South Adelaide Panthers Edge Forestville Eagles in Thrilling NBL1 Central Finish

Date: 31 May 2026 | Division: NBL1 Central | Venue: Marion Sports Centre

In a game that came down to the final possession, the South Adelaide Panthers held on to defeat the Forestville Eagles 86–84 in a tightly contested NBL1 Central clash on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers used a strong defensive stand in the closing seconds to preserve the win and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Match Overview

Neither team led by more than seven points throughout the contest, with the lead changing hands 14 times. South Adelaide shot 44% from the floor and forced 17 turnovers, while Forestville relied on their inside game, scoring 44 points in the paint.

Key Moments

• Second Quarter Surge: The Eagles opened a 44–37 lead late in the first half, but the Panthers closed the quarter on a 9–2 run to tie the game at 46–46 at the break.
• Final Minute Drama: With the score tied 84–84 and 30 seconds remaining, Panthers guard Sam Gardner drew a foul and sank both free throws to put his team ahead 86–84.
• Game-Winning Stop: Forestville’s star forward Jake Miller (28 points, 12 rebounds) had a chance to win it, but his baseline jumper was contested and rimmed out as time expired.

Standout Performers

• South Adelaide Panthers: Sam Gardner (22 pts, 6 ast, 3 stl), Josh Baxter (18 pts, 8 reb), Patrick O’Neill (11 pts, 10 reb).
• Forestville Eagles: Jake Miller (28 pts, 12 reb, 2 blk), Chris Wells (16 pts, 9 ast), Daniel Hayes (12 pts, 7 reb).

Season Impact

The win lifts the Panthers to 6–5, moving them into a tie for fifth place in the NBL1 Central standings. For the Eagles (7–3), the loss is their first in three games and drops them to third place. Both teams will be eager to build momentum in the weeks ahead.