NBL1 Central First Nations Round 13 and 14 Preview

Deadly display of art: The NBL1 Central Jerseys to which there will be a collection of on the weekend will highlight plenty of amazing stories of culture and meaning...

5-Minute Read

Round 13

Friday 8/07/2022

South Adelaide Panthers vs West Adelaide Bearcats (Mitchell Park – The Jungle)

Women (6:30pm)

LTTM: West Adelaide Bearcats 62 (Brenton 17, Fejo 16, Rintala 15) lost to South Adelaide Panthers 82 (Spencer 26, Levicki 23) – Split 20 points to Panthers

History in this round shows these games are often epics in the women and a wonderful display of the best the league has to offer. And the game breaker between these two had often be Fejo who dropped a 40 against the Panthers in the last half a decade, started on fire with 12 first half points last year before Stewart got hold of her and blanketed her influence. Not only is it the round it is but we have one versus two for two teams that have often gone quite far in finals but fallen around final hurdles. There will be plenty of teams watching the replay of this one to see who topples who; I think the Panthers who are the last team the Bearcats lost to break their streak of seven at home but only just…

Key Stat – An 8-22 opening quarter got the Panthers off to a flyer last time and it was over before it started. They sealed it with a 0-17 run setting up the win in the finish; the difference is that Levicki was key to that. The Panthers will have to cover those numbers…

ESPN Prediction: Panthers by 1 point

Men (8:15pm)

LTTM: West Adelaide Bearcats 82 (Sheppard 25, DeSantis 21, Cadzow 12) defeated South Adelaide Panthers 78 (Starling 26, Smith 25, Hoppo 17) – Split by 4 points to Bearcats

Out of all the games the Panthers have played this season; this is the one that got away from them last time. The difference is the form of the second tier with the likes of Hoppo (31 v Mavs) and Barton (Averaging 12.2 in the last month) compared to Cadzow (Averaging 10.2) with the four stars from both sides cancelling each other out. The Panthers will reverse this split and get the win here.

Key Stat – A big-time triple from veteran Anthony “Spud” Spadavecchia gave the Bearcats the breathing room they needed to outlast the South Adelaide Panthers; Spud needs a big one to repeat the dosage for his side…

ESPN Prediction: Panthers by 14 points

Southern Tigers vs Norwood Flames – (Morphett Vale – The Cage)

Women (6:30pm)

LTTM: Norwood Flames 83 (Wilson 28, Basham, Anderson 21) defeated Southern Tigers 79 (Thacker 22, McKendrick 18, Skinner 15, Yaeger 13) – Split 4 points to Flames

The Flames finished in a fury last time they met the Tigers with Wilson who should return after narrowly missing out on the 3×3 team for the Asia cup. One of the sticking points this season for the Tigers has been for them to get a go ahead bucket in the vital closing stages of games. We’ve seen them come up short against the Flames, Sabres and Eagles this season; they need to prove a point at home and with it so tight getting two wins this weekend can really turn it around for Matt Clarke’s women. De La Cerda I think is the difference this time and the Tigers will get a much-needed win at home and break the Flames streak of four.

Key Stat – The Flamesdropped the last 8 points of their last match after the Tigers held the lead 75-79. The Tigers had chances but couldn’t put the ball in the cylinder; DLC added will provide better bucket content…

ESPN Prediction: Tigers by 4 points

Men (8:15pm)

LTTM: Norwood Flames 82 (Harding 27, McBride, Lycett 18) defeated Southern Tigers 73 (Daniels, Machar 16, Artacho 13) – Split 9 points to Flames

It wasn’t really a reality check for the Flames but it showed how important it was for all their pieces to fire to be a contender in 2022. Getting Harding back into top touch is crucial for the side who’s streak ended at six against a Tigers team spending their last weekend with uber talented centre Lachy Olbrich. The Flames have a few more weapons but the Tigers will turn this into a tight tussle…

Key Stat – Harding was in scintillating form last time they met with 27 points and 10 rebounds and along with McBride (18 points, 3 assists and steals) combined for 18 of the Flames 23-11 last quarter points that sealed the match.

ESPN Prediction: Flames by 7 points

Sturt Sabres vs North Adelaide Rockets – (Springbank – The Cave)

LTTM: North Adelaide Rockets 65 (Taylor 22, Defrancesco 15) lost to Sturt Sabres 75 (Z Walker-Roberts 20, Williams 18, Close 17) – Split 10 points to Sabres

Women (6:30pm)

The pieces that made this a much closer affair won’t be there this time and the Sabres will be desperate not to slide with a pivotal clash the next evening. They won’t want to get too far ahead of themselves though as this Rockets still has plenty of talent that can hurt you and Taylor was tough to guard last time. I think Williams is the key here, she dominated last time and should guide the Sabres to the win that keep pace with the challengers…

Key Stat – ZWR and BMW (Brilliant Mikayla Williams) combined for 13 of their 7-18 quarter points with Walker-Roberts finishing with a career high 20 points at 66.6 percent, 6 assists and 5 rebounds and Williams with 18 points and 14 rebounds.  

ESPN Prediction: Sabres by 25 points

Men (8:15pm)

LTTM: North Adelaide Rockets 90 (Rathjen 22, Winn 16, Dau 15) defeated Sturt Sabres 73 (Meakes 16, Rigoni 15) – Split 17 points to Rockets

There’s a sniff of an early elimination here with the repercussion for the losers and more importantly the split up for grabs. Some big pieces have been missing for both sides in Rathjen and Daly. If both, one or neither play it sways this result. Potentially the Sabres Haygood can be the gamebreaker in the paint against Akoh and that’s why I think the Sabres may win and cause they have to will do just enough to get the split reversed as well.   

Key Stat – A 26-13 second quarter led by Brad Rathjen who finished with 22 points at 66 percent was the big difference in the contest through four quarters. Notably Joel Spear was struck with foul trouble and held to single figures…

ESPN Prediction: Sabres by 18 points

Eastern Mavericks vs Woodville Warriors (St Francis – The Shooting Gallery)

LTTM: Woodville Warriors 70 (Tunour-McCarty 25, Winter 16, Horskins 13) defeated Eastern Mavericks 69 (Lefebvre-Okankwu 27, Bradley 17) – Split 1 point to Warriors

Women (6:30pm)

Two teams again looking more to finish top of the bottom four and prove they are the next best so this split becomes quite important to do so. Its been a big week for Renai Fejo of the Warriors who has made appearances on the NBL1 Show and The Hoopsters NBL1 Central Basketball Show and of course spoke to the SA Cross Over Dribble as you saw in our opener. She was a key figure late last time these two plays and could be once again if given the minutes to stretch out and show her deadly skills. Chloe Dumesny was player of the week and has shown us the missing the link for the Mavs; she’ll need to repeat her performance again to support the likely high numbers of Lefebvre-Okankwu. The Warriors made life very tough for Gouchie-Provencher last time; if they can do it again, I think they can get the win.  

Key Stat – Turnour-McCarty played all 45 minutes last time; if she can do that again it increases the Warriors chances of victory twofold; find foul trouble and the Mavs have the upper hand…

ESPN Prediction: Warriors by 3 points

Men (8:15pm)

LTTM: Woodville Warriors 96 (McGee 22, Stepney 18, Wurn 14, Jackson 13) defeated Eastern Mavericks 60 (Raneburg 18, Miskovic 14, Kennedy 12) – Split by 36 points to Warriors

If the Mavs were a bit closer to pushing for the final five you feel they’d give this one a red hot go and its not that they won’t, but the stakes aren’t as high for them as they might have been had they turned some result in their second half of season examination. The interest in this one lies with how the Warriors guard McCalop, Legan and Dimakopoulos who did not play the last time they met. The Warriors should take this one comfortably having shown they can guard any team in this league with their defensive sets…

Key Stat – Devon McGee against his old side once again had an affinity for dunks and points with 22 points and 7 rebounds; expect him to be a factor once again…

ESPN Prediction: Warriors by 22 points

Round 14

Saturday 9/07/2022

Forestville Eagles vs Woodville Warriors (Wayville – The Nest) – Kayo Game of the Week

Women (6:15pm)

LTTM: Woodville Warriors 58 (Winter 19, Tunour-McCarty 15) lost to Forestville Eagles 78 (S Simons 31, Hines 17) – Split 20 points to Eagles

The start of Round 14 really comes down to how teams recover from the previous night with the Eagles not having played a definite factor. If the Warriors put everything into their previous night unfortunately it is likely they’ll be ripe for the picking. It was Sam Simons that helped the Eagles put away the Warriors last time; she’s likely to do it again and continue a potential Halls medal season.

Key Stat – Last time they met, the Eagles put the game away early in the third quarter opening with a 2-13 run that shut any chance of a Warriors a fightback after leading 44-31 at the main break.

ESPN Prediction: Eagles by 23 points

Men (8:00pm)

LTTM: Woodville Warriors 108 (Humphries 33, Wurn 28, Stepney 18) defeated Forestville Eagles 57 (Doyle 14) – Split 51 points to Warriors  

This is the big one and the Andy Simon’s Eagles would definitely have had this one pencilled in the re-address book. Despite the brilliance of the Warriors, the Eagles did not show up defensively last time allowing the top of table team to dictate then close them defensively and having witnessed it with my own eyes; it was mind boggling. The Eagles have more pieces this time with Purchase in but will miss DJ with 3×3 duties for Australia despite being a non-factor last time they met. This one is really tight to call but the Warriors form has been irresistible, but I think the Eagles will be more desperate to show their colours and inflict the first loss on the Warriors since Round one…  

Key Stat – The Warriors were switched on from the get-go shooting over 50 percent from the field while the Eagles could only manage 20 percent in the first half. 22 points in the first half to guard Nick Wurm at 85 percent set the scene for an incredible performance from the home side as they won every statistical category imaginable; all of that simply must be reversed for the homeside to win…

ESPN Prediction: Eagles by 2 points

Sturt Sabres vs Southern Tigers (Springbank – The Cave)

Women (6:30pm)

LTTM: Southern Tigers 72 (McKendrick 32, Skinner 18, Yaeger 13) lost to Sturt Sabres 79 (Williams 21, K Mathews 14, Prosser 13) – Split 7 points to Sabres

This looms as an early must win in the context of the teams around them for both sides and should be a thrilling contest. The Tigers must win by 8 or more to gain this split and that is a very doable mission. The paint was a factor last time they met and despite her size DLC has been a huge addition to this area for the Tigers. But guarding and finding a way to stop Williams has to be a priority if the Tigers are to win here. The Sabres get this one but only cause it’s at home.

Key Stat – The Sabres had 26 points in the paint compared to 16 which proved a big difference between the two sides last time they met

ESPN Prediction: Sabres by 2 points

Men (8:15pm)

LTTM: Southern Tigers 79 (L Olbrich 17, Daniels 15, Martin, Machar 14) lost to Sturt Sabres 93 (Daly 20, Meakes 18, Spear 16, Rigoni 13) – Split 14 points to Sabres

The last game for Lachy Olbrich before he heads off to college for the remainder of the season could be a last hurrah for the Tigers; and they did hang around the Sabres until the third quarter which was the difference. Depending on what happens the previous night; the result could go either way. I’m taking the Sabres but with no confidence to be honest…

Key Stat – A 13-29 third quarter saw the Sturt Sabres tame the tyro Tigers; It might take one big patch for either side in this game to separate the two…

ESPN Prediction: Sabres by 5 points

North Adelaide Rockets vs Eastern Mavericks (Lights – The Launch Pad)

Women (6:30pm)

LTTM: Eastern Mavericks 69 (Lefebvre-Okankwu 17, Bradley 13) lost to North Adelaide Rockets 72 (Defrancesco 17, Badenoch 14, Corrigan 12) – Split 3 points to Rockets

The Mavs will have not forgotten the last time they played the Rockets and will no doubt have pencilled this one in as a payback game. Player to player they stack up a much bigger bodied lineup compared to the Rockets as they are now and with the outside presence gone for the season; the Mavs should find a way to get another win this weekend and regain the split in the process.    

Key Stat – “De-Fran” was pivotal with 17 points and with import Peyton Taylor (11 points in an off-shooting night, 10 rebounds and 4 assists) and co-captain Lauren Badenoch (14 points and 6 rebounds) held off a Mavs comeback; she won’t be there to do it again this time…

ESPN Prediction: Mavericks by 18 points

Men (8:15pm)

LTTM: Eastern Mavericks 66 (McCalop 22, Knibbs 16, Kennedy 12) lost to North Adelaide Rockets 96 (Winn 19, Marshall 16, Harrap 15) – Split by 30 points to Rockets

Another game where the result of the previous night would determine the nature of this one. The Rockets however you feel will be coming off a hard matchup compared to the Mavs (in the sense of margin you feel) and that would play into the visiting Mavs hands. I’m really worried about the recovery for the Rockets combined with the height of McCalop and Dimakopoulos who may be keen to impress some specific onlookers in these final weeks of the season. I think the Mavs might get an upset here purely on those factors   

Key Stat – Winn dropped 19 points including a windmill dunk that rocked the Gallery and 11 rebounds to lead Dylan Marshall (16 points) and Riley Harrap (15 points and 6 rebounds) after they destroyed the Mavs in the first quarter 5-27; a slow start must be prevented by the Mavs

ESPN Prediction: Mavericks by 3 points

West Adelaide Bearcats vs Norwood Flames (Port Adelaide – The Bearcat Cave)

Women (8:15pm)

LTTM: Norwood Flames 95 (Wilson 36, Basham 25, Akuen 13) lost to West Adelaide Bearcats 104 (Fejo 39, Rintala 21, Simmons, K Pearce 12) – Split 9 points to Bearcats

It was a deadly duel last time these teams met and with First Nations Round we are likely to see a repeat performance from Fejo and Wilson. The Flames have Coleman now to counter the experience they encountered last time. With both teams potentially I think coming off losses; its too close to call this one so will take the Bearcats at home just to be safe based on the fact the Flames haven’t beaten them there since pre 2019…  

Key Stat – Fejo was fire as she scored 17 of the Bearcats 31 first quarter points and helped extend the lead from there. She finished with 63 percent from the field including 12-16 from the charity stripe, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and steals; they were deadly numbers…

ESPN Prediction: Bearcats by 3 points

Men (6:30pm)

LTTM: Norwood Flames 72 (Harding, McBride 18, Green 12) defeated West Adelaide Bearcats 68 (Sheppard 16, Washington 14, Cadzow 13) – Split 4 points to Flames

This was one of the games where the Bearcats got plenty of support from the supporting cast especially in the finish of the last match. The Flames got the hot start though and they’ll need to do that again at a rocking Bearcat Cave where the homeside will have good vibes after last weeks upset of the Sabres. The Bearcats will fancy themselves, but the Flames have shown they are in the post-season conversation; they’ll get this one just…

Key Stat – A 27-16 start ended up being just what was needed as the Norwood Flames held off the fast-finishing West Adelaide Bearcats. The Bearcats scored 12 of the last 18 points in the match but couldn’t quite catch the Flames.

ESPN Prediction: Flames by 6 points

South Adelaide Panthers vs Central District Lions (Mitchell Park – The Jungle)

Women (6:30pm)

LTTM: Central District Lions 71 (Samuels 33, Washington 15) lost to South Adelaide Panthers 93 (Spencer 32, Levicki 22, Johnson 15, Stewart 12) – Split 22 points to Panthers

The Lions get a good shot having not played Friday night against the Panthers at the Jungle and no doubt couple of the Lions key players in Samuels and Washington could cause them some bother. They’ll need a big game from Bennett to get close, but I think the Panthers will be too strong as they eye off bigger cats to claw…  

Key Stat – The Panthers did the damage in the second and third quarter last time they met with a combined 33-60 scoreline with 54 of their total points coming from superstars Ash “Splash” Spencer (32 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals) and Olivia Levicki (22 points and 7 rebounds)…

ESPN Prediction: Panthers by 13 points

Men (8:15pm)

LTTM: Central District Lions 92 (Dowdell 26, Johnson 21, Koko 14, Garang 12) lost to South Adelaide Panthers 94 (Smith 37, Barton 14, Davies 12) – Split 1 point to Panthers    

Hardly any defence was played last time these teams met as you can see in the scores and was a high scoring thriller at the Den. Both teams have plenty of star players in form and new additions from last time with the Panthers Starling starting to hit the next gear, Barton hitting “Hawkeye” arrows from deep while the Lions have Jenkins and Manyang to bolster their scoring power. The Panthers need to keep winning but I think the Lions need this one in the context of their season bit more; they’ll get an upset here…

Key Stat – Smith once again came up in red-time as he scored 12 points in the final five minutes of the contest; if the Lions can stop him they can win…

ESPN Prediction: Lions by 4 points

Sunday 10/07/2022

Central District Lions vs Forestville Eagles (Starplex – The Den)

Women (3:00pm)

LTTM: Forestville Eagles 78 (S Simons 40, Hines 14) defeated Central District Lions 76 (Washington 26, Samuels 23, Bennett 12) – Split 2 points to Eagles

This could be the upset brewing with the Lions at home and the Eagles coming off their Saturday night against the Warriors. I mentioned a while back that this might be one of two games the Lions could get for timing and location. They matched up well against the Eagles last time they met; I think they get the upset courtesy of big-time work for their two imports and Samuels…

Key Stat – It took 40 minutes and a career high 40 points for Sam Simons to stave off the Lions last time…

ESPN Prediction: Lions by 3 points

Men (4:45pm)

LTTM: Forestville Eagles 104 (Doyle 25, Mays 23, Machar 20, Brine 14, Rios 12) defeated Central District Lions 78 (Deer 15, Bol 14, Dowdell, Garang 13) – Split 26 points to Eagles

The Eagles have been super on Sundays having won all three of their Sunday afternoon fixtures so far this season (Sabres, Lions and Rockets); without too much analysis on this one I think the Eagles will make that four in a row on super Sunday for them regardless of the previous night’s results…

Key Stat – A 40-17 first quarter led by Doyle (25 points at 66 percent with 4-6 triples, 8 assists and 3 steals and rebounds), Machar (20 points at 66 percent and 8 rebounds), Rios (12 points) blitzed the Lions and they never really recovered.

ESPN Prediction: Eagles by 15 points

We are back to doing recaps for the NBL, Catch all the NBL1 Central action this weekend on the NBL1 website, app and game of the week in Round 13 between the Forestville Eagles and the Woodville Warriors on Kayo and Kayo Freebies tomorrow.

NBL1 – Australia’s League

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