NBL1 North Recap | Friday Round 3

There was a pair of Friday night wins for the Northside Wizards in the NBL1 North over the Southern Districts Spartans while the Brisbane Capitals and Cairns split their match ups in the Far North.

The Friday night women's NBL1 North fixtures saw the Northside Wizards beat the Southern Districts Spartans 103-62 and the Brisbane Capitals defeated the Cairns Dolphins 94-73.

In the corresponding men's fixtures, the Wizards beat the Spartans 87-85 in a thriller and the Cairns Marlins defeated the Caps 91-86.

WOMEN

Deep Wizards too much for Spartans and stay unbeaten

The Northside Wizards continued their undefeated start to the NBL1 North season with a commanding 103-62 win over the Southern Districts Spartans.

The Wizards improved to 4-0 on the season with the impressive victory at Rowland Cowan Stadium where they were especially impressive with 31 points in the first quarter and 33 in the third on the way to beating the Spartans by 41 points.

Northside shot 50.7 per cent from the field as a team opposed to the 34.7 per cent from Southern Districts with Nadeen Payne again leading the charge with 19 points, five rebounds and two assists.

She had plenty of help too with AJ Johnson finishing with 17 points and 13 rebounds, Georgia Dale 16 points and four steals, Courtney Woods 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Alice O'Driscoll 13 points and five boards.

Krystal Leger-Walker finished with 15 points, four assists and three rebounds for the Spartans with Madelyn Allen contributing 15 points, eight boards, six assists and six steals, and Natalie Taylor 13 points and three rebounds.

Fresh off being drafted by the @LASparks, Shaneice Swain is back dominating the @NBL1North ?

Watch #NBL1North via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/Wzs5WIJKPo

— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 14, 2023

Loyd, Cubillo star for big Brisbane win in Cairns

The Brisbane Capitals shook off a slow start to dominate after quarter-time on the road to beat the Cairns Dolphins 94-73 on Friday night.

The Dolphins started well on their home floor led by WNBA draftee Shaneice Swain. That saw them lead 27-22 by quarter-time but the Capitals worked their way on top from there.

Brisbane led by a point at half-time before stretching that that to a five-point lead at three quarter-time and then with 27 points to 13 in the fourth quarter they won by 21.

Mia Loyd produced 26 points, 12 rebounds, seven steals and four assists for Brisbane while nailing 5/6 from three-point territory with Abby Cubillo contributing 28 points, six boards, six steals and three assists.

Steph Collins also contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds, Bronte Corke 13 points, and Anna Cameron 10 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Fresh off being drafted to the Los Angeles Sparks, Shaneice Swain had 20 points and eight assists for Cairns with Taylor Mole contributing 17 points and four rebounds, Leichan Williams 14 points and 12 boards, and Penina Davidson 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Lily Sarra banks it in from the corner ?

Watch #NBL1North via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/KV36GyEVFo

— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 14, 2023

MEN

Wizards win a high-quality contest over Spartans

With star power on either side anywhere you looked, the Northside Wizards and Southern Districts Spartans put on quite the show on Friday night at Rowland Cowan Stadium.

It was only fitting that the thrilling contest featuring plenty of big name performers came down to the very last possession. 

And fresh off signing a new NBL contract with the Cairns Taipans, Akoldah Gak had made 6/8 from three-point land all evening for the Spartans when he attempted to land the game winner with time expiring.

However, it just came up short and it was Andrew White III and his Wizards prevailing 87-85 against the Peter Crawford-coached Spartans.

It was Cameron Healy who was the star of the win for Northside with 28 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals on 7/12 three-point shooting.

White added 19 points and six boards with Lual Diing contributing 16 points and 11 rebounds, and DeShawn Ross-Paiwan 11 points and three assists. 

Gak ended the night for Southern Districts with 32 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks with Koen Sapwell contributing 25 points and six steals, and Alex Mudronja 10 points and seven assists.

Akoldah Gak threw that DOWN ?

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— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 14, 2023

Dufelmeier sparks Cairns to tight win over Brisbane

The Cairns Marlins pulled out a hard earned 91-86 win over the Brisbane Capitals at home on Friday night.

Scores were all square at 86-86 with a grandstand finish all set up at Early Settler Stadium. In the end, it was Cairns who scored the last five points of the game all of them coming at the foul line to claim the five-point win at home.

Tad Dufelmeier is banging down the door to make an NBL return this coming season after putting up 36 points and 10 rebounds on 11/15 shooting from the field and 12/17 from the foul line for the Marlins.

Ky Stattmann added 23 points and five rebounds, and Jonah Antonio 13 points and 12 boards.

Malok Majak put up 24 points, 10 rebounds and three assists for Brisbane with Geordan Papacostas contributing 17 points and seven boards.