Central Recap | Round 15 Saturday

By Tristan Prentice for NBL1.com.au

Feature images supplied via NBL1.com.au /  Melissa Belanic | @justbphotoau

Round 15 of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central saw upsets a plenty in the final round with teams not participating in the post season finishing on a high but a couple of final quarter contributions at the Castle sealed the makeup and look of the finals positions for 2025…   

Here are the results of Saturday games:

Simons secure first for Forestville against Rockets               

The Forestville Eagles have flown to first as minor premiers in 2025 flying away in the fourth to down the North Adelaide Rockets 69-53 at the Nest at the State Basketball Centre. 

A tight opening with the Rockets still a chance to get into the double chance position if a few results swung their way ensured as Sam Simons sinking them early from deep. The Rockets kept in touch through multiple sources as the scores stayed together 15-14 after one. 

Brooke Basham (Nine points and eight rebounds) got her runner going in some larger minutes for the first time in some time along with Ella Batish (10 points and three rebounds) but Sam Simons kept hitting them from all sorts of places as they took a mini break in the term. The Eagles extended out to a 35-28 lead thanks to Simons on their home floor. 

The Rockets lifted their output through Basham and Mollie McKendrick (Four points, 10 rebounds and six assists) as they closed the margin back. The Eagles once again responded again through Maddy Freer as they held the 50-41 heading into the final stanza. 

Lauren Mansfield (10 points, three assists and a block) attempted to close the gap again for the Rockets but Ella Sawyer (Narrowly missing the triple double with nine points, 14 rebounds and nine assists) with a tough make followed by a triple then backed up by Maddy Freer helped close out a comfortable victory and secure the week off in the first week of the NBL1 Central finals. 

Sam Simons start to finish was strong and made her last dive at the Lorraine Eiler Medal with a constructive 25 points with four triples, seven assists and two steals with Maddy Freer winning the battle of the sisters with 15 points and three rebounds.

        

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 69 (S Simons 25, M Freer 15, Sawyer 9)

NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 53 (Batish, Mansfield 10, Basham 9, Warner 8)

 

Bearcats bundle Mavs out of the blocks at Port              

The West Adelaide Bearcats were never troubled as they bundled the Eastern Mavericks from the very start to setup themselves up for a first qualifying final next week 76-40 at the Port. 

Minus Sienna Grieger who for the remainder of the season heads to Santa Clara for her first college season - they were in no party mode to let the Mavs enjoy any of their last match of the season as they came out firing. Blocking anything inside the paint the Bearcats through Krystal Thompson (11 points and four rebounds) with a huge opening term to give them a 21-10 lead after one. 

The O of Olivia Levicki began to flow as she made her push for the Lorraine Elier Medal as well while the Mavs second term response was much more constructed through Elli Constantopoulos - the Bearcats however still led comfortably 41-21 at the half.

It didn’t get any better for the aways side as the Bearcats found buckets with aplomb with a 13-0 run out of the main break before a Daisy Hocking (15 points and 10 rebounds) pair of triples brought some much needed relief. The Bearcats comfortable leaders again 58-30 with one more to play in the minor round. 

Chloe Hodges added to the mark for the Bearcats as did Sienna Lehmann (12 points, five assists and three rebounds) as four starters all made double figures with Molly Coleman (Eight points and four rebounds) just short - capping it off to take some momentum into the another matchup with the Sturt Sabres next weekend. 

It was a sharing night for the Bearcats led by Levicki with 17 points and 13 rebounds teaming up with Chloe Hodges for 11 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and steals to rattle the Mavs front court all evening and celebrate Keeley Pearce’s 150th appearance in the league.

                           

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 76 (Levicki 17, Lehmann 12, Chloe Hodges, K Thompson 11)

EASTERN MAVERICKS 40 (D Hocking 15, Miles, Watkinson 6)

Sabres secure second in Southern Tiger takedown          

The Sturt Sabres secured a grind of victory thanks to a Southern Tiger takedown at Springbank 55-41. 

In a low scoring opening the college duo of Katia Stamatelopoulos and Sydney Mech kept things ticking over for the homeside with some key points but the Tigers wouldn’t go away early to make it 10-10. The Sabres forced their way in front 15-10 at the quarter time buzzer. 

That’s when the light blues got busy as they took over with a 10-4 run to take a 29-16 lead through Mech again with a double double of 13 points and rebounds. 

Paige Padroth (12 points, four steals and three rebounds) had the tricks going early then began to run lanes along with Nicola Mathew (eight points) as they made a mess of the Tigers in third term 42-24 with one to go.

McKenzie Johnston (Six points, 15 rebounds and five assists) in her last game of professional basketball before retirement continued to have an impact for the Tigers but the Sabres shutting down Iva Belosevic collectively overran the yellow and black to run away with the win and take home court advantage heading into the qualifying final against the West Adelaide Bearcats. 

         

STURT SABRES 55 (Mech 13, Padroth 12, N Mathews 8)

SOUTHERN TIGERS 41 (Bartsch 13, Johnston 6)

Embers of Flames put out Panthers season fire             

The Norwood Flames put out the South Adelaide Panthers season fire thanks to a bunch of embers in the group 75-89 at the Jungle in Mitchell Park. The Kayo Freebies Game of the Week was their first win against the Panthers since 2022 and second in their last ten meetings. 

An entertaining opening was highlighted by the work of Ke”shunan James and crew but even Ash Spencer (12 points and three assists) got the clock turned back again with three triples to help the Panthers take a quarter time lead 22-21.

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The Flames, often reliant on their two imports for points, got a career high contribution from Annaliese Elliott as she grabbed a first half of 10 points. Kiera Gardiner running lanes with her sister Hannah kept the Panthers in touch but late baskets to Cailtin Shillabeer pushed it out to 36-43 at the half. 

Kiera Gardiner (19 points and 11 rebounds) started strong in the second half but after sitting some of the second term with foul trouble James struck back with fire as she helped the Flames assume control again 52-60 - the term capped off with Ella Turnbull’s triple from the corner. 

The Panthers needed points and in a hurry turned to Bianca Stasinowsky (12 points with four triples) as she peeled off consecutive triples but foul trouble took its toll on the home side. Looking to start the celebrations early Shillabeer (Career high 18 points and nine rebounds) and Elliott (Career High 16 points with three triples and 10 rebounds with four assists) cashed in with more buckets too as Amanda Paschal (Nine points, 16 rebounds and four assists) closed out their eighth win of the season and regardless of result elsewhere - ended the Panthers finals chances lighting them up in smoke. 

Ke’Shunan was the Footlocker Player of the Game and spoke with the GOTW team after the match about coming out with enjoyment and enthusiasm to finish the season. “We wanted to ride the highs and lows and enjoy it, come out and have fun with our last game of the season.” James shared. 

“We needed our group to step up as we knew that we’d get all the attention so proud of the girls that stepped up in that last one.” James highlighted the contributions of the young Flames in the win. 

And when it comes to her plans for the next season - James of course kept the door ajar… 

“I’m in Greece for the next season but I’d love to come back again next season and play again.”

        

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 75 (K Gardiner 19, Stasinowsky, Spender 12)

NORWOOD FLAMES 89 (James 19, Shillabeer 18, A Elliott 16)

 

Warriors win way to first finals since 2015 over Lions              

There were nervy moments but they did it, the Woodville Warriors winning their way to their first finals appearance in a decade with a 87-68 close out of the Central Districts Lions at the Castle of St Clair. 

Naomi Allotey was the solid contributor first up but the Lions kept tabs early on the margin. The Warriors however took the double figure lead with a few minutes to play in the first 19-9. The Lions clawed back through Beth Dittmar as she brought it back suddenly to 21-20 after one. 

The second term belonged to the Lions as through April Rummery-Lamb (14 points and seven rebounds) they scythed their way through the Warriors defence in a few nervy moments to take it to almost double figures for them. The home side answered the call making some quick plays on the rim but Tiahna Sears (19 points and 10 rebounds) hurt them again at the backend of the term. The thankful hand of Ida Andersson (11 points with three triples and eight rebounds) brought the margin back for the Warriors at the half 32-37.

Ida Andersson sinks it from deep ?

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Not to be denied, the Warriors began their run through Jasmin Fejo once again and Laura Erikstrup (18 points, seven rebounds, four assists) after a quiet first half all of a sudden found themselves in front. The lead extended and started to move the way of the dark green and gold as they began to sense momentum shifting 58-49 with one troublesome quarter to play out. 

Jordan Hunter (10 points, eight assists and five rebounds) found the early triple in the fourth and the open running of Allotey and the collective again found the Lions now in deep trouble 76-58 with five minutes to play. Sydney Wright (14 points, seven assists and three rebounds) tried hard to push the Lions back into it but the Warriors would not let this one slip as they secured their first finals appearance in a decade. 

Jasmin Fejo was relentless again in the second half with 26 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a block while Allotey produced one of her best for the season with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.

                                

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 87 (Fejo 26, Erikstrup 18, Allotey 17)

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 68 (Sears 19, Lamb, Wright 14, Dittmar 7)

Five remain with the Forestville Eagles, Sturt Sabres, West Adelaide Bearcats and North Adelaide Rockets and Woodville Warriors left to fight it out… 

Don’t miss the  NBL1 Central Women's Finals Week One starts on the Kayo Sports Freebies via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App from 6:00pm ACDT next weekend.

 

Tigers take consolation in breaking Sabre streak                

They may have missed the finals but the Southern Tigers took consolation taking the split and breaking the Sabres streak for their first win against them in seven matches with a 70-79 win at Springbank

In the early game of the night Sharif Black (19 points and three rebounds) and Ben Griscti started well for the Sabres as he rolled down the middle to slam one down to give them an early lead. Jarvis Doles however responded quickly along with Jarrod Molnar as they levelled things up with some triples - as Jarvis Summers helped the Tigers on the and1 to the handy lead 14-22 at the first break. 

The Tigers defence was tenacious led by Sunday Bol (14 points and six rebounds) as he stole, slash and slammed for the away side - the Sabres coming back at them again through Griscti (20 points and nine rebounds) once more. The Tigers however held the lead at the half 36-39 after a strong second term. 

Jordan Forbes (Narrowly missing consecutive triple doubles with nine points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists with three steals) looked dangerous early in the third term but Doles just could not miss and was efficient in everything he did. The Sabres took the lead through Forbes but Nic Logan (Seven points and five rebounds) quickly snarled back for the Tigers with Molnar again finding his range deep. Both Jarvis’s were at their best as they fed Isaiah Oster-Pinder (Seven points) for some big scores to have them back out by double digits at three quarter time 49-59. 

The Tigers would not go away as they kept the Sabres on ice in the final term as the triples kept flowing through Molnar and Lachlan Dennis (Seven points and six rebounds) to be out even further. Molnar with a captain’s performance and his Tigers taking their first win against the Sabres since 2021 and tying them on the overall table to take it.

Doles was outstanding and efficient with 18 points at 63 percent, nine rebounds and two steals with Captain Molnar putting in one of his best for the end with 16 points on three triples for the night.

                          

STURT SABRES 70 (Griscti 20, Black 19, Forbes 9)

SOUTHERN TIGERS 79 (Doles 18, Molnar 16, Bol 14)

 

Mays sounds warning to finals rivals with great performance against Rockets         

Timely and on cue - Greg Mays produced another late season performance signalling his readiness to be another contender for finals influence with a productive evening in the Forestville Eagles 96-60 victory over the North Adelaide Rockets at the Nest in the State Basketball Centre. 

Mays was unstoppable early as he and Daniel Johnson found the ease of score through the paint for a 10-2 start. Joel Dyer (13 points with four rebounds) though was not dying of wonder as he dropped a couple of big deep tres to even things up as the margin sat at 20-18 at the first change. 

Johnson fed Stefan Gould (Eight points and 10 rebounds) then for the alleyoop then fed Johnson (18 points, five assists and four rebounds with three blocks) in transition for a one handed slam of his own. Machar Machar (15 points) off the back of last week's performance along with Tobias Dowdell (13 points with five rebounds) kept the Rockets in touch but the Eagles soared away again with Alex Starling (Eight points, 15 rebounds, five assists with steals) upping the defensive intensity in transition as Dejan Vasiljevic (Seven points, five rebounds and three assists) fed Mays for the reverse two handed jam. The Eagles took a handy lead into halftime but Mohammed Al-Ani (Five points and seven rebounds) made the buzzer beater from half court to slip it back to 49-36 at the main change. 

It got a bit ugly for the Rockets as the Eagles looked fierce in the third as their cream began to rise to the top pushing it out again beyond double figures. Mays continued to be fed and slammed anything down the lanes and close to the target as they took a 69-47 three quarter time gap. 

The Eagles were able to fly away in the fourth as they rolled their pine out on the floor as did the Rockets as the Eagles finished predictable minor premiers and earnt the first week of the NBL1 Central Finals series.

Mays was unstoppable a majority of the night with 25 points, five rebounds and two blocks to lead all comers in some warning signs to the rest of the finalists around the corner this season.

                     

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 96  (Mays 25, Johnson 18, Ipassou 14)

NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 60 (M Machar 15, Dowdell, Dyer 13)

 

High scoring Huefner gives Bearcats shootout at Port           

The defence appeared secondary as the West Adelaide Bearcats and the Eastern Mavericks went into an inconsequential shootout to finish the season with the home side prevailing 103-94 at the Port. 

The Bearcats took the paint early as they split honours even with the Mavs as the former Bearcat Lachlan Hunter (11 points and three rebounds) dropped a nice set of scores in the first term. Huefner was dominant in the areas around the rim and outside as the home side took a 28-23 lead after the first stanza.

BJ Symons spun his way to the early makes in the second term as one of the warm favourites for the Woollacott Medal in Keanu Rasmussen (17 first quarter points) made some triples and inside makes. Jimma Dau (13 points) taking advantage of his extended minutes without Lat Mayen as well as Hamish Staude helped the home side to a 51-42 lead at the half. 

Huefner filled it up again from deep for the start of the third as Sean Stock (Nine points) got the steal and back-to-back baskets to push it out even further for the Bearcats. Broderick Robinson got a few back for the Mavs but no one could catch the “Huef” in Huefner as the Bearcats took the 82-67 lead into the final term. 

The flood gates opened up in the fourth as the scores flew from everywhere for Rasmussen and Huefner with Robinson (20 points, seven rebounds and five assists with three steals) and Symons (21 points and 18 rebounds with three assists) making some late splashes to cut the margin back to 103-94 in the finish. 

Cameron Huefner was clicking all night with a career high 30 points with six triples and four rebounds with Keanu Rasmussen grabbing 28 points, six assists and four rebounds.

                        

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 103 (Huefner 30, Rasmussen 28, Dau 13)

EASTERN MAVERICKS 94 (Symons 21, Robinson 20, Raneburg 13)

Green farewell fitting but Panthers McVeigh tunes up for finals            

A farewell was fitting for the showman of the NBL1 Central the past five years as Anthony Green played his last game in the league but the South Adelaide Panthers tuned up nicely for the post season thanks to a career high from Lloyd McVeigh in their Kayo Freebies Game of the Week 109-90 win. 

Mitchell Park was alight early with Riley Harrap ambidextrous and Green slamming one down early to remind us of the number of highlights and instagram posts he’d left with us but Lloyd McVeigh was toasty early on the cold night bursting out of the blocks himself. It seemed to be the night for it though as Daniel Webber (11 points) even got higher than he’s been in a long time with the finish off the window to have it all square after one 22-22.

The Panthers took their cue from there as Christian Brandon began to help run the tally up along with captain Tom Kubank (13 points, five rebounds and four assists) as the difference between the two sides was felt. Curtis Scott (15 points and three assists) also made some handy work off the bench but a missed free throw on the stroke of half time was tipped in by Brandon (18 points and eight rebounds with three assists) on the buzzer to keep things real comfortable at the half 56-44. 

The third term saw some big highlights as Green made one of his trademark blocks sailing it over the corflutes and Kaleb Warner (16 points with three triples, six rebounds and four assists) showed he doesn’t just knock the triple with a nice two handed flush down the lane. Mcveigh however, with brother Jack on the other side of the globe, was on the same wavelength as he drained triple after triple for his fourth and fifth of the night to give the home side the ascendancy 81-68 at the final change over. 

Trey Mcbride (20 points and four rebounds) finished his season well with some timely triples for the Flames while Aydan Janssan (15 points and five rebounds) who had shown some tricks as well as pure power during the night found some late points - a late cameo from the rookies including Jett Swaffer drained some late triples to get the after party started for the Flames concluding their tumultuous season with the South Adelaide Panthers awaiting results elsewhere for the night to see if they had a home elimination or the double chance. 

Lloyd McVeigh the Footlocker Player of the Game on track a majority of the night to have the most highly efficient 30 plus point game in the NBL1 Central season narrowly missed it with a 36 point at 72 percent with six triples, eight rebounds and five assists.

McVeigh shared with the GOTW team about getting ready for the playoffs and rolling into next weekend with momentum. “It was good to get rolling into playoffs next weekend and get the win tonight - apart from the loss to Forestville last week we are in pretty good form heading into the finals now.” McVeigh summarised with the GOTW team. 

The team spoke with Anthony Green as he sails off into the basketball sunset after some thrilling highs and lows as a new career and family dawns for the giant of our league. “It’s been fun, Norwood gave me a home when the world was at its lowest point and to finish it out with them I couldn’t be more happier."

”                        

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 109 (McVeigh 36, Brandon 18, Warner 16)

NORWOOD FLAMES 90 (McBride 20, Harrap 19, A Janssan 15)

 

Dunk at death delivers double chance for Warriors over Lions         

One last result was needed to decide who would grab the double chance and who would face elimination the first week with the Woodville Warriors Steve Parfitt dunking it at the death to send them to the qualifying final against the Central Districts LIons both for the night and next week 97-95 at the Castle of St Clair

The Sapwells were busy from the start for the Lions who looked sharp as they took a 0-8 with Nick Wurm breaking the run of makes. Jack Stanwix with three triple makes from outside however gave the Lions a huge opening term with a 14-30 lead after the first stanza. 

Parfitt found some points in the paint to start the second but Stanwix kept finding his mark from outside as they kept it out to double figures. Clayton Jewell was damaging inside as well late in the second term as they stretched their lead out to a 35-56 gap at the half. 

Wurm opened the third with a triple then Bryce Sloan got rolling as the Warriors slashed it back to just over double figures. The Lions kept them at arms length but a sense something was turning was beginning to be felt as Parfitt made multiple and1 plays. Kalani Sapwell’s late deuce made it 65-79 with one to play and the Warriors just out of touch of the double chance - at this point. 

Parfitt was the instigator feeding off multiple Warriors inside as he proved the biggest problem for the Lions as it became pretty clear which of the two teams desperately wanted the victory - Stanwix keeping things interesting for the Lions with another triple. The Warriors brought it back to single digits for the first time in a long time with Joe Jackson’s triple cutting it to 87-90. The Warriors hit the lead through Parfitt 93-92 with Sloan giving them a smaller lead but Koen Sapwell tied the scores 95-95. 

Then the game winning play was made by the delicious dunk that sealed the double chance…

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Parfitt’s 22 points and 11 rebounds with two blocks was the telling performance throughout the contest backed up by Bryce Sloan with 19 points, five assists and four rebounds with Nick Wurm 18 points and eight assists in another all-round Woodville performance.

Stanwix equalled teammate Spencer Gaze’s Round 4 mark with another eight triples to finish with 27 points and four assists in a huge haul for the night for the Lions.

   

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 97 (Parfitt  22, Sloan 19, Wurm 18)

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 95 (Stanwix 27, Kalani Sapwell 18, Jewell, Koen Sapwell 14)

Five remain with the Forestville Eagles, Central Districts Lions, Woodville Warriors, South Adelaide Panthers and West Adelaide Bearcats left to fight it out… 

Don’t miss the  NBL1 Central Men's Finals Week One starts on the Kayo Sports Freebies via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App from 7:30pm ACDT next weekend.

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