Central Recap | Round 3 Friday

Feature images supplied via NBL1.com.au / @Just B Photography   

Round 3 of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central opened with the home side throwing their best shots at two of the leading contenders in 2025 - with one just missing the final blow and the other one running into the “one” 

And yet another individual record tumbled in the results of Friday night’s games:

Record glass for Levicki ultimately downs Hinton haul from Flames      

The Norwood Flames did everything but fall across the line as the West Adelaide Bearcats survived a scare at the Firedome of the ARC Campbelltown 72-75. 

The Flames got off to an 8-0 start thanks to New Zealand recruit Laura Tewhata but the Bearcats Olivia Levicki turned the momentum with a quick fire set of points to make it 19-17 at quarter time.  

The Flames poured into their defence through Emily Saunders (14 points and 15 rebounds) as they held a 26-19 lead playing the passing lanes sneaking up on the Bearcats from behind and snaring the possession back for the home side.

A 15-3 run was quickly chipped into by Sienna Lehmann (16 points and four rebounds) as the away side brought it back to 34-26 with 3:09 remaining in the second.

Both teams traded blows with the Flames holding firm at half time 41-33. Levicki looked like the game breaker with 13 points and 17 rebounds at the main change.

The Bearcats defensive intensity increased at the half as they held the Flames scoreless for 3:35 with Maddy Hinton and import Amanda Paschal triples before the latter interrupted the Bearcats broadcasting.

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Levicki shortly made two athletic jumpers then a powerful drive for a 6-0 run of her own but Hinton hit back to back triples edging the Flames back in front 56-55 with one to play.

Hinton opened the last term with a triple to make it 4 of 5 as the game edged to a much closer conclusion than anticipated.

Quiet most of the game Ashlee Strawbridge helped stretch the lead for the Bearcats before a Hinton massive triple to draw the Flames within striking distance 72-73. 

Saunders had the chance to take the lead but a costly fumble of the rock thanks to the quick hands of Krystal Thompson (10 points, four rebounds, three assists and steals) resulted in Strawbridge making a key free throw as did Coco Hodges - Paschal with a heavily contested triple couldn’t send it to overtime as the Bearcats survived.

Amanda Paschal was a warrior over the four quarters producing 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals and with Maddy Hinton’s second half of 15 points, five rebounds and three assists nearly dragged the Flames across the line. 

The night was however dominated by Olivia Levicki across four quarters as she amassed 23 points, five assists and four steals but her 28 rebounds with 13 offensive boards set a new record in the NBL1 Central passing the 26 rebound mark set by dual Halls medallist Mikayla Williams for the Sturt Sabres against the North Adelaide Rockets in 2023 and Tayla Corrigan for the Rockets in 2022 over the Central Districts Lions.    

NORWOOD FLAMES 72 (Paschal 19, Hinton 15, Saunders 14)

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 75 (Levicki 23, Lehmann 16, Thompson 10)

Keanu ravages Flames in third quarter blitz to bring Bearcats solid win        

Fresh off new fatherhood - Adelaide 36er Keanu Rasmussen ravaged the Norwood Flames in the third term as he steered his West Adelaide Bearcats to a comfortable 66-83 win at the Firedome of the ARC Campbelltown .

The Flames were cooking early through Trey McBride who had the first eight points of the match with a corner triple, free throws and an up top triple to start with the first 10 ending with 13 first quarter points - Rasmussen resumed proceedings from last week with a triple to give the Bearcats their first of the night.

It then became a Friday night lights show as both Anthony Green and Jourdan Smith took to the skies for some hangtime at the hoops.

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Lat Mayen however grabbed a few late to leave it 22-18 after one.

A grind ensued in the second as both teams tested each other out down the floor - but Jimma Dau was rolling in the term with eight points and three rebounds to keep the margin at 37-36 at the main break. 

McBride found his stroke again with some help from Green (double double of 11 points and 10 rebounds and two blocks) who played some solid minutes for the home side but the Sixer himself Rasmussen started to light up as he punched in 10 points in quick succession to give the Bearcats the lead back then continued to deal the pain for the Flames to finish with 16 points for the term to give his side a lead of 49-64 with one left. 

Rasmussen continued to roll over the Flames scoring and setting up his teammates as he fed Staude and Mayen (12 points, nine rebounds and five assists) for multiple looks and the Flames looked in trouble 53-71.

The Flames tried to shoot their way back into it through Darcy McNamara (eight in the last quarter to finish with 14 points) and McBride (20 points, nine rebounds and three blocks) but the Bearcats steadied to close out the contest in solid fashion.

Rasmussen was rolling after halftime as he produced a second half of 23 points with four triples to finish with 35 points, 13 rebounds, five steals and four assists with Dau superb particularly in the first half when scores were tight with 13 points, eight rebounds        

The Bearcats survived a late blast and found the ones when it counted against the Flames  - it's all setup for their Good Friday Blockbusters against the Forestville Eagles next Friday at 4:30pm and 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.