NBL1 North Recap | Friday Men's Round 8

The NBL trio at the North Gold Coast Seahawks fired them to an impressive Friday night NBL1 North victory to open Round 8 while there were strong home wins as well for the Mackay Meteors and Darwin Salties. 

The Friday night Round 8 action began with the North Gold Coast Seahawks surviving a big night from Jeremy Kendle to beat the Logan Thunder 95-78.

Despite the 37 points and eight assists for the Thunder from Kendle, the Seahawks won on the road on the back of 23 points from Jack McVeigh, 21 from Jordan Hunter and 17 from Tamuri Wigness.

The Mackay Meteors were back at home following their triple-header on the road in Round 7 and enjoyed an 82-74 victory against the Townsville Heat.

Kyrin and Jaylin Galloway combined for 51 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in the win for Mackay while Richard Peachey scored 23 points for Townsville.

The Darwin Salties then sent their parochial local fans home happy with a 91-84 victory against the Cairns Marlins.

Tad Dufelmeier finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds for the Salties and Makuach Maluach 26 points and 12 boards with Ben Ayre top-scoring for the Heat with 19 points. 

Round 8 in the NBL1 North competition continues on Saturday evening at 7pm with the Brisbane Capitals taking on the Southern Districts Spartans, and Ipswich Force playing Northside Wizards.

Then at 7.30pm on Saturday, the Rockhampton Rockets host the Townsville Heat and the South West Metro Pirates are at home to the North Gold Coast Seahawks. Finally at 8pm it is the Gold Coast Rollers up against the Red City Roar.

The Round 8 action will then wrap up on Sunday afternoon with Red City Roar at home to the Brisbane Capitals and then the Sunshine Coast Phoenix hosting Ipswich Force.

NBL1 NORTH – 2022 MEN'S SEASON
ROUND 8 – FRIDAY NIGHT

LOGAN THUNDER 78 lost to NORTH GOLD COAST SEAHAWKS 95

It was a star-studded evening at Bendigo Bank Cornubia Park Sports Centre to open Round 8 on Friday night with the powered up North Gold Coast Seahawks ending up beating Jeremy Kendle and the Logan Thunder.

With current NBL players Tamuri Wigness, Jordan Hunter and Jack McVeigh lining up for North Gold Coast, and former NBL players Kendle, Mitch Young and Michael Cedar along with current free agent Rasmus Bach out there for Logan, it was quite the entertaining evening.

The Thunder were able to start well too on their home floor, but by quarter-time it was the Seahawks leading 22-19.

North Gold Coast was able to open up a handy lead during the second quarter going on a run of nine straight points to be up by as much as 16 and going into the half-time break on top 51-38.

With Kendle on fire, though, knocking down jumper after jumper, and even taking it inside for a one-handed throwdown, the Thunder continued to stay in touch and even went on a 14-0 run during the third period.

The Seahawks were still on top 68-61 by three quarter-time, though, and they were then able to complete the job with 27 points to 17 in the last quarter to lead by as much as 23, and to end up winning 95-78.

The current NBL star power in the North Gold Coast line-up proved too much with Tasmania JackJumpers forward Jack McVeigh delivering 23 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Returning Sydney Kings centre Jordan Hunter also had 21 points, 12 rebounds and five assists with Brisbane Bullets point guard Tamuri Wigness adding 17 points, six boards and six assists.

Lloyd McVeigh also had 15 points and six rebounds for the Seahawks and David Gurney 12 points and eight boards.

Jeremy Kendle was like a man possessed especially during the third quarter for the Thunder and he ended up with 37 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals on shooting 14/26 from the field, 4/10 from downtown and 5/6 from the foul line.

Boston Mazlin contributed 11 points and five rebounds for Logan, Mitch Young 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Tom Howard nine points, four boards and two assists.

DARWIN SALTIES 91 defeated CAIRNS MARLINS 84

Anytime Nate Jawai plays against a team from Cairns it's quite the occasion and he helped to lead the Darwin Salties to a seven-point win against the Marlins on Friday night.

The Salties were back home at Darwin Basketball Stadium on Friday to open Round 8 in NBL1 North in their second meeting with the Marlins already for the 2022 season.

While Darwin did manage to build a seven-point lead during the first quarter on the back of a 6-0 run, things remained tight and their lead over Cairns was just 16-13 by the end of one.

The Marlins were able to work their way in front briefly during the second quarter, but by the half-time break it was a narrow 41-39 advantage for the home team.

Darwin did threaten to pull away during the third quarter with another 7-0 streak to be up eight, but Cairns was able to stay in touch and the Salties' lead was still just 64-59 by three quarter-time.

However, the Salties sealed the deal during the fourth quarter to score six straight points to lead by 14 and to end up prevailing 91-84 against the Marlins.

Adelaide 36ers guard Tad Dufelmeier had a terrific evening for the Salties with 30 points and 11 rebounds on 13/21 shooting with Makuach Maluach contributing 26 points and 12 rebounds.

Nate Jawai ended the evening with 13 points, four assists and three rebounds for Darwin and Jerron Jamerson 10 points and four boards.

Brisbane Bullets signing Kody Stattmann finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three assists while NBL free agent Ben Ayre put up 19 points, three boards and three assists.

Mirko Djeric hit four triples on his way to 13 points for Cairns as well with Lat Mayen contributing 11 points and seven rebounds, and James Mitchell 10 points, four boards and four assists.

MACKAY METEORS 82 defeated TOWNSVILLE HEAT 74

The Mackay Meteors had to come from behind but with Jaylin and Kyrin Galloway leading the charge, they delivered a big finish to beat the Townsville Heat by eight points on Friday night.

On the back of a triple-header on the road last weekend which was the second time in three weeks they have undertaken such a trip, the Meteors were glad to be back home to host the Heat at Mackay Basketball Stadium on Friday night.

They might have been too comfortable at home, though, with the Heat coming to town and delivering quite the emphatic start. They scored 14 straight points and led by 18 points by quarter-time to throw the gauntlet right down to the Meteors.

Townsville was then able to stretch its lead out to 23 points during the second quarter but Mackay was able to at least win the quarter and by half-time the Heat's lead was 41-28.

The Meteors made small inroads during the third quarter but still by three quarter-time it was Townsville still on top by 10 points.

Mackay needed to come up with a huge last quarter to enjoy their homecoming and that's exactly what they were able to deliver with 29 points to 11 to end up securing the 82-74 victory.

While the Meteors were without Manny Malou, Kyrin and Jaylin Galloway had no trouble stepping up big time with their energy and athleticism at times quite spectacular as they both gear up for another NBL season.

Kyrin Galloway, who has signed on at the Adelaide 36ers, put up 27 points, 13 rebounds and three assists for Mackay while draining 6/10 from three-point land.

Jaylin Galloway, fresh off being part of the Sydney Kings championship, also had 24 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks while landing 4/9 from beyond the arc.

Malok Majak also had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Meteors and Biwali Bayles 10 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in a stunning triple-double.

Richard Peachey had a strong night for Townsville with 23 points, seven rebounds and four steals with Sam Froling contributing 19 points and nine boards.

Taine Wattie also had 13 points for the Heat and Ethan Betts 11 points, seven assists and six rebounds.