points

Saturday Twilight: Adelaide vs Townsville @ Adelaide Arena
Adelaide continue to assert themselves as title favourites with a comfortable win over West Coast while Townsville did the double over Logan and Sydney however they will be coming off a game less than 24 hours earlier

Key Matchup: Suzy Batkovic vs Shanavia Dowdell
Batkovic is the MVP in waiting for this season and there’s little surprise as she averages an astonishing 24.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Dowdell has been a surprise packet this season averaging 17.7 points and 10 rebounds per game but Suzy Batkovic is a whole different challenge entirely.

Final Word
There must be some kind of bizarre function in the fixture which decrees that Adelaide must play at home against a team coming off a tough game less than 24 hours earlier. Townsville are in an almost impossible position here considering they’ll be coming off a bruising game against Bulleen and then straight into another bruising game against Adelaide. Fatigue will definitely take its toll and I would not be surprised in the slightest to see this game blow out heavily. Will Adelaide continue on their march to the title or can Townsville prove that Adelaide are human with the biggest upset possible?

Adelaide by 18 points

Saturday night: AIS vs Sydney @ AIS Training Hall
AIS blew a marvellous chance to beat their neighbours Canberra after collapsing in the last quarter while Sydney blew a chance to jump into the top 2 with a loss against Townsville although they come off a tough game 24 hours prior against Canberra

Key Matchup: Sara Blicavs vs Katie-Rae Ebzery
The battle of the backcourt promises to be a beauty with the 2 young guns going up against each other. Both are remarkably even with Blicavs averaging 11.7 points and 5 rebounds per game compared to Ebzery’s 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Both girls have the potential to have that break out game and both have the potential to also play some absolute shockers

Final Word
Sydney are coming off a match from 24 hours earlier against Canberra while the AIS will be relatively refreshed. Logic would dictate that Sydney would win comfortably though having said that, both teams have suffered injuries this season. Will fatigue from a very physical Canberra match cost Sydney dearly and allow the AIS a chance to score an upset or can Sydney overcome difficulties to keep their finals hopes on track?

Sydney by 22 points

Saturday night: Logan vs Dandenong @ Logan Metro
Logan slipped to an 8 point loss last time out against Townsville while Dandenong were taken apart by fellow Victorian teams Bulleen and Bendigo.

Key Matchup: Cayla Francis vs Krista Phillips
Francis has been the most improved player in the WNBL this season averaging 16.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while after a slow start, Phillips averages 11 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Phillips has rapidly improved after a slow start and she’s beginning to assert herself a lot more regularly while Francis continues to be the go-to girl for Logan.

Final Word
This match has a lot riding on it with the season series set to be decided here. Logan currently lead the series 1-0 after a 7 point win in Dandenong back in Round 2. For Dandenong to take the series, they have to win by 8 points. It’s a tough ask though because this is in effect both teams season’s on the line and with Bendigo threatening to burst into form the loser of this match could find themselves in a bit of trouble. Both teams are inconsistent and both teams have deceived so often this year so I’m going the toss of the coin

Dandenong by 4 points

Saturday night: West Coast vs Bendigo @ WA Basketball Centre
West Coast slumped to their routine loss against Adelaide by 21 points while Bendigo shot the lights out to knock off Dandenong by 29 points.

Key Matchup: Rohanee Cox vs Gabrielle Richards
This promises to be a really good matchup between the big girls with Cox averaging 16.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game compared to Richards’ 13 points and 7.9 rebounds. Both girls have been consistent this season with Cox being forced to carry West Coast’s awful offense while Richards has been a rapid improver this season.

Final Word
Bendigo are the story of the season at the moment with debts of $50,000 threatening their participation in the WNBL beyond this season but similar to Townsville last season when they were affected by the same issues it seems that Bendigo are rallying. West Coast have got the most woeful defense in the league but they do seem to be “slightly” more competitive at home and I expect them to put up a reasonable game. Bendigo shot the lights out against Dandenong and if lightning strikes twice, West Coast could be in for a very long night. Of course, if Bendigo win, they could also be in 5^th spot at the end of the round too.

Bendigo by 24 points

So ends the Round 12 preview of all action in the WNBL