Central Wrap | Women's Anzac Round

Featured image: @snapshotphotography3 / Snap Shot Photography

There were double NBL1 Central wins for the West Adelaide Bearcats, Sturt Sabres, South Adelaide Panthers and Woodville Warriors with standout showings from Brittany Hodges, Tayla Brazel, Morgan Yaeger and Bella Stratford.

>> CENTRAL SPOTLIGHT | PANTHERS MAKE IT A DOUBLE WIN ANZAC ROUND

>> CENTRAL SPOTLIGHT | BRAZEL TRIPLE-DOUBLE HELPS SABRES DOMINATE

>> CENTRAL SPOTLIGHT | BEARCATS BLOW OUT FLAMES TO GO 6-0

FRIDAY

Sturt Sabres (67) defeated Southern Tigers (58)

The Sturt Sabres had to come from behind in the third quarter to stay unbeaten this season but got the job done at home on Friday night beating the Southern Tigers 67-58.

The Sabres were hosting the Tigers at Springbank Secondary College looking for a sixth straight win to start the season with Southern trying to bounce back from a loss to the South Adelaide Panthers.

It was a strong start from Sturt with 23 points to 14 in the first quarter but the Tigers hit back with 23 to 14 in the fourth including 12 straight with scores all level by half-time.

The Tigers did manage to lead early in the second half too but Sturt took over with 19 points to eight and eventually converted that into the nine-point win.

The Sabres are now 6-0 following the win with Nicola Mathews finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Tayla Brazel added 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and Paige Padroth 13 points, four boards and two steals.

The Tigers are now 3-3 after the defeat with Holly Forbes providing 15 points, four rebounds and three steals with Mollie McKendrick contributing 14 points and nine boards, Annelise Bartish 11 points and four rebounds, and Sophie Rogers 11 points and four boards.

West Adelaide Bearcats (83) defeated Norwood Flames (53)

The West Adelaide Bearcats put together a sixth straight dominant performance to open the season to hammer the Norwood Flames 83-53 at home on Anzac Day eve.

The Bearcats had scored five thumping wins to start the season with smallest margin being 23 points and they kept that momentum going already leading by 17 points at quarter-time before going up by as much as 39 in the second half before beating the Flames by 30.

It was a domination from West Adelaide and they ended up with 50 points in the paint to 24 along with 16 points from turnovers to six, the only six second chance points in the game, and 28 fast break points to five to keep their undefeated start going with six wins at an average of 36.8 points.

Morgan Yaeger wasn’t needed in the fourth quarter but up to that point in her 21 minutes she delivered 25 points, three steals and two rebounds on 10/16 shooting while being +26.

Sienna Lehmann added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, Coco Hodges 11 points, five boards and three steals, Krystal Thompson 10 points and six steals, and Ashlee Strawbridge nine points and three boards.

Norwood are now 2-4 on the season and dearly missed Dara Mabrey against the Bearcats juggernaut and then Cali Clark fouling out in the third quarter after playing just 15:32 didn’t help. She had 14 points and seven rebounds.

Brooke Silby added 11 points, three rebounds and two steals, Maddy Hinton eight points and three assists, and Caitlin Hardin seven points, three rebounds and three steals.

ANZAC DAY

Norwood Flames (70) defeated Forestville Eagles (69)

The Norwood Flames bounced back from a heavy Friday night loss to hold on in a thrilling finish on Anzac Day for the 70-69 win at home to the Forestville Eagles.

The Flames played host to the Eagles at The ARC with Norwood attempting to bounce back from Friday's 30-point loss to West Adelaide while Forestville arrived having won their last couple.

Forestville were in control when having just scored 12 straight points in the second quarter and then leading by 15, and still being up 46-31 going into the half-time break.

But Norwood had a dominant third period with 22 points to 11, and then they were leading by six with 1:30 thanks to a big shot from Maddy Hinton.

Even after Hinton hit a huge shot to put Norwood up four, it was a nervous last minute and in that time the Flames only managed to get up one shot attempt and then had a turnover in the frantic final seconds.

A shot to Sarah Boothe and triple from Sam Simons had Forestville back within a point, and then Simons had a chance after that turnover from the Flames but it wasn’t to be for the Eagles.

Norwood are now 3-4 on the season with Hinton finishing with 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Cali Clark added 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, Caitlin Shillabeer 12 points, four boards and tow steals, and Allysyn Becki 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocked shots.

Forestville are 3-4 as well following the defeat with Sam Simons delivering 23 points, five assists and three rebounds, Jess Simons 22 points and five boards, Sarah Boothe eight points and seven rebounds, and Ella Sawyer seven points, five boards and three assists.

Eastern Mavericks (52) lost to Sturt Sabres (102)

Tayla Brazel continued her hot start to the season with a triple-double and Sturt Sabres stayed undefeated with the emphatic Anzac Day performance to beat the Eastern Mavericks 102-52.

The Mavericks were back home at St Francis de Sales Community Sports Centre just trying to be competitive given the form the Sabres arrived in with six straight wins to open the season including on Friday night at home to the Southern Tigers.

The Sabres have come into the 2026 season on a mission after losing a third Grand Final in the past four years back in 2025. They are looking ominous already and kept that going on Anzac Day against the hapless Mavericks romping to the 50-point victory to improve to 6-0.

Brazel was outstanding finishing with a triple-double consisting of 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in just 27 minutes on 10/15 shooting with 3/6 from downtown.

Paige Padroth also finished with 16 points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists, Liz Williamson 15 points and 10 boards, Nicola Mathews 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, and Mia Walker-Roberts 12 points, three boards and two steals.

It was a tough night for the Mavs against the unbeaten Sabres with the 36 turnovers meaning they only got up 56 shot attempts across 40 minutes and scored just the 52 points as a result with a quarter of those coming at the foul line.

Annaliese Watkinson top scored with 16 points, three steals and two rebounds while Antigonie Sanabria had 12 points, seven boards, three assists and three steals, and Bella Schaftenaar 11 points and three rebounds.

Central Districts Lions (61) lost to South Adelaide Panthers (73)

Bianca Stasinowsky scored 23 points and the South Adelaide Panthers kept their winning form going beating the Central Districts Lions 73-61 on Anzac Day.

The Lions were back home at STARplex trying to avoid a fourth straight defeat hosting a South Adelaide team coming off a 17-point win against the Southern Tigers.

The Panthers then dominated the first quarter with 16 points to seven before leading by as much as 10 in the second term and being up 33-23 by the half-time break.

South Adelaide remained in control from there for the 12-point victory to improve to 4-2 on the season.

Stasinowsky top-scored with 23 points on 9/14 shooting from the field and 4/6 at the line with Hannah Gardiner contributing 14 points, five rebounds and three assists, Keira Gardiner 11 points, seven boards, five assists, five steals and two blocks, and Bella Stratford eight points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals.

Centrals are now 1-6 after the home loss with Grace Stone finishing with 16 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals with Alana Howden adding 15 points and four boards, and Emily Winter eight points, 10 rebounds and three steals.

Southern Tigers (63) lost to West Adelaide Bearcats (92)

The West Adelaide Bearcats continued their domination of this season with the 92-63 road win on Anzac Day against the Southern Tigers.

The Bearcats opened the weekend beating the Norwood Flames by 30 with the Tigers playing host to them at Morphett Vale Basketball Stadium trying to rebound from their own Friday loss to the also undefeated Sturt Sabres.

Even after West Adelaide opened up an eight-point lead in the first quarter, the Tigers responded to close the gap to two at quarter-time only for the Bearcats to pull away again to lead 44-33 by half-time.

West Adelaide remained in control from there with 48 points to 31 throughout the second half to lead by as much as 31 and win by 29 to make it seven straight wins to open the season.

Coco Hodges delivered 25 points and five assists in the win for the Bearcats with Chloe Hodges adding 19 points, 10 boards, five steals and two assists.

Morgan Yaeger delivered another 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists, Ashlee Strawbridge nine points, four assists and three boards, Krystal Thompson eight points, four steals and two rebounds, and Sienna Lehmann seven points, seven boards, four assists and two steals.

The Tigers are now 3-4 after losses inside 24 hours to the two undefeated teams with Jhaz Joson settling in nicely to the NBL1 Central having played in the West and having 22 points, four assists and two rebounds with 4/5 three-point shooting.

Mollie McKendric added 18 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, and Rosie Williamson six points, four boards and three assists.

North Adelaide Rockets (58) lost to Woodville Warriors (72)

The Woodville Warriors got their championship defence back to a .500 record with the 72-58 road Anzac Day victory against the North Adelaide Rockets.

The Rockets were home at The Lights looking for a second win of the season while the Warriors arrived also trying to bounce back from a last up loss to the Forestville Eagles.

The Warriors made a strong start to be leading 19-13 at quarter-time before going up by 13 in the second term and still leading 40-31 by the main break.

A 9-0 run from North Adelaide did tighten things up in the third frame, but Woodville pulled away again to lead by 16 and go on to win by 14 to improve to a 3-3 record.

Brittany Hodges dominated in the win for Woodville with 27 points and 14 rebounds with Lealani Falatea adding 17 points, seven boards, five steals and two assists.

Naomi Allotey also had 11 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists, and Jordan Hunter four points, nine boards, six assists and two steals.

North Adelaide are now 1-5 following the loss with Jordyn Freer ending up with 20 points and 10 rebounds with Sarah Warner contributing 14 points and 10 boards, Abbey Jones nine points and nine rebounds, and Sasha Hardin seven points, nine boards and three steals.

SUNDAY

Woodville Warriors (105) defeated Eastern Mavericks (78)

The Woodville Warriors backed up their Anzac Day win with a 105-78 domination on Sunday of the Eastern Mavericks at St Clair Recreation Centre.

The Warriors were fresh off beating the North Adelaide Rockets on Anzac Day with the Mavericks having lost to the Sturt Sabres by 50 points at home.

It was a tight battle with scores tied at 24-24 by the end of the first quarter before the Warriors began to work on top in the second term with 31 points to 23 in the second.

It was then a dominant second half from Woodville with 50 points to 31 to lead by as much as 32 and to end up winning by 27 to improve to 4-3 in their championship defence.

Brittany Hodges starred again for the Warriors with 26 points, 12 rebounds and three assists with Lealani Falatea adding 26 points, three assists and two boards.

Naomi Allotey also had 14 points and nine rebounds, Shamah Yak 13 points and three boards, Chloe Purvis nine points, Sophie Kerridge six points, nine rebounds and six assists, and Jordan Hunter dished out 13 assists.

The Mavs are now 1-6 having lost five straight with Antigonie Sanabria delivering 21 points, 16 rebounds and three assists, Annaliese Watkinson 18 points and three boards, and Bella Schaftenaar 11 points, six rebounds and three assists.

South Adelaide Panthers (73) defeated North Adelaide Rockets (64)

The South Adelaide Panthers enjoyed their Anzac Day weekend winning for a second time in less than 24 hours with Sunday's 73-64 home victory against the North Adelaide Rockets.

South Adelaide were back home at Mitchell Park Sports and Community Centre on the back of the Anzac Day road win over the Central Districts Lions while the Rockets arrived trying to respond to their home defeat to the Woodville Warriors.

The Panthers had opened up a 12-point advantage by the second quarter and that stretched to 18 early in the fourth before they secured the nine-point win for the double victory weekend and to improve to 5-2 on the season as a result.

North Adelaide have now lost three straight to be 1-6 for the season now after six rounds.

Bella Stratford top-scored for South Adelaide in the win with 17 points, three rebounds and three assists with 3/6 shooting from behind the arc, and 4/5 at the free-throw line.

Hannah Gardiner also had 12 points, four rebounds and two assists, Keira Gardiner 12 points, 11 boards and two blocks, Daisy Hocking 12 points, 10 rebounds and four steals, and Bianca Stasinowsky 10 points and five boards.

Jordyn Freer finished the afternoon with 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals for North Adelaide with Sarah Warner adding 14 points, six boards and four assists.

Shannon Webber added nine points and two assists, and Abbey Jones pulled down 22 rebounds to go with eight points, five assists and four blocked shots.