NBL1 Central Recap Saturday | Men's Finals Week 2

Sights of Stepney: The Warriors Jawan Stepney stepped it up in the fourth with a 19 point final quarter to break the resistance of the Panthers at the Castle  | @snapshotphotography31 @Snap Shot Photography / Emma Hoppo

Qualifying Semi-Final: Woodville Warriors vs South Adelaide Panthers

A Step-ney above Warriors return to first since 2014

An incredible final quarter from import Jawan Stepney has stepped the Warriors up to their first Grand Final since 2014 as they grabbed hold of the Panthers 97-77 at the Castle. Stepney showed up and rained them in as he dropped 19 final quarter points including 5 of 5 beyond the arc as the last resistant of the Panthers who had clung on after leading at quarter time were washed away.  

The signs were alarming early for Scott Ninnis’s men as the Warriors reeled off five scoring involvements from five assists to open proceedings in a 12-4 start. Woollacott medallist Jeremy Smith started to get the Panthers back into the contest, but his opponent Riley Meldrum was also at it again with 9 points in the opening quarter.  The Panthers through a timely Andrew “Hawkeye” Barton triple led 22-23 at the first change. The second quarter began with the coach of the year Scott Whitmore Warriors continuing an 11-0 run where they opened a 7-point gap. That was thanks to All-Star Five selection David Humphries who poured in 12 for the term but a Smith buzzer beater finish on half-time kept the Panthers in touch 46-41.

The can of Wurm was opened to start the third with Nick Wurm wheeling his way to 6 early points for the quarter as the Warriors pulled off another set of 7-0 and 8-0 runs. The Warriors defensive attention shifted to Alex Starling which freed up Smith for 13 in the quarter but closing in on three quarter time it felt like the Warriors were about to bust the game open. With Meldrum, Humphries and Wurm already firing their shots that’s when Stepney went whack with an explosive final term to lead the Warriors to 29-16. The key figure not forgotten in all this were the minutes of Captain Alex Maiorana who went to “Super Maiorana mode” collecting 6 points and 4 rebounds to end up with 12 points that secured the 97-77 win and passage to their first Grand Final in eight years.

Stepney’s last quarter lifted him to 29 points at 84.6 percent including 7 of 7 beyond the arc and 8 rebounds to lead all but across four quarters; it was all done by committee by the green and gold. Next best was Humphries narrowly missing a triple double with 18 points with 5 triples, 9 assists and rebounds then Joe Jackson who double doubled for 14 points and 10 rebounds and was consistent all evening. Wurm and Meldrum collected 11 points each to give the Warriors all six significant minutes players in double figures. For the Panthers it was left to too few with Smith grabbing 33 points at 72 percent and Starling 15 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.   

Elimination Semi-Final: Forestville Eagles vs Norwood Flames

Doyle and DJ douse final Flames comeback to stay alive

The Eagles looked like they had control of the contest from the start but a late comeback from the Flames nearly took it away as they doused a final comeback 85-75 at the Nest. Andy Simon's Eagles no doubt seething after last weeks loss fired about halfway through the first quarter as they jumped to a double figure lead thanks to Daniel Johnson’s 10 points as they took the lead 24-16 after one. Ray Harding and Matt Lycett pushed the Flames back into it early in the second before Melbourne United DP Malith Machar ignited the Eagles with a dunk and 11 points for the quarter to give the Eagles their biggest lead of the match 49-34 at the half. 

The third quarter belonged to the Flames as they shot 71 percent from the field through Anthony Green who lifted his team with seven for the term including two massive jams but equally the Eagles were keeping up offensively in the 18-21 third quarter to leave it 67-55 at the final change. Doyle started the fourth in a blaze with a quick 5 points which he converted to 9 for the term. The Eagles looked home up 78-64 even with 5:47 to go but the Flames final run of 10-0 brought it back to a 78-74 game. The experience of Doyle and DJ closing it out for the Eagles and ending the Flames shot at back-to-back Grand Finals.   

Doyle dropped a dime of a game with 23 points, 13 assists and 7 rebounds while DJ who got himself going early finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Machar’s second quarter guided him to 14 points and 5 rebounds while Jack Purchase who had gotten under the skin of the Flames the past two encounters was held to single digits. Harding shook off his late injury from week one to lead the Flames with 18 points, 7 assists and 7 rebounds and Anthony Green was the dominant big with 16 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks. Trey McBride dropped 15 points and Lycett a double double of 12 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists with Daniel Webber completing the contributions with 14 points and 8 rebounds. The starters scoring all points for the away side in what turned out to be their final match for 2022 for rookie coach Tim Odell.     

The South Adelaide Panthers will now meet the Forestville Eagles for the second time in three weeks at the Jungle in the Preliminary Final for a shot at a place in the Grand Final against the Woodville Warriors.