Central Recap | Round 7 Saturday

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Round 7 of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 Central was billed as one of the biggest of the season and it delivered - career highs, performances of gravitas and rivalries reignited in showdowns after the throwdowns here in Adelaide...

Here are the results of tonight’s Saturday games:

Freer desire delights in Rockets dismantling of Mavericks           

The North Adelaide Rockets fired away after halftime thanks to a career high for Jordyn Freer dismantling the Eastern Mavericks 80-62 at the Lights      

Freer took the points literally with no Basham and Mansfield again after halftime after a spirited first half for the Morgan Yaegerless  from the away side led again by Daisy Hocking 38-37. 

Mollie McKendrick (16 points, six assists with three rebounds) and Sarah Warner (11 points) came along for the second half Rocket ride as they cruised away 42-25. In a positive for the away side Lou Watkinson found her range with four triples for 20 points and six rebounds and Aspen Williston had another solid outing with 15 points and eight rebounds. 

Hocking achieved a double double with 17 points and 10 rebounds but Freer’s career high with 31 points laden with six triples, eight rebounds and two assists was the difference in the finish.          

 

The test is now well and truly on for the North Adelaide Rockets - can they claim another scalp against the West Adelaide Bearcats - Find out in two weeks time Saturday night at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. 

NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 80 (J Freer 31, McKendrick 16, Warner 11)

EASTERN MAVERICKS 62 (Watkinson 20, Hocking 17, Williston 15)

 

Panthers miss points as Eagles win elusive Mitchell Park match         

In the Kayo Freebies Game of the Week - the South Adelaide Panthers had multiple opportunities to make points throughout the night but the Forestville Eagles claimed an elusive win at the Jungle at Mitchell Park for the first time since its opening 50-67.    

The Eagle flew out early with a 2-12 run led by Gabi Vidmar (14 points, nine rebounds and three assists) in the absence of Maddy Freer and Sam Simons but the Panthers managed to fight back to bring it back to 21-25 at the quarter time break. 

The Eagles got flying again with Jess Simon’s at the defensive end of the floor sending a few panthers packing then setting up new season recruit Ella Ogier (Three triples for 11 points and nine rebounds) for a couple of big triples and a handy halftime lead of 32-47. 

The Panthers went back to their grit and grind method holding the Eagles to a solitary five points, chipping their way back in via Bella Stratford (13 point and 11 rebound double double) to make it 43-52. In a story of the night - former Eagles landed blows on their former side including Bianca Stasinowsky with a quick fire five points. But with 5:10 to go the Eagles took back momentum doing what the Panthers couldn’t - finish their work. 

Sam Simons, the catalyst down the stretch - took out the Footlocker Player of the Game with 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and steals and was well assisted all night by Rachel King with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.            

  

SOUTHERN ADELAIDE PANTHERS 50 (Stratford 13, Spencer 9, K Gardiner 8)

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 67 (S Simons 20, Vidmar 14, King, E Ogier 11)

 

Fast and furious Fejo leads Warriors take down of Tigers         

The Woodville Warriors record run of wins continued in season 2025 with a Southern Tiger take down 88-65 at the Castle of St Clair.  

A third term of 26-10 led by the fast and furious Jasmin Fejo found the Tigers wanting as she finished with 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists with four blocks and steals in a complete performance. She had plenty of support with three other green and gold players making double figures with Laura Erikstrup (11 points and eight rebounds), Ambah Kowcun with her best return since returning (11 points and five rebounds) and the consistent numbers of Naomi Allotey (10 points, eight rebounds and three assists) joining her contributions.   

The Tigers were kept in it in the first half by imports Mckenzie Johnston (18 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists with three steals) and Iva Belosevic (17 points and four rebounds) before the Warriors took momentum.

The Warriors have now won more games in a row since before the 2015 season.      

 

Are the Warriors women the real deal in season 2025 as they go for six in a row against the South Adelaide Panthers??? Find out in two weeks time Saturday night at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. 

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 88 (Fejo 32, Erikstrup, Kowcun 11, Allotey 10)

SOUTHERN TIGERS 65 (Johnston 18, Belosevic 17, Hearne 10)

 

Sabres stunning second half stretches streak over Bearcats        

A stunning second half comeback continued the streak from the Sturt Sabres over the West Adelaide Bearcats 74-79 at the Bearcat Cave at the Port. 

The Bearcats minus Ashlee Strawbridge with international duties for the New Zealand Tall Ferns got great service from Sienna Lehmann as she produced seven points to give the home side the lead 19-12. The second term was led by ten points to the star Olivia Levicki as the red and black jumped out to a 19 points lead to then lead by 46-31 at the end of the first half - Levicki with another 20 point opening half and Krystal Thompson taking it one end to the other…

Krystal Thompson takes it end to end and finishes through the hit ??

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It completely reversed in the third as the Sabres took it 14-23 via the hot hands of Katia Stamatelopoulos (Nine points and six rebounds) and Chelsea Portus (eight points) to cut it right back to 60-54 with one to play. 

Levicki pushed the Bearcats back in front further and it looked like they might close it out at double figures but some late triples from Paige Padroth and Sydney Mech (17 points and eight rebounds) leveled things up and ensured the comeback was on. 

The Sabres hit the front through Padroth with Lehmann leveling things again - ball security not high as two turnovers resulted in Stamatelopoulos snuck them back in front. Another two errant turnovers to the Bearcats gave the Sabres free throws as they closed out the result in stunning fashion.

Paige Padroth notched a career high 20 points, seven rebounds and two steals in a full four quarter performance helping lead the Sabres home - Levicki once again was the best for the Bearcats with 31 points, 14 rebounds along with Lehmann who also grabbed a career high of 18 points and eight assists.         

The Sabres have found their sharpness as they level up with the Eagles and Bearcats - can they jump even higher when they take on the Eastern Mavericks??? Find out in two weeks time Saturday night at 8:15pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.  

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 74 (Levicki 31, Lehmann 18, K Thompson 8)

STURT SABRES 79 (Padroth 20, Mech 17, Z Walker-Roberts 11)

Opening blast from Rockets sets up second win of the season over Mavericks           

An opening blast from the North Adelaide Rockets set-up their second win of the season 92-77 over the Eastern Mavericks at the Lights.   

Guard Bijan Johnson (22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists) and returning starting five lineup forward Koop McCalop (21 points and 11 rebounds) shocked the Mavericks with a 13-0 run to open the match to grab a 34-19 lead. The Mavs tried to launch a fightback in the second with BJ Symons (26 points and eight rebounds) stepping up to bring it back to 53-43.

The homeside controlled the contest from there despite the Mavs getting back within striking distance via Owen Raneburg (18 points with four triples and four rebounds) and Freddy Webb (14 points). Joel Dyer with a hot shooting night of five triples for 17 points, five assists and rebounds along with Machar Machar on 15 points completed a strong performance for a team showing some promising signs.       

  

The Rockets are just one win behind fifth spot - can they elevate further up the table against the West Adelaide Bearcats??? Find out in two weeks time Saturday night at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.

NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 92 (BJ Johnson 22, McCalop 21, Dyer 17)

EASTERN MAVERICKS 77 (Symons 26, Raneburg 18, Webb 14)

 

Trust in Troussel pays off for Warriors as Parfitt dines on Tigers          

A one two punch of Woodville Warriors bigs reminded us all there’s still life in the regular finalists with a convincing dine out on the Southern Tigers 94-69 at the Castle of St Clair.   

Complete control was assumed from the tip off as Tim Troussel tipped in for 26 points, eight rebounds as him and fellow import Bryce Sloan (16 points, six rebounds, three assists and steals) then a bench bounce back for Steve Parfitt with 21 points and nine rebounds crushed the Tigers 51-26.

The Tigers tried to restore some pride to the margin via Sunday Bol off the bench with 19 points, five rebounds and three assists, Jarvis Doles’s double double of 17 points and 12 rebounds and Harry Morris (15 points and five rebounds) but the night belonged to the green and gold (as it has those colours all week). 

 

The Warriors have opened up a two game gap in fourth in a big move mid-season - can they chase down third spot against their fierce rivals the South Adelaide Panthers??? Find out why this Saturday night at 8:15pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. 

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 94 (Troussel 26, Parfitt 21, Sloan 16)

SOUTHERN TIGERS 69 (Bol 19, Doles 17. Morris 15)

 

Black night for Bearcats as Sharif shakes for Sabres             

The Sturt Sabres are beginning to roar and rise up the table taking out their recent rivals the West Adelaide Bearcats 88-114 in a scintillating third term at the Bearcat Cave at the Port. 

The opening stanza was full of fire with the return of the old enemy in Jordan “Jelly” Forbes (seven opening term points) reintroducing himself for the first time this season in a fast paced frenzy 27-35. 

The second term belonged to the Bearcats #22 as Keanu Rasmussen piled on the pain for the Sabres with an entertaining 16 points to bring it back to a one basket game 51-53 - that’s when the game turned dramatically through the hand of the Sabres dynamic guard.

In a case of don’t you forget about me - Sharif Black reeled off a second half of 25 points to finish with the sixth equal highest individual score in the NBL1 Central era of 43 points with seven triples, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. 

In typical Sabres fashion it was still done by some committee with Sam Daly in a rich vein of form with 16 points, six assists and rebounds with two steals, Big Ben Griscti 15 points, four rebounds two assists and fellow big Jamie Smith with 12 points and seven rebounds. 

Jordan Forbes' return consisted of a handy 13 points, six rebounds and four assists to help cover for the absence of Jacob Rigoni who they lost early in the season. 

Rasmussen was without equal for the home side with 31 points, four assists and three steals against his former side while Jacob Tryon paired together solid games with another 20 points, five rebounds and three assists with Lat Mayen returning for 17 points, five rebounds and three assists.        

  

The Sabres have a second in a row - can they find the momentum and make it count against the Eastern Mavericks??? Find out in two weeks time Saturday night at 6:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 88 (Rasmussen 31, Tryon 20, Mayen 17)

STURT SABRES 114 (Black 43, S Daly 16, Griscti 13)

 

Rematch rumble lives up to the hype as Eagles outlast Panthers          

The Kayo Freebies Game of the Week was billed as one of the games of the year and it lived up to the hype in an emotional, energy charged showdown - the Forestville Eagles taking it out against the South Adelaide Panthers 83-96 at the Jungle in Mitchell Park.    

Against his former side Alex Starling (Eight points and six rebounds) came out as a man on a mission to give the Eagles a 2-12 start - Panther guard Curtis Scott landed some early blows to bring the margin back. The opening term however belonged to another former Panther in Daniel Johnson as the veteran continued his elite start to the season with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists to give the Eagles the lead 18-27 after one. 

The second tightened up with Greg Mays (16 points and six rebounds) finishing off the Eagles work off the offensive glass…

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Not to be outdone and despite foul trouble Christian Brandon (15 points and 11 rebounds) collected the alley-oop as the aerial show for both teams began to operate above the rim.

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Starling continued to be a  problem for the Panthers as he elevated his team to a 37-50 lead at the half - the Panthers needing a lift from some of their regular contributors.

The call was answered by Lloyd McVeigh as he began to cause matchup issues for the Eagles as he clocked up 13 second half points along with import Kaleb Warner (nine second half points) helped the Panthers win the quarter and cut it right back to 62-69 with one to play.

A quick 9-5 run drew the margin back to 71-74 via another Warner launch - Starling however hunger for the contest rose to another level as he amassed 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals in the last quarter to push the Eagles across the line in the final minutes. 

He finished as Footlocker Player of the Game with a bacon double double of 29 points, 20 rebounds, seven steals and four assists with Daniel Johnson clean and classy with 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Fiston Ipassou stepping into the starting five for the absent Dejan Vasiljevic played his role regally with a 17 point and eight rebound performance.  

Great service for South was provided by McVeigh with his 18 points, four assists and three rebounds becoming a factor in the second half along with Warner’s 13 points with three triples, seven rebounds and five assists.            

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 83 (L McVeigh 18, Brandon 15, Warner 13)

FORESTVILLE EAGLES 96 (Starling 29, Johnson 22, Ipassou 17)

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