EASTERN Mavericks have survived an almighty scare from a plucky Forestville Eagles to win by a point in an overtime thriller on Saturday night. The NBL1 Central Men’s match was one of three decided by six points or less in one of the most entertaining nights across South Australia.

The match had everything, with the Eagles boasting two ultra-experienced NBL stars in Daniel Johnson and Dejan Vasiljevic who combined for a whopping 66 points racing out to a dominant 35-14 first quarter lead. The difference between quarters one and two could not be more stark however as the Mavericks – thanks to the work of Broderick Robinson and BJ Symons, showed they were up for the fight.

At half-time the deficit was back to four points as both teams had surpassed the half-century. Building on the momentum of the second term, Eastern Mavericks poured on another 43 points to Forestville’s 29, indicating both teams were far more interested in offence than defence. Just when it looked to be over, the Eagles roared to life in the final term, trailing by 10 at the last break and as much as 14 a couple of minutes into the quarter.

The Eagles incredibly hit the front with 59 seconds on the clock thanks to Alexander Starling‘s successful And-One opportunity off a layup that drew a foul. Though not to be denied, Robinson snatched the ball off Jordan Wilson in the last 30 seconds and drained a triple to tie the game with 20 seconds on the clock.

Still to have another twist in the tale, Robinson deliberately fouled sending Starling to the line. However despite having two shots at putting his team back in front, Starling missed both shots with seven seconds on the clock, and the game was sent to overtime. It looked to be all the Mavericks for the first few minutes going on an 8-0 run.

However like the first four quarters, it was never going to be that easy. A Vasiljevic triple and Grey Mays layup later and the deficit was back to three points. Then the former hit another long-range bomb with 47 seconds on the clock and Forestville was back in front 119-118. However drawing a foul, Owen Raneberg was sent to the charity stripe for the home side where he delivered both shots successfully to hand his team the lead.

Eastern had a stack more chances to win it missing four consecutive free throws in the next 20 seconds as the pressure built. Adam Doyle attempted to win the game with a jump shot that also missed, but the Eagles held onto possession looking for that open shot. Mays had the last chance of the game with four seconds, but it missed and the buzzer sounded with the Mavericks successful, 120-119.

Robinson finished the match with a remarkable 41 points – at 68.2 per cent from the field – as well as eight rebounds and six assists, while Symons (25 points, seven rebounds) and Dominic Jackson (17 points, seven rebounds) were also instrumental in the Mavericks’ win.

Johnson (36 points, seven rebounds and six assists) and Vasiljevic (30 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals) were fantastic, though both Starling (23 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals) and Mays (19 points, nine rebounds) stuffed the statsheet as well.

The win saw the Mavericks bounce back from a heartbreaking two-point defeat to Central District Lions, while knocking off a Forestville side that had accounted for Sturt Sabres. The Lions are the only team to remain victorious from two matches, with a six-point triumph over the Sabres on Saturday.

South Adelaide Panthers had a thrilling two-point win over West Adelaide Bearcats, while Southern Tigers and Woodville Warriors both got on the board in the 2025 season with victories over Norwood Flames and North Adelaide Rockers respectively.

CENTRAL ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Saturday, April 5:

Norwood Flames (84) def. by Southern Tigers (97)
Sturt Sabres (87) def. by Central District Lions (93)
Eastern Mavericks (120) def. Forestville Eagles (119)
South Adelaide Panthers (77) def. West Adelaide Bearcats (75)
Woodville Warriors (94) def. North Adelaide Rockets (61)

>> FULL NBL1 RESULTS