Central Recap | Round 8 Saturday

By Tristan Prentice for NBL1.com.au

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

Round 8 of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central was full of pivotal performances that guided their sides home as the ladder took shape and gaps started to appear between groups of teams fighting to stay in touch with the top five

Here are the results of tonight’s Saturday games:

Bearcats drop-off depleted Rockets to take top           

It was billed as a top table tussle but the West Adelaide Bearcats led for all but the first twenty seconds of the match as they eventually dropped-off a depleted North Adelaide Rockets 88-75 at the Bearcat Cave in Port Adelaide. 

Minus Brooke Basham and Lauren Mansfield the Bearcats rode the hot hand of Sienna Grieger as she buried three triples to open proceedings before Ashlee Strawbridge in return from her Trans-Tasman foray with the Tall Ferns ended her teammates streak. The Bearcats though were in a mood after the Rockets stayed in it early through Mollie McKendrick (21 points, 11 rebounds and four assists). Three turnovers in a row to the home side’s favour generated an 8-0 run to give them the lead 34-20 after one. 

Krystal Thompson (16 points and four steals) and Molly Coleman continued to roll the scorecard over for the home side but Jordyn Freer (24 points, five assists and rebounds) started to warm up in the second half of the term to bring it back to a 60-41 with Olivia Levicki dropping one floater on the halftime buzzer.

Both teams went toe-to-toe in the third but Levicki (22 points, 13 rebounds with three steals) came to life in the second half with Freer not far behind but the Bearcats still held a comfortable 78-58 lead with one to play. The Rockets went to their pine in the fourth and found a cameo from Abbey Jones (Seven points and five rebounds) with Freer cutting it back to eight with two minutes to play but the Bearcats steadied to take the win.

Grieger had an outstanding night with her five triples lining her up for 20 points while Strawbridge produced a season high 17 points, five rebounds and two assists.       

  

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 88 (Levicki 22, Grieger 20, Strawbridge 17)

NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 75 (J Freer 24, McKendrick 21, Jones 7)

 

Warriors re-write recent Panther history with willing win          

The Woodville Warriors continued a record run of results with their sixth win in a row and a first against the South Adelaide Panthers since 2019 with a final term closeout 72-78 at the Jungle at Mitchell Park. 

A hot start for the green and gold of 1-9 saw the Warriors with the early lead but the Panthers punched back hard to bring it back to a 15-17 quarter time lead. The second term belonged to South as Keira Gardiner (20 points and seven rebounds) wrecked havoc from the pine and Bella Stratford (eight points and three rebounds) made it very tough as they took a 40-38 at the half. 

A deadly duo in Jasmin Fejo (19 points and eight assists) and Ambah Kowcun (13 points and 10 rebounds) pulled momentum back towards the Warriors in the third term as they sliced their way through the Panthers to be on the doorstep of a drought breaking win but a plethora of five triples for a season high for Bianca Stasinowsky (23 points) snatched back the lead 60-58. 

Fejo as often as she’s done this season proved the roadblock for the Panthers making baskets and blocking baseline shots to take the Warriors to a record sixth win in a row and the first win against the Panthers since 2019. 

Six Warriors made eight or more in their win with double doubles to Laura Erikstrup (10 points and 14 rebounds) and Genna Anderson-Abbey (10 points and rebounds) with Erin Phillips solid once again with eight points, four rebounds, three assists and steals and Jordan Hunter striking back against her old side with 10 points, five assists and rebounds with four steals.    

 

Seventh heaven beckons for untouched territory for the Women Warriors - can they taste it for the first time in over 10 years??? Find out when they take on their rivals the West Adelaide Bearcats Saturday night at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. 

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 72 (Stasinowsky 23, K Gardiner 20, Spencer, Stratford 8)

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 88 (Fejo 19, Kowcun 13, Anderson-Abbey, Erikstrup, Hunter 10)

Sabres stave off Mavericks to run away at Arena        

It took a while to shake the Eastern Mavericks but the Sturt Sabres took their fourth from five matches in a 81-51 win at Pro Bitumen Arena. 

The Sabres got out of the blocks quickly by committee before a mini-comeback was led by Lou Watkinson (11 points) with some triples, Rosie Williamson (season high nine points) and Bella Schaftenaar (Nine points) in the absence of Morgan Yaeger - early in the second term at 21-21. 

The Sabres jumped out again through Nicola Mathews (12 points and four rebounds) and Katia Stamatelopoulos (12 points, three assists and rebounds) as well as a cameo from Soriah Moon but a couple of late points to Aspen Williston (14 points and eight rebounds) brought it back to ten at the break 39-29. 

The Mavs stuck around proving a nuisance for another quarter with Daisy Hocking finding some touch - the young core of Chelsea Portus (13 points), Tahlia Griffths and Paige Padroth (Nine points and three rebounds) however snuffed out any chance of a comeback as they helped the home side run away with the points and move into the top three and three games clear of sixth.     

Consistent throughout the evening Zoe Walker-Roberts led from the front as captain with a double double of 10 points and rebounds while Sydney Mech popped up at different times with her athleticism for 10 points as well. 

 

STURT SABRES 79 (Portus 13, N Mathews, Stamatelopoulos 12, Mech, Z Walker-Roberts 10)

EASTERN MAVERICKS 51 (Williston 14, Watkinson 11, Schaftenaar, Williamson 9)

 

Gabi guides Eagles to win over competitive Flames            

The Kayo Freebies Game of the Week after quarter time was a back and forward affair as the Forestville Eagles took the points 77-60 over the Norwood Flames at the Nest.

The Eagles got a flying start without much answer from the Flames - led by Gabi Vidmar with her best effort of the season with 25 points while captain Sam Simons caused matchup problems all night for the away side with 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.

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The Flames fought back in the remaining three quarters levelling it up 52-52 through imports Amanda Paschal (19 points, eight rebounds, three assists and steals) and Ke’Shunan James with 17 points, eight rebounds and three steals. 

The Flames however never recovered the points from the first term conceded as the Eagles held that margin. Ella Sawyer and Rachel King both posted double doubles with 10 points and rebounds each respectively.                

 

Who of these two teams is a genuine contender??? The Bowley/Simons Cup will be decided next Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. 

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 77 (Vidmar 25, S Simons 17, King, Sawyer 10)

NORWOOD FLAMES 60 (Paschal 19, James 17, Tewhata 12)

 

Belosevic tolls in time for the Tigers at the Den          

A season high haul including a timely basket from Southern Tigers import Iva Belosevic saw the Tigers escape with a one point thriller once again against the desperate winless Central Districts Lions 74-75 at the Den.

The Tigers got the start away from home via Belosevic as they took the lead 13-22 at the quarter time break. The second quarter split between the two sides saw Sydney Wright (13 points) and Belosevic go head to head to leave it at 29-39 at the half.

The Lions launched their comeback in the third term in arguably one of their best patches of play for the season led by Shanique Lucas (17 points, four rebounds and steals with three assists) and Tiahna Sears (25 points, six rebounds, five steals and two assists) to bring it back in their favour 55-53 with one to play. 

The last term ebbed and flowed as both teams traded baskets but the Lions out by a few baskets with four minutes to play were smelling the drought breaking win -  the Tigers however were not going away. Lucas made the tough drive to edge the Lions back in front but Belosevic tolled at the right time for the Tigers to give them the lead with 14 seconds to play. Lucas’s last ditch attempt contested corner mid-range rimmed long and the Lions long drought continued with the Tigers winning their third match of the season by less than a basket.

McKenzie Johnston breathed down a triple double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists but Belosevic’s 37 points and 13 rebounds proved to be the difference in the contest.        

The Tigers have taken their fans for the ride - can they take another thriller against their rivals the South Adelaide Panthers??? Find out next Saturday night at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.  

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 74 (Sears 25, Lucas 17, Wright 13)

SOUTHERN TIGERS 75 (Belosevic 37, Johnston 12, Hearne 9)

Sapwell’s Safari hunts Tiger game for Lions             

Another Safari Cup contest between the Southern Tigers and the Central Districts Lions was a highly entertaining affair as the home side prevailed 98-86 at the Den.

With the return of Magok Manyang the Lions jumped out of the blocks with Koen Sapwell but the Tigers stayed in touch early through Harry Morris. It was Deng Manyang off the pine though that gave the Lions their lead with Jarvis Doles beating the buzzer with the corner two to bring it to 32-22. 

The Lions launch in the second term gave them a large margin at 17 points but the Tigers snarled back hard through ex-Lion Sunday Bol (19 points and four rebounds) with ten in the term with Morris (15 points and eight rebounds) putting the lid on the comeback with a two handed slam 50-44 at the half. 

Efe Abogidi continued to patrol traffic from the Tigers, swatting a few away in the process as he gifted the Lions more of the margin with another 31-23 stanza. Koen Sapwell was scintillating on show, draining triple after triple with Doles (20 points and 11 rebounds) keeping the Tigers in touch with one left.

The Lions got on a roll early 6-0 in the fourth through Abogidi and Sapwell again with the Tigers timeout sparking an 0-8 run back their way led by Jarvis Summers (12 points, eight rebounds and five assists) as they closed the margin to 87-80. The Lions however calibrated their enthusiasm, closing it out with a 11-6 run to run out winners and stay equal top of the ladder.

Koen Sapwell was superb all night to nail 30 points, four assists and rebounds while Abogidi patrolled both ends of the floor with 21 points, nine rebounds and two huge rejections.

  

The Lions are on the hunt in 2025 - can they continue to take scalps including the Eastern Mavericks??? Find out next Saturday night at 8:00pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 98 (Ko Sapwell 30, Abogidi 21, Baker 13)

SOUTHERN TIGERS 86 (Doles 20, Bol 19. Morris 15)

 

McVeigh magic muscles Panthers to win over Warriors           

The South Adelaide Panthers have jumped one game clear in third after a magical performance from Lloyd McVeigh muscled them to a 81-63 win over the Woodville Warriors at the Jungle in Mitchell Park.      

Both teams started neck and neck as the script was followed with Christian Brandon and Lloyd McVeigh keeping the scoreboard ticking over for the Panthers with the Warriors Bryce Sloan (11 points and nine rebounds) and Tim Troussel made it all square 17-17 after one. 

Steve Parfitt caused problems for the Panthers early in the second but McVeigh was feeling good with his brother back on a holiday from Houston in the building - but the talk was all about Daniel Babb (eight points) as he buried a couple of triples to give the Panthers the lead at the half 37-32.

Troussel (10 points and five rebounds)) pulled the Warriors back a little closer but other Warriors were worried out of the points with Brandon consecutively nailing a triple, a massive shattering block then the finish off the offensive board with a dunk with all sorts of authority to push the Panthers out to a handy third term lead. Nick Wurm (15 points, three assists, rebounds and steals) splashed a few to get the Warriors back a little closer but the Panthers third term saw them up 57-42.

McVeigh continued to pile the pain on the Warriors from outside as he helped engineer a 10-0 run with Joe Jackson (eight points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists) ending the run with a triple - with Brandon icing the game with a big two handed slam and a sizzling performance over the arch-nemesis of the past half a decade.

McVeigh had arguably one of his best games in the NBL1 Central for him with 22 points, 14 rebounds while Brandon was a busy Panther all night with 18 points and six rebounds.    

The Panthers go one game clear in third - can they extend their gap with another over their Southern rival in the Tigers ??? Find out next Saturday night at 8:15pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.  

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 81 (L McVeigh 22, Brandon 18, Kubank 14)

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 63 (Wurm 15, Sloan 11, Meldrum, Troussel 10)

 

Strong start from Bearcats tale of two quarters for Rockets           

The West Adelaide Bearcats and North Adelaide Rockets split the quarters with the home side just doing enough with their momentum to take a 92-82 win at the Bearcat Cave at Port Adelaide.       

The opening stanza was led by the onslaught from Keanu Rasmussen as he guided the home side to a 26-11 start. Led by captain Tobias Dowdell (12 points, five rebounds and two assists and steals) the Rockets responded in the second to take the term capped off by a Bijan Johnson (13 points and seven assists) triple to end the half 19-28. The margain a manageable 45-39 one at the half. 

It was the Bearcats turn to respond in the third with a 28-17 quarter this time through the play of Jimma Dau (a double double of 15 points and 12 rebounds) and Lat Mayen (22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists) to give them a strong 73-56 lead with not much time for the Rockets to respond again. 

Respond they did in the final term with Phillip Dopud (17 points and six rebounds) not getting any smaller but not before Rasmussen threw down the two handed rim riser but then got usurped by this from Mayen.

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The Rockets scored a few late to paint some wall paper over cracks with the Bearcats getting home by double figures. Rasmussen produced another stellar individual performance with 30 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals to lead all comers.    

The Bearcats did enough to get the result - can they get one clear of the pack with a win over the western rivals the Woodville Warriors??? Find out next Saturday night at 8:15pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.  

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 92 (Rasmussen 30, Mayen 22, Dau 15)

NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 82 (Dopud 17, BJ Johnson 13, Dowdell 12)

 

Eagles flock fly to comfortable win over Flames           

The Kayo Freebies Game of the Week saw the Forestville Eagles fly comfortably over the Norwood Flames after establishing an early ascendancy 92-75 at the Nest.     

The ball movement was locked in early for the Eagles as they dished and dived for each other to the hoop. It was a show of Alex Starling, DJ Vasiljevic, Greg Mays and DJ showing off their skills and nous  for a 32-17 lead after one term.

Cooper Osborne tried to inspire the away side with a huge block early in the second with young recruit Louis Bleechmore finding his touch outside with the Flames missing Trey McBride again. The Eagles Greg Mays capped off a strong first half with 16 points to lead the Eagles to the 52-33 lead at the half.

Riley Harrap (21 points, six assists and five rebounds) lit up the Flames early in the third for a 2-7 start to cut it back to 14 points - the Eagles adjusting through Starling (10 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and three steals) and Vasiljevic. Harrap continued his strong form keeping the Flames in touch with one to play but DJ (19 points, nine assists and six rebounds)) at times looked like he was toying with the opposition throwing lob passes and making decisions with the ball like an apple in his hand to keep the Eagles in front with one stanza left. 

Bleechmore (19 points, eight rebounds and three steals) threw down a huge two handed putback jam in the fourth to push the Flames back even further but the Eagles soared over the top eventually closing the contest for another night and an eighth win of the season. DJ Vasiljevic finished equal top scorer with Mays with both clocking 20 points with five Eagles making double digits.            

 

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 92 (Mays, Vasiljevic 20, Johnson 19, Wilson 11)

NORWOOD FLAMES 75 (Harrap 21, Bleechmore 19, A Janssan, Osborne 13)

 

Ben and Black down Mavericks for Sabres           

The big and the bold duo of Sharif Black and Ben Griscti led the Sturt Sabres to their tenth win in a row against the Eastern Mavericks since 2019 with a convincing 95-73 win at Pro Bitumen Arena. 

An even start was quickly erased by the home side with Black and Griscti leading the Sabres to a 31-21 lead at quarter time - Freddy Webb (14 points and four assists) for the Mavs on a perfect eight points to keep his side in touch. The Sabres opened things up from there at the defensive end of the floor keeping the Mavs scoreless for five and a half minutes before Dom Jackson (Eight points and six rebounds) helped end the run but the damage was done 51-29 at the half. 

The Mavs as plucky as they’ve been minus Broderick Robinson called upon the skills of a son of a legend in Micale Mee (13 points), their bustling big man BJ Symons (16 points, four rebounds and three assists) who had a drama-filled dance with Griscti all night, and Owen Raneburg (14 points, four steals and three rebounds) to bring it back to 74-54 and still an outside chance.

That door was quickly slammed shut by sharp shooting from Daniel Nash (three of four from beyond the arc for nine points), Black, Jamie Smith and Jack Turnbull as the Sabres downed their south eastern rivals in the finish. 

Sharif Black backed up his huge haul a fortnight ago with another 35 point, four rebounds and three assist performance while Griscti looked his menacing best with 22 points and 10 rebounds.    

How real are these Sturt Sabres as they charge for the final five??? Find out when they take on the Forestville Eagles next Sunday in the Bauer/Newley Cup Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. 

STURT SABRES 95 (Black 35, Griscti 22, Nash 9)

EASTERN MAVERICKS 73 (Symons 16, Raneburg, Webb 14, Mee 13)

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