Featured image: @3 Point Photography by Tania Millard
Bec Cole put up 39 points as the Waverley Falcons beat Steph Reid's Frankston Blues in the NBL1 South with Ashten Prechtel starring for the Dandenong Rangers over Geelong United, and Tom Wilson lifted Melbourne Tigers over the Mount Gambier Pioneers.
RECAP NBL1 SOUTH | FIRST NATIONS ROUND FRIDAY
WOMEN
Geelong United (79) lost to Dandenong Rangers (97)
Ashten Prechtel came up huge with 26 points and the Dandenong Rangers won big 97-79 against Geelong United to consolidate their top four spot.
Coming into the second last round match at The Geelong Arena, United had won seven straight to be banging on the door of the top four with the Rangers inside the top four having won three in-a-row themselves.
That set the stage for a crucial match up for both teams and it was Dandenong who came out breathing fire with a 37-point first quarter. That included an 11-0 run and by quarter-time the visitors were leading by 15 points.
Dandenong remained in control the rest of the way from there with the lead out to 17 points in the second quarter and then as much as 28 in the second half as they completed another 16-0 scoring run.
Eventually the Rangers went on to score the 18-point victory to improve to a 14-6 record and stay in third spot with Ashten Prechtel ending up with 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Nyadiew Puoch delivered another 19 points and seven rebounds with Dallas Loughridge contributing 19 points, four assists and three boards, and Amber Smith 18 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists on 7/10 shooting.
The defends ends the seven-game winning streak of Geelong to leave them 11-8 with Shaneice Swain finishing with 25 points, five steals and two assists on 4/12 three-point shooting.
Sarah Elsworthy added 22 points, four rebounds and four assists, Lasha Petree 13 points, six boards, five steals and two assists, and Eva Braslis 12 points and four rebounds on 3/4 three-point shooting.
Geelong will be in action again on Sunday away to the Knox Raiders with the Rangers on the road to the Nunawading Spectres on Friday night.
GEELONG UNITED 79 (Swain 25, Elsworthy 22, Petree 13)
DANDENONG RANGERS 97 (Prechtel 26, N Puoch 19, Loughridge 19)
Kilsyth Cobras (72) lost to Eltham Wildcats (83)
A big night from Hailey Leidel with 28 points saw the Eltham Wildcats score the important 83-72 road win over the Kilsyth Cobras to stay inside the top eight.
Eltham arrived at Kilsyth Sports Centre in eighth position but needing to win to stay there following a loss to the Waverley Falcons back on Thursday as they took on a Kilsyth team also having won its previous two matches.
The Wildcats managed to lead by as much as 10 points in the first quarter before being on top 29-22 by quarter-time.
Kilsyth then dug in defensively in the second term holding Eltham to just seven points and by scoring 13 themselves they cut the Wildcats lead to 36-35 by half-time.
It wasn’t until the final period that Eltham were able to pull away once more with 24 points to 17 with the Wildcats going on to win by 11 points to stay inside the top eight with a 12-8 record.
Hailey Leidel starred in the win for Eltham with 28 points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists with Bec Pizzey contributing 17 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.
Lily Scanlon also had 14 points and seven rebounds with Erin Riley adding nine points and three assists.
Kilsyth is now 5-15 on the season following the defeat with Georgia Booth having a big night with 27 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Tyra Whitehead added 12 points, 13 boards, five assists, three blocks and two steals, Caitlin Cunningham 10 points and three rebounds, Nikita Young nine points, five assists, four steals and three blocks, and Paige Price eight points, nine boards and four assists.
The Cobras have a double-header to finish next weekend at home to Bendigo first up and then away to Diamond Valley while the Wildcats take on the Keilor Thunder on Thursday.
KILSYTH COBRAS 72 (Booth 27, Whitehead 12, Cunningham)
ELTHAM WILDCATS 83 (Leidel 28, Pizzey 17, Scanlon 14)
Launceston Tornadoes (76) defeated Bendigo Braves (73)
Kelly Wilson returned for the Bendigo Braves to try and push them back into a playoff position but it wasn’t quite enough with the Launceston Tornadoes holding out for the 76-73 win.
It was the last home game at Elphin Sports Stadium of the season for the Tornadoes and they came into it with an eight-game losing run against a Braves team who have slipped out of the top eight thanks to losing eight of the previous 12.
The Braves lost on Friday night to the Hobart Charges and while they did regain Kelly Wilson on Saturday, were still missing Ally Wilson, Amy Atwell and Megan McKay from that unbeatable championship team of last year.
Bendigo made a flying start going on an 11-0 run in the first quarter to lead by 10 points but Launceston were able to hit back to cut the deficit to four points at quarter-time.
It was then the Tornadoes that made a spectacular run scoring 19 consecutive points to end up leading by as much as 15 points and going into half-time on top 48-37.
The Braves did throw everything at a fightback in the second half knowing their season potentially was going to ride on the result, but the Tornadoes held firm for the eventual three-point victory.
It snaps the eight-game losing run for Launceston as they improve to a 5-15 record with Lucy Aherne ending up with 15 points and three assists on 4/6 three-point shooting.
Trinity Oliver also had 14 points, 14 rebounds and six assists while Lore Devos added 14 points, 12 boards and five assists, Macey Crawford 14 points, six rebounds and two assists, and Sarah O'Neill 14 points and two boards.
Bendigo remains outside the top eight now at 11-10 having lost the last three with Kelly Wilson returning with 18 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
Cassidy McLean top-scored with 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals while Madeline Sexton also put up 13 points, five boards and two steals, and Caitlin Richardson eight points, five steals, three rebounds and two assists.
The Tornadoes finish with a road double next weekend against Nunawading and Dandenong with Bendigo to play Kilsyth next Saturday.
LAUNCESTON TORNADOES 76 (Aherne 15, Oliver 14, Devos 14, Crawford 14, O'Neill 14)
BENDIGO BRAVES 73 (McLean 22, K Wilson 18, Sexton 18)
Casey Cavaliers (63) lost to Diamond Valley Eagles (86)
Abbey Ellis put together another strong showing to help the Diamond Valley Eagles hit back with the 86-63 road victory over the Casey Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers were playing their last home game of the season at Casey Stadium and attempting to snap a five-game losing slide while the Eagles were tyring to bounce back from losing on Friday to Keilor Thunder by 21 points.
Even though the Cavs only had seven players suiting up and were without the services of Taylah Simmons and Alice Kunek, they were able to start well and lead 23-19 by the end of the opening quarter.
That lead for Casey got out to 10 points but then Diamond Valley hit back with a 9-0 scoring run and ended up grabbing a 42-37 advantage by half-time.
The Eagles then continued to build on that throughout the second half to end up leading by 15 points in the third quarter and 25 in the fourth before securing the eventual 23-point victory.
The win improves Diamond Valley to a 7-13 record on the season with Abbey Ellis continuing her strong form to close the season with another 23 points, six rebounds, five steals and two assists.
Naomi Mbandu also had 22 points, 10 rebounds and five steals, Jennie Rintala 10 points and seven boards, and Nikki Metcalfe 10 points and three rebounds.
Casey has now lost six in-a-row to sit at 4-16 with Sharne Robati top-scoring with 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals with Lauryn Hippolite adding 11 points and three assists, and Taylah Gillam 11 points, two rebounds and two assists.
Alex Wittinger also ended up with eight points and 19 rebounds, Lauren Van Kleunen eight points, six assists and five rebounds, and Maighan Hedge seven points.
The Cavaliers play again on Sunday away to the Ballarat Miners with the Eagles facing Geelong United at home next Saturday.
CASEY CAVALIERS 63 (Robati 16, Gillam 11, Hippolite 11)
DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 86 (Ellis 23, Mbandu 22, Rintala 10, Metcalfe 10)
Mount Gambier Pioneers (108) defeated Melbourne Tigers (72)
The Mount Gambier Pioneers welcomed back Zitina Aokuso and returned to the winner's list emphatically with the 108-72 home win over the Melbourne Tigers.
The Pioneers were back home fresh off losing to the Knox Raiders also at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre on Friday night which made it three straight defeats ahead of hosting a Tigers team also on a five-game losing skid.
Scores were all square at 26-apiece by quarter-time but the Pioneers began to work on top in the second term with an 11-0 scoring run and the home team went into half-time leading 50-43.
Mount Gambier were then able to dominate the second half with 29 points to 10 in the third quarter and 29 to 19 in the fourth with the lead getting out to as much as 36 points, which would be the final margin.
The win improves the Pioneers to a 13-8 record on the season to still be a shot at the top four despite the three straight losses previous.
Sherrie Calleia played a starring role in the win for Mount Gambier with 30 points, 10 assists and six rebounds on shooting 12/15 from the floor and 4/7 from three-point territory.
Zitina Aokuso marked her return with 26 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and two blocked shots with Isa Brancatisano adding 18 points, four boards, three assists and three steals.
Haliegh Reinoehl also had 14 points, eight rebounds and two assists, and Samantha Fatkin 12 points and seven boards.
The Tigers have now lost six straight to be 7-13 with Tylah Hooper top-scoring with 16 points on 5/7 three-point shooting.
Chantel Horvat added 15 points, four rebounds and two assists, Steph Blicavs 14 points, two boards and two assists, and Sam Simons 12 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Mount Gambier finishes the regular season at home to the Ringwood Hawks on Friday with the Tigers hosting the Waverley Falcons on Thursday night.
MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 108 (Calleia 30, Aokuso 26, Brancatisano 18)
MELBOURNE TIGERS 72 (Hooper 16, Horvat 15, Blicavs 14)
Waverley Falcons (93) defeated Frankston Blues (88)
Bec Cole put up 39 points and the Waverley Falcons kept their playoff hopes alive with the 93-88 win at home over Steph Reid, Lauren Scherf and the Frankston Blues.
The stars were out at Waverley Basketball Centre on Saturday night and it was a big game for both teams trying to find a way into the top eight and currently looking on from the outside.
The Blues welcomed back Steph Reid to join Lauren Scherf in the line-up, but the Falcons had been building impressive momentum having won their past three matches.
While Waverley managed to lead by four points at quarter-time, Frankston worked on top in the second term by completing an 11-0 scoring run to end up leading by as much as nine points.
The Blues were still on top 44-40 by half-time as well but then the Falcons fired in the third frame with 27 points to 18.
It was still a tight finish but the biggest shot of the game would be a three ball from Mckenzie Forbes for Waverley with just over 30 seconds to play to break the deadlock.
Forbes would also make two clutch free-throws and blocked a late shot attempt from Chelsea D'Angelo to be instrumental in securing the five-point win.
It makes it five in-a-row for the Falcons as they improve to an 11-9 record with Bec Cole coming up huge with 39 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals while knocking down 5/8 from three-point range and 10/10 at the foul line.
Carley Ernst also provided another 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Waverley with Mckenzie Forbes ending up with 19 points and two boards, and Renae Mokrzycki six points, nine rebounds and two assists.
Frankston slips further from playoff calculations at 9-11 with the defeat despite getting 23 points, nine assists and six rebounds from Steph Reid.
Lauren Scherf added 20 points and four rebounds, Chelsea D'Angelo 20 points, six boards and six assists, Tori Jackson 14 points, three rebounds and two assists, and Lou Brown nine points and nine boards.
The Falcons are away to the Melbourne Tigers on Thursday night with the Blues on the road to the Sandringham Sabres on Tuesday night.
WAVERLEY FALCONS 93 (Cole 39, Ernst 20, Forbes 19)
FRANKSTON BLUES 88 (Reid 23, D'Angelo 20, Scherf 20)
MEN
Geelong United (78) defeated Dandenong Rangers (65)
George Blagojevic continued his standout form and Geelong United made it five straight wins beating the Dandenong Rangers 78-65.
It's still going to be an unlikely playoff run for Geelong but all they could do is keep on winning and see where everything fell when they arrived back home at The Arena on Saturday to host the Rangers who were attempting to return to the top four.
Dandenong had lost two of its last three games while Geelong was on a four-game winning run, but it was the Rangers who got the better of the start to be leading 20-14 by quarter-time.
Geelong turned the tide in style in the second period, though, and would complete a 13-0 scoring run to end up leading by 13 points.
But by half-time Dandenong had pegged that lead back to just three points before United pulled away once more with 10 straight points in the third term to go out to a 15-point lead.
This time they maintained it and would end up scoring the 13-point victory to make it five wins in-a-row to improve to a 10-9 record.
George Blagojevic was terrific once more with 20 points, eight rebounds, five steals and three assists.
Latrell Jones also contributed 16 points and five rebounds, Liam Herbert 13 points, five steals, three boards and two assists, Ma'alo Hicks 10 points and five rebounds, and DeMarcus Gatlin a near triple-double with nine points, 10 boards and 10 assists.
The Rangers have now lost two straight to remain outside the top four at 12-8 with Tad Dufelmeier doing all he could with 25 points, six rebounds and four steals on 10/14 shooting from the floor and 4/6 from downtown.
Brandon Betson added 13 points, Mason Peatling 10 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks, and Puoch Puoch nine points, five boards, two assists and two steals.
Geelong will be in action again on Sunday away to the Knox Raiders with the Rangers on the road to the Nunawading Spectres on Friday night.
GEELONG UNITED 78 (Blagojevic 20, Jones 16, Herbert 13)
DANDENONG RANGERS 65 (Dufelmeier 25, Betson 13, Peatling 10)
Kilsyth Cobras (68) lost to Eltham Wildcats (87)
The Eltham Wildcats further consolidated themselves inside the playoffs with the 87-68 road victory against the Kilsyth Cobras.
The Wildcats arrived at Kilsyth Sports Centre in eighth position with three straight wins but they did need to keep winning to stay in a playoff spot coming up against a Kilsyth team just looking for a positive end to a tough season.
Kilsyth did start well to lead by five points early but then Eltham went on a 10-0 run to be on top 25-15 by quarter-time.
It was all the Wildcats the rest of the way with the lead growing to 25 points in the second quarter and remaining around that 20-point barrier throughout the second half.
Eltham eventually scored the 19-point victory to stay inside the top eight at 12-8 having now won four straight with Sam Whelan scoring 20 points on 6/7 three-point shooting.
Owen Foxwell provided 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and his new South East Melbourne Phoenix NBL teammate Angus Glover also had 12 points, seven boards, three assists and two steals.
Josh Sykes put up 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, and Zak Cunningham 10 points.
The Cobras slip to a 5-15 record with Corey Jeffs finishing with 18 points and three assists while knocking down 4/12 from three-point range.
Adrian Tomada added 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, Ben Ursich seven points and eight boards, Deng Riak seven points and six rebounds, and Tim Lang six points and 11 boards.
The Cobras have a double-header to finish next weekend at home to Bendigo first up and then away to Diamond Valley while the Wildcats take on the Keilor Thunder on Thursday.
KILSYTH COBRAS 68 (Jeffs 18, Tomada 10, Duach 8)
ELTHAM WILDCATS 87 (Foxwell 22, Whelan 20, Sykes 14)
North West Tasmania Thunder (96) defeated Bendigo Braves (85)
The North West Tasmania Thunder celebrated their last home game of the season with the 96-85 victory against the Bendigo Braves.
The Braves were playing their second game of the weekend in Tasmania having lost to the Hobart Chargers on Friday while the Thunder were looking for a winning end to the season at home at Mazda BT-50 Thunder Stadium.
North West Tasmania started strongly to lead early by eight points but Bendigo responded with an 11-0 run to be up by four themselves before it was the Thunder just up by a point at quarter-time.
Both teams had their time in front in the second stanza but by half-time it was North West Tasmania narrowly on top 50-46.
North West Tasmania were then able to build on that lead throughout the second half to lead by as much as 13 points in the third frame, and 14 in the fourth on the way to the eventual 11-point victory.
As a result of the win, the Thunder improve to a 9-11 record on the season with Archer Woodhill playing a starring role with 30 points and eight rebounds on 11/15 shooting from the field and 8/10 at the foul line.
Seth Swalve also had 19 points, 15 assists and four rebounds on 6/8 three-point shooting while Ben Woolley contributed 12 points and two assists, and Jake Afoa eight points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Braves return home with a double loss weekend to now sit at 7-14 with Mitch Clarke shining with 25 points and five assists while knocking down 4/7 from three-point range.
Andrew Robinson also had 14 points and three rebounds, Billy Smythe 14 points and eight boards, Rowan Mackenzie 13 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Isaac Murphy 12 points, six boards, two assists and two steals.
The Thunder finish with a road double next weekend against Nunawading and Dandenong with Bendigo to play Kilsyth next Saturday.
NORTH WEST TASMANIA THUNDER 96 (Woodhill 30, Swalve 19, Woolley 12)
BENDIGO BRAVES 85 (Clarke 25, Smythe 14, Robinson 14)
Casey Cavaliers (91) lost to Diamond Valley Eagles (106)
Diamond Valley Eagles big men Ngor Manyang and Jock Perry dominated to combine for 64 points in the eventual 106-91 road win against the Casey Cavaliers.
It was the battle of the bottom two teams in the NBL1 South coming into the match up but it was a must win for the Cavaliers at Casey Stadium if they wanted to maintain any hope of avoiding the wooden spoon in 2024.
Casey started well too to be leading 25-22 by the end of the first quarter but then in the second frame that's when Diamond Valley began to take charge with 25 points to 15 to go into the half-time break leading 47-40.
The Eagles then continued to pull away throughout the second half leading by as much as 13 points in the third quarter and 23 in the fourth on the way to the eventual 15-point victory.
The win improves Diamond Valley to a 6-14 record on the season with Ngor Manyang unstoppable on his way to 35 points on 15/25 shooting from the field and 4/9 from three-point territory.
Jock Perry was also a powerful presence with 29 points and 12 rebounds on 11/18 shooting with Erik Kafritsas adding 21 points, 11 boards and four assists on 4/9 three-point shooting.
Casey is now anchored to bottom spot at 3-17 with Preston Bungei delivering 26 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals while Dillon Stith produced 25 points, 10 boards, five assists and two steals fresh off signing a deal to join the Cairns Taipans in the NBL.
Adam Thoseby also had 15 points and seven rebounds with Hunter Marks adding 15 points and three boards.
The Cavaliers play again on Sunday away to the Ballarat Miners with the Eagles facing Geelong United at home next Saturday.
CASEY CAVALIERS 91 (Bungei 26, Stith 25, Marks 15)
DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 106 (Manyang 35, Perry 29, Kafritsas 21)
Mount Gambier Pioneers (86) lost to Melbourne Tigers (91)
Playoffs might be out of reach for the Melbourne Tigers but they knocked off the league-leaders beating the Mount Gambier Pioneers 91-86 with Tom Wilson, Jack Purchase and Mason Gaze combining for 78 points.
The Pioneers came into the match up at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre on a seven-game winning streak and sitting two games clear in top spot ahead of hosting a Tigers team having lost five straight to fall from finals contention.
The Tigers arrived on a mission and put up 34 points to 29 in the first quarter and they would remain narrowly in front the rest of the evening.
Melbourne were still leading by five points at half-time, by six points at three quarter-time and then they held firm down the stretch with the five-point victory.
The win improves the Tigers to an 8-12 record on the season with Tom Wilson showing that he is a strong all-round talent on his return to basketball with 30 points, eight assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Jack Purchase also put up 27 points, six rebounds and five assists with Mason Gaze contributing 21 points and 11 boards, and Callum Barker seven points and seven rebounds.
Mount Gambier remains on top with a 16-5 record despite the loss with Akech Aliir continuing his hot run of form by delivering another 35 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two steals on 6/9 three-point shooting.
Austin Shelley also had 14 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals with Christian Peevy adding 13 points and five boards, Titus Robinson nine points and four rebounds, and Kane de Wit eight points, five boards and five assists.
Mount Gambier finishes the regular season at home to the Ringwood Hawks on Friday with the Tigers hosting the Waverley Falcons on Thursday night.
MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 86 (Aliir 35, Shelley 14, Peevy 13)
MELBOURNE TIGERS 91 (Wilson 30, Purchase 27, Gaze 21)
Waverley Falcons (66) lost to Frankston Blues (98)
The Frankston Blues all but blew away the Waverley Falcons' hopes of breaking back into a playoff spot with the dominant 98-66 road victory.
The Falcons had lost four of their preview six games to fall out of the top eight when they arrived at Waverley Basketball Centre for their last home game of the season up against a Blues team on a five-game winning run and up in fourth place.
Waverley were able to stick with Frankston through the opening quarter with the margin just two at quarter-time, but then the Blues took charge in the second period with 25 points to nine.
That saw Frankston lead 51-33 by half-time with that advantage ballooning to 33 points in the second half before the Blues would go on to score the 32-point victory.
It's a sixth straight victory for Frankston to keep them in a top four spot with a 13-7 record.
Daniel Trist was a powerful presence once more with 22 points and 18 rebounds on 9/15 shooting from the field with Lucas Barker adding 18 points, four assists, three boards and three steals.
Stokley Chaffee also provided 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals, Lachlan Barker 14 points, four assists and three boards, and Brad Newley 11 points, nine rebounds and two steals.
Waverley hasn’t been the same and understandably so since the departure of DJ Vasiljevic to have now lost five of the past seven to slip further from the playoff mix at 11-9.
Mason Forbes finished with 14 points and eight rebounds on 6/7 shooting for the Falcons with Malik Meunier contributing 14 points and four assists, Fraser Roxburgh nine points and two rebounds, and Bennie Lewis eight points, three boards and two assists.
The Falcons are away to the Melbourne Tigers on Thursday night with the Blues on the road to the Sandringham Sabres on Tuesday night.
WAVERLEY FALCONS 66 (Forbes 14, Meunier 14, Roxburgh 9)
FRANKSTON BLUES 98 (Trist 22, Lucas Barker 18, Chaffee 14, Lachlan Barker 14)
