SOUTHSIDE Flyers face a must-win contest against WNBL slow starters Adelaide Lightning in order to remain in contention with the top three sides. A victory in tonight’s clash against the Lightning will edge the Flyers back to an even 4-4 win-loss keel, while also handing their opponents a sixth loss in the 2024/25 season.

The Flyers started the year strongly to win three of their first five WNBL games before dropping matches to top two sides Bendigo Spirit and Perth Lynx. Luckily for the Flyers, wins against the Capitals either side of those results meant they with with a 4-3 record heading into the Round 6 clash.

Adelaide Lightning cracked through for a victory against Sydney Flames just over a fortnight ago, in a dominant 24-point victory. However aside from that, the Lightning has not been able to crack through for a win. The back-to-back games against Townsville Fire within six days showed promising signs with the South Australian team losing by six points on the road, and one point at home.

The winnable game against the Flyers is followed up with a head-to-head against sixth placed Geelong Lightning, which with both wins could see Adelaide bolt up to fourth on the table. However getting the job done will be tricky and both will be part of an extended away stretch, having lost to Geelong back on November 16 by six points.

Southside Flyers rely on the likes of Naz Hillmon off the boards, with the American putting up 18.6 points and 9.7 rebounds, team-highs for the Flyers. She is well supported by Alice Kunek (18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds) and all-rounder Rebecca Cole (14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists) who will make life difficult for the Lightning.

Adelaide looks to star player Brianna Turner to quell the influence of Hillmon, and the combination that Turner has made with Stephanie Talbot poses the biggest issue to the Flyers around the basket. Turner is averaging double-digit rebounds (12.8), while Talbot has managed nine per match.

However while the Lightning have been great defensively – producing 28 blocks to 10 this season compared to the Flyers – they have struggled more offensively, averaging 67.8 points per game compared to Southside’s 84.1. Likewise, the Lightning’s bench has contributed an average of 11.2 points per game, while the Flyers can rely on 14.2 points from theirs.

The Flyers have the ability to dominate in the paint, which is where the Lightning’s bigs must step up and provide resistance if they are to be a chance. The key to the win will be to hold firm defensively, but also pick the right options in transition to set up high percentage looks.

AROUND THE COURTS

Adelaide heads to Geelong on Sunday to face United in a 12:30pm tip-off. If the Lightning are coming off a win from tonight’s match, then watch out, while a loss against th Flyers means the victory against United is all the more crucial.

In the other Round 6 contest, Sydney Flames play host to Perth Lynx at the Quaycentre tomorrow night. The fresh Flames will look to provide an upset against the second placed Lynx, who suffered a rare defeat at the hands of the unbeaten top of the table Bendigo Spirit last night.