NBL1 North Recap | Saturday First Nations Round

What a Saturday in the NBL1 North with Maddy Rocci and Leah Scott firing South West Metro Pirates, Alex Wittinger sparking Sunshine Coast Phoenix, AJ Johnson keeping Northside Wizards top, Maria Blazejewski starring for Ipswich Force, and that was just the women.

Saturday night's First Nations Round women's results saw the Northside Wizards beat the Townsville Flames 93-67, the Ipswich Force defeat the Brisbane Capitals 77-65, the Rockhampton Cyclones down the North Gold Coast Seahawks 78-66, the South West Metro Pirates win 80-79 against USC Rip City, the Gold Coast Rollers down the Red City Roar 93-73, and the Sunshine Coast Phoenix beat the Darwin Salties 68-57.

The men's results then had Townsville defeat Northside 104-86, Ipswich beat Brisbane 105-103, Rockhampton down North Gold Coast 86-75, Rip City win South West Metro 103-77, Gold Coast beat Red City 110-80, and Darwin defeat Sunshine Coast 107-87.

NBL1 NORTH RECAP | FRIDAY FIRST NATIONS ROUND 

WOMEN

Johnson lifts Wizards in Townsville to lock in top spot

AJ Johnson came up huge to guarantee the Northside Wizards the NBL1 North regular season championship and to put a huge dent in the playoff hopes of the Townsville Flames with the 93-67 win.

The Flames were back home at Townsville StarFM Stadium trying to bounce back from last week's loss to the Rockhampton Cyclones after winning the previous four matches, and they needed to win to try to break into the top eight.

It was never going to be easy against the league-leading Wizards and that's how it panned out. Northside took control of the contest in the second term with 23 points to 12 to go into half-time leading 45-31.

From there, the Wizards would end up leading by as much as 26 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the win by that margin to improve to a record of 15-3 to confirm first place.

The Flames remain outside the top eight with the loss at 9-9 and now need to beat USC Rip City on Friday and hope for some luck to reach the playoffs.

AJ Johnson put together a standout performance in the win for the Wizards and finished with 29 points and nine rebounds on 13/21 shooting from the field and 3/3 from the foul line.

Courtney Woods also had 15 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals, Lil Dart 14 points on 7/11 shooting, Kelsey McDermott 11 points, four assists and three steals, and Nadeen Payne 10 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

Indiah Bowyer finished with 26 points and two assists for Townsville while knocking down 5/8 of her three-point attempts.

Majella Carey added 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals for the Flames, Alex Fowler 11 points and nine boards, and Shaylee Browning nine points, three assists and two rebounds.

Blazejewski shines in Force win over Caps

Maria Blazejewski continued her strong form for the Ipswich Force to lead them to a 77-65 win against the Brisbane Capitals despite the best efforts of Steph Collins.

Even two wins in their last two games would unlikely have been enough for the Capitals to sneak into the top eight, but Ipswich extinguished any hope of that on Saturday at Auchenflower Stadium.

It was a tight contest for much of the first half before Ipswich did begin to pull away late in the first half to be leading 42-34 at the break.

The Force then took charge throughout the second half to end up leading by 19 points in the third quarter, and 20 in the fourth on the way to the eventual 12-point victory.

While Ipswich can't make the playoffs, the win improves them to a 6-12 record before finishing next Saturday at home to the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.

The loss ends any outside hope the Capitals still had at sneaking into the top eight with an 8-10 record having lost five in-a-row.

Maria Blazejewski was again the star in the win for Ipswich delivering 25 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals while shooting 9/18 from the floor, 3/5 from downtown and 4/4 at the foul line.

Alison Gorrell added 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, Jasmin Howe 14 points, eight boards and eight assists, and Georgia Ralph nine points, five rebounds and two assists.

Despite the loss, Steph Collins came up huge for Brisbane with 33 points, eight rebounds and two assists on 14/23 shooting.

Hilary Fuller added 16 points, nine rebounds and two steals, and Tyla King-Paul six points, seven boards and four assists. 

Cyclones beat Seahawks to consolidate fourth spot

The Rockhampton Cyclones consolidated their hold on a top four spot in the NBL1 North by beating the North Gold Coast Seahawks 78-66 on Saturday night.

Rockhampton came into the round in fourth position and just had to keep winning to stay there as they played host to a North Gold Coast team also needing a victory to confirm their playoff position.

The Cyclones started strongly at home on Saturday night with 26 points to 15 in the opening quarter.

That lead for the home team grew to 17 points in the second period before they went into half-time leading 44-32.

It was more of the same throughout the second half with the lead for Rockhampton growing to 16 points once more before the Cyclones won by 12 to improve to a 13-5 record.

The Seahawks missed the chance to lock in a playoff spot to now be sitting on a 9-8 record with two games to go next week away to the Phoenix and at home to the Pirates.

Lara McSpadden had a big say in the final result by delivering 24 points and 11 rebounds for Rockhampton while shooting 9/12 from the field.

Sam Bowman also produced 23 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and two steals with Lauren Heard adding 17 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and six steals.

Lexi Held top-scored for North Gold Coast with 20 points, eight assists, four steals and three rebounds while Bride Kennedy-Hopoate added 14 points, three boards and two steals, and Erin Riley 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Scott, Rocci lead Pirates to important win

Leah Scott and Maddy Rocci played all 40 minutes and wouldn’t let the South West Metro Pirates lose ahead of the NBL1 North finals willing their team to the 80-79 win against USC Rip City.

Rip City were playing their last home game of the season and despite being out of playoff contention, weren’t in the mood to hand the Pirates anything.

Rip City opened up an eight-point lead in the first quarter and were still leading by eight during the second term before South West Metro got back into the contest and by half-time the scores were all level.

Things remained tight right throughout the second half and once Megan Mullings knocked down two free-throws for Rip City, it was a one-point lead to South West Metro with 1:30 to play.

The biggest bucket of the game came next thanks to Lilyanna Edwards for the Pirates to give them the three-point lead and from there they would hold on for the one-point victory.

The win improves South West Metro to a 12-6 record on the season to be solid inside the top eight and still a chance at the top four if they beat the North Gold Coast Seahawks next Saturday.

Rip City is now 5-12 and has a road trip to finish with to Cairns and Townsville.

Leah Scott was instrumental in the win for the Pirates with 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists including shooting 3/4 from behind the three-point line.

Maddy Rocci added 18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals with Hannah Young contributing 20 points, five boards, four assists and two blocks with 4/8 shooting from three-point range.

Megan Mullings did what she could to lift Rip City to the victory with 27 points, nine rebounds and two blocks on 10/16 shooting from the floor and 7/12 at the foul line.

Steph Bairstow also had 17 points and five rebounds, Carlie Smith 16 points, 10 boards, five assists and two steals, and N'dea Flye 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Rollers consolidate play off spot with big win

The Gold Coast Rollers consolidated their place in the NBL1 North playoffs beating the Red City Roar 93-73 on the road on Saturday night.

The bottom placed Roar were fresh off their first win of the season last week at home to the Darwin Salties as they took on the Rollers at Paul Bancroft Centre with a chance to put their playoff position in jeopardy.

Gold Coast arrived on a mission, though, and outscored Red City 23 points to 13 in the opening quarter.

That lead for the Rollers grew to 19 points in the second quarter and they went into the half-time interval leading 47-31. Gold Coast continued to pull away further leading by 20 points in the third quarter and 23 in the fourth before settling with the 20-point victory.

The win steadies the Rollers in the top eight with an 11-7 record before finishing the season on Friday at home to the on-fire Logan Thunder.

Cate Reese had a tremendous night in the win for Gold Coast ending up with 29 points and seven rebounds on 14/20 shooting.

Ariana Moorer was a big contributor too with 22 points, 14 boards, four assists and two steals while BJ Moyes added 14 points, three boards and three assists, and Jasmine Hooper eight points and four assists.

Donica Cosby fought hard once more for Red City to finish with 20 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals while Angela Beadle contributed 15 points and eight boards, and Jaylen Cooper 12 points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals.

Wittinger leads Phoenix to win in Darwin

Alex Wittinger ensured the Sunshine Coast Phoenix enjoyed their late season trip to the Top End by lifting her team to the 68-57 win against the Darwin Salties.

The Salties were playing their last game of the season and were at home at Darwin Basketball Stadium having already locked away a playoff position, but a win could still help them finish as high as possible.

The Phoenix arrived without being able to make the playoffs, but that didn't stop them being on a mission and they opened up a handy lead during the second quarter thanks to outscoring the Salties 20 points to 12.

That saw Sunshine Coast lead 37-28 by half-time and the Phoenix would never surrender that advantage going on to lead by as much as 15 points in the third stanza, and ending up winning by 11.

The victory is a fourth on the season for Sunshine Coast while Darwin's regular season is now over with an 11-8 record as they await to see where they sit heading into the playoffs with the bye in the last round.

Alex Wittinger produced a standout performance in the win for the Phoenix with 25 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks and two assists.

Nicola Handreck added 15 points and six rebounds, Jennifer Carden-David seven points, six boards and three steals, and Amy Browne six points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Ruby Porter top-scored for Darwin with 22 points, six steals, four rebounds and two assists with Claire-Maree Hunt contributing eight points, 12 boards and three steals, and Sophie Johnson nine points, two rebounds and two assists.

MEN

Heat deliver killer blow to Wizards season

Some Andrew White III heroics pulled the Northside Wizards out of the fire on Friday night, but he couldn’t do it again on Saturday in Townsville with the Heat all but ending their season with the 104-86 win.

White hit the last seven points of the game on Friday to lead the Wizards to the win in Cairns before they arrived at Townsville StarFM Stadium on Saturday needing to keep winning to stay a playoff chance.

Townsville was well out of touch having lost 12 straight matches but the Heat did beat the Rockhampton Rockets last week and were looking to keep that momentum going.

Townsville did start well too with 29 points to 21 in the opening quarter but the season was on the line for the Wizards so they stayed close enough to strike over the next two quarters.

The lead for the Heat was just six at three quarter-time and the game was on the line, but it was Townsville who dominated the final period with 28 points to 16 as they went on to score the 18-point triumph.

The win improves the Heat to 5-13 while the Wizards are 8-10 with just one game remaining at home to the Brisbane Capitals.

Fresh off signing with the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL, Luca Yates produced 22 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in an impressive performance for the Heat.

Matthew Rees also produced 21 points, 11 rebounds and two assists, Richard Peachey 15 points and four assists, Michael Cedar 15 points, four boards and three assists, Kane Runnalls 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Ethan Betts 11 points, 10 assists, four boards and two steals.

Andrew White III provided Northside with another 24 points, four rebounds and three assists with Cameron Healy adding 17 points and four assists, Lual Diing 15 points and seven rebounds, and Kyle Zunic 11 points, six assists, five steals and three boards.

Force with crucial OT win over Caps

They were sure made to earn it, but the Ipswich Force got the win they needed in the most dramatic fashion with the 105-103 overtime victory away to the Brisbane Capitals.

Brisbane might be out of playoff contention but have been one of the form teams of the second half of the season as the Caps hosted the third placed Ipswich on Saturday at Auchenflower Stadium.

It turned out to be quite the remarkable contest all evening and at no point was there ever more than seven points that separated the two sides.

Scores were level at quarter-time before Ipswich led by four at half-time and then it was Brisbane up by two at three quarter-time.

It was all set up for a big finish but the Caps were on target for the win when leading by six with just over five minutes to play. The home team was still leading by two with a minute to play as well when Lachie Dent scored going to the basket.

However, Nathan Sobey responded in kind for Ipswich and then in a dramatic finish to regulation, Nick Stoddart stole it off of Jason Ralph and got up a three-point attempt at the winner for Brisbane, but it wouldn't fall.

Ultimately in overtime, it was Sobey who played hero for the Force. He hit the biggest shot of the night from behind the three-point line with just under a minute to go.

That tied scores up and then after he missed another attempt, Cameron Goldfinch pulled down the offensive rebound, was fouled and hit the winning free-throws.

Stoddart had one last look at the winner on the buzzer for Brisbane but it was no good and Ipswich got the much-needed win to improve to 13-5 and all but lock away at least a third placed finish.

Nathan Sobey finished with 25 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals for Ipswich with the only three he hit in the game from 11 attempts was that crucial tying one late.

Deng Deng also delivered 18 points and nine rebounds, Cameron Goldfinch 16 points, four boards and three assists, Michael Fleming 15 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals, Denzel Kennedy 12 points and four boards, and Kyrin Galloway 10 points in just 12 minutes.

Lachie Dent finished the night with 23 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals for Brisbane while hitting 5/10 from behind the three-point arc.

James Moors also put up 17 points and eight rebounds, Nick Stoddart 14 points, five boards and four assists, Dhieu Magier 13 points, and Atem Bior 11 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Nathan Sobey with overtime heroics ?

In OT the @BrisbaneBullets star scored 2??5?? points with 9?? rebounds and 7?? assists ?

Watch the #NBL1North First Nations Round via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ?&? pic.twitter.com/MX9h4qbs3U

— NBL1 (@NBL1) July 8, 2023

Rockets end season of Seahawks

Whatever outside hopes the North Gold Coast Seahawks had of still making the playoffs were ended by the Rockhampton Rockets who beat them 86-75 on Saturday night.

The Seahawks came into the second last round of the season at 7-10 and needing to win all their remaining three matches and still needing some luck to go their way to take part in the playoffs.

So the first box to be ticked was to beat Rockhampton at Bravus Arena on Saturday night, and the Seahawks did start well with 29 points to 23 in the opening period.

North Gold Coast led by as much as 13 in that first quarter, but Rockhampton worked back into it and then built on that momentum in the second term to take control of the contest.

Rockhampton would put up 24 points to 11 in that second period to lead 47-40 at half-time.

The Rockets then dominated the second half outscoring the Seahawks 39 points to 35 to secure the eventual 11-point victory that is a fatal blow to the playoff aspirations of North Gold Coast.

It was a third win of the season for Rockhampton with Chier Maker delivering 22 points, six rebounds and four assists with Damian Prgomet putting up 15 points and 10 boards, and Angus McWilliam 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Jarvis Summers added 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Malcolm Bernard 12 points, four assists, three boards and three steals.

Josh Duach delivered 26 points and four rebounds for North Gold Coast with Majok Majok contributing 14 points, 16 boards, three assists and two blocks, and Biwali Bayles 14 points, 11 assists and five rebounds.

Rip City stay alive with win over Pirates

If USC Rip City want to knock a team out of the top eight ahead of them then last year's grand finalists have no choice but to win their remaining games, and they ticked the first one off beating the South West Metro Pirates 103-77.

The Pirates are one of those teams ahead of Rip City inside the top eight as well so it was a massive game for both outfits on Saturday at USC Sports Stadium.

Rip City started well racing out to an 11-point lead and still being up 24-16 by the end of one.

USC never gave up control the rest of the evening with the lead still 10 by half-time before it was extended out to 22 in the third stanza, and 26 in the fourth before Rip City scored the important 26-point victory.

It improves them to a 9-8 record with a road trip to come next weekend to Townsville and Cairns to close the season. That clash with the Marlins could very well determine which team makes the playoffs.

The Pirates slip to a 10-8 record with the loss with just one game remaining next Saturday away to the North Gold Coast Seahawks.

Rip City had some big performers in the win with Brandon Wood top-scoring with 26 points, eight rebounds and three assists while hitting 6/9 from three-point territory.

Kouat Noi produced another 25 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals with Verle Williams adding 21 points, seven boards, five assists and two steals, and Corey Shervill 15 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

South West Metro received 17 points and two assists from Kai Woodfall while Jeremy McLaughlin added 14 points and six rebounds, Lamar Patterson 14 points and four boards, and Chris Cedar 10 points and five rebounds.

Gold Coast stay top with 15th straight win

The Gold Coast Rollers made it 15 straight wins to remain on top of the NBL1 North in their championship defence beating the Red City Roar 110-80 on Saturday night.

It was the second last game of the regular season for the defending champions as they travelled to Paul Bancroft Centre to take on the second last placed Red City.

Knowing that they will be facing the second placed Logan Thunder in the final game of the regular season next week, Gold Coast didn’t want a slip up in the push for another regular season championship.

Gold Coast worked on top in the opening quarter leading by as much as nine points with that advantage growing to 11 in the second term.

While Red City were fighting hard the Rollers did continue to see their lead grow getting out to as much 23 points in the third quarter and 30 in the fourth with Gold Coast going on to score the 30-point win.

The victory is a 15th in-a-row for the Rollers who remain in first place at 16-2 ahead of that clash with Logan at home on Friday night.

Before returning to the Illawarra Hawks for the upcoming NBL season, Todd Blanchfield was tremendous again for Gold Coast with 33 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocks on 14/24 shooting from the floor and 4/11 from beyond the arc.

Preston Le Gassick added 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals, Jason Cadee 19 points, 19 assists, eight rebounds and two steals, and Cameron Thew 13 points, 11 boards and two blocks.

Red City slips to 2-15 with the loss despite Jaylen Key putting up 23 points, seven rebounds and two steals with Javaan Mumtaz adding 15 points, four boards and two assists, and Nelson Larkins 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Salties complete season with big win

The Darwin Salties took a giant leap towards locking in their playoff position beating the Sunshine Coast Phoenix 107-87 on Saturday night at home.

It was always going to be a significant game for both teams with it being the last of the regular season for the Salties and with the Phoenix trying to replace them inside the top eight.

It would have been quite the nervous wait next week for the Salties with their destiny out of their hands as to if they would make the playoffs should they lose to the Phoenix, but they ended up delivering a commanding performance.

Darwin ended up leading by three at quarter-time before taking charge in the second period with 30 points to 16 to be leading 57-40 at the half.

The lead for the Salties got out to as much as 25 points in the fourth stanza before they scored the 20-point win to close their regular season on a high with a bye to come in the last round.

Darwin will finish at 10-9 and it should be enough to take part in the playoffs with the Phoenix now 8-9 with games to finish at home to the North Gold Coast Seahawks and away to the Ipswich Force.

Makuach Maluach was tremendous for the Salties with 26 points, five rebounds and five assists on 8/13 shooting along with 5/7 from behind the three-point line, and 5/5 at the foul line.

Deba George delivered 25 points, five assists and four rebounds for Darwin with 6/9 shooting from downtown with Deng Riak adding 14 points, eight boards and three blocks, Jerron Jamerson 17 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Sean Macdonald nine points, seven assists, four boards and two steals.

Mason Bragg top-scored for Sunshine Coast with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for Sunshine Coast with Lewis Woosnam contributing 14 points and three boards, Kiran Shastri 13 points and five rebounds, and Nelson Kahler 11 points and five boards.