Nathan Sobey's return to Ipswich Force had to wait until Sunday after last year's NBL1 North championship and he helped the reigning champs to the 85-78 road win over the Southern Districts Spartans.
Round 2 in the NBL1 North wrapped up on Sunday afternoon with Ipswich defeating Southern Districts at Rowland Cowan Stadium.
RECAP NBL1 NORTH | ROUND 2 SATURDAY
RECAP NBL1 NORTH | ROUND 2 FRIDAY
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Southern Districts Spartans (78) lost to Ipswich Force (85)
After the game had to be postponed to Sunday, Nathan Sobey and the Ipswich Force made a flying start and then withstood a fast finish from the Southern Districts Spartans for the 85-78 victory.
The game was originally scheduled for Saturday night at Rowland Cowan Stadium and it did get underway, but water coming from the roof meant the game had to be postponed on Sunday.
The two teams returned on Sunday afternoon to resume hostilities and there was no shortage of star power out there with Grand Final MVP Sobey not only returning for Ipswich for the first time in 2024, but joining his now former Brisbane Bullets teammate DJ Mitchell for the Force.
Up against them were another Bullets teammate Tyrell Harrison for Southern Districts alongside Tasmania JackJumpers NBL championship winner Jarred Bairstow and former Perth Wildcats guard Corey Shervill.
Ipswich were hunting their first win of the season too and they did start strongly away from home with 28 points to 17 in the opening quarter.
That lead grew to 22 points in the second period as well for the Force and the visitors went into the half-time break leading 48-38.
Southern Districts had done well to stay in touch at the break, but Ipswich were on a mission and pushed the advantage back out to 20 points in the third quarter and would end up winning by seven and improving to a 1-1 record in their championship defence as a result.
DJ Mitchell is working back from a season-ending injury to NBL24 and is working into form nicely for Ipswich with 21 points and five rebounds in the Sunday victory.
Nathan Sobey has had an eventful time since the end of the NBL season as Bullets captain and has now signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix for NBL25.
Last year's Grand Final MVP put up 20 points, two assists and two steals for the Force while playing over 35 minutes.
Henry Pwono also delivered 18 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals for Ipswich with championship winning captain Jason Ralph contributing 13 points, nine assists and four rebounds.
Southern Districts is now 1-2 after the first three games of the season with Corey Shervill putting up 22 points, 13 rebounds and four assists as he attempts to earn another NBL opportunity.
Tyrell Harrison is fresh off the best season of his NBL career at the Bullets and put up 19 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks, three assists and two steals for the Spartans with Jarred Bairstow contributing 17 points, eight boards and four assists.
Ipswich now heads home on Friday night to host the Brisbane Capitals at 8pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Spartans are at home to the Sunshine Coast Phoenix on Sunday.
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 78 (Shervill 22, Harrison 19, Bairstow 17)
IPSWICH FORCE 85 (Mitchell 21, Sobey 20, Pwono 18)
