NBL1 Central Round One Mens – Opener to Dyer for but Bearcats survive Rocket fuelled flash in OT

The preseason predictions could not contrast more the outcome of this contest however the West Adelaide Bearcats found enough to stave off one of the upsets of the weekend from the North Adelaide Rockets 95-104 in an overtime thriller at the Lights.

Photo provided by Sarah Connor Photography

3-Minute Read

Second year recruit Joel Dyer made his intentions known from the opening tip finding an open triple to open the contest but making his return to the league Nik De Santis also announced his presence with eight opening quarter points. The match deadlocked at 25-25 a piece after the first ten minutes. 

Rockets recruit Oskar Jones struck a triple but some crafty play from another returning guard to league in Isaac Atuer (Nine points) kept things even, however Dyer kept things rolling for the Rockets. It took Riley Real searching for a bigger role in 2026 to finish the and1 to give the Bearcats the lead by the barest of margins 43-44 at the main break.

New import for West Braelan Bridges finally constructed some key makes as he opened the third with the and1 then Tom Kubank back in West colours for the first time in close to a decade hit an important triple to keep the Bearcats in front. Dyer again however struck back to along with Jones but almost like a rerun of the second – Real again finished on the buzzer to this time give the away side a 69-74 with one to play. 

Another savvy recruit over the preseason in Anok Magot showed some strong signs the Nyberg has nailed another role player recruit, getting the Bearcats out to double figures 71-81. The Bearcats had several attempts to close this one out earlier but with Kubank & De Santis missing closing baskets enter Dyer yet again raining in three triples in the final term to cut it to 84-88 with just over two minutes to play. It became habitual for the frustrating Bearcats down the stretch missing their makes and the Rockets believing they could steal it at the death. Kubank’s drawn foul for the and1 however left it teetering with 31 seconds to play.

Enter Oskar Jones with the attempt to take it to overtime 90-90.

After nearly coughing it up during regulation the Bearcats would not let North get control from here as the Rockets shots dried up and Bridges built the response for the Bearcats with Real sealing the victory 95-104 in the finish

Through four terms and OT Bridges was the player of the game with 26 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks with De Santis notching a double double of 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in his first game since the 2023 championship. Kubank also added 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists while Real had a career high 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and steals. 

Dyer was outstanding with a career high 29 points with six triples and assists while Jones added 23 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals filling all areas of the stats sheet. Machar Machar also pocketed 18 points and eight rebounds to boot. 

 The numbers that mattered 

  • The Bearcats dominated the rebounds with a smashing 38-64 (with 27 offensive rebounds) but couldn’t capitalise on their opportunities with 42 makes from 92 attempts
  • Riley Real was +22 on the floor for the night for the Bearcats in his minutes
  • The Rockets had three returning players that clocked minutes in their first game for 2026 (Dyer, Machar and Al-Ani)     

The Three Takeaways 

  • You just know the Bearcats have more coming but the additions of Atuer, Magot and Kubank are more than handy
  • Rockets still can’t play 40 (45 minutes) of defence but they can certainly put the ball in the hole in different ways
  • The Dyer/Jones combination will be how the Rockets live or die in 2026 on the floor

NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS 95 (J DYER 29, JONES 23, M MACHAR 18, KING 8, B MACDONALD 7)

WEST ADELAIDE BEARCATS 104 (BRIDGES 26, DE SANTIS 18, KUBANK 16, STOCK 12, REAL 12, ATUER 9, MAGOT 7)

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