Central Finals | Sabres lock in another Grand Final

Featured image: @snapshotphotography3 / Snap Shot Photography

The Sturt Sabres proved too strong for the Norwood Flames to win the preliminary final 72-51 and set up the NBL1 Central Grand Final with the West Adelaide Bearcats in what is their fourth decider in five years.

The Bearcats were already through to next Saturday night's Grand Final at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre so the Sabres were hosting the Flames at Springbank Secondary College to see who would join them.

The two teams had already faced off three times in 2026 and Norwood had given Sturt two of their four defeats during the regular season but the Sabres hit back in the qualifying final winning 75-66 also on their home floor.

Both teams were then back at it with Sturt coming off a loss to West Adelaide while Norwood kept themselves alive beating the South Adelaide Panthers.

Sturt made the better of the start opening up a 13-point lead during the first quarter on the way to the 20-13 lead by quarter-time with shooting 8/16 from the field to the 4/16 from the Flames.

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The Sabres took further control in the second quarter with 18 points themselves on 7/16 shooting but then holding Norwood to just eight points with 4/13 shooting and causing them to have another six turnovers.

That saw Sturt go into the half-time break leading 38-21 on shooting 47 per cent from the field at the half to 28.

Sturt then got a bit tight in the third quarter and only managed nine points themselves and Sturt were able to put up 19 and that closed things up with the Sabres just clinging to the 47-40 advantage by three quarter-time.

The Sabres weren’t going to let the chance slip after the standout season they had for the most part and took back control in the last quarter with 25 points to 11 to secure the 21-point victory.

The result now means that Sturt are into a fourth Grand Final in the last five years having also made it in 2022, 2023 and 2025 as they continue to chase that elusive championship breakthrough when they take on West Adelaide next Saturday night.

Sturt did shoot 39 per cent from the field to the 33 from Norwood while also getting up 15 extra shot attempts and seven more free throws on the back of 16 offensive rebounds to 10, and just the seven turnovers to 18 from the Flames.

Tayla Brazel delivered another 17 points, eight rebounds and two assists for the Sabres on the back of a season that saw her named the Youth Player of the Year, Coaches MVP and to the All-Star Five.

Katia Stamatelopoulos also had 13 points and six rebounds, Zoe Walker-Roberts 11 points and seven boards, Meg Prosser 10 points, and co-captain Nicola Mathews eight points and six assists.

Norwood might have fallen at the last hurdle but have plenty to be proud of from their season finishing third and winning a final, and having the MVP of the season and also having a change of import along the way.

Lorraine Eiler Medallist Cali Clark finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks for Norwood with Ally Becki providing 11 points, four boards and four assists, Maddy Hinton six points, and Caitlin Hardin five points and five rebounds.

NBL1 CENTRAL 2026 SEASON | PRELIMINARY FINAL

STURT SABRES 72 (Brazel 17, Stamatelopoulos 13, Z Walker-Roberts 11)

NORWOOD FLAMES 51 (Clark 18, Becki 11, Hinton 6)