Tag: NBL1 Central

Photo Credit – Rachel Bown (@rbownphotos)

3-Minute Read

Women

The Waatu Women matched up with their quarter final nemesis and again pushed the home side USYD Lions all the way to the precipice – just falling short of the 3-0 start 62-59 away from home at the Sports and Aquatic Centre.

An 11-3 start to USYD via Lauryn Walker’s strong offensive prowess forced the early timeout for Lachlan Coppick and the Waatu who responded immediately with a 8-7 level up but trailed 18-11 at the first change.

Walker and Alex Oliver again who hurt the Waatu in their final last year in spurts extended the lead to 12 points before Sasha Hardin’s and1 showed her wares while Alecia Saldavia got under the guard of the Lions with some triples and some work around the basket. Adelaide turned the game through Ella Turnbull’s offensive precision to take the lead with five quick points, up court pressure and tenacity but the Lions clawed back again through Walker and Oliver. Hardin tying the scores at the half with a steal off the last sideline inbound and late make on the rim to level things up 34-34.

Turnbull (13 points and eight rebounds) kept the scoreboard ticking over in the third term keeping things level with Saldavia also impacting heavily on the contest with her outside shooting. The Waatu were in a heavily favourable position grabbing their biggest lead of the game via a Jemima Whitton (Six points, six steals and five assists) double up 42-49 before the literal fire-starter halted the game at the 0:54 mark of the third term as the stadium was evacuated for a fire alarm.

Unfortunately for the Waatu it ignited the Lions as Lara Page-Post got her game going in the paint and USYD stole the lead back 62-57. The Waatu however were not done as Mischa Buckley fed Whitton for the two then Buckley had the opportunity to tie the scores with a triple. The Waatu’s press forced another turnover on the Lions with unfortunately Annika Uzcategui-Montenegro being blocked by Maddie Dalmeida with USYD just escaping at home.

Hardin led the way with 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and steals while Saldavia produced a strong debut with 15 points and three assists.

Men

In one of the great wins of the Waatu’s five year history – Curtis Scott single-handedly went toe-to-toe with another NBL1 star in Iggy Mitchell as the two clashed in a high scoring thriller – the Waatu sneaking home just in the reverse result 90-93 at the Sports and Aquatic Centre.

Scott got the Waatu off to an absolute flyer after 41 points in their seven point loss last season – Scott scythed his way through the Lions defence taking them to the charity stripe mainly for his eight points in the first term. Triples to Ayual Garang and Angus Crosby gave them a 9-26 lead after one stanza.

The Lions roared back through Benjamin Williams then Iggy Mitchell found his floater and inside game to cut it to 20-34 with the Waatu sensing momentum flowing back the homeside’s way. Mitchell compiled another eight points for the term with Hampel’s triples and Scott’s dynamic play keeping the Waatu out by double figures 34-46 at the main change.

Mitchell opened the third term with a triple as both teams got hot beyond the perimeter. Both teams knocking down 13 triples between them thanks to the high power nature of Hampel, Harrison Evans, Jesse Weinstein and Mitchell cashing in continuously with feet set and down drains. Scott changed the method with stepbacks in his offensive mindset engulfing the Lions to push the Waatu out to a 49-70 lead. Scott found another triple with USYD needing a (Josh) Spark and they got one and then also Mitchell who peeled off a triple to beat the three quarter time buzzer with Waatu comfortably in front 61-75 but no where near home on the road.

Both teams tightened up their defence on the perimeter however Hampel and Malang Deng escaped the defence again with a 20 point lead 63-83 but you knew that the Lions had plenty of fight left in them. Williams was the one to claw them back into it with a staggering nineteen last term points and became nigh impossible to guard. He cut it to single figures with 2:29 to go and while one alarm had already gone off in the day – another was sounding at the Adelaide end of the floor.

Still leading 80-90 with two minutes to go – Mitchell produced the go ahead plays down the stretch to further slash the margin with Williams making it five points the margin before Scott drained another dagger 85-93. Williams responded with a triple.

Weinstein forced the turnover off Scott then feeding Mitchell (27 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four blocks) for the single basket lead. Garang was fouled but missed both free throws – Weinstein’s attempt with 17 seconds left fell short with the ball forced out of bounds but USYD possession. The ball went to the hands of Mitchell with the ball hitting the rim, popping up and reversing short as the Waatu despite a roaring comeback from the Lions held strong to pull of the victory.

Scott was the clear match winner with 37 points and seven triples, six rebounds, four assists and steals with Hampel accumulating 18 points and four triples with five assists. Thomson also nearly collected a double double with nine points and 10 rebounds including four assists.

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The Waatu Women and Men next take on Monash today – in their first season in the UBL and some basketball pedigree and connections  – Wednesday 2 September

Women – USYD 62 (Walker 21, Oliver 14, Lepage-Post, Volk 8) defeated AU Waatu 59 (Hardin 16, Saldavia 15, Turnbull 13)

Men – USYD 90 (Mitchell, WIlliams 27, Evans 11, Ekert, Weinstein 9) defeated by AU Waatu 93 (Scott 37, Hampel 18, Garang 11, Thomson 9, Deng 8)

Catch all the action against MON from this Wednesday 2 September on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features throughout the season.

Catch up on all the action of the UBL through the new weekly show for the league in UBL Extra…

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES OF SA BASKETBALL

Every game deserves to be reported on including the history and background of our leagues – 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 our leagues.

We have so many players who love reading their hoops weekly history and – $5 a week from every player and the NBL1 community will help you make sure you get written about by a local who knows our leagues 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.

All Episodes of the SA Shotclock now available on Spotify

Photo Credit – Adelaide University

3-Minute Read

Women

The Waatu Women took on the defending champions UTAS and despite a few key players it still remained as is always the case in the league a danger game early in the New Balance UBL Season. The Waatu prevailed 99-41 having several runs of wreckage as all their players got amongst the action.

UTAS kept pace with the Waatu early 8-6 with Terran Wright (Communications) dialled in early with some huge makes late in the term capped by a Sasha Hardin buzzer beater mechanically engineered to perfection 20-11 at the first change.

Caitlin Shillabeer (Phyisotherapy) took her impact forward as she led the Waatu along with Hardin to an 18-4 run to break the game open 38-15. Lauren Mills tried to keep the UTAS girls in it but Zahlia Niemann was proving to be a tough opponent with her and Ella Turnbull helping the Waatu with their ten triples to a 49-20 lead at the half.

Shillabeer and Niemann continued the damage in the third term helping the Waatu to a 12-0 run broken by Poppy Walker’s triple from UTAS 61-25. Niemann kept the scoreboard ticking over as the home side continued to pinch points with frequency 75-32 at the final change.

Able to complete the dominant four quarter effort – the Waatu took out their second win of the season with Hardin and Niemann shining out for the girls in their minutes on the floor

Niemann finished strong late and was consistent across her time on the floor with 19 points and four rebounds but wasn’t alone with Hardin collecting 17 points, five assists and four steals while Shillabeer still accumulated 19 points, fours assists, three rebounds with four other Waatu scoring seven or more.

Men

At almost full strength the Waatu and UTAS played out an absolute UBL classic which came right down to the wire – with last year’s champions stealing the chalice of contest right at the death with a thrilling 71-72 win at Pridham Hall.

Both teams set the tone early but the rise of Phoenix Robey continued to show him as one to watch this season in the league with some strong play to open the contest 2-9. It took some getting down to business low post work from Matt Thomson to get the scoreboard rolling for the Waatu but UTAS were just too slick and strong early with Scott Freer burning the much needed timeout down 6-14.

Momentum completely flipped for the home side out of the timeout as they chipped away through Isaac Hampel (Electrical Engineering) and Ayual Garang 16-23 at the quarter time break.

Hampel took on the defence like he’d done the previous week against UTAS – his play opening lanes for Garang and Thomson levelling things up. The back and forward kept things intriguing between the sides with Jordan Straatsma and Robey pushing the margin back out to UTAS favour 33-36 at the break.

Garang became the pivotal player in the third helping push the home side back to the lead by a considerable margin 48-39 however UTAS fired back through some hot shooting all of sudden lit up from Jaxsyn Collins to steal the lead back 49-50. A cameo from Jack Roberts impacted for the Waatu before he went down with a knee injury saw the home side back in front 59-56 with one to play.

The last term was an enthralling piece of basketball theatre with blow for blow traded back and forward as the teachers of UTAS put on a basketball final lesson of the day but first had to overcome the building nature of Garang as the architectural design student orchestrated points down the stretch. After missing a majority of his shots for the day – the x-factor for UTAS in Zach Collins hit the big shot down the final minutes of the game to get UTAS back within a point with a last plays ahead. Both teams made uncharacteristic pressure passups as the margin for error became thinner.

It was Robey who made the play stealing the ball off the inbound from Garang releasing a last second contested finish from Alex Bestwick snatching the lead back with the and1. With both teams taking tactical timeouts from Anthony Stewart and Freer Bestwick missed his free throw with the Waatu having one last look at it. Hampel got through the defence enough to make an attempt but it rimmed long and despite a Malang Deng tip in going in – the make was after the clock had expired as the defending champions escaped with a telling win on the road with the teachers in training ending the lesson for the day.

Garang was the standout for the Waatu again against UTAS with 29 points, five rebounds and three steals while Thomson looked continuously threatening with 16 points, 17 rebounds (five offensive) and three assists.

The Waatu Women and Men next take on USYD today in a rematch of their 2024 and 2025 finals – Wednesday 26 August

Women – AU Waatu 99 (Shillabeer, Niemann 19, Hardin 17, C Hunter, Whitton 9, Wright 8, Turnbull 7) defeated UTAS 41 (Brooks 13, Mills 9, Mills, Nyhouse, P Walker 8)

Men – AU Waatu 71 (Garang 29, Thomson 16, M Deng 9) defeated by UTAS 72 (Robey 25, J Collins, Straatsma 12, Bestwick 10)

Catch all the action against USYD from this Wednesday 26 August on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features throughout the season.

Catch up on all the action of the UBL through the new weekly show for the league in UBL Extra…

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES OF SA BASKETBALL

Every game deserves to be reported on including the history and background of our leagues – 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 our leagues.

We have so many players who love reading their hoops weekly history and – $5 a week from every player and the NBL1 community will help you make sure you get written about by a local who knows our leagues 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.

All Episodes of the SA Shotclock now available on Spotify

Photo Credit – Adelaide University

3-Minute Read

Women

The Waatu Women were up first picking up where they left off from last season with a strongly compiled win over the UWA Maali 83-61 at the new look Pridham Hall.

Bursting out of the blocks through the hot hand of Caitlin Shillabeer (15 points in the opening term for the Physiotherapist) – the home side opened up a gap through the strong play of Jemima Whitton (Viticulture and Oenology) and newcomers Norwood Flames Ella Turnbull (Human Movement) and incoming guard from UNISC transferring back to Adelaide Terran Wright. Whitton pinched one off her unsuspecting opponent to finish before Turnbull (Eight points) beat the buzzer to see the Pridham Hall erupt with applause at 38-22 after one.

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UWA star Abbey Hall (16 points and five rebounds for the Doctor of Medicine) found the cure to the Maali’s scoring woes to even up proceedings and along with Nicola Moore (10 points and five rebounds for the Sport and Exercises Sciences) tried to guide the away side back into the contest at 46-32. The Waatu however answered again through Shillabeer and another newcomer in Janna Mojares (12 points, fours steals and rebounds) with the occupational therapist setting the lead back to 52-38 at the half.

Shillabeer got moving again in the third term as the Waatu extended their lead to a 69-49 margin and didn’t look headed. Wright (13 points and six rebounds) continued to make the good choices in transition and Jemima decanted her way to a fine set of numbers helping the Waatu taste their first victory of the season.

Shillabeer set it up from the start with 23 points with four triples with Whitton contributing 14 points, four rebounds and steals.

Men

The Waatu Men also got off to a flyer in 2026 with their own strong showing in the new colours 98-83 impressing the crowd of new attendees.

Lachlan Oakley (15 points for the Psychologist) of UWA had the minds of the Waatu scrambling early early draining some big early triples but a tight opening term was almost tied at the quarter time break thanks to Isaac Hampel (Electrical Engineering) with the sparkling impact on the floor 23-24.

The takeover kept coming in the second stanza with Hampel, Ayual Garang (Architectural Design) and newcomer Malang Deng (16 points, six rebounds and two blocks) with the podiatry student stepping up in his first outing. Garang reminding everyone about his ability above the rim again with a huge block followed by athletic finishes to build the Waatu a lead of 49-37 at halftime.

Keegan Schrick (27 points and 10 rebounds) the star of the UWA had been kept quiet due to foul trouble to the halftime break but started to find his spaces and places again as the commerce student began to deal the business midway through the third term. Hampel however continued to see some big plays engineer for the home side exciting the crowd with his decision making and precision in play to keep his side in front 70-58.

In an enthralling battle with other gun guard in the precise play of science student Damian Zhang (13 points, six rebounds and three assists) – the Waatu polished off their performance with some late work from Deng and Garang to wrap up a dominant first day in the new colours, venue and era for the Waatu.

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Hampel had one of his career best afternoons of 30 points, five assists, four rebounds and steals along with partner in crime Garang from last season with 29 points and six rebounds.

The Waatu Women and Men next take on UTAS today in an impossible mission to bring down the champions of UBL 2025 – Wednesday 19 August

Women – AU Waatu 83 (Shillabeer 23, Whitton 14, Wright 13, Mojares 12, Turnbull 8) defeated UWA Maali 61 (Hall 16, Moore 10, Eames 9, Conradt 8)

Men – AU Waatu 98 (Hampel 30, Garang 29, Deng 16, Crosby 13, Thomson 9) defeated UWA Maali 83 (Schrick 27, Oakley 15, Zhang 13, Maddison 10)

Catch all the action against UTAS from this Wednesday 19 August on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features throughout the season.

Catch up on all the action of the UBL through the new weekly show for the league in UBL Extra…

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES OF SA BASKETBALL

Every game deserves to be reported on including the history and background of our leagues – 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 our leagues.

We have so many players who love reading their hoops weekly history and – $5 a week from every player and the NBL1 community will help you make sure you get written about by a local who knows our leagues 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.

All Episodes of the SA Shotclock now available on Spotify