Central Spotlight | Bearcats blow away Panthers to go 11-0

Featured image: creativelab.mediaco

The West Adelaide Bearcats improved to a perfect 11-0 record putting up 63 points led by Morgan Yaeger in the first half on the way to the 99-49 thumping win against the South Adelaide Panthers.

The Bearcats were back home at Port Adelaide Recreation Centre looking to stay undefeated in 2026 hosting a South Adelaide team clinging to fifth position and attempting to bounce back from a loss to the Sturt Sabres.

West Adelaide dominated from the outset with 30 points to 11 in the first quarter and 33 to 12 in the second on the way to the eventual 50-point win.

That keeps the Bearcats undefeated in the 2026 season improving to an 11-0 record trying to make up for last year's straight sets finals exit with the Panthers now 6-5 following the hefty defeat.

>> HERITAGE ROUND | CENTRALS FAMILY CONNECTION DRIVES SAPWELLS

>> CENTRAL WRAP | WOMEN'S ROUND 9

It was a dominant performance right from the outset by West Adelaide with them ending up taking 17 more shots and shooting 46 per cent from the floor along with 10/28 from downtown while pulling down 17 offensive rebounds to make it 11-0.

Morgan Yaeger was right on track for a triple double again with 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in just 20 minutes but she wasn’t needed much in the second half especially with a Sunday game to come.

Alex Ciabattoni added 18 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists, Krystal Thompson 13 points, three steals and three blocks, Chloe Hodges 11 points, seven boards and three assists, and Molly Coleman eight points, two rebounds and two blocked shots.

South Adelaide came into the contest missing Aimee Brett and Daisy Hocking, and couldn’t go with West Adelaide to end up shooting 29 per cent from the field while shooting 2/18 from three-point territory and having 24 turnovers.

Keira Gardiner finished with 10 points and nine rebounds with Hannah Gardiner adding nine points, five boards and two assists, Hatti Cox eight points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Bella Stratford six points and four boards.

West Adelaide were looking to keep their unbeaten run going and that looked right on track already by quarter-time with the Bearcats already leading 30-11.

West Adelaide were shooting 11/18 from the field in that first quarter to 4/18 from South Adelaide while they forced the Panthers into seven turnovers and pulled down six offensive rebounds for that 19-point advantage.

That lead blew out to a monstrous 40 points in the second quarter too for the Bearcats after a 12-0 scoring run and with another 33 points to 12 heading into half-time, West Adelaide went into the break well in command leading 63-23.

The Bearcats shot the ball at 56 per cent to 28 in the first half while making 8/15 from downtown to 0/5 while going into the break having eight offensive boards and forcing South Adelaide into 12 turnovers.

It was just another 14 points to 13 in the third quarter in favour of West Adelaide and then 22 to 13 in the fourth for the Bearcats to make it 11 straight wins to start the season to the tune of 50 points.

Both teams are back in action on Sunday with West Adelaide up against the Woodville Warriors on the road with South Adelaide trying to bounce back at home to the Forestville Eagles.

NBL1 CENTRAL 2026 SEASON | HERITAGE ROUND

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 99 (Yaeger 21, Ciabattoni 18, Thompson 13)

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 49 (K Gardiner 10, H Gardiner 9, Cox 8)