He's back. baby! Rigoni puts Panthers to sword

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NBL1 Central Men Round 1 delivered dominant performances and high-scoring contests, highlighted by Central Districts’ 34-point win behind Deng Manyang’s 33 points and Braelen Bridges’ double-double in West Adelaide’s overtime victory.

Daniel Johnson flirted with a triple-double in Forestville’s road win, while Jacob Rigoni led Sturt in a tight three-point result. Woodville surged after halftime to overwhelm Norwood, setting an early tone for the season.

Round 1: Norwood Flames 60 Woodville Warriors 98 – Men – March 21 at The ARC Campbelltown

Awak Machar scored 24 points as Woodville Warriors produced a dominant second half to defeat Norwood Flames 98–60 at The ARC Campbelltown on March 21. After a tight opening half, Woodville outscored Norwood 60–26 across the final two quarters, including a decisive 34–16 fourth period.

Game Snapshot‍

Quarter scores: Norwood 18–19, 16–19, 10–26, 16–34
Woodville controlled the rebounding battle 56–47
Warriors finished with 34 field goals to Norwood’s 19

Machar and Booth Jr lead scoring‍

Machar shot 9-from-14 from the field and added nine rebounds, while Leverenzel Booth Jr recorded 19 points and 10 rebounds on efficient 9-from-14 shooting. Uzoma Dibiamaka contributed 14 points, 11 rebounds and six assists as Woodville built separation after halftime.

Kurowski tops Flames‍

Thomas Kurowski led Norwood with 24 points and seven rebounds, converting 8-from-17 field-goal attempts and 6-from-10 free throws. Campbell Scott added nine points and six rebounds, while Inady Legiste pulled down 10 boards in the defeat.

By the Numbers‍

• Awak Machar (WOD): 24 pts │ 9 reb │ 9-from-14 FG
• Leverenzel Booth Jr (WOD): 19 pts │ 10 reb │ 9-from-14 FG
• Uzoma Dibiamaka (WOD): 14 pts │ 11 reb │ 6 ast
• Thomas Kurowski (NOR): 24 pts │ 7 reb │ 8-from-17 FG

Round 1: Eastern Mavericks 87 Forestville Eagles 94 – Men – March 21 at St Francis de Sales Community Sports Centre

Daniel Johnson recorded 25 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as Forestville Eagles defeated Eastern Mavericks 94–87 at St Francis de Sales Community Sports Centre on March 21. Forestville gained separation in the third quarter, outscoring Eastern 26–20, and maintained the margin across the final period.

Game Snapshot‍

Quarter scores: Eastern 21–22, 23–23, 20–26, 23–23
Forestville finished with 35 field goals to Eastern’s 33
Eagles held a 44–35 rebounding advantage

Johnson leads balanced scoring‍

Johnson shot 8-from-16 from the field and 8-from-10 at the free-throw line while contributing nine assists. Greg Mays added 16 points, while Adam Doyle scored 15 points with three made three-pointers. Fiston Ipassou contributed 14 points and six rebounds.

Symons tops Mavericks‍

BJ Symons led Eastern with 25 points on 10-from-14 shooting and added seven rebounds. Christian Peevy scored 16 points and converted 8-from-9 free throws, while Curtis Scott finished with 15 points and six assists.

By the Numbers‍

• Daniel Johnson (FOR): 25 pts │ 9 reb │ 9 ast │ 8-from-16 FG
• Greg Mays (FOR): 16 pts │ 4 reb
• Adam Doyle (FOR): 15 pts │ 3-from-6 3PT
• BJ Symons (EAS): 25 pts │ 7 reb │ 10-from-14 FG
• Christian Peevy (EAS): 16 pts │ 8-from-9 FT
• Curtis Scott (EAS): 15 pts │ 6 ast

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Round 1: Sturt Sabres 96 South Adelaide Panthers 93 – Men – March 21 at Springbank Secondary College

Jacob Rigoni scored 29 points as Sturt Sabres held off South Adelaide Panthers 96–93 at Springbank Secondary College on March 21. Sturt built a 12-point halftime lead before South Adelaide responded with a 31-point third quarter, but the Sabres maintained control late to secure the three-point win.

Game Snapshot‍

Quarter scores: Sturt 26–32, 26–14, 24–31, 20–16
Sturt shot 49.3% from the field and made 10 three-pointers
South Adelaide finished at 55.4% shooting

Rigoni and Tomasi lead Sabres‍

Rigoni added 10 rebounds and shot 11-from-16 at the free-throw line. Josh Tomasi contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Joel Spear scored 17 points with six assists and three steals. Jarryd Hoppo added 15 points on 4-from-6 three-point shooting.

McVeigh and Smith pace Panthers‍

Lloyd McVeigh scored 24 points on 10-from-16 shooting, while Jeremy Smith added 23 points and seven assists. Rio Bruton contributed 18 points, including four made three-pointers, as South Adelaide pushed late.

By the Numbers‍

• Jacob Rigoni (STU): 29 pts │ 10 reb │ 11-from-16 FT
• Josh Tomasi (STU): 21 pts │ 12 reb │ 8-from-13 FG
• Joel Spear (STU): 17 pts │ 6 ast │ 3 stl
• Lloyd McVeigh (SOU): 24 pts │ 10-from-16 FG
• Jeremy Smith (SOU): 23 pts │ 7 ast
• Rio Bruton (SOU): 18 pts │ 4-from-7 3PT

Round 1: Southern Tigers 82 Central Districts Lions 116 – Men – March 21 at Morphett Vale Basketball Stadium

Deng Manyang and Magok Manyang combined for 65 points as Central Districts Lions defeated Southern Tigers 116–82 at Morphett Vale Basketball Stadium on March 21. Central Districts built control early and extended the margin with a 34–27 third quarter before closing strongly.

Game Snapshot‍

Quarter scores: Southern 13–24, 16–29, 27–34, 26–29
Central Districts shot 52.3% from the field
Lions finished with a 58–47 rebounding advantage

Manyang duo dominates‍

Deng Manyang scored 33 points on 14-from-16 shooting and collected 14 rebounds. Magok Manyang added 32 points and 10 rebounds, hitting four three-pointers and converting 6-from-8 free throws. Alexander Day contributed 12 assists alongside four points.

Fortune leads Tigers‍

Devin Fortune led Southern with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Che Brogan added 18 points and eight free throws. Koop McCalop contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

By the Numbers‍

• Deng Manyang (CEN): 33 pts │ 14 reb │ 14-from-16 FG
• Magok Manyang (CEN): 32 pts │ 10 reb │ 4-from-7 3PT
• Alexander Day (CEN): 12 ast │ 5 reb
• Devin Fortune (SOU): 23 pts │ 10 reb │ 10-from-19 FG
• Che Brogan (SOU): 18 pts │ 8-from-10 FT
• Koop McCalop (SOU): 12 pts │ 7 reb │ 5 ast

Round 1: North Adelaide Rockets 95 West Adelaide Bearcats 104 (OT) – Men – March 21 at The Lights Community and Sports Centre

Braelen Bridges recorded 26 points and 13 rebounds as West Adelaide Bearcats defeated North Adelaide Rockets 104–95 in overtime at The Lights Community and Sports Centre on March 21. Scores were level after regulation before West Adelaide outscored North Adelaide 14–5 in the extra period to secure the win.

Game Snapshot‍

Quarter scores: 25–25, 18–19, 26–30, 21–16, OT 5–14
West Adelaide finished with a 64–38 rebounding advantage
Bearcats attempted 92 field goals to North Adelaide’s 80

Bridges leads overtime surge‍

Bridges shot 10-from-14 from the field and added six free throws, while Nikolas DeSantis contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds. Tom Kubank scored 16 points and Riley Real added 12 points on 4-from-5 shooting.

Dyer tops Rockets‍

Joel Dyer led North Adelaide with 29 points, hitting six three-pointers. Oskar Jones added 23 points and six assists, while Machar Machar contributed 18 points and eight rebounds.

By the Numbers‍

• Braelen Bridges (WES): 26 pts │ 13 reb │ 10-from-14 FG
• Nikolas DeSantis (WES): 18 pts │ 10 reb
• Tom Kubank (WES): 16 pts │ 8 reb
• Joel Dyer (NOR): 29 pts │ 6-from-13 3PT
• Oskar Jones (NOR): 23 pts │ 6 ast
• Machar Machar (NOR): 18 pts │ 8 reb