Recap NBL1 Central | First Nations Round Friday

Feature images supplied via NBL1.com.au / Emma Hoppo / @snapshotphotography31

First Nations Round of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central got underway with the Bearcats of the West shooting down the Flames finals hopes in both the men’s and the women’s.   

Here are the results from Friday's games:

Swedish flair delivers dousing of Flames finals hopes   

The small window of opportunity to make the five for the Norwood Flames was extinguished by the in-form West Adelaide Bearcats who won their third in four games 56-60 in a low scoring thriller at the Furnace. Both teams were tight through the opening half with neither able to break away. Emily Saunders was once again a factor for the homeside finishing with another double double of 16 points and 11 rebounds.      

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Enter Swedish import Elin Jelena Gustavsson who’s flair delivered a devastating 17 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks and a 0-10 run as she scored six points and setup several with her rebounding. Ashlee Strawbridge did the same with five offensive rebounds to finish with eight points and 13 rebounds. The Bearcats took a 10-19 quarter to lead by a handy 43-49 with one to play. 

Caitlin Shillabeer made a cameo for the Flames knocking down some big triples to echo her 2023 Grand Final performance to close it to five points but Strawbridge’s layup with two minutes to go looked to have sealed things up with a double figure lead. The Flames continued to fight hard to the end forcing the Bearcats into a nervous finish with turnovers and scores to Polly Turner and Hannah Henderson as they just outlasted the fast finishing Flames. It officially ends the Flames opportunity to defend their 2023 title while the Bearcats continue to be in-form a little too late in the season.   

Next up on the Bearcat’s hit list is the North Adelaide Rockets - can they take another target in the finals race down? Find out as the First Nations Round continues when they face off at the Bearcat Cave 1:30pm Sunday local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. 

NORWOOD FLAMES 56 (Saunders 16, Shillabeer 11, Stratford 8)

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 60 (Gustavsson 17, Salandra, Strawbridge 8, Langenbrinck 7)

Bearcats roar in third to storm home and end Flames finals aspirations       

The Norwood Flames looked like they had the Bearcats in a massive boilover up 20 points with 14 minutes remaining. That’s when the Bearcats roared to finish ahead at the finish line 74-82. The Flames started brightly led from the front by Jack Hemphill (19 points on 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, six rebounds and three assists) and Riley Harrap with 19 points, four steals and three rebounds. Cooper Osborne also produced an impressive staline with 11 points, eight rebounds, six steals and five assists with his go ahead layup in the third quarter putting the Flames up by 20 points. 

Fabijan Krslovic had himself a game ?

23 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists to take down Norwood ? pic.twitter.com/fyFCSCOvKL

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At the 3:48 minute of the third quarter is when it turned - the Flames leading 59-39 conceded a 0-22 run which ended up being 15-43 in the finish. It was driven by the usual suspects in Fabian Krslovic who finished with the fifth triple double of the season with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists with Akoldah Gak grabbing another 18 points and eight rebounds. Mirko Djeric also finished with 13 points, five assists and rebounds and two steals in a solid all-round performance.

The Bearcats were pushed and they responded - who’s next in their foray into the top five??? Find out when they take on the North Adelaide Rockets in First Nations Round 3:15pm Sunday local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. 

NORWOOD FLAMES 74 (Harrap, Hemphill 19, Osborne, Stanwix 11)

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 82 (Krslovic 23, AK Gak 18, Djeric, Stock 13)

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