Central Recap | Preliminary Finals

Feature images supplied via NBL1.com.au /  Melissa Belanic | @justbphotoau

The Preliminary Finals of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central Finals Series were drama filled, the action rising to another level unseen during the season and ultimately given their position on the ladder at the end of the season - the two results we may have not anticipated      

Woodville Women into Decider for first time in 28 years                  

The Women's Preliminary Final was between the Forestville Eagles and the Woodville Warriors at The Nest of the State Basketball Centre.

The Warriors are on the cusp of a drought breaking title as for the second time in their history and first time since 1997 they will play in the NBL1 Central 2025 Grand Final. They ousted the Eagles in straight sets 63-53 in a drama filled action packed conclusion at The Nest.

The Eagles flew out of the blocks through Warriors kryptonite in former Adelaide Lightning utility Sam Simons who has had the wood on Woodville for several years with an early triple.

Both teams traded blows with WNBL Adelaide Lightning returnee Jasmin Fejo on the flip side the Eagles nemesis in previous encounters dropping nine points for the term. It was a former WNBL attendee Jordan Hunter (Eight points, six assists and rebounds) however with seven first term points helping the Warriors surge the away side into the lead with a 10-0 run and into the lead 22-16 at the first change.

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The game kept that tone in the second as the physicality and the strengths of all were evident on the floor in the standing room only contest - Jess Simons and Ella Sawyer (13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists) flourishing in the environment with seven second quarter points however Fejo was the fury in the first half to finish with a 17 point, three rebound, two assist and two steal contribution. The Warriors held the lead by a single point 34-33 at the main change but had control of the boards 27-17.

Jasmin Fejo knocks it down from the corner ?

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The third quarter specialist emerged as Laura Erikstrup exploded for 11 points in the stanza as both teams came to blows on the scoreboard and multiple contests were full of force on the floor. Fejo continued her run as she passed the 20s but the Eagles were hanging in through some timely triples to Maddy Freer (10 points) to keep them in it. Erikstrup (19 points and 10 rebounds) in the paint however helped the Warriors to a 14-6 run to leave them up 58-47 with one to play and one foot in the door of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre next week. 

The opening to the fourth term set the stage for the stars and rising to the occasion and after a quiet night was Erin Phillips as she helped race the Warriors out to a game high 16 points lead with a huge triple. Foul trouble began to plague both sides as the grip tightened on the match as big play after big play was pulled off by each team - the Eagles getting big time plays from Jess Simons (14 points, six assists and four rebounds) and Rachel King (10 points and five rebounds) who put her body on the line. 

Refusing though to let a drought breaking opportunity slip away - Fejo put the Warriors on her back once again joined by the legend herself Phillips (A near double double of significance 10 points and nine rebounds) as she rose for rebounds like marks on the hallowed turf, creating and pumping their offence full of points - the finish complete when she nailed the triple in the corner down the final minutes to send the Eagles out in straight sets and take the Warriors to their first decider in 28 years of their history. 

Footlocker Player of the Game Jasmin Fejo was full of fury from start to finish as she finished with the performance of polish with 32 points complete with 18/22 from the free throw line, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. Fejo, taking a team from 10th to the final for the second consecutive season shared with the GOTW team about the momentous moment. 

“It's emotional given the club’s history and after last year and playing the Eagles tonight to knock them out - I’m very happy for us.”

With the Warriors finishing fifth expectation from the outside was low but internally that just helped Woodville play more freely and with passion.  

“We have nothing to lose - a lot of people didn’t expect us to be where we are right now so we just want to play basketball.” Fejo summarisd. 

The legend herself Erin Phillips shared the sentiment of the moment, understanding the achievement of what had just been accomplished. 

“Really excited and really proud of this group - we knew it was going to be a grind - I just tried to have an impact with rebounds and called upon my experience”

And it could be the final swan song for the champion multi code athlete under her long time mentor and coach Vicki Daldy.

“I’ve loved being with this club this year and will enjoy the last game of my career next week…”    

                           

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 63 (J Simons 14, Sawyer 13, M Freer. King 10)

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 73 (Fejo 32, Erikstrup 19, Phillips 10)

 

Bearcats block “Superteam” out in straight sets in boilover at Nest               

The Preliminary Final between the Forestville Eagles and the West Adelaide Bearcats was one of grandeur with NBL players a plenty, high octane action and some of the cleanest shooting from beyond we’ve seen throughout the season.

In one of the seasons biggest boilovers and being dubbed “The Superteam” by experts - the Bearcats won a thriller over the Eagles to set their anticipated entry to exit in straight sets out of the finals 97-95 in a pulsating finish at The Nest. 

It couldn’t have started better for the Bearcats as they thundered their way to an early ascendancy after an early Daniel Johnson trademark fadeaway with a 13-0 run led by the cannon of Cameron Huefner from outside (11 first term points on a perfect three of three from beyond the arc) along with the Woollacott medallist in Keanu Rasmussen to have them out 16-6. It took Greg Mays to get things moving for the Eagles as they closed it to 32-22 at the first change. 

Entering the conversation for players to watch in the NBL again this season - Lat Mayen lit up once again with three triples for an 11 point term as he and new Perth Wildcats teammate Cameron Huefner (25 points and eight rebounds) kept things rolling for the Bearcats.

Mays and Johnson however helped the Eagles stay in striking distance in typical fashion as they brought it back to 54-45 at the main change.

Emerging out of the half-time and threatening in the final series to have a say - the Adelaide 36ers skipper in Dejan Vaslijevic got motoring to nail 16 points in the quarter with four outrageous triples to spark the game to action as the Eagles finally took the lead back 66-64. 

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The stage is always set for cameos in the finals and another previous entity known to impact in Joel Spear buried a triple to cut it back but rode Mayen all the way back into the three quarter time lead 79-75. Mayen with 12 of his own for the quarter to take him to six triples for the night and anyone's game with one to play. 

The Eagles went back to Alex Starling to start the fourth as well as Johnson but the Woollacott Medallist steady in the contest was going to have a huge say in the final term. Rasmussen threw down a two handed slam to make it 86-80 while making plays to find himself to the free throw line. Dejan Vasiljevic also was having his say as the two went toe-to-toe in the final minutes as the game ebbed and flowed within a couple of baskets.

It came down to the dying minutes to decide who would meet the Central Districts Lions at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre next week. Rasmussen missing some crucial free throws but then making the Eiffel tower style and1 rising above the flock of Eagles in the paint to make it a single basket to lead to the Bearcats with 29.2 seconds remaining.

The AAMI timeout to super coach Andy Simons the eight time championship winner not producing the results the Eagles were looking for as Alex Starling (16 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists breathing down a triple double) went to the contested triple as chaos ensued on the resulting play. 

The Woollacott medallist turning it over inexplicably, the ball in the hands of Vasiljevic (22 points, five assists and three rebounds) dribbling to try and create separation but like they were back at Sixers practice - the one man he didn’t want guarding him at that moment was Rasmussen.

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Rasmussen blocked Vasiljevic’s attempted draw from the jumper shot on the 45 wing and Mays (18 points) with Starling’s last ditch play off the miss off the board sealed the boilover once again. Bearcats coach Dean Nyberg once again taking a side from fifth to the final for the second time in the NBL1 Central era (2021 and now 2025).

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The Footlocker Player of the Game with his final term contribution sealing the deal with 22 points, 11 assists and six rebounds was still in disbelief they’d pulled off the victory ousting the Eagles in the series.

Lat Mayen also made the early running for it with 31 points, seven rebounds and three assists speaking to the GOTW team after the match.   

“It's awesome - it's been a tough season, we've had a lot of ups and downs.” Rasmussen was lost for words.

Mayen was just happy to be home and playing hoops with familiar faces. “It’s great to be back home this season playing in front of my family and playing with the league MVP as well.”  

                                                                

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 95 (D Johnson 26, Vasiljevic 22, Mays 18)

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 97 (Mayen 31, Huefner 25, Rasmussen 22)

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