Central Spotlight | Norwood snap Panthers winning run

Featured image: Melissa Belanic | @justbphotoau

The South Adelaide Panthers looked on track for a 12th straight NBL1 Central win until Thomas Kurowski and the Norwood Flames delivered a huge fourth quarter to storm home for the 89-79 victory.

The Panthers arrived at The ARC on an 11-game winning streak to be banging on the door of top spot while the Flames have shown they are capable of some impressive basketball this season, but they were still in sixth spot coming into Round 12.

South Adelaide then opened up an early 10-point lead and maintained a degree of control for the majority of the first three quarters and were up six still heading into the fourth frame.

But from there it was all the Flames as they finished with 26 points to 10 in the final term to turn that six-point deficit into the 10-point victory to enhance their finals prospects at 6-8.

It's a first loss for the Panthers since March 28 to the Forestville Eagles with them now sitting on an 11-3 record.

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Norwood ended up going 19/32 from the field to South Adelaide's 14/38 in the second half to come from behind for the win and to finish the game shooting 50 per cent to the 42 from the Panthers.

Both teams went the identical 18/29 at the free-throw line while Norwood hit 5/18 from downtown to 1/20, and despite South Adelaide having 22 offensive rebounds, they also turned the ball over 22 times.

It was a crucial win in the context of the season for Norwood as they attempt to break into the top five with Thomas Kurowski leading the charge with 23 points, four assists, four steals and three rebounds on 10/16 field goal shooting.

Cooper Osborne added 17 points, 13 assists, four rebounds and two steals for the Flames, Aydan Janssan 17 points, four boards, two assists and two steals, Daniel Webber 16 points and three assists, and Oscar Sabine 10 points, six boards and two assists.

South Adelaide's winning run is now over despite leading most of the afternoon with Lloyd McVeigh finishing with 19 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Jeremy Smith added 18 points and six assists for the Panthers, Rio Bruton 14 points, three rebounds and two steals, and Koby Moir nine points, four boards and two assists.

South Adelaide came into the game as the hottest team in the league with 11 straight wins while Norwood were still on the outside of the top five and running out of time to try and break in.

South Adelaide did open up an early 10-point lead and were still on top 27-24 by quarter-time with both teams spending plenty of time at the foul like with the Panthers going 9/13 and the Flames 10/18.

It was then 16 points apiece in the second term and that meant South Adelaide were still leading 43-40 by half-time with Rio Bruton having 12 points and Jeremy Smith 11 while Thomas Kurowski was up to 14 for Norwood.

The Panthers remained on top with another 26 points to 23 in the third term but then it was all Norwood in the last quarter with 26 points to 10 including going on a 9-0 run to come from six points down to secure the 10-point win and end the South Adelaide winning run.

Both teams now have double headers next weekend with Norwood at home to both the West Adelaide Bearcats and Forestville Eagles.

The Panthers are away to the North Adelaide Rockets on Saturday and then at home to the Central Districts Lions on Sunday.

NBL1 CENTRAL 2026 SEASON | ROUND 12

NORWOOD FLAMES 89 (Kurowski 23, Osborne 17, Janssan 17)

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 79 (McVeigh 19, Smith 18, Bruton 14)