Centrals: The Great Drought is over

On Saturday night - during a time when the drought has become such an important and concerning issue - there was finally some happy news for the good people of Gawler. The drought was finally over.

The drought for the Central Districts womens basketball team, that is.

After 1141 days without registering a victory, the Lions finally broke through for a hard-earned win, knocking off the Eastern Mavericks 82-78.

Trailing by five with less than two minutes remaining, the heavens finally opened for the Lions, the rain coming in the form of three quick fire 3-pointers to help snatch victory.

Tahnee Mansfield played the role of hero for the hungry Lions, nailing two triples inside the last 100 seconds, including the game-winner with only 20 seconds left in the contest.

Charlotte Taylor was also vital down the stretch for Central, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer with a minute left, her sixth three for the evening.

Taylor finished with 23 points and 7 rebounds, while Fiona Perso grabbed 15 rebounds and Mansfield scored 19 points.

The win will not get the Lions off the bottom of the ladder, but after so long without tasting success, it will go a long way in providing some hope for season 2010 and beyond.

The men were able to make it a double dose later in the night, when they accounted for a pesky Mavericks, 119-104.

Following the recent departures of big men Oliver Prince and Diesel Carlin, teenager Andrew Bolton was thrust into the spotlight, chosen to start at centre for the undermanned Lions.

Before Saturday night, Bolton's total stats for the season were three points and five rebounds. After Saturday night, he can at least say he now needs more than one hand to count his stats.

14 points, five assists and a mammoth 18 rebounds later, Bolton had been named best on court after leading his team to the 15-point win.

Central seemed to have taken control of the game in the second quarter, outscoring Eastern 36-23 for the quarter and taking a 66-50 lead into the main break.
However, the Lions offense broke down in the third period, and Eastern slowly worked themselves back into the game.

When Eastern scored the first basket after three quarter time, the margin was back to four, and the Lions were a mess.

Enter Matt Atkins. In just 44 seconds of play, Atkins swished three 3-pointers, breaking the game wide open, and handing the Lions a match-winning lead.
Atkins netted 28 points, while Lachie Parker recaptured his best form with 19 points. Matthew Clarke was handy with 15 points to go with his 11 assists.

Like it has been all season, the top five is still on the horizon for the Lions, now sitting just one game outside and with a decent shot at qualifying for the finals.

They meet South Adelaide next week in a game that really is do or die, which is also the Lions last home game for the season. With so much on the line, and the women aiming for successive wins for the first time since Federation, a bumper crowd is expected at Starplex. The men will hope to keep their season alive at 8.15pm, after the women do battle at 6.30pm.