NBL1 North Round 7 Saturday night men’s recap

Catch up on the Round 7 action from the NBL1 North men’s competition on Saturday night.

Brisbane Capitals 108 def Rockhampton Rockets 86

Brisbane Capitals remained in touch with the NBL1 North leaders with a 108-86 win over Rockhampton Rockets at Auchenflower Stadium on Saturday night.

The Capitals, with a 6-3 win-loss record and third prior to Sunday’s Round 7 games, used a 31-8 second quarter to set up the home win.

Jacob Wilson scored a team-high 20 points, while Ben Volkman tallied 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Capitals.

Brisbane’s main attack options also included Nicholas Stoddart (17 points), Geordan Papacostas (17 points) and Timothy Soong (12 points).

Rockhampton high-flyer Najeal Young scored a game-high 35 points and 12 rebounds.

Gold Coast Rollers 99 def by Logan Thunder 107

Logan Thunder were pushed but ultimately remain undefeated after a 107-99 victory over Gold Coast at Carrara Stadium on Saturday night.

The Rollers were within one possession (94-97) with 2.47 left in the game but the Thunder closed out the game with a 10-5 run.

Thunder guard Jeremy Kendle (pictured), who scored a game-high 31 points, kickstarted that final push with one of his five three-pointers.

Logan centre Mitch Young added a 22 points and 10 rebounds double double, while Elijah Puna (17 points), Michael Cedar (16 points), and Shaun Bruce (11 points) also scored in double figures.

Gold Coast guard Jason Cadee drove the Rollers offence with 24 points and 10 assists, while forward Callum Dalton scored a team-high 25 points.

Ipswich Force 108 def Red City Roar 71

Ipswich Force won their third straight game but the first that did not require overtime after a 108-71 win over Red City Roar at JBS Stadium, Ipswich on Saturday night.

With Nathan Sobey departed for the Australian Boomers pre-Olympic games camp, the Force looked to his Bullets teammate Matthew Hodgson and Illawarra’s Isaac White to be the main scoring threats.

Force centre Hodgson tallied 26 points and 12 rebounds, while guard White scored 26 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Ipswich forwards Mitchell Poulain (12 points) and Manylok Malek (10 points) also contributed to the Force superior offence that scored at 58% from the field.

Red City had three players – Kian Dennis (15 points), Blake Notman (14 points), and William McDowell-White (11 points) – in double figures.

South West Metro Pirates 94 def Northside Wizards 70

South West Metro Pirates defeated Northside Wizards 94-70 at Hibiscus Sports Stadium on Saturday night.

The Pirates used a 19-7 run to close out the first quarter to lead 19-14 and not look back with leads at each break.

South West Metro, who enjoyed a brief stint from Australian Boomer squad member Mitch Creek, won their second straight game but first without the departed star.

The Pirates main offence options were shared between Kai Woodfall (18 points), Jakobe Hunter (18 points), Brendan Teys (17 points), and Joel Matysek (15 points).

The Wizards backcourt of Logan Kyle (game-high 19 points) and Jesse Ghee (16 points, 10 rebounds, six assists) were the away team’s top contributors.

Sunshine Coast Phoenix 93 def by Mackay Meteors 102

Mackay Meteors claimed victory in the first leg of their Sunshine Coast road double with a 102-93 defeat of Phoenix at Maroochydore Stadium on Saturday night.

Meteors guard Jerron Jamerson scored a game-high 25 points including 2 of 3 from deep and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line.

Mackay centre Harry Froling added 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists for the visitors, while Emmanuel Malou (18 points) and Viliami Foketi (14 points) also scored in double figures.

Phoenix added Jarred Bairstow (13 points, eight rebounds on debut) to the roster after the Perth Wildcat concluded the NBL season with a final series loss in Melbourne on Friday night.

The home side were down 59-44 at the main break and as low as a 17-point deficit (60-77 at 2.39 left in the third). An 8-0 run midway through the final quarter, put Phoenix within two possessions (89-94 at 2.54) but the Meteors steadied to seal their sixth win of the season.

Phoenix backcourt Jamaal Robateau (24 points) and Darnell Robateau (17 points and nine assists) combined for 41 points, while centre Oscar Cluff added 14 points.