Central Wrap | Women's First Nations Round

Featured image: Melissa Belanic | @justbphotoau

Tayla Brazel had 30 points for Sturt Sabres, Cali Clark 27 for Norwood Flames and the Woodville Warriors set up a fascinating last round in the NBL1 Central with their Monday night First Nations Round win over the Forestville Eagles.

>> CENTRAL SPOTLIGHT | BRAZEL HAS 30 AS SABRES WIN BIG

SATURDAY

Norwood Flames (85) defeated Eastern Mavericks (61)

The Norwood Flames went a long way to confirming they will end the season in third position with the 85-61 win over the bottom placed Eastern Mavericks with 27 points and 13 rebounds from Cali Clark.

The Flames were back home at The ARC with a win to likely be enough to see them end up finishing in third position entering the playoffs as they hosted a Mavs team struggling to stay competitive and with another dramatic week behind them.

Ther was more movement on the coaching from at the Mavericks and they brought a 12-game losing run into the contest and that didn’t look like changing with the Flames starting with 30 points to 16 in the opening even with Madi Torresin starting on fire with 12 of those 16 points.

The Mavs then did well limiting the damage in the second with Norwood's lead 50-36 by half-time before they had 23 points to eight in the third quarter to end up scoring the 24-point win.

The Flames are now 11-6 in third place after the win with Cali Clark finishing with 27 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three steals on 10/12 field goal shooting.

Amy Cotton added 12 points, six rebounds and two assists, Ally Becki 11 points, four boards, four assists and two steals, and Caitlin Shillabeer 10 points and two rebounds.

The Mavericks are 1-16 with just one game to go in their forgettable season with Annaliese Watkinson finishing with 16 points and two rebounds, and Torresin 14 points, seven boards, three assists and two steals.

Kedeisha Kartinyeri also had 13 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Bella Schaftenaar 13 points, four boards and two steals.

North Adelaide Rockets (62) lost to Sturt Sabres (103)

Tayla Brazel hit six three-pointers on her way to 30 points and the Sturt Sabres dominated the North Adelaide Rockets with the 103-62 win ahead of wrapping up the regular season up against the West Adelaide Bearcats.

The Rockets were on a three-game winning run even though they are out of the finals mix as they hosted the second placed Sabres at The Lights.

But Sturt took over early with a 22-0 run in the first quarter to set the tone for the evening with the lead getting out to 23 points in the second period, 38 in the third and 42 in the fourth before they completed the 41-point victory.

The win keeps the Sabres solid in second position at 14-3 with the Rockets now 5-12 with just one game of the regular season remaining.

Brazel had another standout performance for Sturt with 30 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals with 6/12 shooting from beyond the arc.

Paige Padroth added 15 points, five steals and three assists, and Zoe Walker-Roberts 11 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three steals.

North Adelaide couldn’t quite make it four straight wins against a team gearing up for a title push with Jordyn Freer finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

Abbey Jones also had eight points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, Lauren Mansfield eight points, four boards and two assists, and Erin Morris seven points and two rebounds.

South Adelaide Panthers (66) defeated Southern Tigers (55)

The South Adelaide Panthers needed to win to stay in the top five and they were just able to do so courtesy of a 16-8 fourth quarter to beat the Southern Tigers 66-55.

The Panthers were back home at Mitchell Park Sports and Community Centre to avoid slipping outside the top five entering the final round taking on a Tigers team out of contention but still a dangerous opponent.

The Tigers then started well showing that with an early 12-0 run to lead by 12 before South Adelaide scored the next 10 points, and by quarter-time it was Southern holding on to the 24-18 advantage.

The Tigers were still leading narrowly 37-35 by half-time but throughout the second half the Panthers worked on top with 15 points to 10 in the third frame, and 16 to eight in the fourth for the eventual 11-point victory.

The win steadies South Adelaide in the top five with a 10-7 record with Hannah Gardiner delivering 18 points, nine rebounds and two assists on 9/15 field goal shooting.

Keira Gardiner also had 16 points, six boards and three steals, Bianca Stasniowsky 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Bella Stratford eight points, and Aimee Brett eight points, six rebounds and two assists.

The Tigers are now 6-11 with one game to go with Mollie McKendrick delivering 20 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocked shots.

Annelise Bartsch also had 10 points, four rebounds and two steals, Holly Forbes 10 points, 13 boards and two assists, and Jhaz Joson nine points, three assists and two rebounds.

West Adelaide Bearcats (120) defeated Central Districts Lions (41)

The West Adelaide Bearcats made official the regular season championship with the 120-41 hammering of the Central Districts Lions in the second last game ahead of their assault on the championship.

The Bearcats hosted the Lions at Port Adelaide Recreation Centre already just about confirmed of finishing on top but one last one would officially confirm that.

Centrals were out of the finals hunt and it didn’t take West Adelaide long to take control with 35 points to nine in the first quarter.

There was no let up from the Bearcats with another 26 points to nine in the second frame, 35 to 14 in the third and 24 to nine in the fourth on the way to the eventual 79-point win.

That improves West Adelaide to 16-1 on the season to confirm the regular season championship with Alex Ciabattoni delivering 20 points, five rebounds and five assists with 4/6 three-point shooting.

Ashlee Strawbridge added 19 points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals, Chloe Hodges 17 points, seven steals and four assists, and Georgina Salandra 16 points, four boards, two assists and two steals.

Morgan Yaeger also had 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals, Krystal Thompson 13 points, two boards and two assists, and Coco Hodges eight points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two blocked shots.

Centrals have now lost three straight at 4-13 with Lily Zbierski finishing with nine points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocks with Terran Wright adding eight points, five boards, four assists and two steals, and Georgia Winter seven points and two rebounds.

MONDAY

Woodville Warriors (72) defeated Forestville Eagles (67)

The Woodville Warriors had to win to be any chance of still playing finals and after working hard to get it, they did get their desire with the 72-67 win over the Forestville Eagles to set up a fascinating last round.

The Monday night clash at St Clair Recreation Centre was crucial for both teams with Woodville needing to win to stay in the playoff hunt while Forestville could lock in their spot with a victory.

The Eagles did open up an early eight-point lead but that was back to just two at quarter-time and then Woodville had 16 points to nine in the second term to go into half-time leading 36-31.

That lead for the Warriors got out to as much as 11 points in the fourth frame and they ended up holding out the Eagles for the five-point win that sets up a fascinating final round with a finals spot on the line.

Both teams now hold 9-8 records following the result with Woodville finishing away to the Southern Tigers and Forestville at home to the North Adelaide Rockets this Saturday.

Brittany Hodges delivered 20 points and eight rebounds in the win for the Warriors with Sophie Kerridge adding 13 points, seven steals, six boards and five assists, Ambah Kowcun 12 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists, and Jordan Hunter nine points and five assists.

Jess Simons finished with 26 points, four rebounds and four steals for Forestville with 5/9 three-point shooting while Ella Sawyer contributed 12 points, 11 boards, five assists and three steals, Gabi Vidmar 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals, and Sydney Hunter 10 points and 10 boards.