NBL1 Central Recap | Women's Round 16

Tiger time for Morgan: Morgan Yaeger controlled proceedings from the tip off with a commanding performance in her side's third straight win  | @snapshotphotography31 @Snap Shot Photography / Emma Hoppo

Saturday 23/07/22

South Adelaide Panthers vs Southern Tigers (Kayo Game of the Week)

Tigers streak continues in Southern showdown

It has now become a “thing” officially with the Tigers winning their seventh game against the Panthers in a row 45-83 at the Jungle. The Tigers first quarter run of 0-14 setup the win through stars Morgan Yaeger who posted 20 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists and Jaedyn De La Cerda who clocked 20 points and 8 rebounds. The Tigers did it again off the fast break with 17 points with also Demi Skinner (18 points, 8 rebounds), Mollie McKendrick (13 rebounds) and a cameo on cue from Margot Hall (9 points with three triples) taking advantage of it. The Panthers were led once again by Jade Johnson with 18 points and 7 rebounds with Ash “Splash” Spencer held scoreless after half-time with the Panthers producing only 14-36. The tenth win for the Tigers keeps their finals hope alive and is their fourth in a row at the right time of the season.

Forestville Eagles vs North Adelaide Rockets

Superb Simons second grounds Rockets 

It only took till the second quarter for the Eagles to grab their eleventh win of the season and ground the Rockets 76-44 at the Nest. The player we are running out of superlatives to describe in Sam Simons did it again with 11 of her 28 points coming in a devastating 17-0 run while she also added 8 assists and rebounds. The rest of the Eagles spread the scoring with Maddy Freer taking advantage with 13 points and with three others scoring seven or more. The Rockets struggled to find winners after quarter time with Tayla Corrigan the only player to reach double figures with 10 points and 15 rebounds in a strong finish to the season for her.

West Adelaide Bearcats vs Woodville Warriors

Wild West Adelaide shake Warriors in third 

The Warriors hung around for a significant part of this one, but the Bearcats third quarter run shut them out as they won the “Wild West Showdown” 74-40 at the Bearcat Cave. Jennie Rintala was influential once again finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds (7 offensive) and import Madelynn Utti was huge again with 17 points and 21 rebounds and is clearly the “glass cleaner” of the Womens NBL1 Central at the moment. The Bearcats 13-0 run was driven by their lockdown defence as they restricted the Warriors to seven points for the quarter. The quality of the Bearcats was reflected in the Warriors individual contributors with Emily Winter the top contributor with 8 points and 12 rebounds.

Eastern Mavericks vs Norwood Flames

Former Mav Basham’s and crash’ams

An equal season high from the former Eastern Maverick in Brooke Basham kept the Flames very much in the finals hunt with a commanding 60-79 win at the Shooting Gallery. Her second quarter of 11 points led her to her high of 31 points at 59 percent, 7 steals and 5 assists and put the Flames in the ascending position. The Mavs did fightback in the third to draw it back to 13 points at three quarter time 44-57 thanks to the return of Sapphire Olivia Bradley (8 points and 6 rebounds). The Flames snuffed that out quickly closing it in the fourth with Sophie Kerridge stepping up with 16 points and 5 steals and Alek Akuen dominating paint with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Mavs were led across the whole night by Brigitte Lefebvre-Okankwu (18 points and 6 rebounds) and Chloe Dumesny (16 points and 7 rebounds) who would be right up there as a candidate for the Merv Harris medal. 

Central District Lions vs Sturt Sabres

Brilliant Mikayla Williams runs down Lions  

The driving force of the Sabres import drove her team to the finish line as they closed out the gallant Lions 70-102 at the Den. Mikayla Williams shifted gears to grab 22 points at 61 percent and 10 rebounds taking full toll of the smaller Lions front court in the second half. The Sabres shared the scoring around once again with Caitlin Dyer once again hitting big numbers with 14 points as did youngster Maddy Hinton with the same scoreline. Casey Samuels had her biggest match in a month with 30 points and 11 rebounds and Raynisha Washington who would also be right up there for the Halls medal put in another 22 points and 12 rebounds.