NBL1 Central Round 1 – Davies dagger delight for Panthers in OT

Celebrations erupted for the South Adelaide Panthers as deadly Davies dropped the dagger to down the Flames. Photo supplied by Picture IT Sports Photography 

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Norwood Flames vs South Adelaide Panthers

Splash is all cash at the ARC 

The South Adelaide Panthers have opened their campaign with a solid 52-79 win over the “Wilson-less” Norwood Flames at the Firedome (The ARC). Ash “Splash” Spencer dropped 20 in the first half to finish with 34 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists assisted by Olivia Levecki with 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Panthers second quarter of 9-20 is where the game swung despite newly recruited Brooke Basham (14 points and 4 rebounds) leading the charge back for the Flames. Genna Anderson was also solid for the home side with 15 points and 9 rebounds. The Panthers had 15-6 in second chance points and shot 58 percent from the field in their win.  

Davies dagger delight for Panthers in OT

Guard Todd Davies found himself in the right place at the right time as he drained the game winning triple in front of the Flames bench and faithful as the Panthers won 72-75 in overtime at the Firedome. Davies finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds including the game winner, but it was Alex Starling that roared back to life with a monster double double of 34 points and 21 rebounds and Jarryd Hoppo stepped up for a double double of 10 points and 11 rebounds to give Scott Ninnis’s men the first win for the season. Ray Harding dropped a career high for the Flames with 32 points including 6 triples with import Trey McBride (14 points and 7 rebounds), Daniel Webber (13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists) and Matt Lycett narrowly missing a double double (9 points and 12 rebounds) also impacting for the Flames.  

Forestville Eagles vs Southern Tigers

Flaming Yaeger and Skinner slice down Eagles in OT

The spirit of Skinner and the flames of Yaeger returned to burn and haunt the Eagles as they helped their Southern Tigers down the Forestville Eagles 78-88 at the Nest. Both WNBL players reacted at the right time as the Eagles jumped out to a 29-19 quarter time lead led by Skinner’s Bendigo Spirit team-mate in Izzy Stratford (21 points and 8 rebounds) and Adelaide Lightning’s Sam Simons (16 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists). It was Skinner (30 points with 4/7 from beyond the arc and 7 rebounds) who made a massive triple in the last minute that tied the scores 74-74 to send the game to overtime where her, Jemma Thacker and Yaeger (35 points at 55 percent, 8 rebounds and 7 assists) took over.    

Mays and Rios set Eagles in flight for 2022

A different story in the Mens game as Greg Mays and Jake Rios set the Eagles in flight for 2022 with a comprehensive second half demolition of the Southern Tigers 94-68 at the Nest. Mays finished with 24 points and 8 rebounds while Rios dropped 22 points with five Eagles notching double figures including former Rocket Fiston Ipassou (14 points and 11 rebound double double), returning Adam Doyle (10 points, 7 assists and rebounds) and Brandon Brine (10 point and 12 rebound double double). They setup a second half of 49-29 in a rough debut for former Eagle assistant Tom Hilbig against his senior Andy Simons. The Tigers got a bunch of even contributors with returning import Ricardo Martin (13 points), Christian Artacho (13 points with 3 triples and 6 rebounds) and young tyro centre Jamie Smith getting his first start and finishing with an impressive 13 points at 66 percent and 5 rebounds.    

West Adelaide Bearcats vs Central District Lions

Rintala wrecks Lions in paint display

The Bearcats have started their 2022 season with a 92-54 win at home over the Central District Lions at the Bearcat Cave. They were never headed as WNBL import Jennie Rintala returned with a double double of 25 points at 62.5 percent with 13 rebounds. The Bearcats also got help from candidate for most improved this season in Abby Brenton (15 points and 5 rebounds), a near triple double to Lightning squad member Jasmin Fejo (14 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists) and a first time starter in Bethany Heaft with 13 points and 5 rebounds. In positives for the Lions new recruit WNBL’s Casey Samuels dropped 22 points and 7 rebounds on debut in the league with former Tiger Raynisha Washington (14 points and 7 rebounds) showing the Lions are going to be a competitive outfit in 2022.

Nik and Sheppard herd Lions for Bearcats win

A second quarter of 32-15 and third quarter of 23-9 gave Corey McLean’s Men a rousing first up win of the season over the Central District Lions 95-63 at the Bearcat Cave. New import Nate Sheppard did the damage with 28 points including 4 bombs beyond the arc and 7 rebounds with returning Bearcat Nik DeSantis equalling that with 28 points of his own along with 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Fellow import 7’1 giant Andre Washington contributed 16 points and 5 rebounds on debut who in two quarters gave the Lions the business. Tracy York’s Men held their own at times in the contest led by former 36er Bijan Johnson with 15 points but struggled to keep up with the Black and Red through the middle stages. The Bearcats did a huge amount of damage from the free throw line when it mattered with 21 of 33 for the match.

North Adelaide Rockets vs Woodville Warriors (Game of the Week)

“McCarty Party” starts season for Warriors

Wins were few and far between for the Woodville Warriors women in 2021 but new coach Matt Atkins started their 2022 season with a solid 54-71 win over the North Adelaide Rockets at the Launch Pad. The star of the night was Regan McCarty who finished with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists but after a quiet start “The Storm” returned in Emily Winter to finish with 22 points and 9 rebounds. The Rockets featuring a much younger lineup then their last Grand Final team of 2021 were led by the returning Tayla Corrigan (13 points and 10 rebounds) and the youth of Lily Zbierski and Grace Facchini with 11 points each.

Winn ensures victory for Rockets in thrilling finish

Terry Winn ensured that he is here to win and here to dunk as he led the North Adelaide Rockets to a thrilling 82-80 win over the Woodville Warriors at the Launch Pad. Both teams were crying out for a game winner with Warriors import Jawan Stepney getting a look at the game winner and just shooting it long after an impressive 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists on debut. The Rockets Winn (17 points and 11 rebounds) was the most consistent throughout the night but crushing his previous best stepping up to the level was Riley Harrap with a career high 19 points including 3 triples. New Import Jamar Akoh notched a double double on debut with 13 points and 11 rebounds and looks like the replacement the Rockets needed for Dowdell and Jimma Dau played his role with 16 points and 13 rebounds for his double double. The Warriors Nick Wurm was unstoppable through the contest continuously playing with the on-ball screen and getting under the Rockets defence to scythe his way to a team high 23 points and 6 rebounds.    

The game between the Sturt Sabres and the Eastern Mavericks has been postponed to Sunday May 1

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Written by Tristan Prentice