Recap NBL1 CENTRAL | Round 2 Thursday

Round 2 of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central saw four competitive contests where any result was on the cards - the opportunity to separate themselves from the rest of the pack was already presented...

Here are the results from Thursday's games:

Polly turns game in Flames favour but Fejo fires to keep Lions undefeated

The Lions remain undefeated in their start to the season winning back to back games for the first time since pre-2016 with an 89-83 victory at the Den - but not without a scare from another junior star making her transition to the big time. Polly Turner notched a stunning career high 18 points to three quarter time finishing with 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals to have the Flames right in the game halfway through the fourth quarter. 

Polly Turner has 18 points after three quarters ?

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Lion Jasmin Fejo (17 points, four rebounds, three assists) struck with foul trouble emerged in the final term to grab some crucial free throws to propel them over the Emily Winter (23 points, five rebounds, three assists) led Flames.        

But the other big names of Tayla Levy (19 points, five assists and four steals) and Casey Samuels with a near triple double of 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds saw the Lions too strong for the Flames.

Debuting for the Lions most impressively though was Lily Ritz as she chalked up a double double first up with 16 points at 66 percent and 13 rebounds.   

CENTRAL DISTRICT LIONS 89 (Samuels 23, Levy 19, J Fejo 17)

NORWOOD FLAMES 83 (Winter 23, Turner 20, Stratford 15)

King helps Eagles grind out Mavericks 

The Forestville Eagles bounced back after their loss the previous week but were pushed hard by the gallant Eastern Mavericks 58-50 at the Nest. Rachel King led the way for the home side with 16 points, five rebounds and steals and four assists and Adelaide Lightning DP Jess Simons with 13 points and six rebounds to close it out for the home side. 

Maddy Freer’s double double of 11 point and 11 rebounds helped prevent the impact of import for the Mavs in Patricia Morris with 20 points at 69 percent and 12 rebounds.    

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 58 (King 16, Simons 13, Freer 11)

EASTERN MAVERICKS 50 (Morris 20, Ramsey 10, Formby 9)

DJ return to the nest nails Mavericks in the finish 

NBL veteran Daniel Johnson was the difference in the finish as the Forestville Eagles finally nailed down the Eastern Mavericks 96-84 at the Nest. DJ nestled back into the Eagles after a season at the South Adelaide Panthers with a double double of 22 points and 10 rebounds with all four of his other teammates clocking double figures. Greg Mays controlled the air with 19 points, six rebounds and two blocks while Adam Doyle served up 16 points and eight assists. 

Uche Diabiamaka continued his solid start to the season with 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists as did Brad Rathjen with 15 points and nine rebounds. The Mavs import Melvin Newburn made another lasting impression with 18 points, 16 rebounds and five assists backed up by captain Fred Webb with 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds. 

Not on Melvin Newburn's watch ?‍??

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FORESTVILLE EAGLES 96 (Johnson 22, Mays 19, Doyle, Dibiamaka 16)

EASTERN MAVERICKS 84 (Newburn 18, Webb 14, Rawls 12)

Jenkins and Dau down Flames at Den

In a high scoring entertaining contest - a close out triple from Branden Jenkins and some final quarter work from Jimma Dau saw the Lions roar back after their overtime loss the previous week defeating the Norwood Flames 118-113. Jenkins was huge all night with 29 points, eight steals and six assists. Import Magnus Richards showed plenty with 18 points, seven assists and rebounds along with Lino Manhom with a double double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. 

After a quiet game against his former side the previous week, Riley Harrap was back to his best with 22 points, five rebounds, four assists backed up by import Jack Hemphill with 25 points and six rebounds. 

Jack Hemphill said GET THAT OUTTA HERE ??

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Blake Morrow’s nine assists along with 13 points was also magic to watch.

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But it was Dau in the final term to finish with 23 points and nine rebounds along with Jenkins' final dagger that put the Flames out…

BRANDEN JENKINS SAID GOOD NIGHT NORWOOD ?

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CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 118 (Jenkins 29, Dau 23, Richards 18)

NORWOOD FLAMES 113 (Hemphill 25, Harrap 22, Miller-Jose 16)

*The Southern Tigers/Woodville Warriors Womens and Mens fixture was postponed from tonight.

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