Category: NBL1

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 Mens – Manyang squared slam over Tigers in shootout

A double act of Adelaide 36ers DPs was the Den-light for the visiting Central Districts Lions as they outpaced the Southern Tigers 82-116 at the Cage in their Safari Cup win.

Photo provided by Melissa Belanic | @justbphotoau

3-Minute Read

The new look Tigers under new head coach former NBL1 East Inner West Bulls Ing Lau came out with a returning Koop McCalop jam but the Lions got off to the fast start. The emerging talent of the Lions was behind the early push of 6-18 before two young guns of the Tigers in Lachlan Dennis and the third 36ers DP in Che Brogan had a huge impact with some important paint finishes echoing the parents of past. The Tigers trailing 13-24 at the first interval. 

The Tigers put their hope in new import Devin Fortune and he delivered some key makes but that’s when the Lions Manyang show got really rolling as they made frequent visits to the charity stripe – with Deng making up for the missed free throw with the finish off the line.

His finish put the exclamation point on a dominant first half 29-53.

The “Manyang mayhem” continued in the third from everywhere, inside, beyond and at the stripe – the combination yielding 27 points for the third term. Despite the efforts of McCalop and Brogan trying to chip away at the margin there was no way these Lions were letting up as they pounced on a 56-87 lead with one quarter to play out. 

The mayhem carried on but the Tigers did get some early high percentage looks in the fourth with a couple of jams to Brandon Gillespie and Lem Ajith with finally the mayhem ended as coach Rupert Sapwell sat them down on the pine. The last cameo however came from Elijah Mackenroth as the rookie splurged on the Tigers with 11 points in five final minutes of action. The pain finally over for the homeside and wounds to lick after a rough night out against last year’s runner ups.

Manyang Mayhem monsters – Deng (pictured) and Magok Manyang produced the big figures with a combined 65 points & 24 rebounds – Photo by Melissa Belanic | @justbphotoau

Manyang squared was mayhem with Deng leading the way with 33 points at 87 percent, 14 rebounds, three assists while Magok added 32 points & 10 rebounds. Ayual Garang off the back of his strong UBL season for the Adelaide Waatu showed another level of improvement with 14 points & eight rebounds.

Devin Fortune showed he could turn things around for the Tigers quickly with 23 points & 10 rebounds on first showing while Brogan showed all the genes of his game with 18 points, seven rebounds & four assists.

 The numbers that mattered 

  • The Lions dominated on the offensive end of the floor with 56 percent from 2pt and 38 percent from range 
  • The Tigers shot 18 percent from three point range
  • “Manyang Mayhem” produced the big figures with a combined 65 points & 24 rebounds     

The Three Takeaways 

  • If the Tigers are to rely on their three point percentage then their execution of the ball movement has to be much cleaner – should come in time
  • Che Brogan gives plenty for coach Ing Lau to work with this season   
  • Manyang Mayhem is a real thing but how long can it last in 2026

SOUTHERN TIGERS 82 (FORTUNE 23, BROGAN 18, McCALOP 12)

CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS 116 (D MANYANG 33, M MANYANG 32, A GARANG 14, E MACKENROTH 11, SCHELL 9, HARRAP 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