Central Spotlight | Lions beat Warriors for third straight

Featured image: Picture It Sport Photography

Last year's NBL1 Central Grand Finalists, Central Districts Lions, are now building 2026 momentum with a third straight win overcoming the Woodville Warriors 80-77 in what was a tight contest all evening.

Central Districts were back home at STARplex fresh off wins against the Norwood Flames and Southern Tigers with the Warriors coming into the contest off a loss to Norwood.

No more than nine points separated the two teams all evening and that was early in the piece from Centrals, but from then on it was never more than a five-point margin across the last three quarters.

But in the end a run of seven straight points in the fourth quarter was enough for the Lions to get on top and end up securing the thrilling three-point victory to make it three in-a-row and improve to a 5-6 record while Woodville are now 6-5.

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Central Districts made it three straight and it was on the back of an even contribution across the board with Magok Manyang top scoring with 17 points and nine rebounds including five of those at the offensive end.

Jayden Seymour also had 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals with Koen Sapwell putting up 15 points, six boards, two assists and two steals.

Deng Manyang also had 10 points, nine rebounds and two steals with captain Kalani Sapwell contributing nine points, nine assists and five boards, and Clayton Jewell eight points and eight rebounds.

Woodville have now lost back-to-back games after LJ Booth Jr ended up with 19 points, 11 rebounds and three steals on 8/12 shooting from the floor.

Nick Wurm added 16 points, four assists and three rebounds, Uzo Dibiamaka 14 points, five rebounds and two assists with 4/10 shooting from behind the three-point line.

Riley Meldrum also had 10 points on 3/6 shooting from downtown with Joe Jackson adding eight points and six boards, and Bennett Sherry six points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Centrals came into the contest having won their last couple while Woodville were attempting to bounce back, and the scores were all square at 24-24 by quarter-time even with the Warriors shooting 50 per cent from the field to 38.

Uche Dibiamaka and Nick Wurm already had eight points each for Woodville while Koen Sapwell had eight for Centrals and Magok Manyang seven.

Woodville ended up outscoring the Lions 19 points to 16 in the second quarter to be leading 43-40 by half-time on the back of shooting 43 per cent from the field to 37 while also going 6/16 from downtown to 4/10, and 9/12 at the foul line to 8/8.

It remained a tight contest in the third quarter and Central Districts worked back on top with 24 points to 20 to be leading narrowly 64-63 by three quarter-time with Jayden Seymour up to 14 points for the home team.

That set up a big finish and after scores were tied at 77-77 with 1:30 to play after a three ball for Woodville from Uzo Dibiamaka, Central Districts scored the last three points at the foul line from Koen Sapwell and Manyang.

Woodville missed their last six shots inside the last 30 seconds with the Lions holding on for the three-point victory to make it three on the trot.

Both teams back up on Sunday with Central Districts away to the Sturt Sabres while Woodville play host to the defending champion West Adelaide Bearcats boosted now by Nick Marshall.

NBL1 CENTRAL 2026 SEASON | HERITAGE ROUND

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 80 (M Manyang 17, Seymour 16, Koen Sapwell 15)

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 77 (Booth Jr 19, Wurm 16, Dibiamaka 14)