Central Wrap | Women's Round 15

Featured image: Melissa Belanic | @justbphotoau

The West Adelaide Bearcats had a 36-point fourth quarter to end the NBL1 Central regular season beating the Sturt Sabres while the championship defence is over for the Woodville with the Forestville Eagles guaranteeing their finals position.

>> CENTRAL SPOTLIGHT | BEARCATS FIRE LATE IN BATTLE OF TOP TEAMS

Southern Tigers (79) defeated Woodville Warriors (69)

The Woodville Warriors still had a chance to defend their championship and make the finals with a but it wasn’t to be with the Southern Tigers prevailing with Mollie McKendrick and Jhaz Joson combining for 48 points and 10 rebounds.

Coming into the last round match up and the Warriors took on the Tigers at Morphett Vale Basketball Stadium and to be any hope of defending their championship still, Woodville had to win.

They also needed to hope the Forestville Eagles lost at the same time but first things first and they had to take care of business, and they were leading by three points at quarter-time.

Scores were then all level by half-time before the Tigers took over in the second half opening up a 10-point lead on the way to the eventual 79-69 victory.

The result sees the Tigers end their season with a 7-11 record having snapped a four-game losing slide with Mollie McKendrick finishing with 24 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals on 9/12 field goal shooting.

Jhaz Johnson added 24 points and three rebounds, Annelise Bartsch 18 points, five boards, four steals and three assists, and Lilli Heijkoop eight points and eight rebounds.

The championship defence of Woodville is now officially over with the loss that sees them finish sixth at 9-9 with Brittany Hodges producing 18 points and 11 rebounds on 8/12 field goal shooting.

Naomi Allotey added 16 points, four rebounds and two steals, Jordan Hunter 15 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, Sophie Kerridge 10 points, seven boards, six assists and four steals, and Ambah Kowcun nine points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Sturt Sabres (56) lost to West Adelaide Bearcats (77)

It was a dead rubber to close the regular season but the Sturt Sabres led by Tayla Brazel limited the regular season champs to 41 points in three quarters before the West Adelaide Bearcats had 36 in the last term to win 77-56.

Coming into the final round match up at Springbank Secondary College and West Adelaide had locked away top spot and Sturt were secure in second so at least in terms of the standings, nothing could be impacted by the result.

That didn’t mean that both teams didn’t want to get a win over a team that there is every chance they are going to face again at some point during the finals but they only combined for 48 points on 20/64 shooting in the first half.

Sturt were then leading 45-41 by three quarter-time with Brazel having 16 of those points, but then it was all West Adelaide with 36 points to 11 in the last term to show why they have been the standout team all season to win by 21.

West Adelaide now finish the regular season three games clear on top at 17-1 with Sturt remaining second at 14-4.

Morgan Yaeger was a big reason for West Adelaide's big finish to end up with 20 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals with 4/7 three-point shooting.

Alex Ciabattoni also had 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals, Chloe Hodges 16 points, 10 boards, six steals and three assists, and Coco Hodges 11 points, six rebounds and three steals.

Tayla Brazel had another standout performance despite the end result for the Sabres with 21 points, eight rebounds and three steals with 10/19 field goal shooting.

Paige Padroth added 11 points, three rebounds and two steals, and Zoe Walker-Roberts six points and four boards.

Eastern Mavericks (63) lost to South Adelaide Panthers (86)

The South Adelaide Panthers will enter the finals on a four-game winning streak but it did take until the fourth quarter for them to take control for the eventual 86-63 win over Eastern Mavericks.

The Mavs were back home at St Francis de Sales Community Sports Centre just trying to take something out of the season having lost their past 15 matches while the Panthers still needed to win to guarantee a home elimination final.

For three quarters it proved a tight contest with the Mavericks even managing to lead for the majority of the first half even though it was South Adelaide on top 38-34 by half-time.

It was then still a four-point game by three quarter-time but then the Panthers took over with 29 points to 10 in the last term on the way to the 23-point victory to finish the regular season at 11-7 having won four straight.

South Adelaide will now host the Forestville Eagles in an elimination final on Saturday night while the Mavericks end their season at 1-17 having lost the last 16 matches.

Bianca Stasinwosky top scored for the Panthers with 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocks with Aimee Brett adding 16 points and six boards, Keira Gardiner 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals, and Hannah Gardiner 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Bella Stratford also had 11 points and three rebounds with 2/3 shooting from the outside, and Hannah Stewart 10 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Madi Torresin top scored with 13 points and nine rebounds for the Mavs showing what could have been possible from her had she been here the whole season as a proven player around the country as an import in the NBL1.

Antigonie Sanabria also had 11 points, six rebounds and two assists, Bella Schaftenaar nine points, six boards, four assists and three steals, Annaliese Watkinson eight points and two assists, and Airlie Ramsey eight points.

Forestville Eagles (72) defeated North Adelaide Rockets (60)

The Forestville Eagles gave themselves a chance at a home final should other results fall their way on the final night of the regular season by beating the North Adelaide Rockets 72-60.

The Eagles were hosting the Rockets to close the regular season at the State Basketball Centre knowing that should they win and South Adelaide lost to the Eastern Mavericks that they would move up to fourth position and earn a home elimination final.

So that gave them plenty to play for coming into the match up but North Adelaide also wanted to end their season on a high and were leading by two points at quarter-time before it was Forestville up by six at the half.

The Eagles then had 20 points to 12 in the fourth quarter to secure the 12-point win to end the regular season at 10-8 but they stay in fifth place with South Adelaide's win who they now take on this Saturday in an elimination final.

Sydney Hunter top scored for Forestville with 23 points, 11 rebounds and three assists with Sarah Boothe adding 17 points, 10 boards, seven assists, four blocked shots and three steals.

Ella Sawyer added 13 points, seven rebound and three assists, Jess Simons 11 points and six assists, and Gabi Vidmar eight points, six steals, three rebounds and two assists.

North Adelaide end their season at 5-13 having lost their last two matches with Maddy Freer ending up with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Lauren Mansfield also had 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists with 4/7 shooting from the outside with Sarah Warner contributing nine points and three boards, and Jordyn Freer seven points and four rebounds.

Central Districts Lions (75) lost to Norwood Flames (100)

The Norwood Flames geared up for the finals with a dominant 100-75 road win over the Central Districts Lions with Maddy Hinton and Cali Clark combining for 44 points, 20 rebounds and eight assists.

Norwood came into the last round match up locked into third position ahead of hosting the out of contention Lions at STARplex.

The Flames started on fire with 35 points to 17 in the first quarter before then continued to build on that to be leading by 20 at half-time, 18 at three quarter-time and to end up winning by 25 in the finish.

Norwood now finish the regular season in third at 12-6 ahead of taking on the Sturt Sabres in a qualifying final on Saturday with Maddy Hinton producing 24 points, five rebounds and four assists with 3/4 shooting from the outside.

Cali Clark added 20 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks, Ally Becki 13 points, eight assists and four boards, Amy Cotton 10 points, two rebounds and two assists, Ella Turnbull nine points on 2/2 three-point shooting, and Lara Gribben six points and 10 rebounds.

Central Districts end their season at 4-14 losing the last four games with Tiahna Sears producing 24 points, five assists and two steals, Jewel Watkins 20 points, five boards and three assists, and Alana Howden 15 point, seven assists, three steals and two rebounds.