Author: Tristan Prentice

NBL1 Central Round One Womens – McKendrick magic return runs over Lions

The magical return of Mollie Mckendrick rose the Southern Tigers to an opening round win over the Central Districts Lions in their first Safari Cup matchup of 2026 – 85-63 at the Cage.

Photo provided by @justbphotoau

3-Minute Read

The Tigers unleashed in the first term with the new one-two strike of returning Tiger Mollie McKendrick and the double double machine of Holly Forbes as the pair combined for 25 points in the opening term. The Lions new import that the Den fans will fall in love with in Grace Stone made her impression and intentions clear early with some huge triples in the first quarter – three in all however the Tigers had the first swipe 32-18 after one. 

Romancing the Stone: The Lions fans got a small glimpse into the game of Grace Stone from the NBL1 West Perry Lake Hawks – Photo by Melissa Belanic

McKendrick continued to wreck havoc inside the paint and at the mid-range as she peeled off turnaround jumpshot and layup after layup contested with the home side jumping out to a game high 31 point with another returnee Rosie Williamson (Five points, nine assists & six steals) delivering the dimes and deliveries for the paint providers. The Lions continued to pepper from beyond the arc with varying degrees of success but trailed 58-30 at the main change.

It didn’t get much prettier from there as the Tigers answered each Lions attempt to reduce the margin. Stone and one sister for another recruit in Terran Wright (Eight points & five rebounds on return from NBL1 North & UBL) tried to reel it back in but Sophie Rogers (Eight points & four rebounds) triple and more Forbes free throws extended back out to 31 points and an unassailable 69-41 three quarter time lead.

Paw Paint Paired: The Southern Tigers re-added former import Holly Forbes in the off season and got their first look at the paint pair in their opening round win – photo by Melissa Belanic

The Lions came out in the fourth with split and pride in mind led by Emily & Georgia Winter with Tiahna Sears (eight points & 11 rebounds) in limited minutes refinding her feet however Williamson capped off the win with some points of her own delivering first time head coach Dan Cahill a first up win in 2026. 

It all revolved around the Tigers big paint paws of Mckendrick (28 points at 63 percent & nine rebounds) and Forbes (26 points, 10 rebounds & six steals) with plenty of support from the likes of Annie Bartsch with Eight points, seven rebounds & three assists), Williamson and Filipino recruit Jaz Joson.

Stone for the Lions was the leading player of the night for the away side with an impressive debut of 19 points with six triples at 50 percent & four rebounds with Alex Howden contributing 10 points, three assists & steals.

 The numbers that mattered 

  • The Tigers through their “Paw Paint Pair” of Mckendrick and Forbes guided them to 56 percent from 2pt range and 18 of 25 from the free throw line
  • Tigers ball movement was on point with 20 assists 
  • Lions lived and died by the three point line shooting nine of 42 from beyond the arc
  • In the first half McKendrick and Forbes combined for 40 points in the first half of the Tigers 58
  • 85 is the highest score team score for the Southern Tigers since 101 points against the Woodville Warriors in 2024   

The Three Takeaways 

  • Bring on the “Paw Paint Pair” of McKendrick and Forbes in a return to old fashioned paint oriented hoops
  • Lions need an inside presence which they’ll get later into the season but need it quicker
  • Continuity & familiarity are the keys to accelerating a side’s development in a new season – the Tigers may have plenty of new faces from last season but plenty of these players have played together before or are connected and it shows

SOUTHERN TIGERS 85 (McKENDRICK 28, FORBES 26, BARTSCH, ROGERS 8, WILLIAMSON 7)

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 65 (STONE 19, HOWDEN 10, SEARS 8, T WRIGHT 7)

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES OF THE NBL1 CENTRAL

Every game deserves to be reported on including the history and background of the league – in 20 years time we may find it very difficult to look back at history and find data (as we are finding already in searching for past results and impact) so writing these articles is essential for capturing the essence of the league.

We have 300 plus players on lists of the NBL1 Central – $5 a week from every player and the NBL1 community will help you make sure you get written about by a local who knows the league in and out and has been active in the space the last five years and beyond. We need your support with more so please consider our options or consider sponsoring the website which also has an accompanying podcast and broadcasting of the NBL and WNBL through the Collective group.

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NBL1 Central Round One Mens – Warrior debutants dominate Flames in ARC assault

The Woodville Warriors dominant second half was the catalyst to dismantle the new look Norwood Flames 60-98 at the ARC.

Photo provided by @heathshotit

3-Minute Read

It was the Flames new import face in University of Chicago Thomas Kurowski that made the first move though with a strong opening stanza of nine points but it didn’t take long for Machar to make his mark with a triple backed up by new imports COE College Bennett Sherry and defensive dime out of Europe LJ Booth as the Warriors edged in front 18-19 at the first change. 

The second term was the all-star above the rim show with Kurowski opening the second term before Joe Jackson threw down the one handed on his right and Booth finished with two hands as well off the pass – but none were as high octane and aerial as Machar as he soared above all for the one handed right hand slam

Nick Wurm broke it up with a triple only to be met by veteran Daniel Webber with one of his own. Campbell Scott (Nine points, six rebounds & three assists) the New Zealand guard for the Flames under new head coach kiwi himself Miles Pearce made his own then Booth splashed one in response to make it 34-38 at the half time interval. 

Machar drained another triple to open the third with Booth always active on the glass and a much needed inclusion for the Warriors in the absence of Steve Partfitt. Uzo Dibiamaka and Wurm with big time pushes to kick it out to 36-50 and a 2-12 run. New Flames import Inady Legiste broke the run but the Warriors began to assert control with Machar dropping another triple and finished the strong quarter with an easy layup to leave it 44-64 with one to go. 

The pain continued to pile on for the Warriors who’s defensive chemistry with its core undid the Flames new unit despite Kurowski continuing to tick the scoreboard over. Machar took advantage with his breakout game as the Warriors and Flames both cleared the bench with Bailey Nathan making some additions late for his first points including a triple off the back of another excellent UBL showing for the Adelaide Waatu as the Warriors secured their biggest win against the Flames in multiple years. 

From the pine it was a strong showing from Awak Machar with 22 points and three triples, nine rebounds & three assists while an impressive double double debut from LJ Booth with 19 points and 10 rebounds was paired with five offensive rebounds. Dibiamaka showed he’s ready to rise the level with 14 points, 11 rebounds & six assists.

Kurowski was consistent through four quarters in his first appearance with 24 points, seven rebounds and four steals plus some strong finishes but no other Flame made double figures in a lean night.   

 The numbers that mattered 

  • The Flames had five players with five or more but only Kurowski made double figures
  • This is the Warriors biggest win against the Flames since pre 2015 with the average margin around 12 points per game since then between the two
  • The Warriors shot the ball at 50.98 percent from 2PT range while the Flames only 31.7 
  • The second half was where this was won with the Warriors defence marching them to a 60-26 domination     

The Three Takeaways 

  • The grit and grind of the Warriors is the key to their success again in 2026
  • Kurowski showed he can be a legit fire in this league
  • Machar with additional athleticism is ready to show what he’s about on a more than regular basis

NORWOOD FLAMES 60 (KUROWSKI 24, SCOTT 9) 

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 98 (A MACHAR 24, UZO DIBIAMAKA 14, SHERRY, WURM 9, MELDRUM 8, JACKSON 7)

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES OF THE NBL1 CENTRAL

Every game deserves to be reported on including the history and background of the league – in 20 years time we may find it very difficult to look back at history and find data (as we are finding already in searching for past results and impact) so writing these articles is essential for capturing the essence of the league.

We have 300 plus players on lists of the NBL1 Central – $5 a week from every player and the NBL1 community will help you make sure you get written about by a local who knows the league in and out and has been active in the space the last five years and beyond. We need your support with more so please consider our options or consider sponsoring the website which also has an accompanying podcast and broadcasting of the NBL and WNBL through the Collective group.

Support local writing for nbl1 central

All Episodes of the SA Shotclock now available on Spotify

NBL1 Central Round One Womens – Brittany best hits back in Warriors last quarter hold-off of Flames

It was a case of the MVP best hits as a stirring return of Brittany Hodges guided the Woodville Warriors to an 81-86 win over the Norwood Flames at the ARC.

Photo provided by Sport in Focus

3-Minute Read

In her return to the league for the first time since 2024 – the MVP was pivotal in the final term comeback for the Warriors over the Flames. It started tight with Hodges and Ambah Kowcun, the new skipper for the Warriors, hitting the scoreboard early. Import guard Dara Mabrey made a strong impression first up with a pair of triples echoing WNBA sister Marina & Notre Dame sister Michaela in her stead but forging her own path. In a night of returns former Forestville Eagle Amy Cotton (feature image) back from Houston Christian University made her mark on the match with some tough makes early and a long triple as both teams ended the first in a tight spot 21-23. 

Notre Dame Downloaded: Dara Mabrey touched down as one of three sisters from the famous basketball family as is looking to make an impression after her first NBL1 Central outing for the Norwood Flames – Photo supplied by Sports In Focus

Mabrey continued to be an issue in the second drawing fouls and continuously finding the charity stripe but another returnee in Taylor Ortlepp back from AFLW duties made a carpark deep triple for the Warriors to keep it moving forward for the yellow and green. The game did not move beyond the two basket mark in the second as blow for blow was traded by Annie Elliott & Caitlin Shillabeer off the back of a huge UBL season with the Adelaide Waatu and Naomi Allotey (five points, 10 rebounds & five assists) tying it all up 44-44 a piece at the half.

The push came from the home side in the third as they gathered momentum through dynamic guard Maddy Hinton, imports Mabrey and Cali Clark (Six points and rebounds) and Cotton as the Flames jumped out to a 14-6 start. The Warriors quickly reversed it with a tough Ortlepp drive and some more Kowcun free throws to level it up 58-58 a piece before sharp shooter Brook Silby entered the frame for the Flames with a heater from outside to push it back out to 63-58 with one to play.

In the final term with the game on the line 64-64 the two experienced heads of the Warriors took the game by the scruff of the neck in Ortlepp and Hodges as they combined for a final term haul to push the Warriors out to their biggest lead of the game 64-72 with a 0-12 run. The run was broken by another Waatu product in Jemima Whitton and some work from young debutant and recent Sapphire contender Lara Gribben but Ortlepp and Hodges continued to control proceedings but the Flames weren’t done yet.

Cotton continued to have an impact late with a tip in then finished the floater in transition and fed Shillabeer to cut it again to single digits. It was cut further by the Flames as Shillabeer hit another triple from outside as did Hinton to slash it to a single basket again 80-83. It took a steadying Hodges make to right the ship for the Warriors as they escaped the ARC with the win. 

Brittany Hodges was stirring in her return with player of the game honours with 30 points and nine rebounds as was Taylor Ortlepp with 21 points, five assists, four rebounds and steals. A step up for Kowcun saw her relish some new responsibility in the absence of 2025 championship players Jasmin Fejo and Erin Phillips with 20 points with four triples, four rebounds and three assists. 

The Flames for their first up effort with some new pieces would’ve been pleased with what they got from Amy Cotton with 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals backed up by the sharp shooting Shillabeer with 17 points at 4/7 from downtown & three rebounds. Hinton also hit the scoreboard throughout the night with 14 points, eight assists and new import Mabrey will only get stronger and better with 12 points, three assists and rebounds.

 The numbers that mattered 

  • The Warriors gained multiple additional possessions with 19 offensive rebounds to seven led by Naomi Allotey (5) and Hodges (4)
  • The Warriors however couldn’t capitalise on the outside triple with 26 percent on 8/30 from beyond
  • The Flames had 26 turnovers with three offensive foul turnovers in the final term
  • Taylor Ortlepp & Brttany Hodges had 9 points in the final term    

The Three Takeaways 

  • Amy Cotton is one of the local recruits of the season – both ends of the floor and physically strong and influential in contest 
  • Another AFLW player has an impact in a final quarter in Taylor Ortlepp 
  • Warriors have the pieces and balance to be top three – the Flames will be vast improvers and dangerous the more weeks go by

NORWOOD FLAMES 81 (COTTON 19, SHILLABEER 17, HINTON 14, MABREY 12) 

WOODVILLE WARRIORS 86 (HODGES 30, ORTLEPP 21, KOWCUN 20)

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES OF THE NBL1 CENTRAL

Every game deserves to be reported on including the history and background of the league – in 20 years time we may find it very difficult to look back at history and find data (as we are finding already in searching for past results and impact) so writing these articles is essential for capturing the essence of the league.

We have 300 plus players on lists of the NBL1 Central – $5 a week from every player and the NBL1 community will help you make sure you get written about by a local who knows the league in and out and has been active in the space the last five years and beyond. We need your support with more so please consider our options or consider sponsoring the website which also has an accompanying podcast and broadcasting of the NBL and WNBL through the Collective group.

Support local writing for nbl1 central

All Episodes of the SA Shotclock now available on Spotify