North Recap | Round 6 Friday

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The Rockhampton Cyclones won their NBL1 North grand final rematch before the Northside Wizards men prevailed while it was the Bond sisters starring for the Cairns Dolphins, and the Robateau brothers for the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.

NORTH RECAP | ROUND 5 SATURDAY

WOMEN

Northside Wizards (69) lost to Rockhampton Cyclones (81)

The defending champion Rockhampton Cyclones have won three straight matches to be building into their title defence nicely with the 81-69 road win over the Northside Wizards in a grand final rematch.

It was the first time the two teams have faced off since last year's grand final series where Rockhampton won Games 2 and 3 to secure the championship and help to ease the pain of losing to Northside the prior year.

So the teams who have contested the past two deciders in the NBL1 North locked horns at Northside Indoor Sports Centre with the Wizards at home and looking for back-to-back wins while the Cyclones were hunting a third successive victory.

It was a strong start from Rockhampton with 28 points to 21 in the first quarter on the back of shooting 11/17 from the field before the scoring did try up from both teams in the second frame.

They only combined for 26 points on 10/34 shooting but by half-time it was still the Cyclones in control with the 42-33 advantage.

Even though Northside did fire back into the contest with an 8-0 run after being down 11, Rockhampton would have all the answers on the way to the 12-point victory.

The win improves the defending champions to a 3-2 record on the season with three straight wins in the perfect start to their daunting triple-header weekend where they also face the Southern Districts Spartans on Saturday, and the Brisbane Capitals on Sunday.

Chelsey Perry delivered 26 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals in the win for Rockhampton with Mary Goulding providing 17 points and six boards, and Moira Joiner 15 points, 13 rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Alana Paewai also had 10 points, three assists and three steals, and Akaysha Muggeridge nine points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

The Wizards are now 3-4 on the season after losing their lone game of the weekend with Erin Harvey finishing with 18 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Cierra Walker also had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, Alice O'Driscoll 12 points, five boards and three assists, Saskia Gunness 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists, and Courtney Virgo 10 points, three boards, two assists and two steals.

NORTHSIDE WIZARDS 69 (Harvey 18, Walker 15, O'Driscoll 12)

ROCKHAMPTON CYCLONES 81 (Perry 26, Goulding 17, Joiner 15)

Cairns Dolphins (93) defeated Sunshine Coast Phoenix (69)

The Cairns Dolphins produced a strong all-round showing with Teyahna and Taryn Bond combining for 41 points in the eventual 93-69 home win against the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.

The Dolphins were back home at Trinity Ford Stadium looking to back up their win on the road last Saturday night over the Mackay Meteorettes as they hosted a Phoenix team having won their last two games.

It was a fast start at home for Cairns with a 29-18 first quarter before the Dolphins completed a run of scoring 11 straight points on the way to building a 16-point lead in the second term.

Cairns were still on top 48-34 by the half-time break with that lead then getting out to as much as 29 in the second half for the Dolphins before they ended up scoring the 24-point triumph.

While the Dolphins did end up shooting 40 per cent to 37, the big differences came with Cairns going 8/35 from downtown opposed to 0/14 from Sunshine Coast, and then also taking nine extra field goals and four more free throws.

The victory improves Cairns to a 4-3 record on the season with consecutive wins with Teyahna Bond finishing with 22 points, four assists and three rebounds on 8/11 shooting from the field, 2/2 from downtown and 4/4 at the foul line.

Taryn Bond also had 19 points and two rebounds with Leichan Williams contributing 17 points and four boards, Mia Loyd 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals, Summah Evans eight points and four rebounds, and Cayla George seven points, 12 boards, six assists and four blocks.

Sunshine Coast are now 3-3 ahead of taking on the Townsville Flames on Saturday night with Erin Bollmann putting up 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks.

Shannon Ryan also had 23 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots, and Amy Browne eight points and six boards.

CAIRNS DOLPHINS 93 (Teyahna Bond 22, Taryn Bond 19, Williams 17)

SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 69 (Bollmann 23, Ryan 23, Browne 8)

MEN

Northside Wizards (90) defeated Rockhampton Rockets (81)

The Northside Wizards maintained their place in the playoffs and kept the Rockhampton Rockets on the outside with the 90-81 home victory on Friday night.

Coming into the Friday night match up at Northside Indoor Sports Centre and the Wizards were clinging to sixth spot at 3-3 and the Rockets were only just behind in seventh at 2-2 so there was plenty on the line he match up.

Northside would knockdown 5/8 from downtown in the first quarter to be leading 26-20 by the end of one before that lead for the home team blew out to 19 points in the second term.

The Wizards held the Rockets to just 10 points in the second quarter on just 4/14 shooting with their lead at half-time being a commanding 49-30.

The Wizards would maintain that double-figure lead throughout most of the second half too despite Rockhampton producing 29 points in the last term with Northside still securing the nine-point win.

The Wizards improve to a 4-3 record with the victory with Nikau McCullough producing 24 points, four rebounds and four steals on 4/8 three-point shooting.

Tyler Williams added 21 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and six steals, Jed Richardson 20 points and eight boards, Durrell McDonald eight points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Josh Kunen seven points, nine boards and two assists.

Rockhampton are now 2-3 with the losing start to their tough triple-header on the road this weekend with games to come with the Southern Districts Spartans and Brisbane Capitals.

Jalen Graham top-scored once more for Rockhampton with 18 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks on 8/13 shooting with Isaac Ayoubi adding 16 points, three assists and three steals, Harrison Hornery 16 points and eight rebounds, and Malcolm Bernard 12 points, eight assists, three boards and three steals.

NORTHSIDE WIZARDS 90 (McCullough 24, Williams 21, Richardson 20)

ROCKHAMPTON ROCKETS 81 (Graham 18, Ayoubi 16, Hornery 16)

Cairns Marlins (63) lost to Sunshine Coast Phoenix (79)

It was the battle of the Robateau and Stattmann brothers with the Sunshine Coast Phoenix ending up prevailing 79-63 on the road to the Cairns Marlins.

With Darnell and Jamaal Robateau, and Ky and Kody Stattmann the leading scorers for their respective teams, it proved an intriguing match between the two teams at Trinity Ford Stadium.

Sunshine Coast were already leading 22-10 by the end of the first quarter largely because of their three-point shooting of 4/8 while Cairns went 0/11 on their home floor.

The Phoenix were then able to complete a 17-0 scoring run in the second quarter to end up leading by 21 points and still being in control of the contest with a 42-26 lead by the half-time break.

That lead kept growing until it got out to as much as 25 points in the fourth quarter before Cairns did at least finish strongly even though that just cut the final winning margin for Sunshine Coast to 16.

The victory improves the Phoenix to a 4-2 record on the season ahead of taking on the Townsville Heat on Saturday night to wrap up their road double in the Tropical Far North.

Jamaal Robateau ended up with 17 points, five rebounds, five steals and two assists for Sunshine Coast with Darnell Robateau contributing 17 points, eight boards and four assists.

Earnest Ross also had 13 points, six rebounds and three steals, Deng Riak 10 points and five boards, and Erik Kafritsas nine points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Cairns are now 2-5 on the season after their only game of the weekend after Ky Stattmann ended up top-scoring with 16 points to go with six rebounds and two assists.

Kody Stattmann added 12 points and six rebounds with Damon Heuir contributing 12 points and three boards, Travis Drinnan seven points and six rebounds, and Curt Ah Wang six points and three boards.

CAIRNS MARLINS 63 (Ky Stattmann 16, Kody Stattmann 12, Heuir 12)

SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 79 (D Robateau 17, J Robateau 17, Ross 13)