Author: Tristan Prentice

Preliminary Final weekend often throws up some of the games of the season and lucky for us the cream of the crop is rising to the top just in time for two potential overtime classics

3-Minute Read

Preliminary Finals

Sturt Sabres vs Norwood Flames 

Norwood Flames vs Southern Tigers (ARC – The Firedome)

Women (6:30pm)

Last time they met

QF: Southern Tigers 75 (McKendrick 22, Hernandez, Yaeger 14, Stasinowsky 10) defeated by Norwood Flames 83 (Smith 22, Wilson 19, Thompson 17, Kerridge 10)

Three burning questions for tonight…

How will Morgan Yaeger handle the Flames cooler Kerridge?

The question that coach Matt Clarke no doubt has been wrestling with since their last encounter. Although it’ll come down to more than just player matchups it’ll be a question how much physicality Flames cooler Sophie Kerridge will (and be allowed to apply) after a very physical game at the Cage in the qualifying final. This time they are on Kerridge’s home deck of the Flames but as Yaeger has said this week – she’s excited to go play at their place. Its clear that she embraces the adversity, and the Flames crowd might do their team a favour by giving Yaeger no fire to play with. No question Yaeger is a winner but with a much more mature mentality after her time under Shannon Seebohm at the Townsville Fire.

She knows how to handle the heat when it comes…

How do the Tigers stop Wilson getting downhill again?

If the NBL1 Central women’s season was a winter sport then Ally Wilson has won the downhill skiing season by a landslide in 2023. As the leading defensive rebounder of 2023, I would hazard a guess that she is largely responsible for the Flames large amount of fast break points – I’d say she’s at least top three in the league for finishing those points. Against the Tigers all her shots made were driving layups and pull up triples.

Great #basketball talent on show in #SouthAustralia this weekend 👌 https://t.co/p1vrUwl5Wz

— NBL1 CENTRAL (@Nbl1Central) July 28, 2023

It’s got to be a lot of Yaeger but the Tigers can’t have her commit fully with her needed at the offensive end. The big job must fall to Margot Hall but having been at the Tigers for multiple years and with no Mariah Martin – it’s her time…   

Do the Flames have one more match to strike up another cameo?

One thing that strikes me about the Flames is a cameo performance from one of their players against the Tigers has gotten them across the line. In their earlier encounter it was Kerridge with 21 points. In their regular season matchup against the Tigers at the Cage it was Jada Rice with 14 points and 21 rebounds. In the qualifying final it was Jorjah Smith with 22 points.

Does anyone sense after being sitting there all season a former Tiger may play a significant role tonight – Bella Stratford could be the one that points in the big cameo that gets the Flames into the last dance.

Key Statistics

Flames – Shot 11 triples at 32 percent in the qualifying final dominated rebounding (49) and steals (11) and scored 19 points from turnovers. In the semi-final they shot five triples at a woeful 16 percent, lost the rebounding by six (49) and turned it over 18 times. In the final term particularly which they lost 22-10, they conceded six points combined from turnover and second chance points, six turnovers and shot 27 percent from the field with 4 of 17.      

Tigers – Shot less than 30 percent (6/22) from beyond the arc and turned it over 18 times in the qualifying final. Against the Panthers in the semi-final, they shot 14 triples at 44 percent and turned it over 15 times (actually it’s the first time this combo has happened this season with normally less than 13 turnovers occurring) – they also had 23 assists.   

The Central Closer

The Flames have held the torch to the Tigers tail all season so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t back the Flames in, but the preliminary final is no ordinary game. History tells us these games in prelims between these two are super close with still a couple of Tigers around when they last got over the Flames in a thriller in the prelim of 2017 by 105-103 – there’d still be some storied memories of that time.

For me the game will be won when it comes down to all of it the hand of Yaeger or Wilson – whoever lasts in the game the longest will take their team to the big dance and I think it might be via extra basketball.

Just that battled hardened finals experience will play the most crucial part in the finish…     

COD Prediction: Tigers by 2 points in Overtime

Men’s Preliminary Final

West Adelaide Bearcats vs Sturt Sabres (Port Adelaide – The Bearcat Cave)

Men (7:30pm)

Last time they met

West Adelaide Bearcats 93 (McCarron, Olbrich 21, DeSantis 18, Drmic, Roxburgh 15) defeated Sturt Sabres 91 (Rasmussen 27, Rigoni 20, Forbes 18)

Three snarling questions for tonight…

So what actually happened last week?

The short answer is the Bearcats didn’t do too much wrong till the final minutes. They broke pretty even with the Eagles in all the other stats and most of their players played their role exactly as designed. The Eagles got a couple of cameos from Jordan Wilson and Isaac Jurecky. The ATO plays which were nearly identical as summed up by Pick and Rolls Jordan McCallum summed up one of those games that could’ve swung either way.   

Late game ATO scores in #NBL1Central. Malith Machar had 16 pts in the 3Q. Some interesting back and forth between Olbrich-Mays. Frenetic and inefficient game for a lot of it. pic.twitter.com/6eT2VYXgN0

— Jordan McCallum (@jordanmcnbl) August 3, 2023

Does Tobias have another “Finals” performance in him?

The big question I had over the Sabres coming into the season was who was going to play the five spot for them if they went deep into the season? They grabbed Jamie Smith from the Tigers who has started their majority of the season and served his role admirably. But the spectre of a man who knows how to play big finals game in Tobias Dowdell was always going to be his time “playing” his way into that position. After a horrific qualifying final his start to last Sunday afternoon set the tone for the Sabres for Forbes and Rigoni to dismantle the Panthers. Dowdell’s finals record includes 9 points and 11 rebounds in the 2021 Preliminary Final and 27 points (20 in the first half) and 10 rebounds in the 2021 Grand Final.

Coach Nyberg knows all too well the danger his former captain holds tonight…

Can Joel Spear be the one to separate the Sabres?

It’s been three months since Spear scored 15 or more points in an NBL1 Central game. Some of that naturally has been by design with four incredibly dominant teammates but it might be exactly the motivation the former Sturt Sabre needs to fire up for a big final. But mark my words he is capable having been part of the league’s 40 club and with all the attention defensively going onto McCarron, Drmic, Olbrich and DeSantis – Spear is absolutely due for a big haul.

It could come at the perfect time tonight…

Key Statistics

Bearcats – Are the #1 offensive team in the league averaging 97 points. In their last meeting (a better reflection of the two teams) they still shot 54 percent to win from the field, won the rebounds 44-35.

Sabres – Are the #1 defensive team in the league conceding just 77.6 points. In their last meeting they stole it 16 times to create 13 points from turnover and forced the Bearcats into 19 turnovers.

The Central Closer

It’s a classic offence versus defence argument in this one as to who progresses. I do feel minus Rasmussen the Sabres are down one really gun player to match it with the Bearcats but the Sabres are a misery bunch as well. Olbrich vs Dowdell and McCarron vs Forbes will decide this one as the most influential matchups.

Its hard to look past that NBL level talent and I think they’ll just get it but it will go right down to the wire and possibly also into extra time.  

COD Prediction: Bearcats by 3 points

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19-0, 10-0, 5-6 are just some of the numbers that could result out of this round of Women's finals in the NBL1 Central. 

3-Minute Read

Qualifying Semi-Final

Sturt Sabres vs Norwood Flames 

Women (Sunday 1:30pm) – The Cave

Results this season

Norwood Flames 55 (Thompson 22, Akuen 11, Kerridge 10) defeated by Sturt Sabres 88 (Williams 16, K Mathews, Z Walker-Roberts 9, Prosser 8)

Sturt Sabres 68 (Prosser 18, Brazel, Williams, N Mathews 14) defeated Norwood Flames 66 (Smith, Thompson 18, Rice 12, Akuen 10, Kerridge 8)

Matchups that matter

Tayla Brazel vs Ally Wilson

One of the saving graces for the Sabres is that Brazel will be in match conditioning with no weeks off after her Gems campaign recently concluded – Brazel returns as the defensive player of the year and has the biggest assignment to prove she deserves the crown. The Sabres have not dealt with Wilson at all this year – they can however anticipate that she’ll use her ability to get downhill which killed her defender last week at the Cage. The Sabres hope Brazel has enough petrol tickets to last the contest after playing nearly 35 plus minutes across all games in Spain.   

Nicola Matthews vs Sharna Thompson   

“We are winning this…” were the words of effect that echoed out of the Sabres timeout the last time they met – as described by Mathews on the Hoopsters NBL1 Central Basketball Show. Her hunger and desire to win from any position translates to results including being down 17 points with 3.5 minutes to go. Thompson has had a terrific season and played her roll very well stepping up when she’s needed to on the scoring front – also had a good season against the Sabres averaging 20 per game. She’ll help give the Flames a sneaky chance of an upset.    

Mikayla Williams vs Jada Rice

Back-to-back Halls Medals for the first time since 2004 was well deserved for the superstar of our league Williams – the only thing missing is a couple of huge dominant performances in finals one of which will take her Sabres to the championship. The Flames absolutely will need a game that not only matches Williams from Rice but potentially usurps it. Both have a hesitancy or need to shoot from far away from the hoop. You would think both teams will employ the strategy of physically getting them as far away from the basket as possible. Whoever can prevent that territory goes a long way to winning this one.  

Key Statistics

The Flames leading by 17 points in their last meeting had their game on toast – but it burnt to a crisp and this is how. In the final three and half minutes the Sabres were six assists, seven rebounds (four offensive), three steals with one turnover – it yielded 6/9 triples. The Flames were two rebounds, three turnovers, one steal which yielded 0/5 field goals. You couldn’t get a stark change in fortunes and the defensive pressure on glass and ball was amped up another level.

The Central Closer

Having watched all teams this season out of the ones remaining in season 2023 – the Flames I feel are the ones that can give the Sabres a red-hot run and break their unbeaten run. Historically on the women’s side the team coming in first place has won four out of the last five qualifying semi-finals (only the Tigers slipped up-to second place North in 2017) so you must back history in but it’s going to be a fascinating watch Sunday afternoon if the Flames can be the team that brings down this Sabres unit through and through…  

COD Prediction: Sabres by 2 points

Elimination Final

Southern Tigers vs South Adelaide Panthers

Women (Saturday 6:30pm) – The Cage

Results this season

South Adelaide Panthers 62 (Spencer 18, Stewart 13, DeFrancesco 11, Forbes 8) defeated by Southern Tigers 79 (Martin 16, Hernandez 14, McKendrick 13, Stasinowsky 11, Hall 10)

Southern Tigers 87 (Hernandez 19, Stasinowsky, Yaeger 18, McKendrick 14) defeated South Adelaide Panthers 54 (Forbes 18, Spencer 14, DeFrancesco 8)

Matchups that matter

Morgan Yaeger vs Jordan Hunter

If Yaeger thought Kerridge was a handful last week then one of the best defenders at the guard position in Jordan Hunter awaits. Yaeger started loose last week with 14 in the first quarter but after quarter time was face guarded. I’m sure Matt Clarke and hist coaching staff would’ve gone over how to free her up with their players but she’ll need a bit of luck as well after getting two fouls in the space of two minutes before the Tigers bench could react. Hunter will need to hurt at the offensive end too having averaged 11 points in all of their last three wins.    

Brittany Hernandez vs Holly Forbes

Both imports will hold the fortunes of their teams future in their hands especially when it comes to the glass. Both teams like most win when they control the glass and especially creating the second chance points off the offensive. Hernandez for the Tigers is ranked #11 (1.6 offensive) while Forbes is #6 (3.5 offensive) in rebounding for their teams – doesn’t that tell the story for both.  

Bianca Stasinowsky vs Sam DeFrancesco

Scoring to support the stars is where the Tigers have dominated in recent times, but the Panthers DeFrancesco can be the difference to give them a chance to snap the streak. She had a handy 11 points last week but if the Panthers are to finally break this streak then they need a big haul from her. The same can be said for Stasinowsky who is capable of the same type of numbers. She’s averaged 14.5 against the Panthers in 2023 but last week came up with just 10 points in the Tigers loss to the Flames – if Yaeger is blanketed again she’ll need to hit the scorecard this one.   

Key Statistics

Last week the Tigers shot under 30 percent from beyond the arc (27 percent) and turned the ball over 18 times – the need for ball security is key. The Panthers dominated the glass last weekend against the Rockets with Forbes, Ash Spencer and Darcy Rees amassing 61 rebounds including 22 offensive rebounds. They also managed to collect 17 second chance points off those 22 rebounds.  

The Central Closer

No matter the form it has been all Tigers hear on in with a commanding nine game winning streak over their rivals. The last Panthers win over the Tigers was in 2016 (82-54) – it’s been a long long time since their last win over their rivals and there is a sense they can finally end the drought in the best time possible.

The first five minutes will be telling – I must go with the Tigers but lets see what Panthers show up in the first five minutes then you’ll be able to tell if an upset is on the cards.  

COD Prediction: Tigers by 8 points

Qualifying Semi-Final

Forestville Eagles vs Sturt Sabres

Men (Sunday 2:00pm) – The Bearcat Cave

Results this season

West Adelaide Bearcats 100 (DeSantis 21, Olbrich 19, Roxburgh 18, Drmic 13, Spear 9) defeated Forestville Eagles 54 (Mays 11, Doyle 8)

Forestville Eagles 78 (Hulland 18, Machar 16, Rathjen 15, Doyle 14) defeated by West Adelaide Bearcats 82 (Olbrich 24, McCarron 21, DeSantis 18, Roxburgh 17)

Matchups that matter

Anthony Drmic vs Brad Rathjen

Two of the elite wing players of the league in 2023 matched up on each other in their earlier encounter and are set to go at it again. Drmic fresh of recent Tasmanian Jack jumper preseason sessions will be raring to go after his Northside Wizards couldn’t go all the way in NBL1 North 2022. Although he’s been playing on a off last few months, Drmic has been doing his thing averaging since June 24.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists. The man tasked to stop him is likely Rathjen who’s been in some just short of triple double form himself. Since the start of the month Rathjen has been averaging 10.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists. The influence these two have in their matchup on each other goes a long way to deciding this one.     

Nik DeSantis vs Jake Rios

Because of the names like McCarron, Drmic, Olbrich and Spear – DeSantis is the forgotten one of the dynamic opening five but surely Eagles fans in 2023 will not forget the impact he can have. He’s been one of the most damaging too with an average of 19.5 points at 60 percent. That’s what Rios needs to do back to the Bearcats – he’s been at 4.5 points at 27.5 percent. A lift from their scoring general is needed if they are to compete in this final.    

Fraser Roxburgh vs Owen Hulland

The impact of young Roxburgh can’t be underestimated including an ever improving scorecard weekly. It’d be hard to go past him for sixth man of the year with only slipping once below double figures and after the first two game averaging 15.73 points and five rebounds at around 50 percent from the field. He’s first in after the starters and has hurt the Eagles once off the pine then as a starter. Hulland last week in his ten minutes of game time struggled for impact on the game matchup wise. This team presents good opportunity to be physical with the likes of Olbrich which he’ll need to be off the pine.   

Key Statistics

The Bearcats formula has been simple with the NBL quality talent they’ve had on the floor. Their shooting efficiency is #1 in the league for field goals (50 percent), 2pt range (61 percent) and 3pt range (35 percent) dominating points in the paint (48.3), points from turnovers (11.7), steals (11) and several efficiency stats. The Eagles are just behind them in several categories but have the slight advantage statistically in the rebounding which they are +1.1 and assists as #1 in the league with 23.6 (2.7 ahead of West Adelaide).  

The Central Closer

The record for the men is not as good as in the women’s when it comes to the first seeded team with three of five having gone straight through with two going out in straight sets. Finishing first in the men’s is no guarantee to get through as history has shown. I’ll take the Bearcats with a cautionary tale of teams with stacked amounts of players in them and not enough role players.

Just look at what happened to you opponents West in 2022…  

COD Prediction: Bearcats by 5 points

Elimination Final

Sturt Sabres vs South Adelaide Panthers

Men (Sunday 3:30pm) – The Cave

Results this season

Sturt Sabres 64 (Forbes, Rigoni 19, Rasmussen 14) defeated by South Adelaide Panthers 76 (Starling 22, Hoppo 20, McVeigh 16, Johns 11)

South Adelaide Panthers 59 (Johnson 33, McVeigh 9) defeated by Sturt Sabres 87 (Forbes 30, Rasmussen, Rigoni 14, Brennan 11, Dowdell 10)

Matchups that matter

Jordan Forbes vs Alex Starling

Both the league coaches MVP and defensive player of the year is worth your Sunday afternoon admission fee – and yes it is likely they’ll go at each other. There’s not too much to touch on this matchup apart from Forbes has been a challenging matchup for the Panthers as noted in his average of 24.5 points – Starling didn’t play at the Jungle last time these teams met but after seeing him last night he’s raring to go as usual.    

Jacob Rigoni vs Daniel Johnson

Rigoni rained in some big shots against the Eagles and plays a similar role to Daniel Johnson in the Panthers team. Both are a tough guard at the three-point line because of the extra arc and length. DJ probably has a few more tricks in his footwork and passing game then Rigoni but Jacob hits glass hard for the Sabres. Although they didn’t matchup the last time they met with Dowdell in the starters in recent weeks – I see both what they bring to the table matching up on each other. If they do it’ll be an intriguing matchup.   

Sam Daly vs ???

Jake Burfitt on the Hoopsters NBL1 Basketball Show rightly pointed out the challenge the Panthers will have of guarding Daly. He’s the kind of player that would’ve been ideal for Lloyd McVeigh but he won’t be suiting up due to his D1 college commitment post season. That’s why I have question marks as it could be Davies put pace would be a concern, but he’d also be too nimble for Hoppo and Johns – though I think Johns is possibly the likely one with the length and experience.   

Key Statistics

The Sabres are defensive masters in 2023 #1 in points not conceded (77.6), three-point percentage (26.6) and are also top two in field goal percentage conceded (40) and points in paint conceded (37.1). The Panthers are in number two behind them in many of these areas – defence is where the game will be won numbers wise.    

The Central Closer

This game comes down to which of two of the stars of the league can break apart the opposition’s defence – it’s a classic bout of Forbes vs Starling. There will be some bit piece players but when it comes down to the crunch one of these two will take their team across the finish line. In a big final I can’t shake the Starling factor again and sense an upset…

COD Prediction: Panthers by 2 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 Second Round of the finals between the the Sturt Sabres Women and Men up against the Norwood Flames Women and South Adelaide Panthers Men on Kayo and Kayo Freebies this weekend.

NBL1 – Australia’s League

Please continue to support SA basketball news and features content being written as well as national/international with the Pick and Roll – with our influx of work we are making content all free to read but need constant contributions to make this happen. $5 a month is all we are asking – If not keen to subscribe then please message to receive direct debit details how you can keep these quality features being produced

History made in Halls/Woollacott - Brilliant Mikayla "BMW" Williams (left) is the first back-to-back medallist since 2004 and Jawan Stepney (right) the first for the Warriors since 2016 - pictured here with Tristan

3-Minute Read

NBL1 Central Expert/Commentator/Analyst Tristan Prentice reporting from the Halls Woollacott Medal last Sunday 23 July

Over 250 people attended the Halls Woollacott Medal for 2023 at the InterContinental Adelaide in a night of glitz and grandeur to celebrate one of the most competitive seasons of the state league ever seen. Hosted by “Downtown” Allan Browne who also has been rewarded with representing NBL1 Central as our commentator at the National Finals in Joondalup Western Australia August 18-21 – the consensus was unanimous from the players in the Halls but an open race for the Woollacott in the Mens.

Sturt Sabres brilliant Mikayla “BMW” Williams was crowned back-to-back Halls medals becoming the first since South Adelaide Panthers Deanna Smith in 2003 and 2004 to take out the accolade. Jess Foley of the Norwood Flames came close in 2011, 2012 and 2013 but Williams managed to equal the feat polling 38 votes to win comfortably from coaches MVP North Adelaide Rockets Brooke Basham. She beat out a field of contenders for runner up with Southern Tigers Mollie McKendrick, West Adelaide Bearcats Jasmin Fejo, Woodville Warriors Nicole Fransson and Merv Harris winner Forestville Eagles Maddy Freer (the first Eagle to win it since Olivia “Thompson” Levicki in 2013) making up the top five. Sabres Tayla Brazel the leader for steals in 2023 took out the defensive player of the year award setting her up for a big WNBL season with the Adelaide Lightning off her Gems campaign in Spain.

The All-Star five was a different story with several stars of the league including the Tigers Morgan Yaeger, Basham, Williams, Norwood Flames Ally Wilson and McKendrick named in the lineup. After an 18-0 season Tim Shortt of the Sturt Sabres was awarded back-to-back coach of the year awards the first since Kay Flynn of the Eagles in 2000-2001.

Woodville Warriors Jawan Stepney surprisingly although a clear candidate took out the Woollacott Medal comfortably by 12 votes from runner up Sturt Sabres Jordan Forbes who also won the coaches MVP award. Stepney became the third Warrior behind Nelson Kirksey (2016) and Alex Starling (2014). Stepney and Forbes beat out a field of contenders for runner up, South Adelaide Panthers Daniel Johnson, Central Districts Lions Branden Jenkins and West Adelaide Bearcats Lachlan Olbrich who also became the first back-to-back winner of the Frank Angove medal since three-time winner Jacob Holmes of the Eastern Mavericks in 2002-2004. Panthers Alex Starling took out defensive player of the year award capping another high quality season for the superstar of the league.

The All-Star five was varied with several stars of the league including the Bearcats Anthony Drmic and Olbrich, Forbes, Jenkins and Starling named in the lineup – amazingly Stepney did not make the all-star five. Paul “Rags” Rigoni of the Sturt Sabres won his fourth coach of the year award (2016, 2017 and 2021) putting him outright in the all-time accolades since 1998 with current coaches Scott Ninnis, Rupert Sapwell and Scott Whitmore with two each.

For the officials the Phillip Yuill medal for the Womens was awarded to Nathan Davis for the first time and for the Mens to Nathan Durant – it is Durant’s tenth award in either Mens and Womens since 2007 and he is now the all-time leader ahead of Phil Haines with nine awards.

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 First Round of the finals between the Forestville Eagles Men and the Sturt Sabres Men on Kayo and Kayo Freebies this weekend.

NBL1 – Australia’s League

Please continue to support SA basketball news and features content being written as well as national/international with the Pick and Roll – with our influx of work we are making content all free to read but need constant contributions to make this happen. $5 a month is all we are asking – If not keen to subscribe then please message to receive direct debit details how you can keep these quality features being produced