NBL1 North Recap | Saturday Round 3

The North Gold Coast Seahawks women scored their first win of the NBL1 North season with Bride Kennedy-Hopoate dominant while Logan Thunder also opened their account for 2023 and that was just the start of Saturday night's Round 3 action.

The Saturday night women's action saw the Brisbane Capitals beat the Townsville Flames 79-76 while the North Gold Coast Seahawks beat the South West Metro Pirates 72-71, the Sunshine Coast Lightning defeated the Southern Districts Spartans 66-60, the Darwin Salties overcame the Rockhampton Cyclones 83-74, Logan Thunder beat the Gold Coast Rollers 65-57, and USC Rip City won 72-54 against Red City Roar.

And in the men's contests, Rip City beat Red City 97-65, Townsville defeated Brisbane 102-93, the Seahawks defeated the Pirates 77-75 and the Spartans won 85-67 against the Phoenix 85-67 while Darwin defeated Rockhampton 115-95, and Logan beat Gold Coast 102-100.

WOMEN

Caps win in Townsville to keep reigning champs winless

The Brisbane Capitals kept the reigning NBL1 North champion Townsville Flames winless so far in 2023 with a narrow 79-76 win on the road on Saturday evening.

Chasing their first win of the season, the Flames were in front 59-56 heading into the fourth quarter at Townsville StarFM Stadium, but the Caps produced a strong fourth quarter to claim the three-point win.

Steph Collins was a strong presence for the Caps finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots with Mia Loyd contributing 14 points and nine boards.

Anna Cameron also ended up with 11 points and 13 rebounds, Courtney Middap 12 points, and Abby Cubillo 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Grace Rodgers put up 16 points and eight rebounds for Townsville with Indiah Bowyer contributing 16 points, four assists and three steals, Steph Reid 14 points, nine assists and seven boards, and Kate Gaze 17 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Steph Reid throws a bullet to Ainslie Minogue for 3?? ?

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Seahawks hold out Pirates for first win of season

The North Gold Coast Seahawks did their best to throw it away but ended up holding out for their first win of the season beating the South West Metro Pirates 72-71.

The Seahawks came into the game yet to win so far in 2023 while the Pirates had yet to lose, but the visiting North Gold Coast started strongly with 27 points in the first quarter.

The Seahawks were still leading 66-56 at three quarter-time, but the Seahawks locked up in the fourth quarter and with only four points on the board for the first 9:45 of the period, the Pirates found themselves on top thanks to Hannah Young with over three minutes to play.

Neither team scored for the next three minutes but eventually a strong drive and finish from Erin Riley with just under nine seconds to go sealed the one-point win for North Gold Coast despite the 29 turnovers.

Bride Kennedy-Hopoate was brilliant for the Seahawks with 33 points and five rebounds while shooting 10/13 from the floor, 5/5 from deep and 8/9 at the foul line.

Riley added 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Leah Scott put up 31 points and 11 rebounds for the Pirates with Lulu Twidale contributing 16 points and five boards, and Hannah Young 13 points, nine rebounds, six steals and two assists.

HEAT CHECK from Bride Kennedy-Hopoate ??

She's up to 18 points on 4/4 from downtown early in this one ?

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Sunshine Coast hit last six points to beat Southern Districts

The Sunshine Coast Phoenix scored the last six points of the game to claim the 66-60 win at home against the Southern Districts Spartans.

The scores were deadlocked at 60-60 following consecutive three-point shots for the Spartans from Madelyn Allen, but it was all the Phoenix from there.

Nicola Handreck put the home team up three with a triple of her own before Caitlin Reed made a free-throw and then Kendell Heremaia sealed the deal at the foul line for Sunshine Coast.

Kathleen MacLeod finished with 24 points and seven assists for the Phoenix with Nicola Handreck knocking down 6/13 from three-point land for 20 points and six rebounds.

Madelyn Allen delivered 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Spartans with Holly Smith contributing 19 points and seven boards.

Logan opens account for 2023 with win over Gold Coast

The defending regular season champion Logan Thunder are on the board in 2023 after beating the Gold Coast Rollers at home 65-57 on Saturday night.

The Thunder might have gone through last regular season undefeated before losing to the Townsville Flames in the Grand Final series, but it's been tough going to start 2023 with two losses to open proceedings.

Gold Coast had also won their first two matches to make the challenge for Logan tougher, but the Thunder held the Rollers to just six points in the second quarter and 11 in the third on the way to the eventual eight-point victory.

Ashley Taia finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds for Logan while Mihaela Cann added 20 points and nine rebounds, and Chevannah Paalvast nine points, 20 rebounds and five assists.

Charmian Mellars top-scored for Gold Coast with 15 points and 12 rebounds with Ariana Moorer adding 12 points, 10 boards, six assists and three steals, and Carla Drennan 11 points.

Salties stay unbeaten with home win over Cyclones

The Darwin Salties might have found the going tough in their first NBL1 North women's season but it's not the case in 2023 as they stayed unbeaten with an 83-74 win against the Rockhampton Cyclones.

It was Rockhampton who started well at Darwin Basketball Stadium with 26 points to 18 in the opening quarter, but the Salties responded in the second and pulled away the rest of the evening to win by nine and improve to 3-0 on the season.

Erin Bollmann delivered a triple-double in the win for Darwin with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists with Chelsea Brook adding 17 points and six boards, Tsubasa Nisbet 13 points and four rebounds, and Catherine MacGregor 15 points.

Elizajane Loader top-scored for Rockhampton with 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals with Lara McSpadden adding 14 points and eight boards, Tia Hay 13 points and four rebounds, and Samantha Bowman 13 points, 18 boards and four assists.

MEN

Salties shake off slow start to beat Rockets

The Darwin Salties had to overcome a hot start from the Rockhampton Rockets but did so to score the 115-95 home victory on Saturday night.

Rockhampton was chasing a first win of the NBL1 North season and started strongly in Darwin with 32 points to 24 in the opening quarter.

However, the Salties turned things around in the second period with 32 points to 22 and they remained in control from there to end up scoring the 20-point victory.

Jerron Jamerson starred for Darwin with 29 points and six rebounds on 10/13 shooting from the field and 9/11 from the free-throw line.

Makuach Maluach added 28 points, six assists and five rebounds, Deba George 21 points, seven boards and four assists, Deng Riak 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Sean Macdonald 10 points, eight boards and four assists.

Wesley Harris top-scored for Rockhampton with 20 points and seven rebounds with Jarvis Summers contributing 18 points and eight assists, Chier Maker 18 points and nine boards, and Nikau McCullough 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Rip City overrun Red City in second half 

USC Rip City flexed their muscles on the road on Saturday night in the NBL1 North beating the Red City Roar 97-65.

Red City actually started well at Paul Bancroft Centre and led by a point at quarter-time and by three at half-time, but Rip City turned the tide in the third quarter with 35 points to seven on the way to the eventual 32-point victory.

Brandon Wood made 6/11 from downtown for Rip City to finish with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Louis Ilton added 18 points, eight boards and three steals, Eric McAlister 12 points and six rebounds, and Corey Shervill 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Michael Poulain top-scored for Red City with 21 points and seven rebounds on 10/12 shooting with Jaylen Key contributing 18 points, 12 rebound and three assists.

OH MY ? Verle Williams showing off the ?

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— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 15, 2023