Central Finals | Lions escape in spectacular finish

Featured image: Picture It Sport Photography

The Central Districts Lions gave up a 26-point lead to the Sturt Sabres in the NBL1 Central firs semi-final, but then a picture perfect pass from Kalani Sapwell to Jaden Seymour for the flush saw them survive on the road and win 78-77.

One of their teams were going to go away from Springbank Secondary College feeling like they had greatly underachieved on their expectations in 2026 with Central Districts having made the Grand Final in 2025 and then Sturt winning their first nine games and still ending up in second place.

The Sabres then lost their qualifying final last week to the South Adelaide Panthers but earned the right for a home first semi-final with the Lions booking in their place by beating the Woodville Warriors on the road in the elimination final.

Centrals then made a scorching start with an 11-0 run in the first quarter on the way to leading by as much as 15, and still being on top 27-18 by quarter-time.

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The Lions took further control in the second period completing a 15-0 scoring run and ending up with 26 points to 12 to go into the half-time break well on top leading 53-30.

That was on the back of shooting 50 per cent from the field 32 from the Sabres along with 7/19 from the outside to 4/17 and forcing Sturt into nine turnovers.

After leading by as much as 26 in that second quarter, Centrals were still in control by three quarter-time leading 66-50 even with 20 points to 13 in the third term going the way of Sturt.

That all the stage for a remarkable fourth quarter and after the Lions were leading 68-53, the Sabres went on a spectacular 13-0 run to get all the way back within two with that streak including a triple from Jacob Rigoni who scores seven of those points.

Josh Tomasi then threw down a huge dunk after a Luke Pfitzner offensive rebounds before a Kalani Sapwell turnover led to a three ball from Jarryd Hoppo.

Tomasi delivered another slam and suddenly Sturt were leading by four with just over two minutes to play, and they had all the momentum and looked on the path to the preliminary final.

They were still leading by four a minute later before Jaden Seymour knocked down a huge three ball for Centrals.

Spencer Gaze and Tomasi traded buckets for the Sabres to still be leading by one with the Lions going into a timeout with 2.8 seconds remaining.

Coach Rupert Sapwell drew it up perfectly and from the inbounds pass, Kalani Sapwell threw up the perfect lob pass to Seymur who had got free thanks to a perfectly timed Koen Sapwell screen on his opponent Tomasi.

Seymour caught the ball while rising up and he threw down the dunk with 1.8 seconds left and Rigoni's rushed shot up the other wasn’t closer for Centrals to win by a point in incredible fashion.

Centrals now take great momentum with them after the two stunning finals wins over Woodville and Sturt ahead of taking on the Forestville Eagles in the preliminary final next Saturday with a spot in the Grand Final against the South Adelaide Panthers on the line.

On top of his late heroics, Jaden Seymour finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks in the win for the Lions.

Koen Sapwell also had 11 points, six rebounds and four assists, Kalani Sapwell 11 points, six boards and three assists, Deng Manyang 10 points, five rebounds and two assists, Magok Manyang 10 points and seven boards, and Spencer Gaze eight points and six rebounds.

It's a heartbreaking way for Sturt's season to end after finishing in second position and now going out in straight sets and having come back from that 26-point deficit to put themselves in a winning spot late in the piece.

Josh Tomasi finished with 19 points and nine rebounds for the Sabres, Jacob Rigoni 18 points, eight boards and four assists, Luke Pfitzner 17 points and four steals, and Jarryd Hoppo 16 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots.

NBL1 CENTRAL 2026 SEASON | FIRST SEMI-FINAL

STURT SABRES 77 (Tomasi 19, Rigoni 18, Pfitzner 17)

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 78 (Seymour 19, Kalani Sapwell 11, Koen Sapwell 11)