Central Recap | Round 3 Saturday

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

Round 3 of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central continued with consistency the call as teams expected to turn in results did so but one game took it right to the wire as a Tiger of old beat the buzzer to keep their streak against their southern area neighbours alive… 

Here are the results of Saturday night’s games:

Tahlia turns in career high over South to keep Sabres unbeaten        

The Sturt Sabres have started their season with three in a row after another solid outing of 56-67 over the plucky South Adelaide Panthers at the Jungle of Mitchell Park.

Missing Tayla Brazel still and Zoe Walker-Roberts from the starting five - sister Mia was given the start but Panther Bianca Stasinowsky (11 points, four assists with three rebounds) added some triples early to give them the lead 15-13 at the end of the first. 

The grind was on from the second term however as the Sabres made life very tough for the home side led by Paige Padroth and her quick hands (eight points and seven steals for the match) as the Sabres snuck in front 24-30 at the main break.

In a game that sums up basketball currently after the grind came the flood as both teams poured in seven triples in the third term with the Panthers Ash “Cash" Spencer (18 points and seven rebounds)  and rising forward Hannah Gardiner (double double of 10 points and 12 rebounds) dropping two each while Nicola Mathews (nine points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals) nailed two and Chelsea Portus one (with her third game in a row in double figures with 10 points for the match) - Sabres up 43-50 at the end of the third. 

The Sabres however in the fourth led by Katia Stamatelopoulos with eight points in the final term closed the contest out in typical club fashion to leave them undefeated after three outings. 

Stamatelopolous strung together 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists with four steals while vastly rapidly rising centre Tahlia Griffths grabbed a career high 17 points at 66 percent along with nine rebounds with six players scoring eight or more for the Sabres. The Panther's Bella Stratford was consistent also through four quarters with 12 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.

  

The Sabres are swinging at the top of the tree - can they make it four in a row at the Firedome against the Norwood Flames??? Find out next Thursday night at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 56 (Spencer 18, Stratford 12, Stasinowsky 11)

STURT SABRES 67 (Griffths 17, Stamatetopolous 15, Portus 10)

Basham buries Lions in lights out performance      

The North Adelaide Rockets also stayed undefeated after three rounds with a consistent 86-65 win over the Central Districts Lions at the Lights.      

Adelaide Lightning guard Brooke Basham was electric all night and unstoppable, lighting her way up to 36 points with six triples at 50 percent from beyond while adding six rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Partner in crime Jordyn Freer also posted 25 points and five rebounds to cause all sorts of headaches for the defending champions down key pieces from their last season. The return of 2023 player Tiahna Sears gave the Lions a boost overall with a solid 15 points and nine rebounds on return but it was captain Sydney Wright (15 points and four assists) and Clare Maree-Hunt (20 points with four triples at 50 percent, six rebounds and three steals) that kept the team competitive all night.

   

NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 86 (Basham 36, J Freer 25, Bails, McKendrick 7)

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 65 (Hunt 20, Sears, Wright 15)

 

Dodman at the death keeps streak alive for Tigers over Mavs     

It was a pulsating Kayo Freebies Game of the Week up at St Francis De Sales as the Southern Tigers kept a ten game winning streak alive against the Eastern Mavericks 73-75 in a thriller. The game also marked a refereeing milestone with Andrew Just bringing up his 450th match for officiating in a presentation made just before play. 

Mavs import Aspen Williston welcomed the Tigers into their cauldron with a huge first up play for the evening

Aspen Williston says NOT IN MY HOUSE ?

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— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 12, 2025

The Tigers were bolstered by import inclusion from SBS Ostrava of the Czech Republic League in Iva Belosevic - off the back of just arriving in the country she strung together 16 first half points for the away side. 

The first half however belonged to the former Tiger herself in Morgan Yaeger as she lit up for 20 first half points with Lou Watkinson 13 points (three triples).

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The second half was marked by the Tigers defensive specialist in Annaliese Bartsch as she went toe-to-toe with her former teammate in Yaeger blanketing her influence and hitting the scoreboard herself with McKenzie Johnston riding her way through the second half - both teams very tightly locked at 59-54 with one to play.  

The Yaeger/Bartsch battle continued with fascinating focus as both teams answered basket for basket but it took a new face in Elli Constantopoulos (nine points and four rebounds) to keep the homeside in front. The Tigers tipped themselves level through Bartsch 66-66 then Johnston put them in front with a balanced jumper. A moment of silence befell the crowd as Yaeger went down clutching her calf but minutes later after subbed - rose off the canvas inspired by teammate Airlie Ramsey draining some big triples down the stretch. 

The last minute was hectic with Yaeger having a shot to edge the Mavs in front with 15 seconds to go - Dodman pulled in a huge rebound to draw the foul and set up the last timeout for coach Daniel Jaunutis with 3.6 seconds remaining.

Dodman received the ball closely checked by Constantopoulos on the 45 right wing - not giving her the open three attempt she’s known for Dodman dribbled around on her right hand and looped up the ball and it kissed off the window into the basket and the Tigers kept their winning streak alive against the Mavs in thrilling fashion.

Mckenzie Johnston across all four quarters was player of the game with 11 second half points to finish with 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists and Bartsch played her role to reliability with 13 points and five rebounds.

The Tigers have one on the board but can they prevent the North Adelaide Rockets lifting to an unbeaten 4-0 start??? Find out next Saturday night at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. 

EASTERN MAVERICKS 73 (Yaeger 25, Watkinson 14, Constantopoulos 9) 

SOUTHERN TIGERS 75 (Johnston 21, Belosevic 16, Bartsch 13)

 

Lions launch for three in a row against Rockets          

The Central Districts Lions made it a perfect three from three as they took over in the final term from a gallant North Adelaide Rockets outfit 73-93 at the Lights. 

It was tight opener as both teams put on a very entertaining start to the match with the Rockets Bijan Johnson launching them from area code distance consistently for 12 opening term points.

The Lions were well paced by guard Jack Stanwix once again as it left his team just in front 22-26 at the first change. 

The Lions took some ascendancy in the second through Efe Abogidi (eight points for the term to finish with 16 points, four triples and 10 rebounds) with Johnson keeping the Rockets in touch 39-51 at the main break. 

Another tight third term was highlighted by enigmatic Koop McCalop (15 points and seven rebounds) with seven points for the term but the Lions held their double digit lead going into the last 57-67.

Joel Dyer (10 points) closed the margin with some big daggers for the home side however the Lions responded with a 7-23 run led by the pine points of Alex Day (eight points), Ayual Garang (nine points) and Stanwix (17 points and seven assists) again as they closed out their third win of the season leaving them tied top of the table after three rounds.

Johnson was the standout for the Rockets with 25 points, five assists and four rebounds but Kevin Baker across the full 40 minutes was outstanding with 19 points with four triples, 12 rebounds and four assists led from the front with four Lions reaching double figures.

   

NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 73 (Johnson 25, McCalop 15, J Dyer 10)

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 93 (Baker 19, Stanwix 17, Abogidi 16)

 

Panther pinch top with solid four quarter effort over Sabres          

The South Adelaide Panthers pinched the top spot after Round Three of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central with a solid four quarter effort against the Sturt Sabres 93-82 at the Jungle at Mitchell Park.   

The Paul Bell led Panthers led from the midway point of the first term by import Christian Brandon with another handy haul of 30 points, 14 rebounds and four assists and skipper Tom Kubank with 24 points and four assists. 

The Sabres rode the hot hand of Sharif Black through the terms with 21 points and eight rebounds with three assists while Patrick D’Arcy saw more minutes for his career high 12 points and three assists in a turn of faith from coach Jason Williams. Sam Daly also collected a handy statline of 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

The Panthers shared it around dishing 22 assists and had ten block shots led by Codey Ellison with three and Smith brothers Dan and Jonty with two.

The Panthers have pinched equal top spot. Can they hold it??? An early top of the table clash is on your watch list as they take on the Central Districts Lions next Easter Thursday night at 8:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.               

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 93 (Brandon 30, Kubank 24, Scott 11)

STURT SABRES 82 (Black 21, S Daly 14, P D’Arcy, Griscti 12) 

 

Solid Symons potent to keep positive record over Tigers       

Another highly entertaining Kayo Freebies Game of the Week saw the Eastern Mavericks looking to back up for two in a row for the first time since their three game winning streak at the start of last season. It took four quarters to shake the Southern Tigers but managed to seal it through forward BJ Symons 83-79 at St Francis De Sales.      

Symons started on a perfect three of three for six opening quarter points as the former Diamond Valley Eagles NBL1 South player showed his potency inside the paint. Not to be outdone Harry Morris also impacted early for the Tigers for seven opening term points leaving it all square at 19-19 a piece. 

Morris continued to push the pace for the away side as the former Illawarra Hawk DP elevated for this finish above the rim…

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The Tigers however kept missing the scout on Owen Raneburg (16 points and four rebounds) as he rained in eight for the half and last week’s saviour Broderick Robinson contributed both on the scoreboard and on the floor as the Tigers took a slender 40-44 lead into the half. 

Symons returned in the third term to rally the Mavs with seven points while NBL1 West Lakeside Lightning recruit Dom Jackson (13 points and 11 rebounds) stepped up with some outside stretch hits for six himself as they quelled the Tigers enthusiasm particularly Morris - Sunday Bol kept them in touch 64-60 with one to play. 

A combined effort from both teams saw an entertaining fast paced final quarter with the Mavs Symons executing screens and receiving paint touches of significance feeding Robinson, Raneburg and Jackson. 

The Tigers however were not going away as Lem Ajith (13 points) finished the find from Jarvis Summers (nine points, seven assists and rebounds) then made the jumper the following play to close it to 73-71. 

Neither team could buy a basket with Summers free throws drawing scores level - the Mavs edging in front with charity stripe made of their own from Robinson and Raneburg. 

Robinson made a big shot but was answered by Morris with a corner two but gave up the technical foul for a second called flop with Robinson making the resulting bonus. 

Summers was forced into a turnover with Robinson icing two free throws to give them their sixth in seven matches against the Tigers. 

BJ Symons was a problem all night with 21 points and three rebounds but created opportunities for his team consistently including Robinson with 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Morris was best for the Tigers but was well held after halftime with 23 points and 15 rebounds and while numbers didn’t tell the full story Sunday Bol relishing extra time on the hardwood came up with a near double double of nine points and 10 rebounds.

 

The Mavs backed up their monumental win the previous week - can they continue to close the close ones? Find out when they take on the Woodville Warriors next Easter Thursday night at 8:15pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.     

EASTERN MAVERICKS 83 (Robinson, Symons 21, Raneburg 16, Jackson 13) 

SOUTHERN TIGERS 79 (Morris 23, Ajith, Oste Pinder 13, Bol 9)

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