NBL1 Central Recap | Saturday Round 1

Holly Forbes and Alex Starling produced dominant season-opening NBL1 Central performances for the South Adelaide Panthers on Saturday night while Lauren Manfield for the North Adelaide Rockets was among the others to stand out.

Round 1 of the women's competition saw the North Adelaide Rockets beat the Central District Lions 80-63, the South Adelaide Panthers defeat the Eastern Mavericks 82-59, the Forestville Eagles down the Southern Tigers 64-58 and West Adelaide Bearcats beat the Woodville Warriors 81-63.

Then in the opening night men's match ups, North Adelaide defeated Central District 95-70, South Adelaide downed the Mavericks 94-79, Forestville beat the Tigers 101-59 and the Warriors won 93-88 against the Bearcats.

WOMEN
Mansfield lifts Rockets to season-opening win over Lions
The North Adelaide Rockets hit the road to open the 2023 season and came away with the 80-63 victory against the Central District Lions.

The Rockets started impressively with 28 points to 18 in the first quarter on Saturday night and held that advantage the rest of the way and ended up winning by 17 points.

Lauren Mansfield was impressive in the win for North Adelaide with 24 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and three steals while knocking down 4/7 from beyond the arc.

Tayla Corrigan added 14 points and four rebounds, and Jordyn Freer 10 points and three boards.

Imani Guy put up 25 points and eight rebounds in the loss for Central District while Jaedyn De La Cerda produced 20 points, eight assists, seven boards and four steals.

You have to love this hustle play from Imani Guy ??

Watch #NBL1Central via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/1kJPiFQDu0

— NBL1 (@NBL1) March 25, 2023

Forbes helps lead South Adelaide to impressive home win
The South Adelaide Panthers made the perfect start to the NBL1 Central season with an 82-59 home win against the Eastern Mavericks.

South Adelaide dominated the opening three quarters at Mitchell Park Sports and Community Centre on the way to an eventual 23-point win against the Mavericks.

Holly Forbes delivered 21 points and 15 rebounds for South Adelaide while Bianca McDonald contributed 12 points and nine boards, Jordan Hunter 11 points, nine assists and five rebounds, and Samantha Defrancesco 10 points.

Olivia Bradley top-scored for the Mavericks with 17 points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks with Chloe Dumesny adding 11 points and three steals.

Eagles hold off Tigers despite big McKendrick night
The Forestville Eagles held out the Southern Tigers to win 64-58 on the road on Saturday night to begin the 2023 season.

Forestville pulled away in the third quarter with 23 points to nine and then led by as much as 17 points before then holding off the fast finishing Tigers to end up winning by six to open the NBL1 Central season.

Rachel Hines finished the night with 16 points and seven rebounds for Forestville while Madison Freer contributed 14 points and nine boards, and Jess Simons 13 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Despite the loss, Mollie McKendrick had a standout showing for the Tigers with 26 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two steals while Brittany Hernandez added 15 points and six boards, and Bianca Stasinowsky 11 points and eight rebounds.

Strong win to start new season at home for Bearcats 
The West Adelaide Bearcats had an impressive start to their championship defence beating the Woodville Warriors 81-63 on their home floor.

West Adelaide unfurled their championship banner and during the game itself, pulled away with 25 points to 18 in the second quarter and turned that into the eventual 18-point win on Saturday night at Port Adelaide Recreation Centre.

The Bearcats hit 10/21 from three-point territory as a team with Annaliese Watkinson hitting 3/4 for 15 points and Kelsey McKay 3/5 for nine points.

Jasmin Fejo also had 14 points and 10 assists for West Adelaide, Genna Anderson 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Keeley Pearce 11 points.

Nicole Fransson delivered 18 points and 10 rebounds for Woodville with Katherine Perkas contributing 10 points and seven boards, Emily Winter nine points and six assists, and Chelsea Apacible nine points and three rebounds.

MEN
Rockets catch fire for first up win on the road
The North Adelaide Rockets delivered a dominant start to the NBL1 Central season winning 95-70 on the road to the Central District Lions.

North Adelaide blew the game open with 36 points in the second quarter to head into half-time leading 56-37 before winning by 25 in the finish.

Riley Harrap led the charge for North Adelaide with 31 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals while hitting 5/10 from beyond the three-point line.

Akech Aliir added 21 points and seven rebounds, Durrell McDonald 17 points, seven boards, five steals and three assists, and Koop McCalop 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Branden Jenkins top-scored for Central District with 29 points, five rebounds and four steals while Ngor Nai had 10 points and five boards, Kevin Baker 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Ayual Garang 10 points.

Akech Aliir takes ?? for the PUT-BACK JAM

Watch #NBL1Central via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/8XyRuXYAh3

— NBL1 (@NBL1) March 25, 2023

Starling dominates to open South Adelaide's title defence
Even without Daniel Johnson yet on board, the South Adelaide Panthers started their NBL1 Central championship defence beating the Eastern Mavericks 94-79.

South Adelaide opened the new season at home on Saturday night raising their championship banner and even with 414-game NBL veteran and seven-time Adelaide 36ers MVP Johnson not suiting up, the Panthers proved too strong for the Mavericks.

Alex Starling was there for the Panthers and was a dominant force with 36 points, 21 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks on 13/26 shooting from the floor and 9/15 from the foul line.

Todd Davies added 20 points and seven rebounds, and Jarryd Hoppo 20 points and eight boards.

Jack Hemphill top-scored for the Mavericks with 26 points to go with nine rebounds and four blocks with Jasper Rentoy contributing 22 points and four assists, and James Legan 10 points, eight boards and three assists.

South #Adelaide unfurled their 2022 #NBL1Central championship banner & celebrated with a 94-79 win over @EasternMavs

Alex Starling was key for @SouthAdelaideBC with 36pts + 21 rebounds ? @NBL1 pic.twitter.com/4V2mLPkNB2

— NBL1 CENTRAL (@Nbl1Central) March 25, 2023

Forestville dominate Tigers on the road to open 2023
The Forestville Eagles began the 2023 season with a dominant first up performance beating the Southern Tigers 101-59 at Morphett Vale Basketball Stadium.

It was a commanding performance from the outset from Forestville with them going into half-time leading 53-29 before ending up scoring the 42-point win to start the season.

Malith Machar finished with 25 points and nine rebounds for Forestville on shooting 10/16 from the field and 3/5 from three-point territory with Greg Mays adding 22 points, 10 boards and three assists.

Jake Rios contributed 16 points while Owen Hulland put up 13 points and seven rebounds.

Anthony Green produced 13 points and seven rebounds for the Tigers and Nick Logan 13 points and five boards.

Warriors overcome McCarron, Drmic and Bearcats
Despite a monster second quarter from the West Adelaide Bearcats and strong showings from Anthony Drmic and Mitch McCarron, the Woodville Warriors claimed a 93-88 road win to open the season.

West Adelaide put up 38 points in the second quarter to go into half-time leading 53-46, but Woodville worked on top in the second half including keeping the Bearcats to nine fourth quarter points to win by five.

Jawan Stepney finished with 23 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and three steals for Woodville while Devon McGee contributed 21 points and four boards, and Joe Jackson 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Anthony Drmic hit 5/11 from three-point land for West Adelaide to finish with 24 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals. Nikolas DeSantis added 22 points and four assists, and Mitch McCarron 16 points, 10 boards and eight assists.

Near triple-double by Mitch McCarron (16+10+8) & 24pts from Anthony Drmic (5/11x3) can’t prevent West #Adelaide from a first round 88-93 defeat at the hands of Woodville to open the @NBL1 #NBL1Central season pic.twitter.com/cLuvDFHpyN

— NBL1 CENTRAL (@Nbl1Central) March 25, 2023