Central Recap | Round 10 Sunday

By Tristan Prentice for NBL1.com.au

Feature images supplied via NBL1.com.au /  Melissa Belanic | @justbphotoau

Round 10 of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central concluded with four tough encounters that helped us prove once again, who’s contending, who’s hanging on and who’s precariously perched…  

Here are the results of Sunday’s games:

Last lap Panthers just pip Lions at the post at the Park             

The South Adelaide Panthers somehow ended with more gas in the tank as they outlasted the Central District Lions on the final lap 83-81 at the Jungle at Mitchell Park.  

Keira Gardiner (15 points, seven rebounds with three steals) grabbed the opener before Shanique Lucas (15 points, eight rebounds and four assists) and Bella Stratford made triples for their sides respectively. Lucas already showed quick hands giving the Lions the early lead 7-11. Darcy Rees back for the first time since their last meeting against the Lions making an early impression on the scorecard in her return. 

Tiahna Sears gathered five in a row to get the Lions out further with Hayley Saurette bullocking her way through to create opportunities for the home side. The Panthers Hannah Gardiner (10 points, six rebounds and three assists) however was literally running the gauntlet coast to coast with space for some scores for her as the Lions took a slender lead 17-21 after one term    

Haylee Saurette and Hannah Stewart traded blows from outside, Stasinwosky entering the game to make a couple of big triples and a huge block shot on the base. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NBL1 (@nbl1)

The response came from Sears and a huge triple from April Rummery-Lamb to get it back out to double digits 28-38. 

Bank was open on a Sunday as Lucas with no time on the dial dropped it in from long range off the window - a Ash Spencer triple (Seven points, eight rebounds and four assists) though cut the margin back to 32-44. Freezing her opponent on the stepback Wright drained another triple - but the big centre in Rees returned at the back end of the second term to push it back to a 40-49 margin at the long break.

Rees started the second half off the back of her impact - Lucas hitting a quick triple again and also bought some points at the charity stripe through Sydney Wright who then made a triple to take it to 50-63 and keep the aways side just in front. Stasinowsky (16 points and three rebounds) continued to get downhill to create for the home side and cut it back to 59-65 with one to play.

Lucas fed Saurette (10 points, five rebounds and three assists) under the hoop for a reverse layup to open the final term as the skipper in Sydney dropped a quick five points then answered by Stasinowsky with a careless turnover forcing timeout to the Lions 68-73. Stasinowsky continued to wreak havoc late as the Panthers continued to charge but Wright (25 points, eight assists and three rebounds) on the left hand stutter step drained another shot but Rees (Six late points to finish with 12 points and nine rebounds on return) put the Panthers in front. 

Sears tied it again from the corner then April Rummery-Lamb (11 points and seven rebounds) bustled her way to the bucket to put the Lions back in front by two. 79-79 was forced again by Stewart (Seven points, three steals and rebounds) with Bella Stratford attacking Wright in foul trouble with a contested layup 81-79. 

The Lions had the chance but lost balls off sloppy play but then nearly regained it off the following foray for the Panthers. A free throw to Stratford (14 points and nine rebounds) made it 83-81 - the Lions a last possession to send to overtime or gain victory. Sears (17 points and eight rebounds with two blocks) had the ball in the corner but couldn’t get the shot away as the Panthers won possession back and held on by the skin of their teeth in the conclusion to a grinding final term.              

The Panthers had their noses in front at the finishing post today - Find out if its season defining when they take on the Sturt Sabres next Saturday 6:00pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.   

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 83 (Stasinowsky 16, K Gardiner 15, Stratford 14)

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 81 (Wright 25, Lucas, Sears 15)

 

Sam Simons slams split in place for Eagles over Bearcats          

Individual brilliance and a star display from Sam Simons saw the Forestville Eagles slam the split shut on the West Adelaide Bearcats in the Kayo Freebies Game of the Week 80-54. In convincing fashion at the Nest at the State Basketball Centre the start was scintillating in a championship contending count in the right column.    

An 11-4 start to the Eagles was highlighted by Sam Simons early as some outside shooting from Ashlee Strawbridge (12 points) in answer for the Bearcats saw both teams trade tres. Sister Jess Simons (11 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals) made five in a row to extend the margin to 24-18 at the first change. 

The Simons found some support from Ella Ogier (8 points for the half) as the former Tiger teammate from Melbourne caused all sorts of issues for the Bearcats who looked flat after a tough effort the previous night. They did however give a yelp as the young core of Krystal Thompson (Seven points) and Chloe Hodges (Nine points and eight rebounds) brought the margin back to 45-33 at the half.                  

It got tough for the away side in the third as the Eagles kept flying basket after basket at them via Ella Sawyer, Rachel King (11 points, five assists, four rebounds with three steals) and Sam Simons again with the nine in the term as the gold and blues chased after the split result taking the front 64-41 with one to play - the Bearcats with plenty to play for with the head to head still on the line.

The Eagles with that air of determination continued to soar to as many as 31 points with Sienna Grieger’s late triple to beat the buzzer not enough to concede it to the home side in an important head to head win for the season ahead in the finish. 

Footlocker Player of the Game Sam Simons shared about the difference between their win today and the result that went the wrong way back in Round 4 of the league. “I think we are a different team (to Round 4) - we got going late at the start of the season but really focused on our defence today.” she shared with the GOTW team. Ella Sawyer produced 16 points and 11 rebounds with four assists and was praised by Simons for her elevation in her game. “She’s the glue to our team and I think she’s the best point guard in the league no doubt - she’s that player you want on your team not against you.”    

The Eagles take a huge split and scalp to move to the top of the table with the team they’ve just soared over - Find out if they can maintain their current course when they take on the Woodville Warriors next Saturday 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.  

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 80 (S Simons 29, Sawyer 16, King, J Simons 11)

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 54 (Grieger, Levicki, Strawbridge 12)

Abogidi avalanche buries Panthers in Park first for Lions            

The Central Districts Lions won their first ever game at Mitchell Park whilst also snapping a three game home streak for the South Adelaide Panthers against them since 2019 with a championship contending 91-103 win at the Jungle.     

Christian Brandon and Efe Abogidi a much anticipated match up went head to head in the opening minutes with Abogidi scoring the first nine before Brandon launched for the one handed jam. Koen Sapwell knocked down some big shots to give the Lions the lead but Curtis Scott (15 points) crossovers and cuts mesmerized the opposition to cut it back to 21-24. 

Warner (16 points, five rebounds and four steals) found the open triples again like the previous night then Jarryd Hoppo (Eight points, six rebounds and four assists) in his 100th match beat the hooter to give the Panthers the lead with a 29-27 edge on the Lions. 

Scott showed his great bag of tricks from beyond and with ball in hand as Abogidi, Koen Sapwell and Magok Manyang (11 points, four rebounds and three assists) splashed a few more from deep. Consecutive plays from Abogidi and a putback two-hander from Jack Stanwix steered momentum the Lions way 37-41. 

Stanwix produced the potent spin move to add another deuce, Clayton Jewell (eight points and rebounds) thought he had the easy one on one but Brandon (24 points and 12 rebounds) came from the clouds once again to spike it away with authority. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NBL1 (@nbl1)

Abogidi (23 points at the half) found mismatches in the post to bring up his 20th of the match then Kevin Baker beat the buzzer again to make it a 48-54 lead the Lions away from home at the half. 

Abogidi picked up where he left off in the first half with more individual brilliance followed up by Koen Sapwell again from outside. Brandon kept it ticking over for the Panthers but little moments saw the Lions continue to hold court through Stanwix and Abogidi. The 12-20 third quarter was shut with another late buzzer beater to Stanwix (14 points, five assists with four rebounds) as the Lions held a 60-79 lead heading to the last looking for their first win at Mitchell Park in their history.

Stanwix opened the shoulders again in the final term with Lloyd McVeigh (16 points and three rebounds) trying to lift the home side any way he could. Abogidi continued to magnetise the ball to his grasp while Jewell delivered another block out of bounds - McVeigh continued to make some key plays to push momentum back the Panthers way but the Lions still held sway 68-87. Koen Sapwell finished off the historic win with a couple of big bombs and the Lions. 

Efe Abogidi produced undoubtedly his premier performance of the season with a monster 30 points and 20 rebounds with the skipper Koen Sapwell continuously answering the call of his club for 19 points with four triples.

        

The Lions leap four games clear of third with a firm grasp on a top two finish - Find out if they can hold their current position when they take on the North Adelaide Rockets next Saturday 8:15pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.  

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 91 (Brandon 24, L McVeigh, Warner 16, Scott 15)

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 103 (Abogidi 30, Koen Sapwell 19, Stanwix 14)

 

Mays and Eagles overhaul Bearcats again to stay top            

The Forestville Eagles after a tight opening term were too crisp, too connected and too in sync as they overhauled the West Adelaide Bearcats for a second consecutive match 100-69 in the Kayo Freebies Game of the Week. The match at the Nest at the State Basketball Centre was earmarked by a 12-0 start to the Eagles who well and truly took flight from the first buzzer. The Bearcats fought back to make it interesting in the next five minutes through Cameron Huefner (who poured 21 points in his last visit for the Norwood Flames back in 2022) as the Wildca brought the Bearcats back to a 28-25 quarter time buffer.

It was procession from there as the Eagles took completely over with a devastating 72-33 three terms led by the ever present Greg Mays with 24 points and 12 rebounds, a vintage allround Alex Starling performance with 18 points, 15 rebounds and six assists with Daniel Johnson compiling another quietly efficient 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NBL1 (@nbl1)

Plenty of Eagles role players enjoyed their afternoon with Owen Hulland lighting up for eight points, Lee Manolakos grabbing some more points in valuable time and Mack Schaftenaar collecting his first points in league time. 

Footlocker player of the game Greg Mays spoke about the challenge to himself each season and how he maintains his and his team's consistency throughout the season and is getting better. “I’m staying in the gym everyday and getting consistent every single day - we are taking it game by game.” he shared with the GOTW team. Mays acknowledged his ability to increase his athletic nature is down to the same tried and true method, “I have stayed in the gym to be able to stay up there with the others.”

The Eagles saw off another contender with contention and control - Find out if they can continue to stay above the level when they take on the Woodville Warriors next Saturday 8:15pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.  

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 100 (Mays 24, D Johnson, Starling 18, Doyle 12)

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 69 (Huefner 16, Tryon 12, Mayen 11)

Watch the NBL1 Live & Free on NBL1.com.au, NBL1 App and Kayo Sports Freebies.