Recap NBL1 Central | Round 1 Sunday

The Panthers tamed the Tigers in the opening round but will they be able to do the same to the West Adelaide Bearcats? Find out next Saturday at 8:15pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.     

SOUTHERN TIGERS 61 (Morris 15, Summers 12, Bol 9) 

SOUTH ADELAIDE PANTHERS 86 (Brandon 29, Kubank 15, Scott 12)

Rivalry result nearly repeats as result reversed between Lions and Mavs        

It nearly happened twice in a row in consecutive rivalry rounds in the Kayo Freebies Game of the Week with the Central Districts Lions holding on at home despite another Eastern Mavericks game-winner on the line 95-93 at the Den. 

In an enthralling Sunday afternoon contest - the Mavs Owen Raneburg (Nine points and three steals) got rolling early to awaken the nightmares as he reeled off six quick points but then handed the reins over to new import guard Broderick Robinson as he rattled off eight off his own to give the Mavs the early ascendancy 21-26. 

Former NBA G-League product Efe Abogidi (17 points and six rebounds) showed his range early for the Lions and continued to provide problems in the second term while in his debut young rising star of the league Deng Manyang (12 points, three rebounds and steals) impressed in his first half. 

The second term was highlighted with dunks and athletic plays from both teams but BJ Symons of the Mavs also found different ways to tick the scoreboard over to leave it 42-46 at the half.

It stayed tight during the third as Robinson (30 points with four triples, 10 assists, four steals with three rebounds), Symons (15 points and 11 rebounds) and a lightning push from Dom Jackson (12 points and four rebounds) kept the Mavs in front. 

The Lions however through former Norwood Flame Jack Stanwix (15 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and two steals) and after a strong UBL season for the Adelaide Waatu Ayual Garang (17 points with four triples and four rebounds) emerged in the match with Garang heaving and making a three quarter time buzzer beater bringing it back to 69-74 with one to play - already the memories were beginning to flood back for all. 

No one told returning import stretch forward Kevin Baker (20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals) though as he missioned his way to eight last quarter points as he and the Lions put the Lions in front late in the match. 

With 26 seconds left and scores level again he was fouled on the three point attempt and had free throws to seal the match, making the first two he tried to make the third hit the rim but got the execution wrong throwing it against the backboard and missing the iron which led to the Mavs with the ball in hand - one second remaining. 

Unlike Raneburg in 2024 - Robinson’s tough 45 left wing triple fell short and the Lions held on at the Den to give them a different start to this season…