NBL1 North Recap | Sunday Round 6

The South West Metro Pirates had a Sunday afternoon to remember at home with wins over the Ipswich Force with Lulu Twidale and Maddy Rocci combining for 63 points in the women's clash while Lamar Patterson led the men to ending Ipswich's winning run.

Round 6 in the NBL1 North wrapped up on Sunday with the South West Metro Pirates women beating the Ipswich Force 97-77 before the men backed it up with the 98-91 victory.

NBL1 NORTH RECAP | SATURDAY ROUND 6

NBL1 NORTH RECAP | FRIDAY ROUND 6

WOMEN

Twidale, Rocci put up 63 in Pirates win over Force

A massive 38-point performance from Lulu Twidale inspired the South West Metro Pirates to the thumping 97-77 home win against the Ipswich Force on Sunday.

The Pirates were back home after splitting their road trip last weekend with a win in Rockhampton and loss to Mackay as they hosted the Force on Sunday to close Round 6 in the NBL1 North.

Ipswich had lost a heartbreaker the previous night at home to the North Gold Coast Seahawks as well, but it was the Pirates who started on fire on Sunday afternoon with 29 points to 13 in the opening period.

That set the tone for the rest of the contest with South West Metro ending up leading still by 16 at half-time, 19 by three quarter-time and then claiming the 20-point victory.

The result improves the Pirates to a 6-2 record this season with Ipswich slipping to 2-6 with the double loss weekend.

Both Lulu Twidale and Maddy Rocci were outstanding in the win for South West Metro combining for 63 points and 9/15 three-point shooting.

Twidale finished with 38 points, three rebounds and two assists on 13/17 field goal shooting while going 7/10 from three-point land and 5/7 at the foul line.

Rocci also had 25 points, eight assists and five rebounds on 8/14 shooting from the floor, 2/5 from downtown and 7/13 at the charity stripe.

Leah Scott also had 17 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals for the Pirates, and Hannah Young nine points and seven boards.

Maria Blazejewski delivered 16 points and 10 rebounds for Ipswich while Meg Essex ended up with 14 points and four boards and Alison Gorrell 10 points, six assists and five rebounds but it was Georgia Ralph who top-scored with 19 points and two assists.

First game back in #NBL1North and Maddi Rocci hasn't missed a beat ?

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

— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 7, 2023

MEN

Pirates shock Force and overcome Sobey for home win

There is no longer an undefeated team in the NBL1 North men's competition with the South West Metro Pirates overcoming a 41-point outburst from Nathan Sobey to beat the Ipswich Force 98-91.

Ipswich put its undefeated record on the line on Sunday afternoon at Hibiscus Sports Stadium having won its sixth consecutive match on Saturday with the win at home to the North Gold Coast Seahawks.

Cameron Goldfinch means business ?

Watch #NBL1North via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ?&? pic.twitter.com/7abyjUHc4c

— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 7, 2023

However, the Pirates were fresh off three straight wins including two on the road last weekend so their confidence was building as they attempted to hand Ipswich a first loss of 2023.

The job was still ahead of them, though, and Brisbane Bullets superstar Nathan Sobey came out on a mission for Ipswich.

The bronze medal winning Olympian put up a monstrous first half for the Force and going into the break he had 26 points to his name to go with five assists and three steals including making all nine of his free-throws.

Despite that, the Pirates did well to stay in touch and limit the Force lead to 52-48 at half-time.

Ipswich's lead was just six at three quarter-time, but South West Metro's belief was growing even with Zac Carter having been earlier ejected after picking up a tech foul on the back of an earlier unsportsmanlike.

The Pirates produced a stunning fourth quarter with 30 points to 17 to blow a frustrated Ipswich team away and to come from behind all afternoon to win by seven.

It's a fourth straight win for the now 4-4 Pirates who opened the season losing their first four while Ipswich is 6-1 after those opening six victories. 

Make way for Jaylin Galloway ?

Watch #NBL1North via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ?&? pic.twitter.com/gEWk1y7Aca

— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 7, 2023

Lamar Patterson came up huge in the win for South West Metro with the former All-NBL First Team member delivering 21 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals while playing almost 37 minutes.

Kai Woodfall added 20 points and four rebounds with 5/12 three-point shooting while Brendan Teys added 18 points, four boards and three steals, and Ben Volkman 18 points and 13 rebounds on 9/12 shooting.

Nathan Sobey finished the afternoon with 41 points, six rebounds and six steals for Ipswich while shooting 10/19 from the floor, 5/13 from beyond the arc and 16/16 at the foul line.

Deng Deng also put up 20 points, eight boards and three assists, and Cameron Goldfinch 11 points and three rebounds.

Nathan Sobey went off ?

?? 41 points
?? 6 rebounds
?? 6 steals

Watch #NBL1North via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ?&? pic.twitter.com/0CODh3FN1s

— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 7, 2023