Feature images via: @3 Point Photography by Tania Millard
Keely Froling lifted Launceston Tornadoes to a first win of the NBL1 South season with the Casey Cavaliers also winning their first women's game in overtime and Keilor Thunder's men winning big in Mount Gambier.
There were three women's matches on Friday night with the Launceston Tornadoes beating the Ballarat Miners 79-61 while the Casey Cavaliers beat the Hobart Chargers 72-60, and the Mount Gambier Pioneers downed Keilor Thunder 80-55.
Then in the men's match ups, the North West Tasmania Thunder beat the Ballarat Miners 98-95 with the Chargers defeating the Cavs 88-79, and Keilor defeating Mount Gambier 96-83.
RECAP NBL1 SOUTH | ROUND 3 SUNDAY
WOMEN
Launceston Tornadoes (79) defeated Ballarat Miners (61)
The addition of Keely Froling back into the Launceston Tornadoes line-up was enough for her to shine and help her team to a first win of 2024, beating the Ballarat Miners 79-61.
The Tornadoes had lost their opening five games of the season but welcomed Froling back on Friday night at home to the Miners at Mazda BT-50 Thunder Stadium.
Launceston went on a 10-0 run in the opening period and by quarter-time that saw the home team leading 26-12.
The Tornadoes turned that into a 14-0 scoring run into the second period and that saw the lead blow out to 20 points, and they were still on top 40-20 by the half-time interval.
The lead got out to as much as 22 points in the second half as well with Launceston on the way to the 18-point victory to improve to 1-5 on the season as a result.
Keely Froling starred in the win for the Tornadoes with 31 points, 11 rebounds and two assists on 13/22 shooting from the field, 2/2 from downtown and 3/4 at the foul line.
Trinity Oliver also put up 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Josie Pinkerton eight points, eight boards and five assists, Sarah O'Neill eight points, five rebounds and two assists, and Ava McDonald eight points, three assists, two blocked shots and two boards.
Ballarat is now 2-3 on the season following the loss to start the road double in Tasmania with Chloe Bibby putting up 24 points, nine rebounds and two assists.
Micah Simpson added 13 points, five rebounds and five assists, Ella Gordon 10 points and eight boards, and Abbey Wehrung nine points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists.
The Miners remain in Tasmania to play the Hobart Chargers on Saturday at 6pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Tornadoes host the Casey Cavaliers at the same time.
LAUNCESTON TORNADOES 79 (Froling 31, Oliver 24, O'Neill 8, Pinkerton 8, McDonald 8)
BALLARAT MINERS 61 (Bibby 24, Simpson 13, Gordon 10)
Hobart Chargers (70) lost to Casey Cavaliers (72)
The Casey Cavaliers are on the board for 2024 in dramatic fashion with the 72-70 overtime road victory against the Hobart Chargers.
The Cavs had lost their opening five games of the season and the last four of 2023 coming into their Tasmanian road double this weekend starting on Friday against the Chargers at Hobart Netball and Sports Centre.
Hobart came out strongly to lead by eight early but then Casey steadied and by quarter-time were on top 19-14.
The momentum swung again in the second quarter with Hobart putting up 17 points to 12 in the second frame and by half-time the scores were all locked at 31-31.
Hobart were able to pull away to an 11-point lead again the third quarter but then it was Casey who responded with a 9-0 run in the fourth to set up the frantic finish.
In the end, Casey were leading by a point with Hobart having one last play. Jayda Jansen was fouled and went to the stripe to make the first to level scores, but she missed the second that could have been the winner.
On the rebound, the Cavs had a chance at the prayer but turned the ball over too as time expired with scores locked at 60-60 and the game went to an extra period.
While the Chargers went up four during overtime, the Cavaliers weren’t going to let the chance slip and ultimately it was an impressive drive and finish inside from Taylah Gillam that put Casey on top 72-70.
That’s where the score stayed on another farantic final possession from Hobart where Zoe Banks had her attempt blocked by Sharne Robati, and the Cavs won to improve to 1-5 in their first win since July 1 last year – also against Hobart.
Alex Wittinger delivered 16 points and 22 rebounds in the win for Casey with Sharne Robati contributing 15 points and seven boards, Lauryn Hippolite 15 points, four boards and three assists, and Taylah Simmons 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Kayla Steindl put up 23 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks for the Chargers with Cierra Walker contributing 20 points and six boards, and Jayda Jansen 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.
The Chargers remain at home to host the Ballarat Miners on Saturday at 6pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Cavs take on the Launceston Tornadoes at the same time.
HOBART CHARGERS 70 (Steindl 23, Walker 20, Jansen 17)
CASEY CAVALIERS 72 (Wittinger 16, Robati 15, Hippolite 15)
Mount Gambier Pioneers (80) defeated Keilor Thunder (55)
It was the battle of undefeated teams but it was the Mount Gambier Pioneers who made the statement at home with the 80-55 victory against the Keilor Thunder.
Mount Gambier had opened the season winning its first five games while Keilor had won six straight setting the stage for Friday's match up at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.
Keilor started well enough too leading by six in the first quarter but by quarter-time the Pioneers had narrowly worked on top to be up 16-13.
Mount Gambier took control of the match up in the second period and an 11-0 run saw that lead get out to as much as 13 points, but Keilor worked back into it before the break and the Pioneers' advantage was only 33-31 at the main break.
It was all the Pioneers in the second half, though, and they would outscore the Thunder 47 points to 24 to lead by as much as 27 points and end up securing the 25-point triumph to improve to 6-0 on the season.
Haliegh Reinoehl top-scored in the win for the Pioneers with 19 points, three rebounds and two assists on 5/8 three-point shooting.
Sherrie Calleia added 15 points and five assists, Zitina Aokuso 14 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and four assists, and Isa Brancatisano 11 points, nine assists, six rebounds and three steals.
It's a first loss of the season for Keilor despite 19 points, four rebounds and two steals from Lily Carmody with Lilly Rotunno adding 10 points, four boards and three assists, and Maddy Rocci 13 points and seven rebounds.
The Keilor are back in action on Sunday hosting the Waverley Falcons at 2pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Pioneers next face Geelong United on the road next Saturday.
MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 80 (Reinoehl 19, Calleia 15, Aokuso 14)
KEILOR THUNDER 55 (Carmody 19, Rocci 13, Rotunno 10)
MEN
North West Tasmania Thunder (98) defeated Ballarat Miners (95)
It was a huge three-pointer from Ben Woolley with just under a minute to play that proved crucial in the North West Tasmania Thunder beating the Ballarat Miners 98-95 in a Friday night thriller.
North West were back home at Mazda BT-50 Thunder Stadium hosting a Miners team having won their past two games and the two teams combined for 55 points in the first quarter.
It was the Thunder narrowly leading 29-26 by half-time and the home team did push out to an eight-point lead in another high-scoring second period.
North West went into the half-time break leading 60-53 with the lead getting out to a game-high 10 points in the third frame, but Ballarat continued to stay in touch and that set up a thrilling finish.
Nick Stoddart even put Ballarat in front early in the final period but Seth Swalve soon restored North West to the lead when he knocked down a three-pointer.
Each time in the last term when the Thunder threatened to pull away, the Miners came up with a big play including when Tyler Rudolph hit a three-pointer with just under six minutes on the clock.
Majok Majok then put the Miners back on top before Tre Armstrong responded with a three ball for North West.
In the end with just under a minute to play, it was a triple from Ben Woolley on the find from Swalve following a Luke Rosendale turnover for Ballarat that was the decisive shot of the contest.
The Thunder went on to win by three from there to improve to 2-4 on the season with Tre Armstrong top-scoring with 18 points and three rebounds on shooting 4/6 from three-point territory.
Sekou Sylla added 16 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and four steals with Seth Swalve contributing 16 points, five boards and five assists, and Archer Woodhill 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Ben Woolley also had 12 points, three boards, three assists and two blocked shots, and Ryley Haywood 10 points and two assists.
Tyler Rudolph top-scored once more for Ballarat with 22 points, eight rebounds and two steals with Nick Stoddart contributing 19 points and three assists, Majok Majok 18 points and 12 boards, and Luke Rosendale 15 points, four assists and three rebounds.
The Miners remain in Tasmania to play the Hobart Chargers on Saturday at 8pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Thunder host the Casey Cavaliers at the same time.
NORTH WEST TASMANIA THUNDER 98 (Armstrong 18, Sylla 16, Swalve 16)
BALLARAT MINERS 95 (Rudolph 22, Stoddart 19, Majok 18)
Hobart Chargers (88) defeated Casey Cavaliers (79)
The Hobart Chargers welcomed Clint Steindl into the line-up and beat the Casey Cavaliers 88-79 to make it three straight victories this NBL1 South season.
The Chargers had won their last couple of games and then welcomed Steindl into the team on Friday night fresh off captaining the Tasmania JackJumpers to their historic NBL championship.
The Chargers were back at Hobart Netball and Sports Centre to play host to a Cavaliers team also coming off a victory last week against Keilor Thunder.
So both teams came into the match up in good form with Hobart managing to open up a 10-point advantage in the opening term and still leading 24-16 at quarter-time.
The lead for the Chargers got out to 11 points in the second quarter but then the Cavs fired back by scoring 14 straight points to turn that into a five-point advantage.
Hobart turned things back around to be leading 41-39 at half-time and then the momentum swings continued with the Cavaliers working back on top to go back up six, and to be leading 63-60 going into the final period.
The Chargers turned the game in their favour for good from there scoring 15 straight points to end up leading by as much as 12, and winning by nine to make it a third straight win to improve to 4-2 on the season.
Vionte Daniels continued his standout form for Hobart with another 22 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals with Jacob Richards adding 21 points, 10 boards and three assists.
JackJumpers championship winning captain Clint Steindl had 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals with Ole Angerstein contributing 10 points, 10 boards and four blocks, Zach White 10 points, four assists and three rebounds, and Joe Chilcott nine points, six boards, four assists and two steals.
Dillon Stith delivered 27 points, nine rebounds and three assists for Casey with Devin Watson adding 18 points and five assists, Preston Bungei 14 points, six boards and five assists, and Adam Thoseby 10 points and three rebounds.
The Chargers remain at home to host the Ballarat Miners on Saturday at 8pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Cavs take on the North West Tasmania Thunder at the same time.
HOBART CHARGERS 88 (Daniels 22, Richards 21, Steindl 11)
CASEY CAVALIERS 79 (Stith 27, Watson 18, Bungei 14)
Mount Gambier Pioneers (83) lost to Keilor Thunder (96)
A standout all-round team performance saw Keilor Thunder withstand 35 points from Nick Marshall to beat the Mount Gambier Pioneers 96-83.
The Pioneers had won four of five games to open the season ahead of being back home at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre to host a Thunder team arriving on a 3-3 record.
It shaped as a fascinating contest and it didn’t disappoint for the first half with Keilor racing out to a nine-point lead but Mount Gambier hitting back to cut the Thunder lead to 27-24 by the end of one.
There was then no more than four points separating the two teams throughout the second term and at half-time it was a narrow 53-50 lead for Keilor.
The Thunder then blew the game wide open with 25 points to 10 in the third quarter to lead by as much as 18 points which grew to 21 in the final term and they would go on to score the 13-point road victory.
It was a tremendous all-round performance from the Thunder to improve them to 4-3 on the season with six players scoring in double figures and they shot 51 per cent from the field as a team and a scorching 16/29 from three-point range.
That included Trevor Lakes knocking down 4/11 from downtown for 14 points and six rebounds with Kuany Kuany and Jalen Gibbs both hitting 3/4. Gibbs finished with 17 points, fie rebounds and four assists, and Kuany 17 points.
Kyle Zunic also had 16 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals with Jayce Breasley contributing 13 points, nine boards, three assists and two blocked shots, and Daniel Poelsma 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Nick Marshall had a big night for Mount Gambier with 35 points, nine rebounds and three assists on 15/23 field goal shooting with Akech Aliir adding 10 points, 12 boards and four blocks.
The Keilor are back in action on Sunday hosting the Waverley Falcons at 4pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Pioneers next face Geelong United on the road next Saturday.
MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 83 (N Marshall 35, Aliir 10, Shelley 9)
KEILOR THUNDER 96 (Kuany 17, Gibbs 17, Zunic 16)
