Feature images supplied via NBL1.com.au
Round 12 of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central kept teams faint finals hopes alive and the wedding of the day threw chaos on starting fives where opportunities were capitalised on by second unit players…
Here are the results from Saturday's games:
Flames last second hit keeps flickering faint finals hopes alive
The Norwood Flames have stolen victory from the jaws of defeat to keep their flickering faint finals hopes alive, downing the Southern Tigers 81-79 at the Furnace. The Flames came out cooking thanks to Maddy Hinton who lit up for six points in the opening term and along with Eva Langton (21 points with three triples and four rebounds) gave them a 24-14 start. The Tigers fought back through the second and third terms with Mollie McKendrick getting busy with 22 points at 62.5 percent and eight rebounds and import Regan Schenck with an impressive 17 points, eight assists, five rebounds and three steals.
It came down to the final minutes with the Tigers hitting the front through Abby Beeche (11 points with three triples at 66 percent) and McKendrick to have them up 78-79 with three seconds remaining…
Hinton’s hit sunk Southern to steal the win and keep the Flames flickering faint finals hopes alive and leave the Tigers teetering with four games to play.
Emily Saunders backed up her contributions from the previous week with another solid 14 points at 75 percent, 12 rebounds, three assists and blocks.
The Flames hopes of making the final five live on - can they continue to push for the last spots? Find out when they take on the Eastern Mavericks next Saturday 29 June 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
NORWOOD FLAMES 81 (Langton 21, Hinton, Saunders 14, Turner 10)
SOUTHERN TIGERS 79 (McKendrick 22, Schenck 17, Harrison 12)
A Walker-Roberts to remember as depleted Sabres scythe way through Bearcats
They may have been missing key figures in Kayla Mathews, Zoe Walker-Roberts and Jasmine Simmons while already missing Tayla Brazel - but the Sabres continued their mini-resurgence as they won their third in a row with a solid 69-80 win over the West Adelaide Bearcats at the Bearcat Cave.
The Kayo Freebies Game of the Week saw the second Sabre unit step-up into the starting five headlined by a career high 23 points, five steals and three rebounds to Mia Walker-Roberts with young Sabres of the future Paige Padroth and Chelsea Portus all contributing 8 points each. Sydney Brown backed up her breakthrough weekend of last week with another 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals while Nicola Mathews was also solid with 12 points and seven assists as many stepped up into the spotlight.
The Bearcats looking for their fourth win in a row were led by Ashlee Strawbridge with 15 points and nine rebounds while recent 250 gamer Skye Langenbrinck was consistent throughout the night with 14 points, three rebounds and steals.
Are the Sabres back to their finals making best??? Catch them in their redemption year as they take on the Central Districts Lions next weekend Saturday 29 June at 6:30pm and the Woodville Warriors Sunday 30 June 12:00pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 69 (Strawbridge 15, Langenbrinck 14, Thompson 12)
STURT SABRES 80 (M Walker-Roberts 23, Brown 13, N Mathews 12)
Spencer spree in final term takes Panthers to prowling win over Eagles
After last week you could be forgiven for thinking the South Adelaide Panthers Ash Spencer would not play this weekend - but taking court she was pivotal as the Panthers gained a prowling win over the Forestville Eagles 58-50 at the Jungle in Mitchell Park.
Both teams were pretty much neck and neck through the whole contest in a low scoring contest with a 33-35 lead to the Eagles heading into the final term. Enter the battered Spencer from last weekend as she scored close to half of the Panthers final 25 points of the match with 12 points in the final stanza to finish with 16 points and six rebounds. Hatti Cox had kept them in the contest the whole way through with a vital 12 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals while the Eagles Jess Simons strong form continued with another 15 points and eight rebounds with Ella Sawyer nearly grabbing a double double with nine points and eight rebounds.
When it counted however the spectre of Spencer once again haunted the Eagles in the finish…
The Panthers road to the finals is clearer but still not easy - see them scratch for the top five when they take on the Woodville Warriors next Saturday night 29 June at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 58 (Spencer 16, Cox 12, Stewart 7)
FORESTVILLE EAGLES 50 (Simons 15, Sawyer 9, M Freer 8)
Panthers hold off fast finishing Eagles
The South Adelaide Panthers held off a fast finishing Forestville Eagles team to take the split and set up the remainder of their season 88-85 at the Jungle in Mitchell Park. It took Tom Kubank to ice free throws and stop another last second shot from Eagles star Daniel Johnson in scenes similar to their last encounter at the Nest.
It started with the Panthers pushing off the starting blocks to leap out 25-17 with Alex Starling once again showing his full court expertise.
Alex Starling getting ??
Watch NBL1 Central via https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8 or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/SnV5gAMdes
The Eagles levelled things up thanks to DJ with 27 points and 10 rebounds with Greg Mays also double doubling again with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Jeremy Smith was in a mood having not featured in a Panthers team to lose to the Eagles (5-0 now) with 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds but Kubank was the catalyst as he grabbed 20 points with four triples and six rebounds.
The Panthers will storm into the Castle of St Clair on a five game winning streak next Saturday night as they take on the Woodville Warriors at 8:15pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 88 (Smith 21, Kubank 20, Johns 14)
FORESTVILLE EAGLES 85 (Johnson 27, Mays 20, Dibiamaka 15)
Fab Forbes fuels Sabres to bounce back win over West
The wedding of the day affected the lineups of this one as the Sturt Sabres reversed their result against the West Adelaide Bearcats 80-99 at the Bearcat Cave. The Sabres took full advantage through import Jordan Forbes with 34 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. The Kayo Freebies Game of the Week saw West minus Anthony Drmic and Fabian Krslovic - hold things level at halftime thanks to AK Gak with 21 points, six rebounds and two blocks, Sean Stock (18 points and six rebounds) and Joel Spear (16 points with three triples, five rebounds and three steals) making the most of their minutes.
Forbes' 22 points after halftime led the Sabres to a 34-53 second half to secure victory but the Bearcats second unit managed to save the split denying the Sabres by four points to take the season series. Sam Daly was strong all night for the Sabres with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists along with Ben Griscti with 13 points and 16 rebounds.
Do the Sabres have another super Saturday and Sunday ahead of them? Find out when they take on the Central Districts Lions next Saturday 8:15pm and the Woodville Warriors Sunday at 1:45pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 80 (AK Gak 21, Stock 18, Spear 16)
STURT SABRES 99 (Forbes 34, Daly 16, Griscti 13)
Raneburg ends drought as Mee and McDonald go head to head
The Eastern Mavericks have ended not only their eight game losing streak but also an eight year drought as they overcame the North Adelaide Rockets for the first time since 2016 to win 71-85 at the Lights. Two familiar names went to battle all night for their respective teams with Micale Mee and Durrell McDonald trading baskets and plays.
Mee burst the Mavs out of the blocks with seven in the opening term with Yosani Clay (16 points, seven rebounds and six steals) creating an entertaining opener. Owen Raneburg off the bench for the Mavs once again let it rain with more triples and baskets to help the Mavs hold the lead at half-time. Enter McDonald who hit multiple triples in a row and kept the Rockets scoreboard ticking over throughout the second half to finish with 22 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Raneburg and Mee however guided the Mavs to a final term of 14-25 to break the 13 game winning streak of the Rockets over them and end their eight game slide. Mee was marvelous with 22 points and seven rebounds, several defensive plays and one percenters that echoed the feats of his father. Raneburg finished with 22 points of his own along with seven rebounds and four steals. The Mavericks five wins in the season is historical for the hills club as they tick over the mark for the first time since pre 2010.
How dangerous can the Mavs be at the back end of the season? Follow their giant killing quest as they take on the Norwood Flames next Saturday night 29 June 8:15pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 71 (McDonald 22, Clay 16, K McCalop 13)
EASTERN MAVERICKS 85 (Mee, Raneburg 22, Hunter 14)
Watch the NBL1 Live & Free on NBL1.com.au, NBL1 App and Kayo Sports Freebies.
