'Lat's all folks': Mayen's 26 powers Bearcats to title

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West Adelaide Bearcats continued their rich history of winning championships, claiming the 2025 NBL1 Central Men's title with an 83-73 win against Central Districts at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

The victors overcame a slow start to secure the title with a balanced team effort and strong shooting performance.

Key Details

• Result: West Adelaide 83 def. Central Districts 73 (Watch the Replay)
• When: Saturday, August 16, 2025
• Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide

By the Numbers

• Lat Mayen (West Adelaide) starred with 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals in 39 minutes.
• Clayton Jewell (Central Districts) scored 16 points, and had 14 rebounds, two steals and one block in 24 minutes.

What Happened

Central Districts started strong, taking a 26-19 lead in the first quarter behind Jack Stanwix's aggressive play. However, West Adelaide responded emphatically in the second period, outscoring their opponents 25-12 to take a 44-38 halftime lead that they would not relinquish.

The momentum shift occurred midway through the second quarter when Keanu Rasmussen and Lat Mayen combined for 14 points during a decisive run that erased Central Districts' early advantage. West Adelaide maintained control in the third quarter, extending their lead to 59-50 heading into the final period.

Central Districts attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter, with Clayton Jewell contributing eight points and six rebounds in the period alone. However, West Adelaide's Cameron Huefner delivered two critical three-pointers with under five minutes remaining to secure the championship.

West Adelaide's superior shooting efficiency proved decisive. They connected on 40.8 percent of their field goal attempts (29-from-71) compared to Central Districts' 32.5 percent (26-from-80). Particularly telling was West Adelaide's advantage from beyond the arc, where they hit nine three-pointers to Central Districts' four.

Central Districts dominated the rebounding battle with 60 boards to West Adelaide's 42, including 25 offensive rebounds that led to 17 second-chance points. However, they couldn't capitalise on these extra opportunities, shooting poorly throughout the contest.

Defensively, both teams were active, with Central Districts recording seven steals and five blocks, while West Adelaide managed six steals and four blocks. Jacob Tryon's four blocks for West Adelaide provided crucial rim protection against Central Districts' interior scoring attempts.

With this championship victory, West Adelaide completed their season in triumphant fashion, while Central Districts will need to regroup after falling short in the final game of their campaign.