Feature image via: Scott Gick
We had four great games to lead us into the final games of Round 9 tonight, check out the recaps for the two double-headers below:
WOMEN
Sandringham Sabres (72) defeated Ringwood (71)
The Sandringham Sabres narrowly closed out the Ringwood Woods with a 72-71 victory on Thursday evening at the Southern Basketball Stadium.
Sandringham’s strategy was clear from the get-go, making significant plays from outside the arc, hitting an impressive 47.8 per cent from three-point range. Isis Lopes led the charge with 17 points, supported by Klara Wischer and Eilidh Simpson, both adding 15 points each. The team also excelled in creating opportunities from turnovers, snagging 10 steals and scoring 12 points from them.
On the other hand, Ringwood struggled to keep up despite an impressive effort inside the paint where they scored 40 points to the Sabres' 18. Jack Danielle Animam was a standout, dropping 18 points and grabbing six boards. However, the team's 16 turnovers caught up with them when deciding this one-point finish.
SANDRINGHAM 72 (Isis Lopes 17, Klara Wischer 15, Eilidh Simpson 15).
RINGWOOD 71 (Jack Danielle Animam 18, Lana Hollingsworth 17, Digna Strautmane 14).
Sandringham will next play tomorrow against the Waverley Falcons, from 6:00 pm local time live via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
Melbourne Tigers (90) defeated Casey Cavaliers (88)
The Melbourne Tigers clawed out a win against the Casey Cavaliers 90-88 in a heart-stopping finish on Thursday evening at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre.
The game came down to the final second, with Chantel Horvat catching and finishing the perfect play to give the Tigers their seventh win.
OH MY GOODNESS CHANTEL-ANAIS HORVAT ?
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The Tigers showcased their grit, led by Cierra Dillard's explosive 30-point performance. Despite shooting only 41.4 per cent from the field, their tenacity paid off -- especially from the charity stripe where they hit 81.8 per cent.
Casey, on the other hand, couldn't capitalize on their strong shooting night, hitting 47.9 per cent from the field and 38.1 per cent from outside. Taylah Simmons was a standout with 25 points, while Opal Alice Kunek had a near triple-double of 24 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. However, the team struggled to control the ball, turning it over 21 times. Their inability to maintain possession was a critical factor in their narrow loss.
MELBOURNE TIGERS 90 (Cierra Dillard 30, Chantel-Anais Horvat 17, Samantha Simons 15).
CASEY CAVALIERS 88 (Taylah Simmons 25, Alice Kunek 24, Lauren Van Kleunen 15).
The Melbourne Tigers will next play on Saturday June 15 against Geelong United at 5:00pm local time live via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
MEN
Melbourne Tigers (84) defeated Casey Cavaliers (79)
The Melbourne Tigers secured a win against the Casey Cavaliers 84-79 on Thursday evening at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre.
Melbourne's performance was robust, with Mason Gaze leading the scoring with 21 points, supported by Jack Whitbourn and Jakc Purchase, who added 16 and 15 points respectively. The Tigers excelled from beyond the arc, hitting 39.3 percent of their triples. Their bench depth was significant, with 17 points from Felix Von Hofe and a total of 39 points, showcasing a full team effort.
Casey struggled to maintain Melbourne's pace, despite a solid field goal percentage of 45.9 percent and pulling down 46 boards. Dillon Stith was a standout with 19 points, followed by Devin Watson's 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. However, their efforts from outside weren't as effective, with a three-point shooting percentage of just 29.2 percent -- which ultimately couldn't match Melbourne's output.
MELBOURNE TIGERS 84 (Mason Gaze 21, Felix von Hofe 17, Jack Whitbourn 16).
CASEY CAVALIERS 79 (Dillon Stith 19, Devin Watson 17, Preston Bungei 15).
The Melbourne Tigers will next play on Saturday June 15 against Geelong United at 7:00pm local time live via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
Sandringham Sabres (72) defeated Ringwood (71)
The Sandringham Sabres cruised to a win against Ringwood with a final score of 103-86 on Thursday night at the Southern Basketball Stadium.
Jo Lual Acuil made his NBL1 debut, with a strong 23-point performance, grabbing 11 boards along the way.
Jo Lual Acuil is getting busy in his first game! ?
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While 2022 NBL1 South MVP Shea Ili had a game-high 23 points and seven rebounds. The team's offensive prowess was on full display, hitting 42.9 percent from outside the arc and securing 52 rebounds, outmatching Ringwood in both categories. Defensively, they were just as impressive, blocking eight shots and maintaining a lead for nearly 25 minutes of the game.
Ringwood, despite the loss, had multiple strong performances. Notably from Jonathan Lawton who racked up 21 points with nine assists and six rebounds. While Braelen Bridges added 20 points and 13 boards. However, their shooting from the field lagged at 38 percent and they struggled from beyond the arc, making only 35.5 percent of their triples. Their defense also lagged, failing to contain Sandringham's sharpshooters.
SANDRINGHAM 103 (Shea Ili 27, Jo Lual Acuil 23, David Barlow 17).
RINGWOOD 86 (Jonathan Lawton 21, Braelen Bridges 20, Tom Carroll 11).
The Sabres will next play tomorrow against the Waverley Falcons at 8:00pm local time live via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
