Sat
Apr 5, 2025
NBL1 Central | Round 2 Saturday
By Tristan Prentice for NBL1.com.au
Round 2 of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central was full of announcements and history hoodoo shattered as imports staked their early claims on league awards and some of the longest standing winning streaks of all time came to a climactic conclusion…
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Feature images supplied via NBL1.com.au / @CS Photographic
Round 2 of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central was full of announcements and history hoodoo shattered as imports staked their early claims on league awards and some of the longest standing winning streaks of all time came to a climactic conclusion…
Here are the results from Saturday's games:
Paschal proves point for Flames in first home hitout
The Norwood Flames new import guard impressed in her first home hit out and she guided the Norwood Flames to a comfortable 82-64 win against the Southern Tigers at the Firedome of the ARC Campbelltown.
Kentucky Wildcats college guard Amanda Paschal piled on 27 points with seven rebounds, five steals and four assists to keep the Flames firing in the first half 42-27 and they were never headed from there. Paschal picked up from the Big V from the highly successful Wyndham program was well supported by fellow import Emily Saunders who grabbed seven points and 17 rebounds
The Tigers import McKenzie Johnston was good again with her 12 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists with skipper Tara Dodman coming off a 17 point match - but the Tigers could not after quarter time get their noses in front as the Flames dominated the contest.
The Flames have a Friday night round of gathering at the Firedome - can they upset one of the warm favourites in the West Adelaide Bearcats??? Find out next Friday at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
NORWOOD FLAMES 82 (Paschal 27, Shillabeer 9, Akuen, Saunders, Tewhata, Uzcategui Montenegro 7)
SOUTHERN TIGERS 64 (Dodman 17, Johnston 12, Beeche, Hall 10)
Sabres squeeze Lions out early
The Sturt Sabres would’ve been hungry to avenge last year’s preliminary final exit to the Central Districts Lions and with scything accuracy they smashed the Lions out of Probituman Stadium 93-51 in comprehensive fashion.
The 42 point assault was led by Meg Prosser as she produced five of seven from beyond the arc with 23 points, four assists, three blocks and rebounds - then a cast of cats led the way for the Sabres as they produced the 53-22 lead at the half.
Mia Walker-Roberts pulled together 15 points, five assists and four steals in solid minutes while Tahlia Griffiths made the most of her promotion in minutes with 10 points and five rebounds. Zoe Walker Roberts nearly got close to an elusive quadruple double teetering on the edge with nine points, eight steals, seven rebounds and six assists.
The Lions had very few winners with a curtailed Sydney Wright the best finishing with 17 points and five assists but much of that came late when the match was done.
The Sabres have started 2-0 on the season - can they take it up to the South Adelaide Panthers cross roads at the Jungle??? Find out next Saturday at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
STURT SABRES 93 (Prosser 23, M Walker-Roberts 15, Portus 13)
CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 51 (Wright 17, Saurette 9, Hunt, Zbierski 7)
Simons Eagles hold off Maverick Eastern
The Eastern Mavericks pushed for their first win since 2019 against another favourite in the Forestville Eagles with a Simons squared combination just getting them home in a packed St Francis De Sales 74-78
The Mavs produced a strong start before the Eagles rose on a 15-28 second term to claw their way back into the match thanks to Sam Simons with 15 of her 26 points (six rebounds, three assists and steals) coming in the term.
The Mavs were paced by superstar Morgan Yaeger off the back of her 47 point performance the previous week (18 points, nine assists and five rebounds) against her junior side.
Morgan Yaeger is unstoppable ?
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As her and new recruits Aspen Williston (14 points and five rebounds) and Lou Watkinson (15 points and five rebounds) got to work bringing it back to a level ball game 60-64 with one to play.
The final term was a thriller with it all coming down to the final minute with improving guard Sophie Miles (10 points and six rebounds) making a layup to give the homeside the lead. Sam Simons made the pull up jumper baseline with the Eagles forcing a defensive turnover.
The resulting play ended with a Jess Simons (12 points, seven assists and rebounds with two steals) triple to seal a close call for Forestville.
The Eagles also had Gabby Vidmar (11 points, eight rebounds, three assists and steals) and Maddy Freer (17 points and three rebounds) join another even evening on the stats sheet.
The Eagles have found their first win of the season - can they hold off the determined Woodville Warriors. Find out next Sunday at 3:00pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
EASTERN MAVERICKS 74 (Yaeger 18, Wilkinson 15, Williston 14)
FORESTVILLE EAGLES 78 (S Simons 26, M Freer 17, J Simons 12)
West war way over Panthers in Olivia onslaught
Olivia Levicki returned to play the last side she played for in 2022 as guided the West Adelaide Bearcats to their first win over the South Adelaide Panthers since that very year at the Jungle 56-98.
Levicki launched the Bearcats after quarter time to a 36-72 streak thanks to 22 points and 11 rebounds and was well supported by New Zealand national Ashlee Strawbridge with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and steals. Sienna Lehmann returned from injury for her first game since the COE stint she had with 10 points and seven rebounds while Adelaide Lightning DP Krystal Thompson added 15 points and three rebounds.
Ash Spencer was best again for the Panthers with 14 points and seven rebounds with a little support from Hannah Gardiner with 12 points and three rebounds in a side still missing Darcy Rees.
SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 56 (Spencer 14, H Gardiner 12, Palmer, Stratford 9)
WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 98 (Levicki 22, Strawbridge 16, Thompson 15)
Rockets boost in final term to ward off Warriors
The Kayo Freebies Game of the Week showed promise through three quarters but eventually the North Adelaide Rockets boosted in the final term to ward off the Woodville Warriors 48-74 at the Castle of St Clair.
The Rockets jumped out slightly in the first term but after her first game back Erin Phillips (10 points, eight rebounds, five steals and three assists) found her range early to give the Warriors the impetus to stick with the red and white.
Erin Phillips is feeling it ?
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Led by Brooke Basham (25 points, 10 rebounds and four steals) and a full game from Mollie McKendrick with a strong double double of 18 points, 14 rebounds and five assists - the away side kept the home side to 7-20 to seal the win. Jas Fejo backed up her 28 points with another 16 points and nine rebounds.
The Rockets have found their flight early - can they beat last year’s champions in the Central District Lions??? Find out next Saturday at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
WOODVILLE WARRIORS 48 (Fejo 16, Phillips 10, Hunter 7)
NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 74 (Basham 25, McKendrick 18, J Freer 15)
Panthers claw on for life as Lat Mayen mayhem nearly brings Bearcats home
The South Adelaide Panthers clawed on for life as they hung on against “Mayen mayhem” to survive the Bearcats 77-75 at the Jungle at Mitchell Park.
With Keanu Rasmussen missing due to the birth of his first child - Sixer teammate Mayen stepped up even further with a fiery 33 points, nine rebounds and three assists in a fascinating head to head duel with Christian Brandon from the Panthers. Brandon bullocked his way to another 23 points and nine rebounds again fed by Curtis Scott (12 points, six rebounds and five assists) who also fed skipper Tom Kubank with 20 points, four assists and three rebounds.
The Panthers grabbed the lead through Brandon at the start of the final minute with a timely triple but Sean Stock (12 points, seven rebounds and three assists) put the Bearcats in front. A pair of brothers thrown into the fray late in Daniel Smith (12 points and four rebounds) and Jonty Smith gave the Panthers back the lead with the ball in the hands of Mayen. He lost it but regained it back thanks to a Scott offensive foul, leaving the Bearcats a chance to steal it or send it to overtime. Hamish Staude’s two point attempt missed and the Panthers held on for the finish at home.
SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 77 (Brandon 23, Kubank 20, Scott, D Smith 12)
WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 75 (Mayen 33, Stock 12, Dau, Tryon 11)
Wurm wills Warriors to first half heave over Rockets
The best way to bounce back from a 39 point drumming is to comeback at home on the Kayo Freebies Game of the Week with the Woodville Warriors keeping their positive record against the North Adelaide Rockets intact 94-61 at the Castle of St Clair.
The 15 points first half by sharp shooting Nick Wurm led the way for the Warriors to a strong first half and they were never headed from there. Coming off the pine, Steve Parfitt destroyed his former side in the second half with 18 points and 11 rebounds to make sure of it. Wurm finished with 23 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Only Tobias Dowdell was able to get much out of the evening with 13 points and five rebounds with Bijan Johnson tied down to just 12 points and three rebounds.
The Warriors have grabbed their first win of the season - can they upset the Eagles back at their nest? Find out next Sunday at 4:45pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
WOODVILLE WARRIORS 94 (Wurm 23, Parfitt 18, Dibiamaka 12)
NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 61 (Dowdell 13, Johnson 12, McCalop 8)
Lem launches Tigers to first win in four against Flames
We mentioned some hoodoos have been broken - this one was one of the smaller ones with the Southern Tigers storming the Firedome and taking their first win against the Norwood Flames in three years with an 84-97 win.
Stepping up this season has been Lem Ajith as he notched a career high 28 points and nine rebounds in a breakout game for the 18 year old while championship NBL1 West player Jarrod Molnar found his range with 20 points with four of seven beyond the perimeter and NBL1 East recruit Isaiah Oste-Pinder also collecting 15 points and four rebounds.
The Flames kept touch till the final term thanks to Cooper Osborne with 23 points, five assists and rebounds with Trey McBride once again effective with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
The Panthers have their punch after a 2-0 start - are they able to continue that against the launching Lions? Find out next Saturday at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
NORWOOD FLAMES 84 (Osborne 23, McBride 19, D Webber 12)
SOUTHERN TIGERS 97 (Ajith 28, Molnar 20, Oste-Pinder 15)
Lions roar to rewrite eleven year winning streak against Sabres
The Tigers win wasn’t the biggest hoodoo breaker of the night and neither was this one but this was bigger with the Lions defeating the Sturt Sabres on their home floor for the first time since 2014 in a pulsating 87-93 contest at the Cave of Probituman Stadium.
Sam Daly got things going for the home side Sturt Sabres with eight opening quarter points and causing all sorts of problems for the Lions guard of Jack Stanwix and Kalani Sapwell however Stanwix grabbed seven of his own to edge the Lions in front 20-22 at the first break.
The second term belonged to the bigs with a current Adelaide 36er and a former G-League Ignite star going toe-to-toe in Ben Griscti (nine for the term for 14 for the half) and Efe Abogidi (15 points and 13 rebounds) with six points keeping the Lions in front by a singular point 47-48 at the half.
Daly continued to do damage for the Sabres as did Kevin Baker (18 points and eight rebounds) for the Lions but no team could break the deadlock as the Sabres snuck in front 68-67 with one to play.
Already riding a technical foul earlier in the match - Daly (23 points, eight rebounds and six assists) committed an unsportsmanlike foul which gave him an early night and when Griscti (16 points and six rebounds) fouled out with still six minutes left the Lions seized on their opportunity.
Sharif Black (33 points, 10 rebounds and four assists) tried to keep the scoreboard ticking over but Sapwell (20 points and seven assists) found some tough mid-rangers and Stanwix (18 points and five steals) cut the Sabres apart as they led the Lions to the win down the stretch at both ends of the floor to break the eleven year drought.
The Lions have lept to 2-0 can they make it three in a row with the North Adelaide Rockets back up towards their side of town? Find out next Saturday at 8:15pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
STURT SABRES 77 (Black 33, Daly 23, Griscti 16)
CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 83 (Ka Sapwell 20, Baker, Stanwix 18, Abogidi 15)
Hills hoodoo shattered as Mavs down Eagles in OT
The biggest upset win in the history of the league in the NBL1 Central era headlines the night as the Eastern Mavericks upset the championship favourites on their home floor with a high scoring thriller 120-119 at St Francis De Sales. While still trying to be fully confirmed it has been nearly 20 years since the David of the competition had downed their Goliath opponents of the Forestville Eagles around their championship era in the mid 2000s.
It didn’t start the best for the home side as the Goliath of the competition the Eagles assumed a 19 point lead of 14-35 after the first change. Both Greg Mays (19 points and nine rebounds) and Alex Starling (23 points, nine rebounds, six rebounds and four steals) were causing the Mavs issues as they combined for 21 points between them and the home side looked like it was going to go that way again.
Daniel Johnson showed off his arsenal once again with this reverse jam on his way to a team high 36 points with three triples, seven rebounds and six assists.
It took an offensive explosion from explosive import guard Broderick Robinson who helped the Mavs pile on 80 points in two quarters to surge back into the game and lift their home supporters.
With Micale Mee (six points and rebounds with four assists) making a layup the game was ten points in the home side's favour and the upset was on the cards - however history suggested that the Mavs would fall over in the final term and the Eagles would swoop in to steal the win again. This time it would take a different tale despite the efforts of Adelaide 36er Dejan Vasiljevic (30 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals) as he and DJ led the Eagles back to striking distance with time ticking away. Even when Dom Jackson (17 points and seven rebounds) and Owen Raneburg (13 points and four rebounds) hit huge buckets down the stretch the Eagles came again through Starling and DJ to make it a one basket game. Starling contained in the second half stretched the Mavs defensive rotations forcing multiple free throw trips and play opportunities to edge the Eagles in front 107-110.
The moment happened that well and truly had the greatest upset I can recall well and truly on the cards.
Robinson’s triple forced overtime as players started to fall to foul trouble with Starling, Symons Jackson all fouling out in the overtime period. Lachy Hunter (11 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals) stood up for the Mavs making huge plays including triples, blocks and crucial free throws as did BJ Symons (25 points and seven rebounds) before fouling out. Inexplicable misses and turnovers from Mays and co marred the finish as the Mavs held on for grim life to claim the upset of upsets.
The Mavs have pulled off one of the biggest upsets in league history - can they consolidate against the Southern Tigers? Find out next Saturday at 8:00pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
EASTERN MAVERICKS 120 (Robinson 41, Symons 25, Jackson 17)
FORESTVILLE EAGLES 119 (Johnson 36, Vasiljevic 30, Starling 23)
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