NBL1 Central Recap | Men's Round 18

Silver service for a silver medallist: It was dimes like these from Adam Doyle to his players like DJ (pictured) that setup several points from turnover and highlight dunks | Kelly Barnes/AllStar Photos

Saturday 6/08/22

Norwood Flames vs Sturt Sabres (Kayo Game of the Week)

Second chance Sabres shoot down Flames to win

The Flames looked like they had this and their guaranteed home final in hand but the Sabres had other ideas as they shot their way to victory in the second half 84-88 at the Firedome. The halftime scoreline of 48-24 to the Flames was demolished in former 36ers rookie Matt Lycett’s 250^th game with a 36-64 second half led by a barrage of bombs from the “second chance Sabres.” That steal was initiated by the Sabres bench led by Toby Hunt (13 points with 3 triples), Mike Shortt (12 points with 4 triples) and Nick Fassos (10 points with 2 triples) as the Sabres shot 12 triples at 63 percent. The Sabres throughout the four quarters were also led by Sam Daly and Max Calligeros with 14 points in the absence of Jacob Rigoni, Joel Spear and Devin Haygood (overseas). The Flames found winners in Luca Barei with 17 points and Lycett with a solid 15 points but were stunned after half-time in worrying signs before their first final next week.   

Forestville Eagles vs Eastern Mavericks   

Eagles tune up for finals with even win over Eastern

The Forestville Eagles have tuned up for their qualifying final next week with an even contribution win over the Eastern Mavericks 90-71 at the Nest. All five starters reached double figures with Adam Doyle the instigator with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 5 steals while Malith Machar continued his stellar form with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Commonwealth Games medallist Daniel Johnson returned for 16 points and 6 rebounds with Greg Mays finding timely form with a team high 19 points and 8 rebounds. Jack Purchase added 14 points and 5 steals to complete the lineup. The big three kept the Mavs competitive under interim coach Wade Hampton with huge games from Koop McCalop with 16 points, 14 rebounds and a thunderous putback jam, craftiness and timing from Ioannis Dimakopoulos with 18 points and 15 rebounds and James Legan dropping 22 points with 5 triples. The Eagles got it done mainly through 21 points from the Mavs 22 turnovers punishing every mistake the away side made.

Woodville Warriors vs South Adelaide Panthers

Panthers prove point prior to finals over Warriors    

The Panthers led all but 31 seconds of the contest as they stormed into the Castle and secured third place seeding for the finals over the Warriors 66-90. Jeremy Smith was brilliant from the get-go with 20 points and 6 rebounds and Alex Starling reeled in 19 points and 14 rebounds. Jarryd Hoppo also hit four triples in his 15 points and 7 rebounds off the bench and carries the confidence of his head coach Scott Ninnis into their first finals series in 14 years. The Warriors secure in first heading into this one were led by Riley Meldrum with 12 points and Jawan Stepney with 11 points. They now await the winner of the first qualifying finals next week.      

Southern Tigers vs Central District Lions

Lions take out Safari Cup in first half hoops

The Lions setup their Safari Cup win in the first half of hoops over the Southern Tigers 81-111 at the Cage. They were led by a huge set of games from Bijan Johnson with 26 points and 9 rebounds and Magok Manyang with a double double of 24 points and 10 rebounds. Tobias Dowdell finished his season well with a 16 point and 8 rebound set and Nathaniel Koko and Branden Jenkins grabbed 13 points each. A young Tigers lineup got experience from a double double from Ricardo Martin of 12 points and 12 rebounds while Machar Machar led the team with 21 points; Vionte Daniels also collected 15 points.

North Adelaide Rockets vs West Adelaide Bearcats

Bearcats produce best to upset Rockets in last round

The Bearcats finished the season on a high with an upset 69-80 win over the North Adelaide Rockets at the Launch Pad. Unlike most games their season it was collective effort from the Bearcats with Nate Sheppard farewelling the league with 18 points which was equalled for a season high by Luke Cadzow with 6 triples. Not to be outdone Nik DeSantis dropped 13 points and 14 rebounds and Lachlan Hunter grabbed a season high of 16 points and 10 rebounds to also record a double double. Terry Winn (20 points and 10 rebounds) and Jamar Akoh (14 points and 11 rebounds) also grabbed double doubles for the Rockets who gave up the lead in the second quarter and never got it back as the Bearcats led by as many as 18 points. The Rockets were consigned to fifth where they’ll start their title defence as they did in 2021, an elimination final this time away from home.

Sunday 7/08/22

Southern Tigers vs Eastern Mavericks

Artacho arrows evaded by Mavs

An incredible shooting display from Christian Artacho was not enough to prevent the Eastern Mavericks from grabbing their second win of the season 88-101 in a high scoring and highlight filled match at the Cage. Artacho buried 9 of 19 triples to finish with 39 points and 8 rebounds to nearly bring his side over the top of the visiting Mavs after the away side pulled out a 0-14 run in the third quarter. James Legan scoreless at quarter time amassed a large haul of buckets to drop 30 points and Koop McCalop went toe-to-toe with Artacho with 36 points, 18 rebounds and 6 assists. The Tigers jumped out early through Machar Machar (18 points) and Vionte Daniels with a double double of 13 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists as the Mavs Ioannis Dimakopoulos nearly had a double double in the first term to keep his team in the game; he finished with 19 points, 18 rebounds and 6 assists.

The first week of NBL1 Central finals has been determined with the Norwood Flames (4^th) meeting the North Adelaide Rockets (5^th) in the Elimination final at the Firedome and the Eagles (2^nd ) meeting the South Adelaide Panthers (3^rd) in the Qualifying finals at the Nest...