NBL1 Central Recap | Women's Round 18

Warriors Winter War: The Woodville Warriors turned their contest against the South Adelaide Panthers into higher stakes at the Castle in a thrilling finish to Round 18 | @molletluke / @lukejmedia

Saturday 6/08/22

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

Wilson wills Flames to finish line and finals  

A thrilling finish to the Women’s regular season was off the back of Commonwealth Games Medallist Ally Wilson as she willed her Flames to the finish line 67-66 at the Firedome. It was chaotic final couple of plays with foul trouble in play, Sabres Nicola Mathews second free throw would’ve put her side up at 63-66. It missed and Wilson drove at the opposite end and scored to make it 65-66 with 4 seconds left which the Sabres inexplicably turned it over to Genna Anderson then Wilson was fouled by Mikayla Williams who picked up her fifth foul after putting the Sabres in pole position with another Halls worthy game of 28 points at 76.5 percent, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. Wilson made both under pressure then the Sabres advanced the ball. The Sabres got a shot off from Nicola Mathews but it missed and the Flames secured the rebound to hold on for a win that lifted them into fifth on the table and a first finals appearance since pre 2019.

Wilson was outstanding for four quarters with 18 points at 71 percent, 18 rebounds and 9 assists narrowly missing a third triple double for the season while partner in crime Brooke Basham setup her game with 14 first half points to finish with 24 points. Molly Coleman collected a double double of 10 points and 10 rebounds with several other contributions from the Flames getting them over the line. Nicola Mathews had 14 points and 8 rebounds for the night for the Sabres while not a huge statistical line Mia Walker-Roberts was producing one percent plays in her 18 minutes of court-time.

Forestville Eagles vs Eastern Mavericks

Eagles secure elimination final with win over Eastern 

The Eagles will get a second crack at elimination finals in consecutive seasons as they took out the win against the Eastern Mavericks 105-46 at the Nest. The Eagles were challenged early by the wily Mavs before not doing her Halls chances any harm Sam Simons and her team put some distance between her Eagles and the away side with 11 points and a 21-10 stretch. Simons finished with her first triple double of the season with 13 points, 12 assists, 11 rebounds and 3 steals while sister Jess hit out against the Mavs again with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Maddy Freer also pushed through for a chance at the Merv Harris youth award with another 16 points and 7 rebounds but the Eagles top scorer was Katia Stamatelopoulos with a season high 17 points and 6 rebounds off the bench. For the Mavs, Brigitte Lefebvre-Okankwu concluded her season with a solid 15 points and 5 rebounds but was the only Eastern player tor each double figures.  

Woodville Warriors vs South Adelaide Panthers

Warriors pride nearly pushes Panthers out of five 

They proved many wrong in a huge manner and turned what should’ve been a simple assignment into a thrilling wrestle at the Castle as the Panthers snuck home 81-85. The Panthers secured a home final thanks to other results but nearly threw it all away as the Warriors kept pace with them for four quarters. The Warriors only trailed the Panthers by no more than 9 points and had the lead with 1:10 to go off Regan Turnour-McCarty’s free throws. The Panthers won it from the free throw in the final minutes converting an and1 from Hannah Stewart and a set of drawn fouls by Holly Forbes to leave the Warriors shattered. The away side lost import Isa Osk Sigurdardottir to a serious injury so it was left to Ash “Splash” Spencer to drop 29 points, Johnson with 18 points and Forbes double double of 10 points and 12 rebounds. The Warriors were led from the front by Katherine Perkas with 23 points and 8 rebounds with Eliza Joynes taking advantage of a smaller Panthers front court with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Emily Winter did the same with 13 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds in an impressive statline.

Southern Tigers vs Central District Lions

Lions skinner-erd by Tigers in takeover

A mammoth haul from Tiger forward Demi Skinner took the Tigers over the Lions 116-53 at the Cage. Skinner amassed 36 points with 6/9 triples and 8 rebounds paired with huge hauls of 25 points and 15 rebounds from Mollie McKendrick, 24 points and 9 rebounds from Jaedyn De La Cerda and 20 points and 6 assists from Morgan Yaeger. The Tigers dominated the rebounding with 58-27 and scored 17 points from turnover as they motored from the start to a 31-9 quarter time lead. Casey Samuels (19 points and 6 rebounds) made her side competitive in the second but the Tigers had too much firepower knowing they needed to win this to keep their finals alive. Other results have unfortunately for them consigned them to sixth on the ladder and missing the finals on the split with the fifth placed Flames.

North Adelaide Rockets vs West Adelaide Bearcats

Peyton forward nearly rocks ladder leaders at Launch Pad  

One last huge points spree from import Peyton Taylor nearly took the Rockets to the upset against the Bearcats; but the ladder leaders steadied with a 67-76 win at the Launch Pad. Taylor dropped 30 points and POTW Tayla Corrigan collected another double double of 14 points and 14 rebounds to a 23-11 opening quarter. The Bearcats worked their way back steadily into the contest through Jennie Rintala with 23 points and 11 rebounds and Jasmin Fejo with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Madelynn Utti also hit the glass hard again for 19 points and 9 rebounds as the away side took the lead back just before half-time.

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