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Geelong United had a pair of Friday night NBL1 South wins with big showings from Shaneice Swain and George Blagojevic while the Lily Scanlon and Hailey Leidel starred for the Eltham Wildcats as their men snapped winning run of Sandringham Sabres.
The five women's matches on Friday saw the Diamond Valley Eagles defeat the Launceston Tornadoes 69-67 while Geelong United beat the Casey Cavaliers 92-80, the Hobart Chargers downed the Kilsyth Cobras 81-69, the Eltham Wildcats defeated the Sandringham Sabres 89-79, and the Bendigo Braves won 68-64 against the Melbourne Tigers.
The men's matches also saw the North West Tasmania Thunder beat the Eagles 93-78, Geelong defeat the Cavaliers 88-77, the Chargers down the Cobras 86-65, the Wildcats win 90-85 against the Sabres, and the Braves beat the Tigers 91-73.
RECAP NBL1 SOUTH | ROUND 11 SUNDAY
WOMEN
Launceston Tornadoes (67) lost to Diamond Valley Eagles (69)
Abbey Ellis' two free-throws with just under three minutes to go proved to be the last score of the game and they were enough for the Diamond Valley Eagles to secure a 69-67 road win over the Launceston Tornadoes.
The Eagles arrived at Mazda BT-50 Thunder Stadium looking to back up last week's win after snapping a four-game losing streak while the Tornadoes were still without Keely Froling and trying to end their own run of losing six matches.
Diamond Valley did get off to the better of the start to be leading by 11 points in the first quarter but the Tornadoes hit back in the second period and by half-time scores were all level at 35-35.
That set the stage for a tightly contested second half with no more than five points ever separating the two teams.
It was basket for basket for a lot of the fourth quarter especially and it was a Sarah O'Neill jumper that gave Launceston the two-point lead with 3:30 to play.
However, the home team wouldn’t score again the rest of the way with Jennie Rintala bringing Diamond Valley level with two free-throws before Abbey Ellis put them in front with two of her own.
The score would remain that way for the last 2:45 with neither team managing to score with missed shots and turnovers galore.
The Tornadoes had two good chances at the end firstly from Trinity Oliver and then another to O'Neill after her offensive board, but neither would fall and Diamond Valley held on to win by those two points to improve to 6-11 on the season.
Abbey Ellis continued her standout recent form for the Eagles with another 25 points, eight rebounds and four steals on 11/21 shooting from the field.
Jennie Rintala added 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks with Carly Turner contributing nine points, 14 boards, four assists, two steals and two blocks, and Naomi Mbandu nine points, six rebounds and two assists.
Lore Devos top-scored for Launceston with 20 points and eight rebounds on 4/10 three-point shooting with Sarah O'Neill adding 13 points and seven boards, Josie Pinkerton nine points and nine rebounds, and Lucy Aherne nine points, three blocks, two boards and two assists.
The Tornadoes remain at home against the Kilsyth Cobras on Saturday while the Eagles take on the Hobart Chargers.
LAUNCESTON TORNADOES 67 (Devos 20, O'Neill 13, Aherne 9, Pinkerton 9)
DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 69 (Ellis 25, Rintala 18, Mbandu 9, Turner 9)
Geelong United (92) defeated Casey Cavaliers (80)
Geelong United dominated the first half to set up the 92-80 win at home to the Casey Cavaliers with Shaneice Swain continuing her exciting run of form.
Geelong were back at The Arena and on a six-match winning streak hosting a Cavaliers team having lost their past three with United needing to keep winning to maintain their playoff spot.
Geelong went on a 10-0 run in the first quarter to end up leading by as much as eight points before stretching that advantage to 23 in the second term on the way to being on top 58-38 by half-time.
That was on the back of a 34-point second quarter and while the Cavs fought the game out well and even outscored United 42 to 34 in the second half, they could never get close enough to strike.
Geelong would go on to win by 12 points and make it seven straight wins with Shaneice Swain again the star with 30 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals on 6/13 three-point shooting.
Sarah Elsworthy added 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals, Lasha Petree 17 points, five boards and four steals, Jada Rice 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, and Eva Braslis 11 points and 11 boards.
Casey has now lost four straight to sit on a 4-14 record with Lauryn Hippolite top-scoring with 20 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Taylah Simmons also had 16 points, three assists and two rebounds, Alex Wittinger 12 points, 17 boards, three steals and two blocks, and Sharne Robati 11 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Geelong doesn’t play again now until hosting the Dandenong Rangers next Saturday while the Cavaliers are at home to the Frankston Blues this Saturday.
GEELONG UNITED 92 (Swain 30, Elsworthy 20, Petree 17)
CASEY CAVALIERS 80 (Hippolite 20, Simmons 16, Wittinger 12)
Hobart Chargers (81) defeated Kilsyth Cobras (69)
The Hobart Chargers were back home and snapped their losing slide with the 81-69 victory against the Kilsyth Cobras on the back of Kayla Steindl's return.
The Chargers were back at Hobart Netball and Sports Centre trying to snap a three-game losing slide up against a Cobras team fresh off a third win of the season against the Melbourne Tigers.
Hobart welcomed back Kayla Steindl from her family trip back to the United States and it made the world of difference even though it was the Cobras who had the better of things in the first half.
Kilsyth were leading 21-19 by the end of the first quarter and 44-36 at half-time and the Cobras turned that eight-point half-time lead into a 15-point lead in the third quarter.
Even with just eight players suiting up, Kilsyth were still on top by 11 points in the fourth period, but eventually Hobart overran them with a 15-0 scoring run to end up putting up 30 points to nine in the fourth quarter.
That saw the Chargers end up scoring the 12-point win to improve to a 5-13 record on the season with Kayla Steindl returning to deliver 25 points, six rebounds and four assists including shooting 3/5 from three-point territory.
Cierra Walker added 23 points and three assists on 5/13 three-point shooting with Zoe Richards contributing 13 points and 10 boards, and Jayda Jansen eight points, eight assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Kilsyth slips to a 3-14 record with the defeat with Tyra Whitehead producing another 18 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Nikita Young also had 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals, Paige Price 13 points and six boards, Hannah Day 11 points, and Caitlin Cunningham 10 points and four rebounds.
The Chargers remain at home to the Diamond Valley Eagles on Saturday with Kilsyth backing up in the Apple Isle against the Launceston Tornadoes.
HOBART CHARGERS 81 (Steindl 25, Walker 23, Richards 13)
KILSYTH COBRAS 69 (Whitehead 18, Young 14, Price 13)
Sandringham Sabres (79) lost to Eltham Wildcats (89)
Lily Scanlon and Hailey Leidel combined for 56 points and eight three-pointers as the Eltham Wildcats consolidated their top eight spot with the 89-79 road win over the Sandringham Sabres.
With the Sabres back home at Southern Basketball Stadium needing a bounce back win to consolidate their top four spot and Eltham needing to keep winning to stay in the top eight, and there was plenty on the line.
Sandringham came into the match up still without Funda Nakkasoglu and it was the Wildcats who started the better to be leading 24-16 by quarter-time.
Eltham produced another 26 points to 19 in the second period to end up leading by as much as 19 points and then going into the half-time break on top 50-35.
That lead for the Wildcats grew to as much as 21 points in the second half before they secured the eventual 10-point victory to make it three wins on the trot to improve to a 10-7 record.
Lily Scanlon delivered 30 points, four rebounds and two assists for Eltham with 11/16 shooting from the floor, 3/4 from behind the three-point line and 5/6 at the foul line.
Hailey Leidel added 26 points, two rebounds and two assists on 5/6 three-point shooting with Taylah Wynne contributing 11 points on 3/5 shooting from downtown, and Bec Pizzey nine points, eight rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals.
It's a second straight defeat for the Sabres who slip to a 13-5 record with Klara Wischer putting up 25 points, eight rebounds, five steals and two assists.
Isis Lopes added 20 points and three assists, Juna Umezawa 15 points, eight rebounds and two assists, and Eilidh Simpson eight points, four assists, three boards and two steals.
The Wildcats remain on the road on Saturday up against the Bendigo Braves while the Sabres are in action again next Friday away to the Ballarat Miners.
SANDRINGHAM SABRES 79 (Wischer 25, Lopes 20, Umezawa 15)
ELTHAM WILDCATS 89 (Scanlon 30, Leidel 26, Wynne 11)
Melbourne Tigers (64) lost to Bendigo Braves (68)
The defending champion Bendigo Braves opened their double-header weekend with the 68-64 thrilling road victory against the Melbourne Tigers.
The Tigers were back home at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre having lost their past three games to be losing touch with the top eight while the Braves had lost their past couple but did regain the services of Ally Wilson.
Melbourne started the game on fire racing out to a 14-point lead in the first quarter, but Bendigo responded and by half-time had cut that Tigers edge back to 41-39.
By early in the fourth quarter and Bendigo had nabbed the lead following a layup to Kelly Wilson followed by a three-pointer to Caitlin Richardson.
The twists weren’t done yet with Cierra Dillard bringing the Tigers back level with 1:30 remaining but it was four free-throws from Kelly Wilson that ultimately sealed the four-point win for the Braves.
It was an important win for Bendigo too to steady the reigning champions at a 10-8 record to remain clear in the top eight but still in contention of the top four.
Kelly Wilson ended up with 22 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals in the win for the Braves with Ally Wilson adding 14 points, six boards, four assists and two steals.
Cassidy McLean also had 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals with Caitlin Richardson adding 11 points and two boards, and Kasey Burton six points and nine rebounds.
The Tigers have now lost four in-a-row to slip further from a playoff spot at 7-11 with Cierra Dillard top-scoring with 18 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and two blocked shots.
Chantel Horvat contributed 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks, Sam Simons nine points, five boards and three assists, and Charlotte Brancatisano six points and six rebounds.
The Braves back up on Saturday at home to the Eltham Wildcats while the Tigers back up on Saturday away to the Ballarat Miners.
MELBOURNE TIGERS 64 (Dillard 18, Horvath 10, Simons 9)
BENDIGO BRAVES 68 (K Wilson 22, A Wilson 14, McLean 12)
MEN
North West Tasmania Thunder (93) defeated Diamond Valley Eagles (78)
Sekou Sylla lit it up and the North West Tasmania Thunder kept their slim playoff hopes alive with the 93-78 home victory against the Diamond Valley Eagles.
North West Tasmania came into the match up at Mazda BT-50 Thunder Stadium trying to bounce back from a loss to the Knox Raiders while the Eagles arrived fresh off beating the Ringwood Hawks.
The Thunder managed to be leading 24-21 by the end of the first quarter on their home floor before pushing that advantage out to 12 points in the second period.
North West Tasmania ended up leading 51-41 at the half-time break and then extended that out to an 18-point lead in the second half before scoring the eventual 15-point victory.
The win improves the Thunder to an 8-10 record on the season to remain some chance still of reaching the playoffs with Sekou Sylla once again shining with 28 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and two steals on 12/20 shooting.
Tre Armstrong also had 23 points with 6/14 three-point shooting while Seth Swalve added 15 points, seven assists, three rebounds and three steals, and Archer Woodhill seven points, five boards and four assists.
Diamond Valley is now 5-12 on the season with Jock Perry having top-scored with 17 points and nine rebounds with Erik Kafritsas adding 15 points, six boards and four assists, Ngor Manyang 14 points and four rebounds, and BJ Symons 10 points and six boards.
The Thunder remain at home against the Kilsyth Cobras on Saturday while the Eagles take on the Hobart Chargers.
NORTH WEST TASMANIA THUNDER 93 (Sylla 28, Armstrong 23, Swalve 15)
DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 78 (Perry 17, Kafritsas 15, Manyang 14)
Geelong United (88) defeated Casey Cavaliers (77)
George Blagojevic continued his match-winning vein of form for Geelong United to put up 36 points to lead his team to the 88-77 home victory against the Casey Cavaliers.
Geelong were back home at The Arena on a three-game winning streak to breathe some life back into their playoff hopes ahead of hosting a Casey team in last place but fresh off beating the Waverley Falcons.
It was a tight contest right throughout the opening half with Geelong leading by two points at quarter-time before Casey managed to tie scores up at the half-time break at 41-41.
It was then a huge third quarter from United with 30 points to 22 with Geelong's lead then growing to 15 points in the final term before settling on the final 11-point margin.
The win improves Geelong to a 9-9 record with four wins in-a-row to continue to close in on a top eight spot with George Blagojevic the standout once more with 36 points, 10 rebounds and two assists on 14/20 shooting from the floor.
He had plenty of help too with Liam Herbert finishing with 15 points and two boards, DeMarcus Gatlin 13 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals, and Desmond Owili eight points and three boards.
Casey remains in bottom spot at 3-15 with the defeat with Preston Bungei ending up with 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.
Dillon Stith hit 6/8 from three-point territory on his way to 23 points, four rebounds and three assists with Adam Thoseby adding 16 points and three boards.
Geelong doesn’t play again now until hosting the Dandenong Rangers next Saturday while the Cavaliers are at home to the Frankston Blues this Saturday.
GEELONG UNITED 88 (Blagojevic 36, Herbert 15, Gatlin 13)
CASEY CAVALIERS 77 (Stith 23, Bungei 21, Thoseby)
Hobart Chargers (86) defeated Kilsyth Cobras (65)
The Hobart Chargers continued to stay in the fight for a playoff position with the 86-65 commanding home win over the Kilsyth Cobras.
It was the start of a double-header in Tasmania for both teams this weekend with the Chargers at home at Hobart Netball and Sports Centre looking to snap a three-game losing run up against the visiting Cobras fresh off their fourth win of 2024.
While Hobart did open up a nine-point lead in the first quarter, Kilsyth was sticking in there and even hit the front in the second term with the Chargers clinging to a 41-37 advantage by half-time.
The Chargers dominated the second half, though, with 21 points to seven in the third frame and then 21 in the fourth to see the lead get out to as much as 22 points, and still at 21 by the final buzzer.
The win improves Hobart to a 10-8 record on the season to remain right in the playoff hunt with Ole Angerstein top-scoring with 18 points and 15 rebounds on 9/15 shooting from the field.
Vionte Daniels joined him on 18 points to go with five assists, three rebounds and three steals with Jacob Richards contributing 15 points, seven boards and four assists, Terrell Brown 11 points and two assists, and the returning Clint Steindl 10 points and two steals.
Kilsyth is now 4-13 on the season with the defeat with Corey Jeffs leading the way with 17 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Tim Lang added 13 points, four rebounds and three assists, Adrian Tomada nine points and two boards, Ben Ursich nine points, and Nick Feller seven points and 10 rebounds.
The Chargers remain at home to the Diamond Valley Eagles on Saturday with Kilsyth backing up in the Apple Isle against the North West Tasmania Thunder.
HOBART CHARGERS 86 (Angerstein 18, Daniels 18, Richards 15)
KILSYTH COBRAS 65 (Jeffs 17, Lang 13, Ursich 9, Tomada 9)
Sandringham Sabres (85) lost to Eltham Wildcats (90)
The Eltham Wildcats fired back from a 15-point half-time deficit on the road to overpower the Sandringham Sabres for the 90-85 Friday night victory.
The Sabres were back home at Southern Basketball Stadium on top of the table with a 10-game winning streak but they were also without Shea Ili who is with the Tall Blacks along with Dane Pineau.
The Wildcats arrived needing to go on a winning run if they hoped to take part in the playoffs in 2024 but it was the home team who started the better with Sandringham opening up an 11-point lead in the first quarter.
The Sabres then pushed that lead out to as much as 15 points in the second term but by half-time that advantage was back to just 44-39.
Sandringham did remain on top and got back to a nine-point lead in the third period, but eventually Eltham reeled them in and then outscored the home team 26 points to 19 in the fourth term.
That saw the Wildcats end up turning that 15-point deficit into a five-point victory to keep them in the playoff race at 9-8.
Josh Sykes top-scored for Eltham with 19 points and five rebounds on 8/11 shooting with Angus Glover producing 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Owen Foxwell also had 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and Zak Cunningham equal top-scored with 19 points and six boards on 9/12 shooting from the field.
Sandringham surrenders top position with the loss to now be 13-5 and their 10-game winning streak coming to an end with all five of those defeats just happening to come on their home floor.
Tanner Krebs continued his sparkling form with another 28 points and eight rebounds on 9/18 shooting from the floor, 3/6 from downtown and 7/7 at the free-throw line.
Joel Foxwell added 18 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists, Campbell Blogg 13 points, five assists, three boards and two steals, and CJ Asuncion-Byrd 11 points, three rebounds and two steals.
The Wildcats remain on the road on Saturday up against the Bendigo Braves while the Sabres are in action again next Friday away to the Ballarat Miners.
SANDRINGHAM SABRES 85 (Krebs 28, Foxwell 16, Blogg 13)
ELTHAM WILDCATS 90 (Sykes 19, Glover 18, Foxwell 15)
Melbourne Tigers (73) lost to Bendigo Braves (91)
The Bendigo Braves put up 34 points in the first quarter on the road to set up the eventual 91-73 victory on Friday night against the Melbourne Tigers.
Both the Tigers and Braves came into the Friday night match up at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre with the playoffs just about totally out of reach but that didn’t mean they couldn’t still put on an entertaining spectacle.
It was the Braves away from home who made the hot start to end up leading in the first quarter by as much as 18 points and to put up 34 points to be on top 34-18 still by the end of one.
The Tigers fired back in the second period with 27 points to 14 and that cut the lead for Bendigo at half-time to 48-45.
The momentum swings continued with Bendigo taking back control in the third quarter with 24 points to 11, and this time it turned into a match-winning advantage with the Braves leading by as much as 21 points.
Bendigo would end up scoring the 18-point victory to improve to a 7-11 record on the season having snapped a four-game losing streak with Rowan Mackenzie leading the charge with 24 points and seven rebounds on 4/9 three-point shooting.
Billy Smythe also had 21 points and eight rebounds, Andrew Robinson 15 points, four boards and three assists, Mitch Clarke 13 points, eight assists, five rebounds and two steals, and Koch Bar 13 points, six boards and two blocked shots.
The Tigers have now lost their past four matches to slip to a 7-11 record as well with Jack Purchase top-scoring with 19 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
Mason Gaze added 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks with Tom Wilson contributing 13 points, seven boards and four assists, and Callum Barker eight points and six rebounds.
The Braves back up on Saturday at home to the Eltham Wildcats while the Tigers back up on Saturday away to the Ballarat Miners.
MELBOURNE TIGERS 73 (Purchase 19, Gaze 16, Wilson 13)
BENDIGO BRAVES 91 (Mackenzie 24, Smythe 21, Robinson 15)
