Taylor Mole helped the Mackay Meteorettes overcome Mia Loyd's 39 points for Cairns in the NBL1 North while Kody and Ky Stattmann combined for 62 points in the Marlins win while Maddy Allen and Mitch Norton starred in wins for the Southern Districts Spartans.
There were three Friday night NBL1 North women's matches with the Rockhampton Cyclones beating the Gold Coast Rollers 89-65 with the Mackay Meteorettes defeating the Cairns Dolphins 92-88, and the Southern Districts Spartans downing the Townsville Flames 83-74.
The men's contests then saw the Rollers beat the Rockets 92-90, the Marlins beat the Meteors 87-85, and the Spartans defeat the Heat 99-89.
RECAP NBL1 NORTH | ROUND 11 SATURDAY
WOMEN
Gold Coast Rollers (65) lost to Rockhampton Cyclones (89)
The Rockhampton Cyclones closed in further on second position in the NBL1 North with the dominant 89-65 road win over the Gold Coast Rollers.
The Cyclones arrived at Carrara Stadium having won their past three matches to be knocking on the door of the Townsville Flames in second spot with Gold Coast trying to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat.
Scores were all level at 17-apiece by the end of the first quarter but Rockhampton then started to pull away in the second term with 25 points to 17 to go into the half-time break on top 42-34.
That lead for the Rockets continued to grow getting out to as much as 18 points in the third quarter and 27 in the final term on the way to the eventual 24-point road victory.
The victory improves Rockhampton to an 11-3 record on the season to close in further on second spot with Sydneysimone Wright delivering 21 points and three rebounds on 5/7 three-point shooting.
Sam Bowman also contributed 19 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots with Lara McSpadden adding 18 points and eight boards, Lauren Heard 12 points, seven assists, five steals and three rebounds, and Morgan Yaeger nine points and seven assists.
Gold Coast has now lost five games in-a-row with a 3-11 record with Myah Selland finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals on 9/15 shooting.
Kate Deeble added 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals with Emma Petrie contributing six points and three boards.
Rockhampton remains on the road on Saturday up against the North Gold Coast Seahawks with Gold Coast also in action on Saturday away to the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.
GOLD COAST ROLLERS 65 (Selland 23, Deeble 16, Petrie 6)
ROCKHAMPTON CYCLONES 89 (Wright 21, Bowman 19, McSpadden 18)
Cairns Dolphins (88) lost to Mackay Meteorettes (92)
Mia Loyd returned for the Cairns Dolphins and produced 39 points, but the Mackay Meteorettes had too much at stake and came away with the 92-88 victory.
Cairns has had a marked improvement in form in recent weeks not only scoring a first win but going close to another last week against the South West Metro Pirates ahead of hosting the Meteorettes at Trinity Ford Stadium.
The Meteorettes arrived needing to get back on the winner's list to stay in the playoff hunt with the visitors managing to work on top with 28 points to 15 in the second quarter to go into half-time leading 50-38.
Cairns were able to fire back with 26 points to 17 in the third period which set up a thrilling finish and every time the Meteorettes threatened to pull away again, the Dolphins hit back including with a three-pointer from Amy Lewis with 1:30 to go.
That had the margin back to two but Chelsea Brook hit a huge three-pointer for Mackay in response and ultimately that was the shot to seal the eventual four-point victory.
It was a crucial win for the Meteorettes who improve to a 6-8 record to stay in the playoff race with Taylor Mole putting up another 27 points, four assists and three rebounds on 10/20 shooting from the field and 5/5 at the foul line.
Chelsea Brook also had 22 points and nine rebounds on 4/9 three-point shooting with Samantha Haiby contributing 17 points, eight boards, eight assists and four steals.
The Dolphins slip to 1-13 despite a lot to like in their fighting performance again with Mia Loyd outstanding with 39 points, 11 rebounds and six assists on shooting 15/24 from the floor and 8/10 at the foul line.
Samantha Keltos added 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Cairns, Leichan Williams 12 points and eight boards, and Taryn Bond eight points and seven rebounds.
Mackay now heads up to the Top End to play the Darwin Salties on Saturday with next now waiting to face the Meteorettes on the road next Friday night.
CAIRNS DOLPHINS 88 (Loyd 39, Keltos 13, Williams 12)
MACKAY METEORETTES 92 (Mole 27, Brook 22, Haiby 17)
Southern Districts Spartans (83) defeated Townsville Flames (74)
The Southern Districts Spartans started on fire and consolidated their hold on a playoff position with the 83-74 home win against the second placed Townsville Flames.
With the race towards the finals now heating up in the NBL1 North, the Spartans were back home at Rowland Cowan Stadium on a five-game winning streak ahead of hosting a Townsville team having won its last four.
That set the stage for a tantalising match up but the Spartans soon took control with an 11-0 scoring run in the first quarter to open up a lead as much as 14 points.
Southern Districts were leading 30-18 by quarter-time with that lead growing to 17 points in the second frame and the home team was still up 48-36 by the half-time interval.
The Spartans maintained a double-figure lead throughout most of the second half too and would end up scoring the nine-point victory to give them six consecutive wins to improve to a 10-4 record.
Maddy Allen continued her standout form for Southern Districts with 27 points, four steals and two assists on 6/8 shooting from three-point territory.
Ariana Moorer added 21 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and two steals while Steph Bairstow contributed 10 points, four boards, two assists and two steals, and Abby Cubillo nine points and five assists.
Emily Preston also had nine points and three steals, and Kalani Purcell seven points, 11 rebounds, three steals, three blocked shots and two assists.
Townsville remains second but only just now with an 11-3 record with Indiah Bowyer top-scoring with 18 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Ella Tofaeono also had 17 points and 19 rebounds, Alex Fowler 17 points, four boards and four assists, Katherine Andersen 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals, and Kate Gaze 11 points, five boards and four assists.
Townsville is still on the road on Saturday night up against the Brisbane Capitals while the Spartans will be at home to the Brisbane Capitals next Friday.
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 83 (Allen 27, Moorer 21, Bairstow 10)
TOWNSVILLE FLAMES 74 (Bowyer 18, Fowler 17, Tofaeono 17)
MEN
Gold Coast Rollers (92) defeated Rockhampton Rockets (90)
Reed Nottage and Preston Le Gassick came up huge late to turn a five-point deficit in the last two minutes to an eventual 92-90 win for the Gold Coast Rollers at home to the Rockhampton Rockets.
The Rollers were back home at Carrara Stadium needing to win to stay in the playoff race in the NBL1 North up against a Rockhampton also locked in that top six battle and trying to bounce back from a loss to the Mackay Meteors.
It was a close contest the entire night with Gold Coast's biggest lead being seven points in the third quarter while Rockhampton's was eight points in the final term.
The Rockets were out to that eight-point lead when Cameron Goldfinch opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer and then with just under four minutes to play, Rockhampton again led by eight with Goldfinch knocking down another from downtown.
It was still an eight-point ball game another minute later and the onus was on Gold Coast to respond and Preston Le Gassick scored five points in 20 seconds to bring the home team back within three points.
Sean Biernacki pushed Rockhampton back to a five-point lead with two minutes to play but it was all the Rollers from there starting with a three-point play from Reed Nottage.
It was then time for Le Gassick to play match winner for Gold Coast with two massive three-pointers just over a minute and then just under a minute remaining to return the home team to the lead.
He then hit a free-throw in the dying seconds to stretch the lead to three points and Gold Coast held on to win by two to improve to a 6-8 record on the season to stay in touch of a playoff spot.
Le Gassick ended the night with 30 points, five assists and four rebounds on 6/9 three-point shooting for the Rollers with Reed Nottage adding 22 points and six boards.
Jason Cadee finished with 15 points and five assists, Daniel Titus 14 points and five rebounds, and Boston Mazlin 10 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals.
The Rockets slip out of the top six too now on a 6-7 record with Nighael Ceaser producing 30 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out late in the piece.
Ben Tweedy had a big night too with 22 points and 15 assists while Matur Maker contributed 16 points and 17 rebounds, and Cameron Goldfinch 13 points and three boards.
Rockhampton remains on the road on Saturday up against the North Gold Coast Seahawks with Gold Coast also in action on Saturday away to the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.
GOLD COAST ROLLERS 92 (Le Gassick 30, Nottage 22, Cadee 15)
ROCKHAMPTON ROCKETS 90 (Ceaser 30, Tweedy 22, Maker 16)
Cairns Marlins (87) defeated Mackay Meteors (85)
The Cairns Marlins enhanced their playoff aspirations and put the Mackay Meteors hold on top spot in jeopardy with the Stattmann bothers putting up 62 points in the 87-85 victory.
The Marlins were back home at Trinity Ford Stadium looking to back up last Friday's win over the South West Metro Pirates but they were up against the league-leading Meteors who had lost just once so far in 2024.
The job for Cairns became all that harder when Mackay started strongly too with a 14-0 scoring run in the first quarter on the way to a 12-point lead.
The Meteors were still up 25-16 by the end of the first quarter with the visitors' lead out to as much as 14 points in the second term, and they were still up 50-36 by half-time.
It did appear Mackay were on track for a sixth consecutive victory still leading 70-60 by three quarter-time, but the Marlins weren’t done with yet and produced an inspired fourth period on their home floor.
Cairns delivered 27 points to 15 which included scoring 16 consecutive points with a Ky Stattmann floater with 4:30 remaining putting the Marlins back in front.
Josh Kunen hit a three ball to extend that out to a four-point lead, Kody Stattmann saw that grow to a six-point advantage and ultimately a three ball from Ky Stattmann with 30 seconds remaining secured the stunning come from behind victory.
The win sees Cairns move into sixth position with a 7-7 record on the season with the Stattmann brothers outstanding combining for 62 points and nine three-pointers.
Kody finished with 33 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals on 4/12 three-point shooting with Ky adding 29 points and two boards on 5/10 shooting from three-point range.
Kian Dennis added 10 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Josh Kunen eight points, 12 rebounds and two assists.
Mackay does remain in top spot but with less of a hold on that position now with a 12-2 record while going just 6/27 from three-point range as a team.
Isaac White finished with 19 points, five assists and four rebounds, Manny Malou 12 points and four boards, Aiden Krause 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Todd Blanchfield 10 points and eight boards.
Mackay now heads up to the Top End to play the Darwin Salties on Saturday with next now waiting to face the Meteors on the road next Friday night.
CAIRNS MARLINS 87 (Kody Stattmann 33, Ky Stattmann 29, Dennis 10)
MACKAY METEORS 85 (White 19, Malou 12, Blanchfield 12)
Southern Districts Spartans (99) defeated Townsville Heat (89)
The Southern Districts Spartans had to dig deep to overpower the Townsville Heat but eventually did to end up with the 99-89 home victory.
The Spartans were back home at Rowland Cowan Stadium having won last week and having added former NBL import guard Jeremy Kendle while still being without Tyrell Harrison who is on national duties with the Tall Blacks.
Townsville arrived having been playing better basketball than a 4-9 record suggests as well and coming off a win so it turned out to be quite the fascinating match up.
The Heat came out hot racing to an 11-point lead in the first quarter and to still be holding on to a 48-44 lead by the half-time break.
Eventually the Spartans were able to work their way on top thanks to an 8-0 run in the third quarter. That turned into the home team scoring 12 consecutive points.
Southern Districts would end up leading by 11 points in the final period and winning by 10 to make it two wins in-a-row to improve to an 8-6 record to solid in the top six and staying in touch for a top three finish.
Mitch Norton was back from being part of the Emerging Boomers tour of Japan and produced 23 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Spartans.
Jeremy Kendle was playing his second game with Southern Districts and a first in the back court with Norton and had 22 points and seven assists on shooting 6/12 from three-point territory.
Jarred Bairstow added 15 points, 15 rebounds and five assists, Mason Honeyman 13 points, four boards and three assists, and Corey Shervill nine points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
Townsville slips to a 4-10 record following the defeat with Ethan Betts putting up 19 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Kyle Leslie also had 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists with Richard Peachey adding 10 points, four boards and two assists, and Chris Kann 10 points and two rebounds.
Townsville is still on the road on Saturday night up against the Brisbane Capitals while the Spartans will be at home to the Brisbane Capitals next Friday.
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 99 (Norton 23, Kendle 22, Bairstow 15)
TOWNSVILLE HEAT 89 (Betts 19, Leslie 18, Kann 10, Peachey 10)
