LIAM PHILLIPS
AFTER an exciting
start to the NBL1 Central
season, Central District’s
men’s side was
brought crashing back
down to earth in round
two with a 70-87 loss to
Sturt in the Lions’ home
opener.
Turnovers were the
story in a game where
the Lions only trailed by
three at halftime, before
a 10-22 third quarter created
a winning break for
the Sabres.
Between Central’s 22
turnovers and losing the
offensive rebound battle
by seven, Sturt was
able to get up 16 more
field goal attempts than
the hosts which was too
much to overcome.
Magok Manyang was
the Lions’ best, scoring
18 points on 7/14 shooting,
including 4/9 from
deep, and taking on a
tough defensive assignment
as well.
Coach Matt Atkins
said it was a disappointing
performance, and the
warning signs were apparent
early.
“We were pretty poor
most of the night, but
it just wasn’t evident
on the scoreboard until
later in the game,” he
said.
“We weren’t playing
sustainable basketball,
and eventually if you’re
only taking tough shots,
they’re going to stop going
in.
“We weren’t disciplined
enough offensively
to be able to score in
a sustainable way, and
that leads to a number
of problems where guys
on the floor aren’t sure
exactly what their teammates
are doing on any
given possession.
“If there is a positive to
take from the game, Magok’s
ability to take on
these defensive assignments
and earn my trust
as a 19-year-old kid is really
positive – it got to the
point for the second week
in a row where I felt like I
couldn’t sub him out.
“Other than that, it’s
going to be back to basics
at training this week.”
The Lions’ women’s
team also ran into a buzz
saw, with Sturt shooting
a ridiculous 20/37
from behind the arc on
the way to a 39-134
blowout.
Jade Johnson scored
38 points in 26 minutes
for the Sabres, including
going 8/11 from three, in
one of the most efficient
scoring efforts you will
see this season.
All 12 Lions registered
at least nine minutes of
playing time in what
will surely go down as a
learning experience for
the young side.
The turnovers were
the real killer, with the
hosts racking up 35 to
Sturt’s 12, allowing Sturt
to get up 40 more shots
in the contest.
April Rummery Lamb
(six points), Madelyn
Curry (nine points) and
Casey Banwell (seven
points) all shot at least 50
per cent from the field,.
But there is plenty of
work to do to in preparation
this weekend for a
Woodville Warriors’ side
that is coming off a big
win.