Sun
Aug 3, 2025
Central Recap | Semi Finals
By Tristan Prentice for NBL1.com.au

Second week NBL1 Central finals saw the longest droughts broken and a night for the visitors who came to steal away wins that will remain historic for years to come.
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Feature images supplied via NBL1.com.au / Dan Cowley | @imagesby_dan
The second week of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central Finals Series saw things occur that we haven't since before the turn of the millenium with the longest droughts broken and a night for the visitors who came to steal away wins that will remain historic for years to come.
Warriors record run rampages on in big sister straight sets exit
The second semi-final was between the West Adelaide Bearcats and the Woodville Warriors as big sister met little sister for ultimate bragging rights - a finals win in the western area of Adelaide.
The Woodville Warriors' 80-66 victory pulled off all sorts of records in their triumphant upset win snapping an 11-game losing streak to their neighbours, avenging their 2015 elimination final for the first time in over a decade and making it past the semis for the first time since the late '90s.
The Bearcats off the back of their overtime opponents the Sturt Sabres came out bouncing with a strong 11-5 start off the back off three Ashlee Strawbridge makes from beyond as they rattled off four triples to lead by 18-7 in the first four minutes. The momentum swung heavily though as the Warriors surged off the back of Erin Phillips (11 points and four rebounds) triples and some timely Naomi Allotey makes to rack up a 19-2 run to take the quarter time lead 26-20 after the slow start.
Getting what they wanted from everywhere offensively and sublime defensively the Warriors drained the Bearcats scoring forcing them into outside makes and packing the paint in continually to take the game high lead out to 35-22.
Laura Erikstrup (17 points and eight rebounds) kept rolling to the cup and Jordan Hunter (13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals) found her range from outside. Sienna Lehmann (16 points, seven rebounds and three assists), Krystal Thompson (11 points, six rebounds and four assists and steals) and Strawbridge (15 points on five triples with four rebounds) brought the margin back with their timely serves to cut it back to 41-33 at the main break.
Guarding her well in the first half by the Warriors - the Lorraine Eiler medallist in Olivia Levicki (13 points and 13 rebounds) made the charge at the start of the third with some highly successful steals and baskets. Jasmin Fejo kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Warriors to keep them in front but Levicki and Chloe Hodges (Nine points and four rebounds) who proved the problem last time they met brought it back to a three point game with one scintillating term to play 57-54.
The Warriors were in no mood to concede the lead early in the fourth reeling off an 8-0 run after the initial make from the Bearcats - Allotey continuing to be highly influential close to the basket not only saving balls out of court to her teammates but finishing with high degree of difficulty close to the rim.
The problem in the first and second quarters reared its head again as the Bearcats were suffocated at the offensive end of the floor as the Warriors pushed it out to double figures. The Coaches MVP and DPOY Fejo put the finishing touches on the result with Allotey making the final points to send them off to a first preliminary final in nearly 25 years.
Naomi Allotey was the Footlocker Player of the Game and outstanding across four quarters with a season high double double of 20 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and a block breathing down a triple double night while Jasmin Fejo was commanding across her 19 points, six rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks.
WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 66 (Lehmann 16, Strawbridge 15, Levicki 13)
WOODVILLE WARRIORS 80 (Allotey 20, Fejo 19, Erikstrup 17)
Sabres secure third in four big dances with deconstruction of Eagles
The first semi-final between the Forestville Eagles and the Sturt Sabres saw two of the top defensive teams in the competition going head to head. A grit and grind style match style once again though elevated the Sabres over their Goodwood Road rivals the Eagles to a third Grand Final appearance in four seasons with a 60-49 win at the State Basketball Centre.
Nicola Mathews was the scoring source early for the Sabres with two triples in the opening term in the low scoring contest as both teams were on top early. The Sabres took a slight 13-9 lead into the first change.
Tahlia Griffiths once again came off the pine for some points before Jess Simons answered for the Eagles to keep them in touch.
Jess Simons with a big block ?
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Maddy Freer made her make from the corner to force the AAMI timeout to Tim Shortt and the Sabres 17-19. Sydney Mech was the priority out of the timeout dropping five consecutive points for a mini run to the away side - Freer (Six points and five rebounds) responding again for the Eagles. Chelsea Portus the NBL1 Central Reserves MVP made her cut count and Sam Simons finally found some space for a deuce to bring it back to 24-30 at the main interval of proceedings.
Katia Stamatelopolous the highest poller in the Eiler Medal race for the Sabres swung it back her team’s way in the third with some tough jumpers and finishes - Ella Sawyer (10 points, six rebounds and five assists) running point for the Eagles all season swathing her way to the bucket to edge it back to single figures. The Sabres committee were causing all sorts of problems as the block count (six for the night) rose even further through Mia-Walker Roberts (Seven points).
She made the triple as well, pulling off a huge individual third term both ends of the floor with Stamatelopoulos pushing it out to a 47-33 lead with one to play and in the box seat to be back on the final day of the season.
As trusted though the Eagles would not go down with a fight with Jess Simons (13 points, five rebounds and three blocks) blocking another one flying by and Sam Simons (Eight points and three rebounds) making the fadeaway hook shot, Jess Simons triple getting it back to single figures with another AAMI timeout going the way of the Sabres.
The elixir of execution it has been this season for the Sabres saw them hit back through Meg Prosser (Team high 12 points with four triples and three rebounds) and Zoe Walker-Roberts (Five points and nine rebounds) then Mech (Seven points, four rebounds, three assists and blocks) making it inevitable as the Sabres slashed their way to their third appearance in four seasons once again booking a spot at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in two weeks time.
The Footlocker Player of the Game Katia Stamatelopoulos led the committee from the front with nine points, four assists and rebounds and three steals shared with the GOTW team about the plans for the finals have so far gone exactly that way in their execution on the floor. “It feels good to get straight through, we executed the scout we wanted and everything we’ve done the past few weeks.”
While the week off is welcomed it was also fraught with caution but Katia and her team have stuck with the same mantra and approach through 2025 and will look to use that to keep them focused on the end goal to win their first title since 2008.
“It's nice to have a week off but it's hard to play a grand final with a week off as well - the message for all of us is we work our behind off when we are on the floor when we go through our team values and that’s what it's all about and that's all that matters.”
FORESTVILLE EAGLES 49 (J Simons 13, Sawyer 10, S Simons 8)
STURT SABRES 60 (Prosser 12, Stamatelopoulos 9, Padroth 8)
The Sturt Sabres are through to their third in four grand finals and will now await the winner of the Forestville Eagles and the Woodville Warriors on a five game winning streak into the finals.
The NBL1 Central Finals action continues with the Women’s Preliminary Final next weekend via Kayo Sports Freebies, NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App from 6:15pm ACDT
West best in Lat attack on Warriors
The second semi-final elimination between the Woodville Warriors and the West Adelaide Bearcats was fiery, physical and fierce but as a team has done before from fifth under coach Dean Nyberg the West Adelaide Bearcats kept their top five foray alive sending the Woodville Warriors out in straight sets on their home floor 81=68 at the Castle of St Clair.
The cannon was loaded early for the away side with Cameron Huefner helping himself to a nine point opening term to lead the Bearcats to an early 7-0 start.
Cam Huefner with 11 points & 6 rebounds at HT has West #Adelaide leading Woodville 38-31 in their #NBL1 Central sudden death SF ?? pic.twitter.com/Qx1tSFjW0c
Missing Bryce Sloan - Uzo Dibaimaka finally got the Warriors going with a fast break transition and block as did Joe Jackson as they DPOY inflected his influence in the game feeding Steve Parfitt for one. Huefner (11 points and eight rebounds) however gave the away side the early break at the end of one 18-9 in a surprisingly defensive effort from the Bearcats.
The Warriors needed a spark at the start of the second with Toby Woolcock (Career high 10 points and six rebounds in the final) inserted into the contest as they reversed momentum back the way of the home side 24-18. The Bearcats then funneled more possessions to Lat Mayen as he got cooking with nine points in the term to push it back out to 30-20. Nick Wurm answered back for the Warriors with Keanu Rasmussen having steady influence on the night to bring it back to 38-31 at the main break.
The three point party opened the third with Dibiamaka, Mayen and Riley Meldrum (Nine points and three assists) making their mark - Jacob Tryon as the tower of power again hard to negotiate with in the paint at the defensive end of the floor. The Warriors made their mark once again through the powerful punch of Parfitt (17 points) as he put another instagram poster on his account for the season.
Mayen kept the scoreboard ticking over with more outside bombs but also fed others with slick passing to grab 12 points for the term and put the Bearcats in position 1A for the final quarter ahead 62-51.
Tryon opened the fourth with a triple with the Warriors making another run with Tim Troussel (Eight points and six rebounds) stringing a few together in a row to make it single figures again. Rasmussen (16 points, seven assists and six rebounds) the Woollacott medallist took the game into his own hands making the tough drives and feeding his teammates for their finishes.
Keanu Rasmussen drains a BIG three-pointer ?
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Mayen having the final say with the open lane two handed finish to punch their ticket to the Preliminary final and eye off their first grand final since their championship win in 2023.
Footlocker Player of the Game was Lat Mayen who when it counted in the match responded with scores and service for his team with 27 points, nine rebounds, three assists and steals while Jacob Tryon was a menace all night for the home side with 17 points, five rebounds and four blocks for the evening.
WOODVILLE WARRIORS 68 (Parfitt 17, Woolcock 10, Uzo Dibiamaka 9)
WEST ADELAIDE BEARACATS 81 (Mayen 27, Tryon 17, Rasmussen 16)
Lions roar into first in 41 years
The first semi-final between the Forestville Eagles and the Central Districts Lions saw one team laden with NBL talent and the other one of few teams to have taken it right up to the powerhouse of NBL1 Central 2025 only a few weeks ago.
The records tumbling all night however not the way expected as the upset of upsets was pulled off with the Lions not only defeating the Eagles for the first time in 18 meetings but also booking their first Grand Final appearance since 1984 with a commanding 107-74 takedown at The Nest. .
The Lions got off to a roaring start with 7-0 start away at home through Efe Abogidi (19 points and 11 rebounds) and newly signed Adelaide 36ers development player Magok Manyang (11 points and 12 rebounds with two blocks). The Eagles hit back with a few points of their own but the Lions were unstoppable in the first term and on a mission from the north. Koen Sapwell taking matters into his own hands driving the Lions into a potent position with a 0-10 run to end the first 32-12 after one.
As expected the Eagles responded immediately after their flat start with the week off - Dejan Vasiljevic (16 points, four assists and rebounds) trying to keep it happening for the home side with some valuable points. Koen Sapwell showing his valuable time in Germany with the Dresden Titans was worth the wait for the Lions faithful making everything that came his way - Adam Doyle (11 points and four rebounds) dialling it back for a moment or two as well making one then feeding it to the other DJ as he brought it back. Spencer Gaze, channeling his famous relative, however kept the upset on the cards at the half 49-38.
Johnson threw one down early in the third and Alex Starling began to emerge as a threat at the offensive end with some tough drives and tip ins cutting it to single figures.
Daniel Johnson with a strong finish ?
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Jack Stanwix (Nine points, four assists and rebounds with four steals) answered again for the Lions before Gaze once again in one of the games of his short career made it 73-58 with one to play out.
Gaze (26 points, nine rebounds and two blocks) opened the fourth with back to back baskets then did the unthinkable blocking Starling with the two hander against the backboard then made another and1 back the other way in the purple patches of all purple patches. The Eagles with surprisingly no answer as Koen Sapwell buried the game shut with the triple then the block to ice the game.
Koen Sapwell SWATS the alley-oop away ?
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The benches cleared gave time for clear reflection for both sides as the Lions for the first time in forty one years will feature in the decider - booking their spot at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in two weeks.
Footlocker Player of the Game Koen Sapwell with 27 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds with three blocks was understandably elated but measured as well in summing up the job is far from complete to break their men’s forty one year drought.
“Feels pretty good but classic phrase jobs not done. We are one game away from our ultimate goal and we’ll most likely see those guys again. We think” Sapwell summed up the win for the Lions with the GOTW team.
Sapwell was still full of praise for the Eagles highlighting the need however to focus on what they could control at their end in playing their gamestyle to counteract the minor premiers.
“We wanted to play our game - they’re well coached and they’ve been the best team all year and the benchmark all year”
The Lions unit has come together over multiple years after some lower table finishes laden with many close losses but it seems in the end the family will have its say in more ways than one.
“I came back late, Magok too but we’ve been building this. We've all been together since Under 12s. It's such a family place to be - we are not going to ramp up practices but we’ll practice on the weekend just to be prepared but Dad’s the boss so we’ll see what he says…”
CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 107 (Koen Sapwell 27, S Gaze 26, Abogidi 19)
FORESTVILLE EAGLES 74 (Vasiljevic 16, D Johnson 14, Doyle, Mays 11)
The Central Districts Lions are through to their first grand final in 41 years and will now await the winner of the Forestville Eagles and the West Adelaide Bearcats the 2023 Grand Finalists.
The NBL1 Central Finals action continues with the Men’s Preliminary Final next weekend via Kayo Sports Freebies, NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App from 8:15pm ACDT
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