Maddy Allen was the inspiration for the Southern Districts Spartans to make it a perfect weekend beating the Brisbane Capitals in the NBL1 North on Sunday with Koen Sapwell continuing to bang down the door for an NBL opportunity in the men's contest.
Round 7 in the NBL1 North finished on Sunday at Auchenflower Stadium with a pair of wins for the Southern Districts Spartans against the Brisbane Capitals, with the women winning 86-68 and then men 96-90.
NBL1 NORTH RECAP | FRIDAY PINK ROUND
WOMEN
Allen shines again as Spartans dominate second half
The Southern Districts Spartans ensured a perfect weekend backing up Saturday's win over the Red City Roar by beating the Brisbane Capitals 86-68 on Sunday.
The Spartans scored the 38-point home win against the winless Red City on Saturday night and then backed it up in Round 7 of the NBL1 North on the road to the Capitals on Sunday afternoon.
The Caps were looking to bounce back from just their second defeat of the season last week in the Top End to the Salties, and it was a tight first half between the two teams at Auchenflower Stadium.
Brisbane led by just a point at quarter-time and then still held on to a 42-41 advantage at the main break with no more than five points separating the two teams in all of the opening half.
However, the Spartans were able to dominate the second half where they outscored the Caps 45 points to 26 to end up winning by 18 to make it a double win weekend.
The victory improves Southern Districts to a 6-4 record with three successive wins while Brisbane has now lost consecutive games for the first time this season to sit at 5-3.
Maddy Allen produced her second standout performance of the weekend for the Spartans finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals including knocking down 4/7 from three-point territory.
Jess McDowell-White also had a standout showing for Southern Districts with 18 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals while she shot 4/8 from three-point territory.
Alice Dart also delivered 15 points while Natalie Taylor contributed eight points, three assists and three steals.
Mia Loyd did what she could to give Brisbane a chance and finished the afternoon with 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists on shooting 9/18 from the floor and 8/11 from the foul line.
Anna Cameron added 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, Courtney Middap 11 points, eight boards and four assists, and Steph Collins eight points, three rebounds and three assists.
Mia Loyd is on fire, She has 1??8?? at half-time ?
— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 14, 2023
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MEN
Sapwell stars again as Spartans beat Capitals
The Southern Districts Spartans made it a perfect weekend by backing up a win the night before to beat the Brisbane Capitals 96-90 on the road on Sunday afternoon.
The Caps were playing their only game of Round 7 attempting to win a second game of the season while the Spartans were fresh off beating the Red City Roar on Saturday night to score a third consecutive victory.
Brisbane was the fresher team having not played since losing in Darwin last Saturday night and on their home floor, started on fire with 34 points to 22 in the opening quarter.
The Capitals stretched their lead to 17 points as well in the second period but the Spartans steadied from there and cut the Brisbane lead to 56-48 at half-time.
The Spartans then dominated the third quarter in remarkable fashion with 32 points to seven in the third quarter and that set them on their way to the eventual six-point victory.
The win improves Southern Districts to a 5-5 record on the season having now won four matches in-a-row. Brisbane is now 1-7 having lost two straight since that lone win against the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.
On the back of his brilliant performance on Saturday night in the win against Red City, Koen Sapwell was again outstanding for the Spartans as he bangs down the door to earn an NBL contract.
He clearly looks a player ready to make his mark at the next level and he delivered 40 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals while shooting 13/19 from the field, 3/6 from three-point range and 11/14 at the free-throw line.
Akoldah Gak added 15 points and eight rebounds for the winners, Andre Ugrinic 11 points, five boards and three assists, and Ben Hastings 11 points and five rebounds.
Geordan Papacostas ended up top-scoring for Brisbane with 18 points, four rebounds and three assists with Malok Majak contributing 17 points, 14 boards and three assists with Tim Soong adding 14 points and five rebounds, and Anthony Kopcikas 14 points and five assists.
Koen Sapwell puts the icing on the ? for Southern Districts!
— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 14, 2023
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