HOW good is it to have so much basketball back? The National Basketball League (NBL)1 Central competition returned with a bang over the weekend, with Round 1 holding a number of big clashes across the men’s and women’s competition. There were big team performances and eye-catching individual outings across the courts, as South Australian basketball fans were treated to some cracking contests.

The most entertaining action came in the form of a clash between the Norwood Flames and the South Adelaide Panthers at The ARC Campbelltown on Saturday night. It was a ripping affair, with both teams delivering some high-quality, fast-paced play. They could not be split in the first four quarters, heading to overtime where Todd Davies beat the buzzer with a three-pointer and gave South Adelaide a win by that exact margin.

Norwood Flames (72) def. by South Adelaide Panthers (75)

First Half

The match opened with both sides looking to score from behind the three-point arc, with a few misses coming as a result. South Adelaide was the first to start making shots, taking an early 8-0 lead after a couple of shots from downtown found the bottom of the net. The Flames managed to turn things around by moving the ball inside and scoring in the paint, and by the time the first break rolled around, they trailed by just one point, after five straight points from Ray Harding. Quarter number two saw some more see-sawing action, with the lead changing hands on plenty of occasions through the 10-minute period. The two teams were using two different scoring methods, with Norwood looking to get the ball into the paint, while the Panthers looked to get their shooters open. Proceedings were tied at the main break, setting up a big second half.

Second Half

The Flames opened the second half looking to create a quick separation on the scoreboard, but every charge was answered by the Panthers. Much of South Adelaide’s points generation came from the charity stripe, with the visiting side driving inside and drawing plenty of contact. However, Harding exploded once again and extended Norwood’s lead out to seven points late in the third term. The Panthers were able to get back in the game in no time at all, and were behind by just a single point heading into the fourth quarter. Their momentum carried forward, taking an early five-point lead in the first few minutes. In typical fashion for the match, their opponents clawed themselves back into the game. When Alexander Starling tied the game up with one minute left in the period, it was the last score of the quarter, as the game headed into overtime. Once again, back and forth action ensued, but Davies reeled in an offensive rebound and drilled the game-winner from behind the arc, finishing the contest in dramatic fashion as the Panthers claimed a three-point win.

Standout Performers

For the victors, Starling was simply herculean, recording a 34 points and 21 rebounds, both of which were game-highs. He did it all and was rewarded with the win in the end. Davies was the hero and topped off a solid outing of 14 points, while Jarryd Hoppo poured in 10 of his own. For the Flames, Harding did as much he could with 32 points, but didn’t have enough assistance from teammates.

Across the courts

Here are the other results from an entertaining Round One across both the Men’s and Women’s competitions.

Men’s

Forrestville Eagles (94) def. Southern Tigers (68)
West Adelaide Bearcats (95) def. Central Districts Lions (63)
North Adelaide Rockets (82) def. Woodville Warriors (80)

Women’s

Norwood Flames (52) def. by South Adelaide Panthers (79)
Forestville Eagles (78) def. by Southern Tigers (88)
West Adelaide Bearcats (92) def. Central Districts Lions (54)
North Adelaide Rockets (54) def. by Woodville Warriors (71)