Rigoni saves unbeaten Sturt from Bearcats ambush

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Jacob Rigoni kept Sturt Sabres unbeaten with another clutch offensive performance, while Lloyd McVeigh and South Adelaide Panthers continued one of the hottest scoring runs in NBL1 Central during Round 8 action.

What the Round Told Us

• Sturt can still win even when opponents push them deep into fourth quarters
• South Adelaide’s offence is now firmly among the league’s elite
• Forestville continue applying pressure on the unbeaten Sabres
• Woodville’s offensive improvement is strengthening its top-four push
• Several lower-ranked teams are scoring well enough to challenge contenders

Game of the Round #1

Sturt Sabres 94 def. West Adelaide Bearcats 90

Jacob Rigoni delivered another captain’s performance as Sturt Sabres survived a major scare from West Adelaide Bearcats to stay unbeaten at 9-0.

Rigoni finished with 32 points, nine rebounds and four assists, repeatedly delivering in late possessions as the Sabres escaped one of their toughest tests of the season.

West Adelaide matched Sturt physically and offensively across all four quarters behind a dominant inside performance from De’Sean Parsons.

Parsons produced 23 points, 21 rebounds and six assists, controlling the paint for long stretches while Nikolas DeSantis erupted for 26 points on 6-from-9 shooting from three-point range.

Braelen Bridges added 18 points and six assists as the Bearcats repeatedly pressured Sturt’s defence.

But the Sabres’ balance and late-game execution proved decisive.

Luke Pfitzner added 15 points, Sebastian Griffin contributed 12 points and five assists, while Joel Spear controlled the offence with nine assists off the bench.

Sturt finished with 25 assists to just seven turnovers and shot 85.7% from the free-throw line in another composed closing performance.

Game Snapshot

Quarter Scores: West Adelaide 21-20, 19-22, 26-27, 24-25
Largest Lead: Sturt +9
Game Context: Rigoni controlled the final quarter as Sturt stayed unbeaten

By the Numbers

• Jacob Rigoni: 32 pts – 9 reb – 4 ast
• De’Sean Parsons: 23 pts – 21 reb – 6 ast
• Sturt: 25 assists to 7 turnovers

Game of the Round #2

South Adelaide Panthers 108 def. Eastern Mavericks 89

Lloyd McVeigh exploded for 36 points as South Adelaide Panthers continued their offensive surge with a dominant win against Eastern Mavericks.

The Panthers overwhelmed Eastern through pace, ball movement and efficient interior scoring, shooting almost 57% from the field and nearly 68% on two-point attempts.

McVeigh controlled the game from the opening quarter, finishing 16-from-28 from the field while consistently attacking the rim and creating transition pressure.

Jeremy Smith added 29 points and eight rebounds, while Yevgen Sakhniuk was elite as a secondary playmaker with 14 points, eight assists and three blocks on 77.8% shooting.

South Adelaide generated 25 assists and seven blocks while repeatedly disrupting Eastern’s rhythm defensively.

Curtis Scott led the Mavericks with 22 points and seven assists, while Christian Peevy added 20 points on 75% shooting.

But Eastern struggled to slow South Adelaide’s half-court execution once the Panthers built momentum during the third quarter.

The win strengthened South Adelaide’s grip on third place and extended its winning streak to five games.

Game Snapshot

Quarter Scores: South Adelaide 26-19, 24-23, 33-23, 25-24
Largest Lead: South Adelaide +24
Game Context: Panthers broke the game open with a dominant third quarter

By the Numbers

• Lloyd McVeigh: 36 pts on 57.1% shooting
• Jeremy Smith: 29 pts – 8 reb
• South Adelaide: 56.9% FG – 25 ast – 7 blk

Other Results

• Central Districts Lions 88 def. Norwood Flames 87
• Forestville Eagles 109 def. North Adelaide Rockets 78
• Woodville Warriors 105 def. Southern Tigers 82

Men’s Ladder – After Round 8

1. Sturt Sabres – 9-0
2. Forestville Eagles – 8-1
3. South Adelaide Panthers – 7-2
4. Woodville Warriors – 6-3
5. Norwood Flames – 3-6
6. Central Districts Lions – 3-6
7. Eastern Mavericks – 3-6
8. West Adelaide Bearcats – 2-7
9. Southern Tigers – 2-7
10. North Adelaide Rockets – 2-7

Watchlist – Round 9

• South Adelaide vs Sturt – massive championship test
• Forestville vs Eastern – Eagles chasing pressure on top spot
• Woodville vs Norwood – important top-four battle
• Central Districts vs Southern Tigers – middle-tier positioning clash

Round 8 Questions

• Can anyone slow Sturt late in games?
• Is South Adelaide now the league’s most dangerous offence?
• Are Forestville genuine title contenders?
• Can West Adelaide convert performances into wins?
• Which team separates from the crowded middle tier?