NBL1 North Recap | Saturday Women's Round 15

The eight teams to take part in the NBL1 North Women's playoffs have now been confirmed after Saturday night's Round 15 action with USC Rip City winning to end the aspirations of the Ipswich Force and North Gold Coast Seahawks.

There were still 10 teams in contention to reach the finals coming into the Saturday night last round action in the NBL1 North but USC Rip City secured their spot with a win while the Ipswich Force's win wasn’t enough to keep them alive.

The top five teams, Logan Thunder, Southern Districts Spartans, Townsville Flames, Brisbane Capitals and Mackay Meteorettes all recorded Saturday night wins as well.

The last round of the NBL1 North regular season began on Friday night with the Red City Roar beating the Gold Coast Rollers 88-74 and the Darwin Salties defeating the Rockhampton Cyclones 88-76.

Then on Saturday night, the Brisbane Capitals beat the Northside Wizards 81-70 to move into fourth position on the table with the results on Sunday to determine where both teams end up.

Abby Cubillo delivered 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Capitals with Tiana Mangakahia producing another 25 points, six boards, five assists and four steals for the Wizards.

USC Rip City guaranteed themselves a playoff berth by beating the Sunshine Coast Phoenix 68-50.

Rip City moved into seventh position at 10-8 and Ashley Arlen was outstanding with 29 points and nine rebounds with Caitlin Clancy top-scoring for Sunshine Coast with 13 points.

The Townsville Flames proved too strong on the road beating the eighth placed Cairns Dolphins with a 95-64 road win.

Steph Reid and Alanna Smith combined for 65 points for Townsville in the win while Penina Davidson put up 20 points for Cairns, and Cayla George returned for 18 points and 13 rebounds.

The Ipswich Force delivered a thumping 106-67 win against the Gold Coast Rollers to close their season but it won't quite be enough for them to take part in finals action.

Bri Rollerson delivered 28 points and 14 rebounds for Ipswich with Amanda Cahill adding 23 points and eight assists. Angela Lou Beadle scored another 21 points for Gold Coast and Sarah Heard 20.

The Logan Thunder are now just one win away from completing a perfect season after defeating the South West Metro Pirates 111-67 at home on Saturday night.

There were some remarkable individual performances for Logan with Chevannah Paalvast scoring 40 points, Mikaela Ruef delivering 18 points and 25 rebounds, and Sigi Koizar adding 24 points. Bride Kennedy-Hopoate top-scored for South West with 21 points.

The Mackay Meteorettes consolidated their hold on fifth position after their last game of the regular season where they beat the Darwin Salties 95-80.

Shaneice Swain and Alisia Jenkins both scored 24 points in the win for Mackay while Serena Waters added 24 points for Darwin and Lauren Heard 22.

The Southern Districts confirmed their second place finish in the NBL1 North by beating the North Gold Coast Seahawks 94-77 on Saturday night with the Seahawks now to miss the playoffs as a result.

Nadeen Payne continued her dominant form for the Spartans with 35 points while Doniyah Cliney put up 29 points for North Gold Coast, and Isalys Quinones 23.

The regular season in the NBL1 North will now wrap up on Sunday with the South West Metro Pirates playing the Sunshine Coast Phoenix, Red City Roar playing Logan Thunder and USC Rip City taking on the Northside Wizards.

NBL1 NORTH – 2022 WOMEN'S SEASON
ROUND 15 – SATURDAY NIGHT

BRISBANE CAPITALS 81 defeated NORTHSIDE WIZARDS 70

Two playoff bound teams did battle at Auchenflower Stadium on Saturday night with the Brisbane Capitals defeating the Northside Wizards 81-70.

Brisbane came into the game looking to book in a top four finish in the NBL1 North while the Wizards were still a chance at a top four spot as well if they firstly beat the Capitals on Saturday, and then also USC Rip City on Sunday.

The Caps made a strong start on their home floor opening up a 13-point advantage in the first quarter on the back of a 9-0 run to still be on top 26-19 by quarter-time.

Brisbane pushed that lead out further in the second term with another 24 points to 19 which saw them lead at one stage by as much as 19 points, and still be in control 50-37 at the major break.

It was a relatively even second half but Brisbane held a double-figure lead most of the way to end up winning 81-70.

The result means that the Capitals finish the season with a 12-7 record in fourth position while the Wizards are currently sixth at 11-7 with a game to play on Sunday against Rip City.

The Capitals shot 46.6 per cent from the field for the game despite going just 3/15 from downtown with the Wizards finishing at 31.2 per cent and 12/40 from three-point territory.

Abby Cubillo had a tremendous night for the Caps with 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots.

Steph Collins added 14 points and eight rebounds, Courtney Middap 12 points and seven boards, Anna Cameron 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Hilary Fuller eight points to go with four assists.

Tiana Mangakahia continued her remarkable form for the Wizards to close the season with another 25 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals with Shyla Heal adding 13 points, four boards and four assists, and Kelsey McDermott 11 points and three assists.

 

USC RIP CITY 68 defeated SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 50

USC Rip City were able to confirm their place in the playoffs of the NBL1 North for 2022 by beating the Sunshine Coast Phoenix at home on Saturday night by 18 points.

By getting to 10 wins on the season, USC were able to confirm a top eight finish even with a game to go on Sunday to close the regular season after they overcame the Phoenix at USC Sports Stadium in Round 17 action on Saturday night.

It didn’t take long for Rip City to open up a double-figure lead as they went up 11 during the first quarter and were still leading Sunshine Coast 24-18 by the end of the first term.

USC pulled away further in the second quarter with another 16 points to eight and they were well on top by half-time with the 40-26 lead.

The advantage for the home team continued to grow through the second half and got out to as much 23 points in the last quarter before Rip City went on to win 68-50.

The result means they improve to a 10-8 record with a game to come on Sunday against the Northside Wizards while the Phoenix are now 1-17 before finishing away to the South West Metro Pirates.

Ashley Arlen was the star of the evening for Rip City with 29 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots while shooting 11/21 from the floor.

Madeleine Campbell added seven points, three rebounds and three assists, Liisa Ups seven points, seven boards, five assists and four steals, Carlie Smith six points, nine rebounds and four steals, and Camryn Hughes six points and five rebounds.

Caitlin Clancy top-scored for Sunshine Coast with 13 points, three assists and three steals while Amy Browne added 12 points and eight rebounds, and Nicola Handreck six points, six boards, three steals and two assists.

 

CAIRNS DOLPHINS 64 lost to TOWNSVILLE FLAMES 95

Cairns and Townsville will enter the 2022 NBL1 North playoffs in vastly different form after the Flames gave the Dolphins a 31-point hammering on their home court on Saturday night.

It was the last game of the regular season for both teams at Early Settler Stadium with both guaranteed of playing finals, and while Cairns welcomed back Cayla George from Australian Opals duties, it was the third placed Flames who proved too strong.

Townsville didn’t take long to assert its dominance on the contest putting together eight straight points to end up leading by 12 points, and still being on top 29-19 at quarter-time.

The lead had only grown to 11 for the Flames by half-time but Townsville then blew things further wide open in the third term with another 8-0 run to lead by as much as 25 points.

That lead got out to 31 by the final buzzer with Townsville winning 95-64 to finish the regular season in third place at 16-3 while the Dolphins are eighth at 10-9.

The biggest difference between the teams was Townsville forcing Cairns into 26 turnovers while also getting to the foul line 23 times opposed to nine.

Steph Reid had yet another standout performance for Townsville ahead of a playoff run with 34 points, eight assists, four rebounds and four steals while shooting 12/21 from the floor and 8/9 from the charity stripe.

Alanna Smith added 31 points, six rebounds and three steals on 13/21 shooting with Mia Murray contributing 14 points, five rebounds and three steals ahead of the three-time WNBL champion joining the Melbourne Boomers for the upcoming season.

Penina Davidson top-scored for Cairns with 20 points and nine rebounds while Cayla George returned with 18 points and 13 boards. Teyahna Bond also scored 10 points.

 

IPSWICH FORCE 106 defeated GOLD COAST ROLLERS 67

The Ipswich Force will be frustrated to be missing the NBL1 North finals given the form they have finished the regular season in with an emphatic 39-point home win over the Gold Coast Rollers on Saturday night.

Ipswich continued its impressive late season form in the NBL1 North at home to Gold Coast on Saturday night at JBS Stadium but another big win on Saturday night wasn’t quite enough for them to break into a playoff position.

The Force quickly opened up a double-figure lead against the Rollers on the back of putting up 33 points in the opening quarter to set the tone for the rest of the evening in front of their home fans.

Ipswich dominated further in the second quarter with another 30 points to 12 to see that gap open up to 63-35 by half-time.

They increased their lead over the Rollers to 38 points in the third quarter and 42 in the fourth before Ipswich ended up winning emphatically 106-67.

The result means that Ipswich finishes the season on a 9-10 record agonisingly close of the 10-9 Cairns Dolphins in eighth spot.

A season that promised so much for Gold Coast sees them finish 12th at 6-13.

It was a hot shooting performance from the Force going at 54.4 per cent from the field as a team opposed to the 39.1 per cent from Gold Coast. They also collected 46 rebounds to 32.

Bri Rollerson has finished the season in quite a run of form for Ipswich and she produced another 28 points and 14 rebounds while shooting 11/12 from the floor.

Amanda Cahill added 23 points, eight assists, five steals and five rebounds, Georgia Ralph 24 points and three assists, and Tia Hay 12 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals.

Angela Lou Beadle battled hard once more for Gold Coast with 21 points, five assists and four rebounds on 9/12 shooting while Lauren Mansfield returned from winning bronze in 3x3 at the Commonwealth Games for 12 points and seven assists.

Sarah Heard added 20 points and four rebounds for the Rollers, and Lilly Rotunno 11 points. 

 

LOGAN THUNDER 111 defeated SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES 67

The Logan Thunder are now just one win away from the perfect season in the NBL1 North after beating the South West Metro Pirates by 44 points on Saturday night.

Logan made it 18 straight wins with one to play this NBL1 North season after another big victory at Bendigo Bank Cornubia Park Sports Centre on Saturday against the Pirates.

The Thunder raced out to a 12-point lead and were on top 28-19 by quarter-time before pulling out to a 25-point advantage during the second term and being on top 57-34 by half-time.

It was another 26 points to 19 in the third quarter for the Thunder and then 28 to 14 in the fourth before Logan ended up beating South West 111-67.

The Thunder are now 18-0 with the regular season championship clinched ahead of being away to the Red City Roar on Sunday while the Pirates are 1-17 before hosting the Sunshine Coast Phoenix to close the regular season.

Logan collected 59 rebounds for the game opposed to 34 for South West along with shooting 50.0 per cent from the floor to 32.9 and getting to the foul line 20 times to 11.

Chevannah Paalvast had a stunning night for Logan with 40 points, six rebounds and six assists on shooting 15/23 from the field and 5/9 from three-point territory.

Sigi Koizar produced 24 points with 5/7 shooting from deep as Mikaela Ruef delivered another 18 points, 25 rebounds and seven assists, and Indiah Bowyer 17 points and five boards.

Bride Kennedy-Hopoate top-scored for the Pirates with 21 points and five rebounds with Cat MacGregor adding 15 points, and Paris Santacaterina 11 points and six rebounds.

 

MACKAY METEORETTES 95 defeated DARWIN SALTIES 80

The Mackay Meteorettes ensured they enter the NBL1 North playoffs in winning form after beating the Darwin Salties by 15 points on Saturday night.

The Salties were closing their first NBL1 North season on the back of beating the Rockhampton Cyclones on Friday night to start the last round but the Meteorettes needed the win at Mackay Basketball Stadium to keep hold of fifth position.

The Meteorettes wasted little time to work on top with 27 points to 18 in the opening quarter before putting up another 30 to 17 in the second term to have put the game beyond doubt just about at half-time by leading 57-35.

While Darwin fired back in the third quarter by scoring 19 straight points, after being down 28 they could never seriously threaten and Mackay went on to score the 95-80 victory.

The win sees the Meteorettes finish the regular season in fifth position with a 12-7 record while it an encouraging debut campaign for the Salties who finish at 5-14.

Mackay ended up collecting 59 rebounds to 41 for the game with both teams feasting at the foul line with the Meteorettes going 28/44 and the Salties 19/29 with a remarkable 47 fouls for the game called.

Alisia Jenkins continued her standout form late in the season for Mackay with another 24 points, nine rebounds and three blocks with Shaneice Swain adding 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals while hitting 5/14 from downtown.

Monique Bobongie also had 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals, Alexa Hart 11 points and eight boards, and Denesha Bobongie eight points and two steals.

Serena Waters finished the season for Darwin with 24 points and four assists while knocking down 4/8 from beyond the arc.

Lauren Heard added 22 points, four rebounds and four steals, Chelsea Brook 12 points, 10 boards and seven steals, and Teyla Evans 10 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

 

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 94 defeated NORTH GOLD COAST SEAHAWKS 77

The Southern Districts Spartans locked away second spot and ended the playoff dreams of the North Gold Coast Seahawks with a 17-point win on Saturday night.

The Spartans hosted the Seahawks at Rowland Cowan Stadium with the second placed Southern Districts starting well with 26 points to 17 in the first quarter to already lead by nine at quarter-time.

They pushed that lead out to 19 points in the second term before leading 53-36 at the half-time interval.

The Seahawks knew their season was on the line and they threw everything at a comeback in the third quarter, but they couldn’t quite get close enough to strike and the Spartans steadied to end up winning 94-77.

The result means that Southern Districts end the season in second spot with a 17-2 record while North Gold Coast finish at 9-10 and just out of a playoff position.

Nadeen Payne is in some dominant form late in the NBL1 North season and that continued with another 35 points and seven rebounds on 10/17 shooting from the field and 9/10 from the free-throw line.

Leah Scott added 19 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals, Rebecca Haynes 10 points and eight boards, Kalani Purcell 10 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Madelyn Allen eight points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals.

Doniyah Cliney finished the season with a big night for the Seahawks with 29 points and six rebounds on 10/16 shooting from the field and 7/9 from the charity stripe.

Isalys Quinones added 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals with Katelyn Donovan contributing 13 points and 12 boards, and Erin Riley nine points, five rebounds and four assists.