Central Recap | Round 10 Saturday

By Tristan Prentice for NBL1.com.au

Feature images supplied via NBL1.com.au /  Dan Cowley | @imagesby_dan

Round 10 of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central saw some of the most important wins of the season garnered by sides as they look to either keep in touch with the five or fall back into the pack - there was Razzle, Razz and Roll throughout the night including some of the games of the season.  

Here are the results of Saturday games:

Simons Sister act from Eagles soars over Eastern             

The Forestville Eagles soared to their win eventually but not before the Eastern Mavericks hung around for a half - The Simons sisters soaring the Eagles to a 76-48 win at the Nest at the State Basketball Centre

The Mavs hung hard early with a young core of Daisy Hocking (Six points, three assists and rebounds) and ex Eagle Bella Schaftenaar (Career high 12 points and three rebounds - also playing against her father coaching for the Eagles) in the first term to have the lead at the first break 16-19.

The Eagles struck back through the Simons sisters but Aspen Williston (Eight points and rebounds) kept the Mavs in touch at the half 38-37. The second half was a different story as the Eagles lifted to a level the Mavs couldn’t climb to pilling on 39-12 in the second half with Ella Sawyer (Nine points, four assists and rebounds), Rachel King (nine points and rebounds and three assists) and Jemma Tredrea (a handy ten points and six rebounds) keeping the margin climbing.

Both Sam and Jess were instrumental in a one two wing attack with Sam Simons gathering 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three rebounds and two blocks while Jess Simons dropped 20 points, five rebounds and two assists and steals. 

       

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 76 (S Simons 25, J Simons 20, Tredrea 10)

EASTERN MAVERICKS 48 (Schaftenaar 12, Williston 8, D Hocking, Ramsey, Watkinson 6)

 

Razzle Dazzle Brazel holds off tenacious Lions           

Celebrating a WNBL return - Tayla Brazel showed off exactly a glimpse of what her return best could be in a lightning performance to strike the Sturt Sabres over a plucky and tenacious Central Districts Lions team 72-84 at the Den.    

The Sabres got the jump through Sydney Mech (Nine points and four assists) and Katia Stamatelopoulos (16 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, three assists and steals) before the Lions jumped back into it through Tiahna Sears and Sydney Wright (10 points, three assists and rebounds) but the Sabres finished the term the better out 19-29 after one. 

Brazel began her impact in the second hitting the scoreboard and causing headaches for the Lions striking them in from beyond as the Sabres rattled off an impressive six triples to give them a 36-55 lead you thought going into halftime - but Hayley Saurette (17 points and five rebounds) had other ideas…

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Brazel pushed the margin out to as many as 19 but that’s when the Lions made their move through Shanique Lucas (10 points, seven assists and rebounds and five steals) and Sears (22 points, 16 rebounds and three assist) as they closed it to 59-65 with the tenth placed team in with a sniff. They were snuffed out in the final quarter by Brazel as her drives and fifth triple of the night edged the Sabres in front - but the Lions for the season they have had were gallant in defeat. 

Brazel showed the powerhouse she was before her long term injury in ominous signs for the opposition with 24 points in 15 minutes of lightning action… 

      

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 72 (Sears 22, Saurette 17, Lucas, Wright 10)

STURT SABRES 84 (Brazel 24, Stamatelopolous 16, Mech 9)

Rockets hold home launch pad at Lights from Warriors assault        

In one of the games of the season as fourth took on fifth to separate the table - the stars came to play and a new face emerged in a thrilling encounter won by the home North Adelaide Rockets 90-88 over the Woodville Warriors at the Lights. 

Minus Basham again - In her first start for her club Abbey Jones made an impression early of the work she’s done this season along with Tayla Corrigan as they had nine points combined in the opening term - dished up by master chef Lauren Mansfield. Corrigan denied Laura Erikstrip passageway to the basket three times to set up a 17-16 lead. The Warriors, a little loose from outside, found their mark as Erin Phillips (Seven points, four assists and rebounds), Ida Andersson (12 points) and Ambah Kowcun (Six points and four rebounds) pulled the trigger twice to give them a 22-32 at the first quarter buzzer. 

The Rockets relaunched with a 13-6 run through Jordyn Freer and Sarah Warner (Eight points) with some quick hits from outside to level it all back up. The floodgates were opened without much defence played before Lauren Mansfield found her stroke from outside 50-49 at the half.

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The third term swung back the way of the Warriors thanks to a huge haul in the term from import Erikstrup as she engaged record territory with 20 points in the term (matching Ally Wilson of the Norwood Flames in 2023) for a 15-25 term and seizing the lead back for the dark green and gold 65-74 heading for home.

The last term was everything you could ask for as the stars Jasmin Fejo, Mollie McKendrick (14 points, 11 assists and six rebounds), Mansfield and Naomi Allotey (Nine points, eight rebounds and three assists)  went to work at both ends of the floor but it was the timely first starter in Jones who finished with an ultra impressive 14 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and four assists in the finish that was influential as Kowcun missed a couple of late attempts to close out the win - the Rockets stealing it late in one of the thrillers of the season. 

There were heroes everywhere for both sides who’ll take plenty from the contest - Fejo flurried late again to finish with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists while Jordyn Freer came to life after quarter time with 28 points and nine rebounds. Laura Erikstrup finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds after an incredible third term and Mansfield continued her tracking north with 16 points, seven assists and three rebounds.    

NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 90 (J Freer 28, Mansfield 16, McKendrick 14)

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 88 (Erikstrup 26, Fejo 20, Andersson 12)

 

Flames hold firm as Tigers storm back              

The Norwood Flames held firm as the Southern Tigers stormed back late at the Cage to claim a crucial 73-77 road win down in Morphett Vale. 

The Tigers got out to the early slight lead, barging their way to the rim but the Flames began to light up from outside to open up a small lead at the quarter time break 17-22. Ke’shunan James continued to push the tempo towards the away side but Iva Belosevic (17 points and eight rebounds) and Annie Bartsch (15 points and eight rebounds) worked the Tigers back into it to keep it close 34-38 at the half.

James was wrecking ball early in the third spinning and wheeling to the basket and found some help from a career high from Caitlin Shillabeer (15 points) as well as service of substance from Amanda Paschal - as delivered a dagger in three quarter time to give the Flames a handy 45-59 lead with one to play in the low scoring tussle at the Cage. 

It opened right up from the tip off the fourth as the Tigers comeback was one led by McKenzie Johnston (12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists - narrowly missing a triple double again) from mid-range, Tara Dodman (13 points and seven rebounds) and young Charlotte Southam-Clark (Six points and 12 rebounds) as they amassed their highest quarter of the season of 28 points but couldn’t quite hunt down the margin the Flames had established in the conclusion. James set up the Flames for the win in the third with 19 points, six assists and five steals along with Paschal grabbing 19 points, eight rebounds and two assists. 

                     

SOUTHERN TIGERS 73 (Belosevic 17, Bartsch 15, Johnston 12)

NORWOOD FLAMES 77 (KJ James, Paschal 19, Shillabeer 15, Kerridge 9)

 

Baby Bearcats bounce back to run over Panthers             

The younger cubs of the Bearcats helped West Adelaide bounce back after a huge deficit in the first half to over run the South Adelaide Panthers 87-73 at the Bearcat Cave in Port Adelaide. 

A collective effort from the pack of Panthers gained them as many as a 22 point lead as they shared around the pain on the homeside - quelling their former player in Olivia Levicki and Hannah Gardiner putting them up 22-44. The niece of a Lightning legend in Sienna Lehmann and another Sienna in Grieger drew the margin back to 39-52 at the half. 

The “Baby” Bearcats cubs were starting to purr in the third but it took to the fourth to really get roaring as Lehamann, Grieger and Krystal Thompson formed a dangerous triple threat leaving the Panthers in their wake. The 32-10 final term was telling as the Panthers ran out of offensive impetus and the Bearcats cubs with a 14-3 final few minutes to close out the comeback win. 

In a tale of the next generation - the game was dominated by stars of the future and now in Sienna Lehmann with 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals, Sienna Grieger with 13 points and four rebounds and Krystal Thompson off the pine for 16 points and four assists. Both Gardiner sisters for South combined for 30 points to finish with Hannah on 16 points and seven rebounds and Kiera on 14 points, four rebounds, three blocks and steals.

                     

Both teams go at it again this Sunday as they take on the Central Districts Lions and the Forestville Eagles in their double header weekend - catch the action of Kayo Sports Freebies via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App from 1:30pm ACDT. 

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 87 (Lehmann 19, K Thompson 16, Grieger 13)

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 73 (H Gardiner 16, K Gardiner 14, Stratford 11)

Eagles exact revenge eventually seeing off Mavericks            

The Forestville Eagles exacted their revenge of their only loss of the season by eventually seeing off the Eastern Mavericks 93-67 in the second half at the Nest at the State Basketball Centre.   

Minus Dejan Vasiljevic the other DJ (12 points in the opening term) got the scoreboard spinning with a nice quintessential start to the contest with turnaround jumpers and fadeaways but the Mavs kept touch through Dom Jackson and BJ Symons staying in touch 28-24 after the first change.

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The Eagles found flight from there via last round hero Greg Mays and Jordan Wilson (11 points and three rebounds) with quick points again - Jackson (25 points and five rebounds) and Symons (26 points, three assists and rebounds) trying to keep the Mavs in it but trailed by 48-37 at the main break. 

Freddy Webb (Six assists) began to thread a few passes to some cutting Mavs but the Eagles kept finding answers as they pushed it out beyond twenty in the third with Mays (17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks) taking to the air multiple times with the Mavs only down 69-52 with one to play. 

Unlike last time there would be no comeback or plethora of points with the Eagles closing it out through their core unit to take a comfortable victory. Daniel Johnson finished with another set of numbers in 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists along with Alex Starling who was consistent throughout the evening with 12 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists.

    

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 93 (D Johnson 22, Mays 17, Starling 12)

EASTERN MAVERICKS 67 (Symons 26, D Jackson 25)

 

Lions come alive in second half to see of Sabres           

The Central Districts Lions achieved a rare double for them winning two against the Sturt Sabres in a season seeing them off in the second half 109-86 at the Den. 

The Lions got off to a 5-0 before Ben Griscti came down main street for the one handed throwdown to open the Sabres scoring, Sharif Black (14 points and five rebounds with three assists) resumed his touch and Jack Stanwix finding points and putback slams but the Sabres took control in the latter part of the quarter through their star shooter 25-29 one down.

Both teams playing similar style continued to put on a highly entertaining affair as Stanwix continued to keep it ticking over while Jordan Forbes (23 points, nine assists with seven rebounds) kept his numbers in check. Deng Manyang (13 points and four rebounds) made some impact and Koen Sapwell sliced the margin back slightly but the Sabres held the lead after two terms but had lost in form guard Sam Daly to a suspected achilles injury 47-49. 

The Lions got it underway in the third through their athletic centre Efe Abogidi with consecutive slams at the summit which brought the Lions to life as they started to run the gauntlet against the Sabres and the scoreboard. Mangok Manyang got in on the act also as they took control 74-64 with one to go. 

It was another successful close out for the contenders in 2025 as they piled on 35 points in the final term but not before the Sabres through Griscti (25 points and 14 rebounds) cutting it close to single digits with Stanwix in his best outing of the season and Mangok Manyang closing proceedings with a huge rejection and a rare double in the season against a long time dominant rival. 

Stanwix had his best match of the season with 24 points, five rebounds and four assists and along with Koen Sapwell producing 23 points, nine assists, five rebounds with four steals led the way for the Lions in the first half keeping them in touch with the Sabres. The dangerous athletic combo of Abogidi with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Mangok Manyang’s best numbers of the season of 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in the second half was essential as well.

      

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 109 (Stanwix 24, Ko Sapwell 23, M Manyang 13)

STURT SABRES 86 (Griscti 25, Forbes 23, Black 14)

 

First half flood from Warriors seals result against Rockets           

Sometimes in matches you can eat away at a deficit in the second half but a polished Woodville Warriors first half flood sealed the result against the North Adelaide Rockets in the first twenty with a 60-82 win at the Lights. 

It was a disaster start for the homeside as the Warriors wound up an 0-11 start and were never headed in the half. Joe Jackson (12 points and seven rebounds) did the damage early but quickly had it followed up by in form Nick Wurm who beat the horn on the halftime to leave it an eye scratching 16-48 at the halftime interval. 

Imploring a response - the Rockets came out of halftime with some spirit as they got back to playing above the rim and inside the paint to take the third term 27-13 thanks to Bijan Johnson (15 points, four assists and three rebounds) finding points and Koop McCalop and Machar Machar with a pair of nine point and 10 rebounds closing it to around 14 points but ending the third term 43-61 the margin.               

It took three minutes at the start of the fourth to close out the result officially as two father and son combinations took the court together for the first time in a good news story of the night in Zach De Wit and debutant Kurt Whitmore with his first points in NBL1 Central closing out the night. Wurm was willing all night for the Warriors with 23 points, five rebounds and steals with four assists.

    

NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 60 (BJ Johnson 15, Machar, McCalop 9, Sangster 8)

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 82 (Wurm 23, Jackson 12, Sloan, Troussel 10)

 

Jarvis’s motor Tigers to within striking distance of Five over Flames          

A pair of Jarvis’s in Doles and Summers were the catalysts as the Southern Tigers motored their way to within striking distance of the top five with a strong second half 82-67 over the Norwood Flames at the Cage. 

Riley Harrap continued a rich vein of form to start things off for the Flames but Harry Morris (10 points, five assists and rebounds with three steals) heated up as well for the Tigers in a tight opening term. In a table defining match Summers brought winter quickly on the Flames but Cooper Osborne (12 points, seven rebounds and three assists) kept the away side in touch with a nice opening term of 28-24 in favour of the yellow and black. 

Lem Ajith (12 point and five rebounds) piled the pain on last time in a career outing earlier in the season woke the ghost of basketball past with some quick makes but Aydan Janssen (10 points and rebounds) and Harrap’s (27 points) last attempt kept the Flames up to the pace as it left it 41-39 at the main interval. 

That’s when the rains came for Summers and Doles as they combined in a dynamic one two punch to land the knockout blows to the Flames with euros and outside splashes to give them the head start heading into the fourth 62-53. 

They both kept it from falling the way of the Tigers as they helped their side take the crucial mid table points in the wrap up of the contest - closing it with an Ajith hammer. Summers best outing of the season consisted of 22 points, nine assists, six rebounds while Doles paired another double double of 18 points, 11 rebounds and steals.

       

SOUTHERN TIGERS 82 (Summers 22, Doles 18, Ajith 12)

NORWOOD FLAMES 67 (Harrap 27, Osborne 12, A Janssen 10)

 

Keanu and Cannon return serve at South for fiery win           

The rise of Keanu Rasmussen and a timely return from recently signed Perth Wildcat Cameron Huefner bookmarked the return serve of the West Adelaide Bearcats over the South Adelaide Panthers 97-89 at the Bearcat Cave in Port Adelaide.

The Panthers pushed off the blocks to get the running start through imports Christian Brandon (10 points and five rebounds with three blocks) and Kaleb Warner but Rasmussen reeled off a few hits from outside to answer in response. The Panthers took the early heading with a 17-23 lead after one.

The second term saw the entertainment stakes rise with Lat Mayen (11 points and 12 rebounds) getting on the move as did Lloyd McVeigh but Warner was the one to keep it rolling for the away side. In his first outing in the league after a college finish with the Sam Houston University Bearkats - the colours seemed to suit the incoming Perth Wildcat rookie as Cameron “Cannon” Huefner poured in a few catch and shoot triples from deep a trademark of his junior game to keep the home side just behind 45-47 at the half.

Huefner’s third triple (16 points and 10 rebounds) opened the third along with Rasmussen and Jacob Tryon pushed the pace for the Bearcats were also ably assisted by Jimma Dau (11 points, five rebounds and three assists). Jarryd Hoppo (Eight assists) and long time mate Curtis Scott (13 points and four assists) combined for more needed from the Panthers closing it to 73-66 with one to go. 

Rasmussen got off the chain in the fourth to keep momentum the way of the black and red as he reeled off an impressive seven points but the Panthers despite some late baskets kept it interesting. Tryon then took toll late as did Sean Stock with some late triples to give them the table raising win. 

Keanu Rasmussen produced another stellar late match performance to finish with 28 points with five triples, eight assists and six rebounds and was well supported by the second half haul of Tryon with 18 points and eight assists. Kaleb Warner threw flame after flame from deep with fie triples of his own to complete back to back impactful matches with 27 points, six rebounds, three assists and steals.

               

Both teams go at it again this Sunday as they take on the Central Districts Lions and the Forestville Eagles in their double header weekend - catch the action of Kayo Sports Freebies via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App from 3:15pm ACDT.

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 97 (Rasmussen 28, Tryon 18, Huefner 16)

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 89 (Warner 27, Scott 13, Brandon, D Smith 10)

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