NBL1 North Recap | Round 15 Sunday

The NBL1 North saw some important games on its last day of the regular season action, check out how the games went below: 

Women’s

South West Metro (78) def Sunshine Coast Phoenix (48) 

The Pirates finished the season on a win as they took down the Phoenix on their home court in a Sunday morning clash. Stephanie Bairstow was the star of the match with 20 points and 13 rebounds as SW Metro handily took care of Sunshine Coast. 

The game’s leading scorer was Catherine MacGregor who scored 23 points in 31 minutes. The Phoenix’s Amy Browne had 14 points and seven rebounds but the Pirates' 46 percent from the field won them the game. 

Red City Roar (77) def by Logan Thunder (80)

The story of the season, the Logan Thunder have gone undefeated in the NBL1 North 2022 season, winning 19 games after winning the conference final last season. 

As always, it starts and ends with Mikela Ruef. She had 24 points and 21 rebounds against Red City as the Thunder only had seven active players, starting their 19-year-old Indiah Bowyer and playing 35 minutes. She finished with 10 points as the WNBL Sydney Flames’ newest recruit. 

The Roar’s Mia Loyd had a great game with 20 points, 19 rebounds and four assists but Logan was just too strong defensively in the final moments, only allowing 18 points from the Roar as they scored their own 23 in the final term. 

USC Rip City (58) def by Northside Wizards (62) 

In a close game to finish the season, the Wizards pull off the four-point win on the road against Rip City. NBL1 North MVP candidate Tiana Mangakahia led the way with 20 points, seven assists, six steals and five rebounds without co-star Shyla Heal. 

Rip City’s Ashley Arlen had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the close match. The Wizards go on to be one of the scariest match-ups in the NBL1 North finals against the likes of Logan, Townsville and the Southern District Spartans. 

Men’s 

South West Metro (82) def by Sunshine Coast (111) 

On the road, the Sunshine Coast pulled off the win against the Pirates, Jamaal Robateau had 21 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals in the win.

Pirates’ Brendan Teys had 33 points, making 5/11 from the arc but did not make a dent into the Phoenix’s lead. SW Metro shot amazingly from the field, making close to 60 percent of their shots from the field. But the Phoenix made an equivalent 40 percent from the arc. 

Red City (74) def by Logan Thunder (86) 

The Red City Roar could not get the win at home against the Thunder in the 10-point loss. 

Logan’s Mitch Young had 15 points, 13 rebounds and five assists while Boston Mazlin added 20 points of his own. Red City’s Alex Godinet had a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds and Spencer Parker had 22 points but the Logan Thunder have secured their spot in the NBL1 North conference finals. 

USC Rip City (75) def by Northside Wizards (95)

Booking their spot into the NBL1 North conference finals the Northside Wizards beat the USC Rip City by 20 in the Sunday clash. 

The Wizards have been without Mitch McCarron and Keanu Pinder, who both have been with the Boomers for an extended period, but now with a full NBL starting line-up they will be a dangerous team in the conference finals. 

McCarron had a game-high 23 points with five rebounds and four assists while Anthony Drmic added 17 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and five steals in the win. USC were without Kouat Noi and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Eric McAlister had to step up with 16 points but it wasn’t enough to beat the Wizards.

Feature image via: Stephen Schulz Photography