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
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 weekfrom 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.
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
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 weekfrom 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.
Its Euro-Trip to SA as several names arrive from Europe and interstate including Osk Siguardardottir, the SA version of the Greek freak and the number one scorer from the East. Plenty of teams starting to make moves despite negative records throws intrigue and suspense into the Round 8 of NBL1 Central action this weekend…
BJ and the Bandit - Branden Jenkins comes to the league as no joke having topped the scoring averages in NBL1 East already this season to join Bijan Johnson at the Lions. Photo by James Wiltshire
5-Minute Read
Saturday 28/05/2022
Forestville Eagles vs Norwood Flames – (Wayville – The Nest)
Women (6:15pm)
Former teammates will come to clash as a game that looks to separate the table apart in the middle finally comes to the league. The Eagles are coming off a long break since their last game (against Sturt Sunday May 8) while the Flames won both their games back-to-back last weekend. Don’t be surprised to see an unlikely but also logical matchup with Wilson and Simons taking on each other. Both sides probably realise they are the match-winners and Stratford can take Basham in what looms as a battle worth the price of admission. It might come down to Genna Anderson who caused all sorts of problems for the Eagles last season with 17 points and 11 rebounds and 18 points and 10 rebounds in their fixtures. The Flames were one of my early favourites for the titles and I think they are getting on their rool now and the Eagles are next in the firing line.
Key Stat – The Eagles are shooting 34 percent from beyond the arc and are number one in the competition; The Flames have launched an average of 21.6 from there compared to the Eagles 23.16. Might come down to who can hit the target from their 20 odd attempts best.
ESPN Prediction: Flames by 7 points
Men (8:00pm)
The Eagles will be looking to put the pain on the team that knocked them out of the finals in 2022. Coming off a confident boosting victory over the COE, the Eagles machine is starting to click into place but the other confident group have also found their groove. After knocking off the undefeated Rockets perhaps Tim Odell has found the formula for his Flames. The Flames have some useful assets that could trouble many of the Eagles players, but I think it’s a case of just one too many to stop for this team. I think this one is likely to be a shootout with the Eagles getting home in a much closer contest than maybe we thought a few rounds ago.
Key Stat – Both teams are miserly with ball in hand with the Flames equal number 2 and the Eagles number 4 for turnovers in the competition.
ESPN Prediction: Eagles by 5 points
Woodville Warriors vs Southern Tigers – (St Clair – The Castle)
Women (6:30pm)
The Warriors look mis-matched in this one against the in-form Tigers who took out the top of the table Panthers last weekend. If the Warriors are to cause a major upset, they are going to need to hold the Tigers to a score if 50-60 for the game and force everyone but Yaeger, Skinner and McKendrick to beat them. I simply can’t see how they can hold all three that quiet and the Tigers should continue their strong run against the Warriors women in recent years.
Key Stat – The Warriors will need more scoring production off their steals only averaging 59.9 points per game this season.
ESPN Prediction: Tigers by 33 points
Men (8:15pm)
The Warriors are rolling for 2022 but have to continue the momentum going after starting 3-1 in 2021 they came up short of the finals with a 8-10 record. Now they are 6-1 and, in the territory, where they dropped games, they should’ve won. The young talented Tigers may prove a challenge with Olbrich in scintillating form having scored 17, 29 and 23 points and the two imports Martin and Daniels starting to find their niche. Overall, the Warriors are so potent and defensively locked in for 2022; can’t see them dropping this one and keeping a hold on the top of the table for now…
Key Stat – The Warriors offence has been incredible this season number one in the league with an average of 98 points per game and 22.7 assists per game; they are a legit contender in 2022.
ESPN Prediction: Warriors by 18 points
South Adelaide Panthers vs Sturt Sabres (Marion – Michael Ahmatt Court)
Women (6:30pm)
The top of the table clash sees once again the Panthers who have struggled against the Sturt Sabres defensive sets traditionally attempting to inflict their first loss of the season on the double blues. Last season the Panthers beat the Sabres in the qualifying final 79-93 with Ash “Splash” Spencer incredible in the final quarter to break the hoodoo; each side has one key difference with Jade Johnson now on the other side and the Sabres finding a key import fit in Williams. The Panthers however have a player that can counteract the impact of Williams in new import from Iceland Izzy Osk Siguardardottir who with a high arching jump shot should be a treat to watch for NBL1 Central fans. As good as the Sabres have been this season I think this time with Johnson in the blue and white corner; this match is going the way of South just…
Key Stat – The coach that masterminded the Panthers downfall numerous times for the Sabres is now a key assistant at South in John Turnbull; he knows the scout so he’s the difference from a strategic viewpoint…
ESPN Prediction: Panthers by 8 points
Siguardardottir and delivered: Keep an eye out for the arching shot of Icelandic national centre new Panthers import Isabella Osk Siguardardottir
Men (8:15pm)
It a big moment for the Panthers as they continue to win the close ones, this is a stern test against Rigoni’s Sabres. The Sabres can get you in so many ways at both the offensive end and the defensive end. The son of coach Rigoni Jacob is emerging as a star of the league averaging 17 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3 assists per game but he’s got a long way to go to catch the “mid-range marvel” in Smith who towers above both line-ups with 27 points at consistently 55 percent, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists. I think Ninnis’s men despite the close wins might be the real deal and a win over the Sabres proves they are a contender for the final five.
Key Stat – The Panthers have two of the top ten league scorers compared to the Sabres who have four in the top 50.
ESPN Prediction: Panthers by 4 points
Central District Lions vs North Adelaide Rockets (Starplex – The Den)
Women (6:30pm)
Rejoice Lions fans that the drought is over and when it rains, it can pour. It was a matter of time before the draw finally showed the Lions are a competitive unit in 2022 and have been led magnificently from the front by Samuels but also we can’t underestimate the impact of championship experience from Washington and a big frame in Tyla Bennett. Rockets fans of course should be appreciating Taylor and watching out for their co-captain DeFrancesco who’s had good history against the Lions and may be one the aways side would need to quell (20 and an 11 point double double last season). Confidence is riding high now for the Lions and the Rockets who are clearly in some “putting games into youth” mode with the release of one of their two imports Thomas and no news of a replacement are being prowled for another kill by a club hungry to have more wins after tasting success once again.
Key Stat – The Lions are capitalising on their offence in 2022 averaging 62 points but surprisingly shooting the same from the field in 37 percent as they did in 2021; Last year’s grand finalist the Rockets have understandly dropped to 32 percent from 37 percent.
ESPN Prediction: Lions by 15 points
Men (8:15pm)
Exciting times for the league and the Lions with the arrival of #1 NBL1 East scoring machine from the Lauren Jackson Albury-Wodonga Bandits in Branden Jenkins who’s had some G-League experience as well gives the Lions a chance. Jenkins instantly will make this game a lot closer with Dowdell playing the team he won a championship with last year. The Lions can match the Rockets in all aspects with Jenkins matching up with Winn, Dowdell on Akoh, Manyang on Dau bound to be one of the highlights of the night and Bijan Johnson against Brad Rathjen. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Lions cause an upset but think the Rockets with homecourt will find a way to get it done.
Key Stat – With Jenkins 25 ppg, the Lions now boost Manyang with 18 ppg, BJ with 17.7 ppg, Dowdell with 17.2 ppg, Nathaniel Koko with 11.7 ppg and Nate Deer off the pine with 10.7 ppg; they are now officially loaded offensively.
ESPN Prediction: Rockets by 5 points
Eastern Mavericks vs West Adelaide Bearcats (St Francis – The Shooting Gallery)
Women (6:30pm)
This one I think is not as straight forward despite the Bearcats looking like a raging favourite in most people’s eyes. Stopping Jaz Fejo will be the key for the Mavs with the task likely falling to Gabriel as I think they’ll be able to contain reasonably Rintala through their import combo who troubled them most last season. The Mavs got the better of the Bearcats in their last home encounter but this unit from the West has stamped itself as a contender. The Mavs matchup well here apart from Fejo and I think that’s the difference in this game.
Key Stat – The Bearcats are extremely efficient in 2022 shooing 42 percent from the field and are number one for dominating the glass through their hardworking guards and forwards with 52 per game.
ESPN Prediction: Bearcats by 9 points
Men (8:15pm)
The SA version of the Greek-Freak has arrived in 7’4 giant Ioannis Dimakopoulos (that’s SA’s version of Giannis) and is the final piece of the Mavs puzzle for 2022. Against a West team struggling for consistency this is where the Mavs launch themselves off the bottom of the table as I predicted at the start of the season but if they are going to make a run from 0-7 eerily similar to the Rockets they must get off the mark tonight. A loss to the Bearcats who despite being 7th are likely to slip from here on in and it could be all over before it started with 0-8. That’s not happening with a team boasting Legan, Cromarty, McCalop, Knibbs and the likely suit up of Dimakopoulos as its potential starting five; they break the duck tonight after coming so close last week…
Key Stat – Since suiting Legan and Cromarty, the Mavs have scored 84, 78 and 94 compared to 80, 60 and 66; that’s an increase in 16 extra points per game…
ESPN Prediction: Mavericks by 10 points
Our very own Giannis: The big 7’4 giant arrives on our shores this week and will need to get hooping straightaway if the Mavs are to compete for the final five…
We are back to doing recaps for the NBL, Catch all the NBL1 Central action today on the NBL1 website, app and game of the week in Round 8 between the South Adelaide Panthers and the Sturt Sabres on Kayo and Kayo Freebies this evening.
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 