NBL1 North Recap | Saturday Round 8

Lara McSpadden and Sam Bowman combined for 40 points and 39 rebounds as the Rockhampton Cyclones handed the Darwin Salties a first NBL1 North loss with Rockhampton men opening their account while Brandon Wood and Kouat Noi starred in USC Rip City overtime win.

Saturday's Round 8 women's results saw the Townsville Flames beating the North Gold Coast Seahawks 73-58 while the Rockhampton Cyclones downed the Darwin Salties 88-68, Southern Districts Spartans beat USC Rip City 83-77, and Logan Thunder defeated Sunshine Coast Phoenix 90-80.

In the men's contests, the Seahawks beat the Townsville Heat 90-86 while the Rockhampton Rockets beat the Salties 99-89, USC Rip City defeated Southern Districts 104-91 and the Thunder beat the Phoenix 91-72.

WOMEN

Hot-shooting Gaze helps Townsville beat Seahawks

The Townsville Flames squared their ledger on this weekend's road trip by beating the North Gold Coast Seahawks 73-60 with Steph Reid controlling the contest.

The Flames started their three-game road trip this weekend with a loss to the Gold Coast Rollers on Friday as they arrived at Runaway Bay Stadium on Saturday night to take on a Seahawks team looking for a third successive win.

On the buzzer! ?

Steph Reid ?? Indy Bowyer = ?

Watch the #NBL1North via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ?&? pic.twitter.com/i6WknD7o4D

— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 20, 2023

Neither team really got going in the first quarter with Townsville leading 14-10 by quarter-time, but the two teams combined for 41 points in the second term with the Flames holding on to a 34-31 lead at the major break.

However, Townsville pushed back out to a double-figure lead in the third quarter and that grew to as much as 19 points in the fourth term before the Flames went on to win by 13.

As a result of the win, Townsville is now 5-6 with a game against the South West Metro Pirates to come on Sunday while North Gold Coast is 3-5 with the defeat.

The three-point shooting proved the major difference between the two teams with Townsville ending up going 11/28 at 39 per cent and the Seahawks just 4/25 at 16 per cent.

Kate Gaze made 5/9 for the Flames on her way to 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals with Steph Reid delivering another 22 points, nine assists and four boards.

Alex Fowler also had 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks, and Majella Carey nine points and five boards.

Bride Kennedy-Hopoate finished with 16 points and eight rebounds for the Seahawks with Erin Riley contributing 15 points and five boards, Alexa Held 13 points and seven rebounds, and Bionca Dunham eight points, 10 boards and two assists.

The Townsville Flames reward the hustle plays ?

Watch #NBL1North via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ?&? pic.twitter.com/bpXFAU7bK3

— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 20, 2023

Cyclones hand Salties first loss of season

The Darwin Salties' undefeated run to start the NBL1 North season is no more with the Rockhampton Cyclones scoring the 88-68 win at home on Saturday night.

Darwin started its road double this weekend beating the Mackay Meteorettes in a one-point thriller on Friday night to make it eight straight wins for the season ahead of Saturday's clash with the Cyclones at Bravus Arena.

Rockhampton came into the game with a strong start to the season too winning five of seven games to set the stage for what loomed as a fascinating contest.

The Cyclones came out hot too and by quarter-time had a seven-point lead before dominating the second quarter with 22 points to eight to head into the major break leading 45-24.

Rockhampton then outscored Darwin 20 points to 15 to put the game to bed and end up winning by 20 to improve to 6-2 on the season while the Salties are 8-1 with that first defeat.

The presence of duo Sam Bowman and Lara McSpadden proved unstoppable from Rockhampton. Bowman finished with 18 points and 21 rebounds, and McSpadden 22 points and 18 boards.

Lauren Heard also had 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Cyclones, Tia Hay 10 points, three steals and two assists, and Elizajane Loader 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals.

It was a tough night for the Salties with Chelsea Brook top-scoring with 11 points, six rebounds and three steals. Sophie Johnson added nine points and five rebounds, and Catherine MacGregor nine points, five boards and two steals.

Massive double-double ?

Sam Bowman with points 2??2?? and 2??2?? boards!

Watch #NBL1North via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ?&? pic.twitter.com/egp5gKfhQv

— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 20, 2023

Gustavsson inspires Spartans to beat Rip City in OT

The Southern Districts Spartans made it four straight wins but it took overtime against USC Rip City for them to prevail 83-77 on Saturday night.

Despite the Spartans coming into the game having won three straight and Rip City losing their past four, it turned out to be quite the spectacular contest with never more than seven points separating the two teams.

It was Southern Districts leading by three points at quarter-time before it was just a one-point lead for the visitors at intermission.

Southern Districts were still clinging to a three-point lead at three quarter-time and ultimately the last bucket of regulation was hit by Maddy Allen for the Spartans to level scores at 71-71 and sent it to overtime.

After scores were level at 73-73, that's when the Spartans made their move in the extra period starting with a three ball to Natalie Taylor. Allen then made a couple of free-throws, then Llisa Ups hit a pair from the stripe too and ultimately Southern Districts won by six.

Elin Gustavsson produced a spectacular performance for Southern Districts finishing with 35 points and 15 rebounds on 12/19 shooting from the floor and 11/14 at the foul line.

Maddy Allen added 15 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and two blocks, and Natalie Taylor nine points and six boards.

N'dea Flye top-scored for Rip City with 17 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists with Carlie Smith contributing 15 points, 13 boards and six steals, Megan Mullings 14 points, Madeline Campbell 11 points, and Steph Bairstow seven points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

Ruef the difference for hot-shooting Logan

Logan Thunder made it a double win weekend beating the Sunshine Coast Phoenix on the road 90-80 on Saturday on the back of another dominant showing by Mikaela Ruef.

Logan opened the weekend beating the Brisbane Capitals at home ahead of taking on the Phoenix at Maroochydore Stadium with the Phoenix attempting to snap a four-game losing streak.

It was a seesaw first quarter with Logan ending up leading by six points at quarter-time, but it was in the second period when the Thunder took over with 23 points to nine.

That saw them lead by as much as 20 points and to be up 52-32 by half-time before stretching that lead out to 31 in the third quarter, and it was still a 26-point ball game early in the fourth.

While Sunshine Coast finished strongly from there including hitting 10 consecutive points, the Thunder held them out to win by 10 and improve to 6-4 on the season. Sunshine Coast is now 1-7 with five straight defeats.

Mikaela Ruef ultimately proved the difference between the two teams with 26 points, 19 rebounds, six assists and two steals while hitting 4/6 from three-point land.

Ashley Taia also hit 4/8 from long-range with Logan going 14/27 as a team with Chevannah Paalvast adding 15 points, four rebounds and three steals, Mikhaela Cann 11 points and nine assists, Ula Motuga 10 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals, and Odette Isaac 10 points, three boards, two assists and two steals.

Kathleen MacLeod delivered 23 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals for Sunshine Coast with Alex Wittinger contributing 18 points and 14 boards, Kendell Heremaia 16 points and seven boards, and Chloe Coughlin 10 points, three rebounds and two assists.

MEN

Seahawks hold off Heat to snap losing slide

A late Wesley Harris bucket denied the Townsville Heat what would have been a stirring comeback victory with the North Gold Coast Seahawks holding on for the 90-86 win.

Townsville was playing its second game of this weekend's three-match road trip after losing to the Gold Coast Rollers on Friday with the Seahawks at home and looking to snap their own three-game winless run.

North Gold Coast got off to a flying start with 28 points to 11 in the opening period but the Heat got rolling in the second term with 33 points to 16 which saw scores all level by intermission.

The Heat opened up a seven-point lead during the third term but then North Gold Coast turned the tide once more and by the time there was 1:30 on the clock, Kody Stattmann scored to give the Seahawks the 10-point edge.

The Heat weren’t quite done yet and five quick points to Michael Cedar and then five more to Marcellus Garrick suddenly made it a two-point ball game with the shot clock turned off.

The last bucket of the game proved the sealer for the Seahawks from Wesley Harris when that made it a four-point margin once more.

Kody Stattmann was the star of the night for the Seahawks with the Brisbane Bullets youngster producing 32 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals on 14/22 shooting.

Josh Duach added 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists, Biwali Bayles 13 points, six boards and five assists, and Majok Majok 12 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Marcellus Garrick ended up with 30 points and four rebounds for Townsville while going 6/13 from the land of plenty and 8/10 at the free-throw line.

Michael Cedar also had 22 points and seven rebounds, Matthew Rees nine points and eight boards, Ethan Betts eight points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Luca Yates eight points and 11 boards.

What a dime by Biwali Bayles to Josh Duach ?

Watch #NBL1North via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ?&? pic.twitter.com/EKgy1MPmFm

— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 20, 2023

Rockets open account for 2023 with win over Salties

The Rockhampton Rockets ensured the Darwin Salties had a road double to forget this weekend with the 99-89 win at home on Saturday night.

Rockhampton was still hunting for its first win of the season up against a Darwin team who started its road double with a loss to the Mackay Meteors.

It was a tight first half with Darwin leading 27-23 by quarter-time and then clinging to the 48-46 advantage at the half-time break.

However, the Rockets blew the game open in the third quarter with 30 points to 16 to open up a 15-point lead by the fourth term on the way to the eventual 10-point triumph.

The win is a first of the season for Rockhampton after seven losses while it's consecutive losses for a Salties team now 5-4.

Malcolm Bernard produced a first-rate performance for Rockhampton with 26 points, 14 rebounds and three assists with Nikau McCullough adding 22 points, six assists, three steals and two boards.

Jarvis Summers also had 19 points and seven assists, Chier Maker 16 points and 15 rebounds, and Angus McWilliam 15 points and 10 boards.

Makuach Maluach had another standout showing for the Salties with 25 points, 10 rebounds, nine steals and two assists.

Sean Macdonald also had 21 points and six assists, Jerron Jamerson 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists, Deba George 11 points, three boards and three assists, and Deng Riak 10 points.

Noi, Wood lift Rip City to OT win

Kouat Noi and Brandon Wood inspired USC Rip City in overtime to lift them to the 104-91 victory at home to the Southern Districts Spartans.

There was big shot after big shot down the stretch of regulation with Koen Sapwell going to the rack to put the Spartans back up one with two minutes to play before Brandon Wood's three-pointer restored the two-point Rip City advantage.

Kian Dennis then tied scores back up before Wood put USC back up two and it was two free-throws from Fabijan Krslovic for Southern Districts that sent the game to overtime when Kouat Noi missed his attempted game winner for Rip City.

Then in overtime, Rip City caught fire in spectacular fashion and went on a 9-0 scoring run to end up winning by 13 points to improve to 4-4 on the season ending their three-game losing run. The Spartans are now 5-6 with their four-game winning streak ending.

Brandon Wood shot 12/18 from the field and 3/4 from three-point range on his way to 32 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals for Rip City in the win.

Kouat Noi added 23 points and 18 rebounds with Verle Williams producing 21 points, four boards, three assists and three steals, and Eric McAlister 11 points, five rebounds and three blocks.

Fabijan Krslovic ended up with 27 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for Southern Districts with Koen Sapwell delivering 20 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals, and Akoldah Gak 19 points, 13 boards and two blocks.

Verle Williams steals the rock and finishes in STYLE ??

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

— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 20, 2023

Logan stays top with road win over Phoenix

Logan Thunder made it a weekend to savour with back-to-back wins to maintain top spot in the NBL1 North with the 91-72 victory away to the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.

Logan opened the weekend beating the Brisbane Capitals on Friday to make it seven straight wins ahead of a trip to Maroochydore Stadium to face a Phoenix team also looking to make it consecutive victories.

After Sunshine Coast opened up an early eight-point lead, Logan worked its way on top with eight straight points to eventually lead 28-20 by quarter-time.

The Thunder stretched that lead to 12 by half-time and then with 24 points to 15 in the fourth period the lead grew out to as much as 24 before they ended up winning by 19.

The victory is an eighth straight for Logan who now sit at 9-1 on top of the NBL1 North with Sunshine Coast 4-4 as a result of the loss.

Shaun Bruce had another terrific performance for Logan with 29 points, seven assists and three rebounds with Boston Mazlin adding 20 points, nine boards and three assists, and Majok Deng 18 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Mitch Young also had 11 points and 11 rebounds in his 23 minutes with Tom Howard contributing nine points, seven boards and two assists.

Jonathan Janssen top-scored for Sunshine Coast with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists on 4/8 three-point shooting.

Mason Bragg added 13 points, six rebounds and four assists, Jamaal Robateau 12 points and nine boards, Nelson Kahler eight points and four rebounds, Justin Aver eight points and two boards, and Lewis Woosnam eight points and four rebounds.