NBL1 Central midseason surprises and standout players including remarkable Woodville Warriors turnaround
The NBL1 Central basketball season is halfway through and it has been nothing short of entertaining. See the biggest surprises and best players so far.
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The NBL1 Central season is halfway through and has so far produced nine weeks of spectacular basketball.
The men’s and women’s competitions have been as strong as ever, with developing youngsters, solidified stars and big-name signings all performing at their best through the first two months.
To mark the midway point of the 2022 campaign, The Messenger has dissected the big surprises of the season so far, as well as who the best performers have been.
WARRIORS ON THE CHARGE
Currently 8-1 and top of the league, Woodville has achieved a drastic turnaround after finishing outside of the finals last year.
The Warriors adopted a different approach after last season, opting to run smaller lineups with one big man as opposed to two.
Coach Scott Whitmore said the new strategy had caught some teams off guard.
“We’ve tweaked a few positions and placements and it’s working in our favour at the moment but this is a strong league and teams can definitely adjust so we don’t expect it to be smooth sailing,” Whitmore said.
“Overall though, we’re extremely happy with the results and happy with how guys have taken changes on board.”
Woodville welcomed new signings Nick Wurm and David Humphries after losing Julian Jacobs in the offseason and have seen the additions fit like a club.
Big man Joe Jackson and guard Jawan Stepney have also performed at a high level.
The team has also been as selfless as ever this year, with seven players averaging double figures in points.
“We don’t have too many guys who are looking to get their own, they’re all keyed in on working as a team, which has been effective for us,” Whitmore said.
“We’ve had guys like James Boonstoppel and Riley Meldrum make some sacrifices for the betterment of the side so far and I’m really impressed with how they’ve gone about it.
“I don’t think it’s unfair to expect if we can stay clued in on what we want to do that we can earn a double chance in finals, but we need to make sure we take each game as it comes.”
PANTHERS TURN FORTUNES AROUND
South Adelaide has also turned the tide in season 2022, winning six of its nine games in the first half of the year after finishing ninth last season with seven wins.
It has been a dramatic and unexpected turnaround for the Panthers, who look like they’re capable of beating anyone on their day.
The inclusion of import guard Jeremy Smith to partner forward Alex Starling has paid dividends, with both players dominating on both ends to take South Adelaide into the league’s top four.
New coach Scott Ninnis has also been a positive influence on the side, implementing a winning strategy on both sides of the ball.
NORTH ADELAIDE’S STRUGGLES
North Adelaide’s women’s side has surprisingly struggled after losing last season’s grand final to Southern and currently sits seventh with a 2-7 record.
Keeping a consistent lineup on the floor has been a challenge for the Rockets, and while a solid season from stars Taylah Corrigan and Sam DeFrancesco has been a positive, the side has lacked the firepower of others.
It remains to be seen if premiership-winning coach Brenton Johnson can take the team back to finals contention but it seems unlikely.
OKSANA ON FIRE
While her Mavericks have struggled, Canadian import Oksana Gouchie-Provencher has adjusted to the NBL1 level in quick fashion.
The skilful forward has become a star of the women’s league just half a season in, averaging 14 points and over 10 rebounds a game while also leading the competition in blocks.
Not many knew her before the season started, but she’ll be one to watch for the remainder of the year as she causes opposition headaches on both ends of the court.
STANDOUT STARS
SAM SIMONS (Forestville)
Arguably the best player in the women’s competition, it’s no surprise Simons has been one of the strongest performers in season 2022.
Simons has dominated for the Eagles, who sit fifth on the ladder, averaging a league-best 23 points per game to go along with five assists and seven rebounds.
Simons’ consistency has also been on show, the star guard scoring over 20 on back-to-back nights over the weekend against West Adelaide and North Adelaide.
JEREMY SMITH (South Adelaide)
Smith has been a revelation in the men’s competition this season, pulling all the strings for South Adelaide on offence and showing the ability to score from anywhere.
The star American is scoring over 26 points a game and making over 50 percent of his shot attempts while also hitting 80 percent of his free throws.
His recent performance of 39 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals against Eastern Mavericks remains one of the best individual showings of the season.
OLIVIA LEVICKI (South Adelaide)
South Adelaide women’s star Olivia Levicki is producing yet another fantastic season for the Panthers.
Last season’s scoring champion, Levicki is dropping 22.8 points a game while also pulling down 12 rebounds per appearance.
Her strong form is a big reason why South Adelaide sits atop the women’s standings with an 8-1 record.
ALEX WILSON (Norwood)
Wilson remains a dominant force for the Flames.
She has matched the level of opposition guard Sam Simons in almost every aspect so far this year, scoring 23 points a game, dishing out five assists and snatching six rebounds.
She has also improved on the defensive end, reading lanes well to tally multiple steals a game.
JOE JACKSON (Woodville)
Jackson’s stats may not stand out against some other big names, but his influence on the floor is as big as any player’s.
One of the competition’s best defenders, Jackson covers ground exceptionally well for a big man and can contest almost anyone’s shot.
He has also served as a strong presence inside, blocking multiple shots a game and finishing strong at the rim on offence.
OKSANA GOUCHIE-PROVENCHER (Eastern Mavericks)
As touched on previously, Gouchie-Provencher’s quick rise in the NBL1 Central women’s competition has come as a surprise to some.
She has immediately announced herself as one of the league’s best defenders and can also score from a range of areas in attack.
The forward’s recent back-to-back performances against Norwood and South Adelaide in which she had a combined 49 points, three blocks, six assists and 23 rebounds highlighted just how damaging she can be.
KOOP MCCALOP (Eastern Mavericks)
McCalop has made a splash at the Mavericks since moving from Southern Tigers, maintaining his reputation as one of SA basketball’s best forwards.
While the Mavericks sit bottom of the ladder, McCallop’s numbers have been as high as ever, the big man averaging 23 points and 13 rebounds a game.
LACHLAN OLBRICH (Southern Tigers)
The youngest member on this list, 18-year-old Olbrich is making a name for himself as one of the brightest up and coming stars in NBL1 Central.
The youngster is averaging 19 points, 10 rebounds and three assists an appearance and looks set to be a big name in SA – and maybe Australia – basketball for years.
MORGAN YAEGER (Southern Tigers)
Yaeger controls the offence with ease for the Tigers, creating high percentage shots for her teammates while also scoring for herself.
The 24-year-old guard has done it all this year, tallying 22 points, six assists and seven rebounds a game on 45 percent shooting.
ADAM DOYLE (Forestville)
Veteran Doyle is having one of his best seasons for the Eagles, acting as a floor general and defensive pest for his side.
The skilled guard is averaging a league-high seven assists per game while also putting up 16 points.
His skillset will continue to complement the likes of Daniel Johnson and Jack Purchase through the season and makes Forestville a real danger in the second half of the year.
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