NBL1 CENTRAL Round 11 Recap: Saturday

Round 11 of NBL1 Central saw flashes of brilliance from young stars and WNBL duos in the womens – and the mens top six played off against each other in a moving night at the top of the table.

Here are the results from Saturday’s games:

Freer flies in display to upset Panthers

Maddy Freer flew again as the Eagle scored a double double of 16 points and 11 rebounds in her sides upset win over the South Adelaide Panthers 64-50 at the Nest.

Sabres sharp second half leads to unbeaten 13 game streak   

Reigning Halls Medallist Mikayla Williams led the Sturt Sabres to a thirteenth consecutive win of the season with 17 points and eight rebounds in her sides 55-78 win over last year’s champions the West Adelaide Bearcats. The Sabres were sharp in the second half with 46 points to 22 led by 35 points from their pine in another masterful performance.

WNBL Rocket combo class above Warriors

North Adelaide Rocket WNBL duo Brooke Basham and Lauren Mansfield were a class above a highly competitive Woodville Warriors as they lifted their Rockets to a 58-83 win. Basham dropped 25 points at 53 percent including 13 points in the third quarter paired with five assists with Mansfield collecting 19 points, nine assists and five rebounds.

Nicole Fransson posed problems for the Rockets early but was halted still posting 19 points and 14 rebounds in a classy double double.

Drmic drains dagger to sink Sabres and retain top

One versus three on the ladder turned into a thriller with Anthony Drmic draining a buzzer beater to keep the West Adelaide Bearcats top of NBL1 Central with a 93-91 win over the Sturt Sabres at the Bearcat Cave.

Drmic collected 15 points and 15 rebounds while teammates Mitch McCarron (21 points, eight rebounds and six assists), Lachlan Olbrich (21 points and eight rebounds) and Nik DeSantis (18 points) kept the scoreboard ticking over. The Sabres Jordan Forbes narrowly missed a triple double with 18 points, nine assists and rebounds with him, Jacob Rigoni (20 points, seven rebounds) and Keanu Rasmussen (27 points and four steals) bringing the Sabres back into the game in last quarter only to be downed by the Drmic dagger.  

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Machar magnificent as Eagles elevate to second over Panthers.

Malith Machar back with Melbourne United and united the second placed Forestville Eagles as they score their second straight win over the fourth placed South Adelaide Panthers 107-80 at the Nest. Machar was magnificent with 21 points, nine rebounds supported ably by Brad Rathjen with a double double of 18 points, 10 assists and five rebounds. Adam Doyle was dishing out dimes once again in his nine assists, 18-point, four rebound and three steal performance. Former Adelaide 36er Sam Johns wound back the clock again leading the Panthers with 23 points and five assists with new 36er Alex Starling notching another double double of 17 points, 18 rebounds and three assists in the absence of Daniel Johnson.

Warrior Humphries silences Rockets in mid-table must win

David Humphries rolled back his all-star five form of 2022 with an emphatic 31 points with eight triples at 50 percent and eight rebound display in the fifth placed Woodville Warriors crucial 102-93 win over the sixth placed North Adelaide Rockets at the Castle of St Clair. Joe Jackson also returned to his best with a double double of 16 points and 10 rebounds while the Rockets Riley Harrap (24 points) and Koop McCalop (22 points and nine rebounds).