Central Spotlight | Bearcats stay dominant over reigning champs

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The West Adelaide Bearcats flexed their muscles over the middle quarters outscoring the defending NBL1 Central champion Woodville Warriors 67 points to 35 on the way to their 12th straight win, prevailing 113-76.

The Bearcats arrived at St Clair Recreation Centre having won their first 11 matches of the season including the previous night by 51 points at home to the South Adelaide Panthers.

Woodville also saw their five-game winning streak come to an end at the expense of the Central Districts Lions as they faced a big ask to try and bounce back on Sunday even on their home floor.

It was just a three-point lead at quarter-time for West Adelaide before they poured on 36 points to 20 in the second term, 31 to 15 in the third and the Bearcats went on to win by 37 to improve to a perfect 12-0 record while the Warriors are 6-6 after a double loss weekend.

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It was another dominant all-round display from West Adelaide to end up shooting 55 per cent from the field with 12/34 from three-point range and 17/28 at the foul line while pulling down 16 offensive boards to end up taking eight extra shots and 16 more free throws.

Alex Ciabattoni finished with 27 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals having now settled back home having started the season in the NBL1 West at the Cockburn Cougars on the back of a standout WNBL season with the Perth Lynx.

Chloe Hodges also produced 16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals, Morgan Yaeger 16 points, three assists and two boards, and Krystal Thompson 17 points and three steals with 5/7 shooting along with 5/6 at the foul line.

Sienna Lehmann added 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals, and Coco Hodges 10 points, six boards, six steals and four assists.

The Warriors came into the weekend on a five-game winning streak but have now suffered two losses in less than 24 hours to slip to a 7-5 record on the back of an afternoon of having 31 turnovers while only attempting 11 three-pointers and 12 free throws.

It was the undefeated league leaders up against the defending champions on a Sunday afternoon and it was a tight battle in the first quarter with West Adelaide only leading 22-19 by the end of it.

Morgan Yaeger had seven points for West Adelaide as did Ambah Kowcun for Woodville while the Bearcats were shooting slightly better at 50 per cent to 42 while forcing the Warriors into seven turnovers.

West Adelaide then took complete control in the second frame putting up 36 points to 20 on the back of shooting 12/22 from the field with 6/12 from three-point range and even 6/9 from the foul line to go into half-time leading 58-39.

Alex Ciabattoni had 16 points by half-time for the Bearcats and Yaeger 13 while Naomi Allotey scored 12 for Woodville but the Warriors were up to 19 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes including 12 in the second period.

It was more dominance from West Adelaide into the third quarter as they completed a 17-0 scoring run and soon went out to a 39-point lead with another 31 points to 15 in the term.

The Bearcats went into three quarter-time leading 89-54 after another 10 minutes of shooting 11/18 from the floor while the Warriors only managed to go 7/17 while having another seven turnovers.

West Adelaide went on to lead by as much as 39 in the fourth quarter before winning by 37 to remain perfect this season and send a message against the reigning champions.

Woodville now are next in action on Saturday June 13 against the South Adelaide Panthers with the Bearcats at home to the Eastern Mavericks at the same time.

NBL1 CENTRAL 2026 SEASON | HERITAGE ROUND

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 76 (Kowcun 19, Allotey 18, Hunter 8)

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 113 (Ciabattoni 27, Thompson 17, Yaeger 16, Chloe Hodges 16)