North Recap | Round 5 Saturday

Image credit: @simons_sportpics

The Southern Districts Spartans won in the NBL1 North despite 49 points from Miela Sowah while Cayla George and Mia Loyd had triple-doubles for Cairns with Sam McDaniel, Matt Kenyon and Jensen Bradtke leading their teams to Saturday wins.

NORTH RECAP | ROUND 5 FRIDAY

WOMEN

Brisbane Capitals (84) lost to Southern Districts Spartans (91)

The Southern Districts Spartans withstood a spectacular 49-point performance from Miela Sowah to remain undefeated this season with the 91-84 road win over the Brisbane Capitals.

The Spartans arrived at Auchenflower Stadium putting their perfect record so far this season on the line up against a Capitals team regaining the services of WNBL star Sowah after she was away with the Australian Gangurrus 3x3 team last weekend.

Brisbane did get off to a good start for an early seven-point lead but Southern Districts turned it around with an 8-0 run and by quarter-time had assumed the 22-17 advantage.

The Spartans built on that in the second frame too opening up an 11-point lead while still being up by that advantage at half-time with the 47-36 scoreline.

After Southern Districts pushed out to a 19-point lead, Brisbane were able to fire back into the contest on the back of the efforts of Sowah by scoring 12 consecutive points.

They never could quite get back level or to even grab the lead, though, with the Spartans ending up closing the deal with the seven-point victory away from home to improve to a perfect 5-0 record.

Southern Districts did a good job of having a varied attack to overcome Sowah's brilliance with Taylah Simmons top-scoring with 20 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Tiana Mangakahia added 17 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals, Jess McDowell-White 17 points, seven boards and six assists, and Nicole Fransson 15 points and three rebounds.

The Capitals are now 2-4 on the season following the loss despite the dazzling performance from Miela Sowah who finished with 49 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals on 15/28 shooting from the field, 6/10 from downtown and 13/13 at the foul line.

Ashley Arlen stepped up big time last week in the absence of Sowah and had another 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals with Grace Ellis adding 10 points and two boards, and Alleah Hanson eight points and six rebounds.

BRISBANE CAPITALS 84 (Sowah 49, Arlen 13, Ellis 10)

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 91 (Simmons 20, Mangakahia 17, J McDowell-White 17)

Logan Thunder (96) defeated Ipswich Force (52)

The new-look Logan Thunder continued their impressive start to the 2025 season putting to the sword an Ipswich Force team playing a second game in less than 24 hours with the 96-52 home victory.

Logan were back home at Bendigo Bank Cornubia Park Sports Centre on a four-match winning streak ahead of hosting an Ipswich team fresh off a tight defeat the previous night to start their road double against the Northside Wizards.

Logan were fresh having not played since beating the Townsville Flames last Friday night and they made the fast start with 24 points to 12 in the opening quarter with 10/18 shooting opposed to the 6/17 from the Force.

That lead for the Thunder grew to 20 points in the second term and by half-time they were leading 50-33 before it totally blew out in the third frame when Logan completed a 16-0 scoring run.

Logan's lead as a result got to 39 points in the third term and then 51 in the fourth before they settled on the 44-point victory thanks to shooting 56 per cent from the field to 31, and making 14/24 from three-point territory to 4/19.

The Thunder have now won five straight matches to sit on a 5-1 record with Kendell Heremaia finishing with 22 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals on perfect 7/7 shooting from the floor, 4/4 from three and 4/4 at the foul line.

Leah Scott added 19 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals, Amandine Toi 16 points on 4/7 three-point shooting, Sharni Reisinger 10 points, and Prasayus Notoa 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Ipswich have now lost both games this weekend to be on a three-point losing slide at 2-4 on the season.

LOGAN THUNDER 96 (Heremaia 22, Scott 19, Toi 16)

IPSWICH FORCE 52

Sunshine Coast Phoenix (96) defeated Gold Coast Rollers (68)

The Sunshine Coast Phoenix made it consecutive wins for the first time this season with the dominant 96-68 home victory against the Gold Coast Rollers.

The Phoenix scored their second win of the season last week beating the Northside Wizards in a thriller while Gold Coast arrived at Maroochydore Stadium having lost 13 straight dating back to the end of 2024.

Sunshine Coast opened up a 14-point lead during the first quarter but Gold Coast had got that deficit back to six by quarter-time.

Again the Phoenix took control to lead by as much as 15 points in the second term but once more the Rollers stayed in touch to cut the Sunshine Coast lead to 53-46 by the half-time break.

While it had been a tightly contested first half, it was then a complete domination from Sunshine Coast in the second half starting with 25 points to 11 in the third period.

The Phoenix delivered another 18 points to 11 in the last term on the way to the eventual 28-point win having shot 18/37 from the field in the second half to the 3/31 from Gold Coast even though the Rollers did go 15/20 at the foul line at least.

Sunshine Coast have now won back-to-back games to improve to a 3-2 record to start the season with Erin Bollmann delivering 25 points, seven assists, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks having joined from the Northside Wizards in the off-season.

Shannon Ryan also ended up with 24 points, 16 rebounds, five blocks and three assists, Mia Byrne 11 points, four assists and three boards, and Kayla Matthews 11 points, six assists and four rebounds.

Gold Coast have now lost their first six games of the season and 14 straight going back to last year despite Juna Umezawa delivering 20 points, 11 rebounds and three steals.

Tara Manumaleuga also had 16 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals despite shooting 1/9 from deep, Jasmin Howe 10 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals, and Nyah Morris six points, five boards, three assists and two steals.

SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 96 (Bollmann 25, Ryan 24, Byrne 11, Mathews 11)

GOLD COAST ROLLERS 68 (Umezawa 20, Manumaleuga 16, Howe 10)

Mackay Meteorettes (76) lost to Cairns Dolphins (112)

Australian basketball legend Cayla George delivered a triple-double as did Mia Loyd as the Cairns Dolphins produced a dominant showing to complete their road double with the 112-76 win over the Mackay Meteorettes.

Cairns had played the night before on the road where they lost a thriller to the Rockhampton Cyclones ahead of arriving at Mackay Basketball Stadium to play a Meteorettes team yet to lose so far in 2025.

It was a flying start from the Dolphins as they put up 30 points in the first quarter on some hot shooting going 12/18 from the field while the Meteorettes managed just 5/21 from the field for 18 points.

Mackay were able to turn things around in the second frame with 28 points to 19 which cut the Cairns lead to just 49-46.

The Dolphins were then only leading still by nine points at three quarter-time, but then Cairns completely scorched the Meteorettes in the final 10 minutes by piling on 43 points with 17/21 shooting including 4/6 from downtown.

Mackay managed just 16 points opposed to that as Cairns went from leading by nine at three quarter-time to end up winning the game by 36 points and improve to 3-3 on the season having split their road double.

Cayla George finished with a triple-double consisting of 17 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists with 5/10 three-point shooting while Mia Loyd produced a triple-double too with 36 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

Taryn Bond also had 19 points on 8/13 shooting, Summah Evans 13 points, eight rebounds, five stelas, three blocks and two assists, Aimee Brett nine points, and Teyahna Bond nine points, five rebounds and two steals.

The Meteorettes are now 5-1 having suffered their first loss of 2025 with Unique Thompson suffering her first NBL1 North loss despite 30 points, 13 rebounds and four steals.

Emme Shearer added 19 points, three rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals, and Monique Bobongie 14 points, eight boards, three assists and three steals.

MACKAY METEORETTES 76 (Thompson 30, Shearer 19, M Bobongie 14)

CAIRNS DOLPHINS 112 (Loyd 36, Taryn Bond 19, George 17)

 

MEN

Brisbane Capitals (114) defeated Southern Districts Spartans (107)

The Brisbane Capitals survived 56 points and 10 threes from Tamuri Wigness and Kyle Adnam to beat the Southern Districts Spartans 114-107 with MVP Sam McDaniel leading their charge.

The Capitals were back home at Auchenflower Stadium and sitting on top of the NBL1 North having won four straight ahead of hosting a Spartans team fresh off beating the Northside Wizards.

It was quite the enterprising first quarter from both teams with 32 points apiece with the Capitals shooting 12/21 overall and 4/8 from deep, and the Spartans 10/16 from the floor and 5/9 from the land of plenty.

They couldn’t quite keep up that pace in the second term but Southern Districts added 24 points to the 21 from Brisbane which saw the Spartans leading 56-53 by half-time.

That scoring was back on track from the first quarter in the third term with the teams once more combining for 64 points. This time it was Brisbane scoring 34 to 30 and that saw them leading by a solitary point at three quarter-time.

The Capitals managed to open up a 12-point advantage in the final quarter on the way to securing the seven-point win in quite the entertaining high-scoring affair.

The Caps improve to a 5-1 record to retain top spot with the five straight wins with reigning MVP Sam McDaniel producing 29 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds on 9/16 shooting from the field and 11/13 at the free-throw line.

Isaih Tueta shot 5/8 from beyond the three-point line on his way to 24 points and two assists with Uche Dibiamaka contributing 16 points and two rebounds, Matthew Johns 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds, and Anthony Kopcikas 12 points with 4/7 three-point shooting.

Cameron Thew also had nine points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Spartans are now 2-3 on the season following the defeat with Tamuri Wigness producing 30 points, seven assists and four rebounds while back court partner Kyle Adnam had 26 points and four assists with 7/15 three-point shooting.

Blake Jones contributed 19 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals, Max Kerle 14 points and seven boards, and Andre Ugrinic 12 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.

BRISBANE CAPITALS 114 (McDaniel 29, Tueta 24, Dibiamaka 16)

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 107 (Wigness 30, Adnam 26, Jones 19)

Logan Thunder (127) defeated Ipswich Force (116)

The two teams put on quite the overtime spectacle ending up combining for 243 points, 24 three-pointers and taking 79 free throws with Logan Thunder ending up prevailing 127-116 against the Ipswich Force.

Logan were back on their home floor at Bendigo Bank Cornubia Park Sports Centre trying to snap a three-game losing slide as they played host to an Ipswich team fresh off a loss to start their road double to the Northside Wizards on Friday.

Ipswich were leading by three at the end of the first quarter before stretching that lead out to 11 points in the second term but that lead was back to 52-46 by half-time.

Logan was then able to put up 32 points to 25 in the third quarter to grab the lead, but it was a game that neither team was ever able to put the other away.

Ipswich were leading by six with 1:45 to play before a four-point play from Zac Triplett had Logan back within two, and then one shortly after with a three ball from Tane Kirisome.

Matt Kenyon then put the Thunder back in front before DJ Mitchell was fouled having the chance to win the game for Ipswich, but he missed the first and hit the second with scores level, and the Thunder with a chance at the death.

Triplett's shot was blocked by Ngor Nai to send the game into overtime with scores level at 104-104 before in extra time, Logan were able to pile on 23 points in just the five points.

Of those 23 points, 12 came at the foul line with another nine of them from behind the three-point line and that saw the Thunder secure the 11-point win to improve to 2-4 on the season.

Logan ended up shooting 48 per cent to Ipswich's 47, making 14/36 from three-point land to 10/40, and then 35/52 at the foul line to 24/27.

Of those monstrous 52 free-throw attempts for Logan, Matt Kenyon went 20/27 at the charity stripe on his way to 45 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals for the game.

Zac Triplett added 34 points on 8/17 three-point shooting with Callum Dalton contributing 21 points, 15 boards and six assists, and Tom Howard 14 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Ipswich are now 3-3 following a pair of road losses this weekend with Lamar Patterson finishing with 25 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals on 10/17 shooting.

Will Mahoney also had 22 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, DJ Mitchell 22 points and six boards, Ngor Nai 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks, and Jasraj Gill 13 points and five boards.

LOGAN THUNDER 127 (Kenyon 45, Triplett 34, Dalton 21)

IPSWICH FORCE 116 (Patterson 25, Mitchell 22, Mahoney 22)

Sunshine Coast Phoenix (79) lost to Gold Coast Rollers (110)

The Gold Coast Rollers delivered their most impressive performance of the season to date led by 33 points and 16 rebounds from Jensen Bradtke in the 110-79 road win over the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.

The Phoenix were back home at Maroochydore Stadium trying to keep their strong start to the season going as they hosted a Gold Coast coming off losing their last couple on the road to Mackay and Rockhampton last weekend.

It was a hot start from Gold Coast in their third straight away clash as they put up 33 points to 22 in the first quarter thanks to shooting 6/11 from three-point territory.

It was another 24 points to 17 in the second frame from the Rollers as they went into half-time leading 57-40.

It was more of the same from Gold Coast throughout the second half with the lead growing to 24 points in the third quarter, and 31 in the fourth before they went on to score the 31-point victory.

The Rollers ended up shooting 45 per cent from the field and 17/28 at the foul line opposed to the 30 per cent from the Phoenix who went 14/19 from the charity stripe.

Gold Coast also pulled down 65 rebounds to 49 including 19 to 15 at the offensive end as they scored the win to improve to a 3-3 record on the season.

Son-of-a-legend Jensen Bradtke produced a dominant showing in the win for the Rollers with 33 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots on 13/24 shooting from the field and 5/10 from downtown.

Preston Le Gassick also delivered 25 points and nine assists, Reuben Te Rangi 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Jalen Patton-Croker 11 points and two boards, and Boston Mazlin 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Sunshine Coast are now 3-2 on the season following the defeat on their home floor with Earnest Ross delivering another 30 points and nine rebounds despite the loss.

Darnell Robateau also had 19 points, six assists and five rebounds, DeShawn Ross-Paiwan 13 points, six boards and two assists, and Erik Kafritsas 11 points, 11 rebound and four assists.

SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 79 (Ross 30, D Robateau 19, Ross-Paiwan 13)

GOLD COAST ROLLERS 110 (Bradtke 33, Le Gassick 25, Te Rangi 15)

Mackay Meteors (108) defeated Cairns Marlins (103)

It was a spectacular overtime contest with huge performances along the way but it was the defending champion Mackay Meteors who ended up prevailing 108-103 over the Cairns Marlins.

While Mackay are the defending NBL1 North champions, this is a completely new-look team in 2025 without coach Joel Khalu along with Todd Blanchfield, Emmett Naar, Luca Yates and Isaac White who all combined to deliver that title.

The Meteors had still won three of the first five games to 2025 under the coaching of Matthew Paps ahead of hosting a Marlins team fresh off a loss on Friday night to open their road double to the Rockhampton Rockets.

Mackay were playing catch up most of the evening with Cairns opening up their first double-figure lead in the first quarter before still being on top 26-18 by quarter-time.

An 8-0 run saw the Meteors work back into the contest in the second term but still by half-time Cairns were leading 51-45 with the Marlins then back out to a 13-point lead once again early in the fourth term when Kody Stattmann knocked down a three ball.

It was now or never for Mackay to make a run and that's exactly what they did and eventually a three-point play from Jaxon Brenchley brought them back within a point with just over a minute to play.

Jerron Jamerson then put them in front but Alex Higgins-Titsha responded to put Cairns back up by a point before Kody Stattmann stretched their lead to three.

Mackay had one last possession to try and send the game to overtime and that's exactly what they did thanks to a three ball from Jamerson.

That sent the game to overtime and in the extra period, Cairns again started on fire with the first six points courtesy of Higgins-Titsha and Kody Stattmann.

Mackay had responded all night and did so again with the next five points thanks to Akol Mawein and Cameron Goldfinch but a Curt Ah Wang three ball had the Marlins back in front by two with 1:15 to go.

Goldfinch answered with an and-one play before Jamerson scored again and then the Meteors completed the five-point win which was a memorable one with the number of times they came back from the dead.

The win improves Mackay to a 4-2 record with Akol Mawein delivering 23 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, four blocks and three assists with 12/16 from the foul line.

Makuach Maluach also had 22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, Jaxon Brenchley 18 points, 11 boards, four assists and two steals, Jerron Jamerson 18 points and four rebounds, and Cameron Goldfinch 13 points, two boards and two blocked shots.

Cairns go home without a win from the road double despite the encouraging performance to sit at a 2-4 record with Alex Higgins-Titsha gearing up for a first season as a fully rostered NBL player with 30 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks.

Kody Stattmann added 29 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks, and Damon Heuir 25 points on 7/10 three-point shooting.

MACKAY METEORS 108 (Mawein 23, Maluach 22, Jamerson 18, Brenchley 18)

CAIRNS MARLINS 103 (Higgins-Titsha 30, Kody Stattmann 29, Heuir 25)