NBL1 Central Recap | Men's Round 17

Say Geronimo Sheppard: West Adelaide Bearcats import Nate Sheppard produced one of the performances of the season breaking into the top five scores of the NBL1 Central with 41 points against the Mavericks  | @snapshotphotography31 @Snap Shot Photography

Saturday 30/07/22

Norwood Flames vs Forestville Eagles   

Eagles flex wings and fly all over Flames

The Eagles showed they are starting to warm up as they annihilated the Flames from the field 72-114 at the Firedome. The Eagles were allowed to do what they pleased at their offensive end dropping 45 points in 15 devastating minutes at 60 plus percent mainly thanks to a perfect first half from Malith Machar with 17 points. Machar finished with 28 points and 5 rebounds while Jack Purchase was incredible from long range with 7 of 12 for his 27 points and 9 rebounds. Fiston Ipassou and Adam Doyle were the other dominant forces with 12 points and 8 rebounds and 12 points and 11 assists while Greg Mays accumulated his way to 17 points and 5 rebounds. The Flames found few winners with Luca Barei the leading man with 15 points in a dire night for a team needing to win if results didn’t go their way.

Sturt Sabres vs South Adelaide Panthers (Kayo Game of the Week)

Panthers final push snuffs Sabres season

It was neck and neck the whole night but midway through the last quarter the Panthers finally pushed away the Sabres and snuffed their season for 2022 with a 72-92 win at the Cave. The Sabres minus two key components in Joel Spear and Jacob Rigoni came out on a mission to keep their season alive and in true Sabres fashion did it by committee with a number of even contributors. The “Mid-Range Marvel” of Jeremy Smith did it again reversing the result of last time with 30 points and 6 rebounds as did Alex Starling with an important 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Panthers took over the final quarter. The win for the Panthers at least secures them a home final in the second week and keeps alive a faint chance of hosting the qualifier in week one.

West Adelaide Bearcats vs Eastern Mavericks     

Sheppard says Geronimo; drops brace of point on Mavs    

The stars of the night was Bearcats import Nate Sheppard as he exploded for one of the league’s top five highest stat lines as his team mauled the Mavericks 111-75 at the Bearcat Cave. Sheppard dropped 41 points including 6 triples at 54.5 percent and helped steer the Bearcats to a 40-14 second quarter haul. Not too far behind him was Nik DeSantis with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists and Kurtis Phillips with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. The Mavs were led by their big three again with this time Koop McCalop topping the sheets with 19 points and 10 rebounds, Ioannis Dimakopoulos with another solid outing of 15 points and 11 rebounds and James Legan firing for 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. The Mavs led up until the midway point of the second quarter 33-36 before the Bearcats struck a 29-7 run to run away with it and beyond.

Southern Tigers vs Woodville Warriors

Ruthless Warriors second quarter quashes Tigers start

The Tigers got it the way they wanted early before the Warriors willed their way to a second quarter quashing setting up an 83-119 win at the Cage. The Tigers went toe to toe with a fast start to keep up with the top of the table Warriors 29-35 after one. The Warriors Jawan Stepney led the onslaught from the front with 23 points with 4 triples at 50 percent, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and got able assistance from Devon McGee who dominated from the pine with 21 points and 7 rebounds. Plenty of the Warriors backup players had impact in the game including Daniel Mckee (10 points), Riley Aistrope (8 points) and James Boonstoppel with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in the absence of David Humphries. The Tigers Ricardo Martin was best for the home side with 19 points and 9 rebounds along with Vionte Daniels with 15 points. Young Under 20s SA representative Curtis Scott got one of his first starts of the season with 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in a one to watch for the future performance.

North Adelaide Rockets vs Central District Lions    

BJ’s twin terrors take revenge on Rockets

Given last time they came up just short in the comeback, the BJs of the Lions would not be denied a second time with a pulsating 71-80 win at the Launch Pad. With the Rockets leading 37-28 at the half, Bijan Johnson and Branden Jenkins combined for 31 of the Lions 34-42 second half to cause the upset that may (if it weren’t for other results) left the Rockets seeing red. Johnson chalked up 24 points and 6 assists and Jenkins 20 points including some long triples (4-5) and some earth shattering dunks to go with 6 rebounds. Former championship Rocket Tobias Dowdell captured his best of the season with 18 points and 8 rebounds. The Rockets Terry Winn was the winner for the home side with 19 points and 12 rebounds and is making a serious push for Woollacott medal contention while Riley Harrap dropped another 19 points and 7 rebounds. Jamar Akoh also continued his strong from with 15 points and 11 rebounds with the Rockets now fighting for a home elimination final with the Flames next week.