NBL1 Central Mens Finals Week 1

Photo By Picture_IT Sports Photography

Here is the recap of week one of the finals

Rockets respond at right time in OT Finals Thriller

It took overtime to get it done but the North Adelaide Rockets outlasted a roaring Southern Tigers in an elimination final thriller 82-77 at the Launch Pad. Both teams traded blows early with the flying in from the Apple Isle Jack McVeigh off to a fast start along with fellow team-mates Verle “The Red Tornado” Williams and Jimma Dau, the Tigers closing the gap with a Machar quarter time buzzer beater capping an 11 point-opener for him. The Rockets then went on a 27-8 run in the second quarter as they led by 20 points at the half 48-28 thanks to 13 points to McVeigh. The Tigers fought their way back into the game via Christian Artacho who began to light up with 10 points for the quarter as he got his game going but an incredible Dau fadeaway on three quarter time saw the margin 59-44 and still a handy lead to the home side after three.

Machar mashed a one-handed flush down and Artacho continued to fire arrows from deep to get the Tigers roaring in the fourth as they produced a 22-10 run before a Matt Tassell triple tied it 69-69 apiece. Cameron “The Truth” Coleman then grabbed the layup to give the Tigers an unlikely lead 69-71 before creating a stoppage with Dau the next play producing a game defining block. It came down to the final 15 seconds with the Rockets needing a score and Nick Wurm’s sideline pass was stolen by Tobias Dowdell who flushed the ball down to tie the scores 71-71 and send the game to elimination overtime.

The Rockets dominated the extra period with a McVeigh And1 and Williams big dagger triple sealing the victory to keep the Rockets season alive and end the Tigers season. McVeigh finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds to lead all comers with Williams (21 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists) and Dau (17 points and 13 rebounds) crucial in the contest. Artacho picked a good night to produce a career high 25 points including 5 triples at 62.5 percent and 11 rebounds and along with Machar Machar’s 23 points and 10 rebounds were the Tigers best.  

Flames secondary unit sizzles to down high-flying Eagles

The Norwood Flames have ended a four-game winning streak of the second placed Forestville Eagles as they stole, slammed, and sizzled their way to a Qualifying Final win 82-86 at the Nest. The Eagles got off to a flyer scoring 20-6 in the opening term through a red-hot Jake Rios with 8 points in the opener before the Flames fought back through CJ Turnage to bring it back to 30-22. The Flames took over the second with an unlikely source in Aydan Janssan who reeled off 8 points for the quarter and along with Matt Lycett slowly chipped away at the lead. The Flames finishing the first half with a thunderous tip-in jam to Anthony Green (Pictured) as they brought it back to 53-49 at the half.

Michael Harris got clicking in the third as he dropped 8 points for the term as the Eagles kept their lead 70-68. Lycett and Janssan once again put some big points on the board but the big man of the Flames Green was the most influential player in the final quarter as he dunked, tipped, and blocked his team to a famous win. The Flames capitalised on the Eagles turnovers in the final stanza to finish the game with 15 points from those turnovers. CJ Turnage after going into “Turnage-nator” mode early finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists with Green notching a double double of his own with 14 points and 12 rebounds. The Eagles got a beauty from Harris with 28 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and was well supported by Malith Machar with 17 points and 12 rebounds.      

The Sturt Sabres will meet the Norwood Flames at the Cave in the Qualifying Semi-Final for a place in the Grand Final while the North Adelaide Rockets will travel to the Nest to take on the Forestville Eagles in the Elimination Semi-Final.