Central Spotlight | Sabres hold out Eagles to stay perfect

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Jacob Rigoni had 14 points in the third quarter to build a match-winning lead for the Sturt Sabres but they still had to survive a late scare to remain perfect this NBL1 Central season and hand the Forestville Eagles a first defeat.

It was the battle of unbeaten teams from the opening three rounds of the season at Springbank Secondary College on Saturday night and it was a tight battle before the Sabres made their move in the third quarter.

Rigoni put up 14 of his team's 26 points with Sturt building an 11-point lead by three quarter-time that again was 16 during the fourth, but the Eagles still had a chance to firstly tie the game or win it on the last possession.

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Greg Mays missed a good look at a mid-range turnaround jumper that would have taken the game to overtime. Then Adam Doyle also missed a good look at the three after an offensive rebound that would have been the winner.

That meant Sturt held on for the two-point win to improve to a perfect 4-0 record on the season with Forestville now 3-1 following a first defeat.

Jacob Rigoni came up huge in the win for Sturt with 26 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists with 8/15 shooting from the floor, 5/10 from downtown and 5/5 at the free-throw line.

Luke Pfitzner had 18 points to half-time and ended up with 24 on 6/10 shooting from downtown with Jamie Smith adding 10 points, four rebounds and two steals.

Josh Tomasi provided nine points, eight rebounds and four assists, Joel Spear eight points, seven boards and seven assists, and Seb Griffin four points, six rebounds and five assists.

By half-time, Forestville guns Daniel Johnson and Greg Mays had only combined for nine points on 1/9 shooting, but both helped to give the Eagles a chance especially in the fourth quarter.

Johnson finished with 18 points, five rebounds and two steals with 8/10 foul shooting while Mays ended up with 13 points and five rebounds.

Alex Starling also had 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists for the Eagles, Jordan Forbes 12 points, eight boards, seven assists and three steals, and Adam Doyle nine points, five rebounds and three assists.

Sturt made the flying start opening up a 10-point lead but Forestville responded with a 10-0 run of their own and as a result the scores were all locked at 22-22 by quarter-time.

Forestville managed to push out to a seven-point lead in the second quarter but it was Sturt's turn to hit back with an 8-0 run. With Luke Pfitzner catching fire with four triples for the half and 18 points, it was the Sabres going into the main break narrowly leading 47-45.

Sturt made their move in the third quarter with 26 points to 17 with 14 of those scored by Jacob Rigoni with the lead for the Sabres growing to as large as 16 points on the way before they were still on top 73-62 by three quarter-time.

The lead for the Sabres again was 16 early in the fourth quarter but then the Eagles made a charge including going on a 9-0 run. Eventually it was just a two-point ball game with Forestville having the last possession.

Greg Mays ended up having a good look for him and he took a fadeaway jumper up against the baseline, but it came off the rim and he grabbed the offensive rebound.

He got it out to Adam Doyle but his attempted three-point winner didn’t go either and the Sabres held on for the thrilling two-point win to stay unbeaten in 2026.

The Sabes remain at home on Friday night to host the North Adelaide Rockets while the Eagles will attempt to bounce back against the Woodville Warriors at home next Saturday.

NBL1 CENTRAL 2026 SEASON | ROUND 4

STURT SABRES 84 (Rigoni 26, Pfitzner 24, Smith 10)

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 82 (Johnson 18, Starling 17, Mays 13)