South Recap | Round 14 Saturday

Image credit: @MitchBarlow7

Lauren Scherf and Lou Brown combined for 59/34 in NBL1 South for Frankston Blues with Akech Aliir putting up 31 for Mount Gambier Pioneers, Vincent DeAngelo hit game winner for Hobart Chargers, and Knox Raiders and Sandringham Sabres won thrillers.

SOUTH RECAP | ROUND 14 FRIDAY

SOUTH RECAP | ROUND 14 TUESDAY

WOMEN

Mount Gambier Pioneers (53) lost to Nunawading Spectres (65)

The Nunawading Spectres handed the Mount Gambier Pioneers a seventh straight defeat and returned to the winner's list themselves for the 65-53 road victory.

The Pioneers had also played on Friday night at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre losing a thriller to the Bendigo Braves with the Spectres arriving having lost their past two and playoffs just about slipping out of reach.

Nunawading managed to open up a narrow 19-15 lead by the end of the first quarter but Mount Gambier outscored the Spectres 18 to 17 in the second term to cut the lead of the visitors to 36-33.

It was in the third period where the Spectres took control with 17 points themselves but holding Mount Gambier to just the seven points on 2/14 shooting.

From there Nunawading secured the 12-point victory as they improve to a 9-11 record on the season with two games to go next week against the Diamond Valley Eagles and Keilor Thunder.

Laida Snyder finished with 13 points, 16 rebounds and two assists in the win for the Spectres with Rachel Antoniadou also having 13 points and five assists.

Faith Dut added 11 points, six rebounds and two steals, Rachel Brewster nine points, seven boards and four assists, and Shaneice Swain seven points, four rebounds and three assists.

The Pioneers have now lost seven in-a-row to slip to a 6-15 record with just the one game remaining on Friday night still at home to the Frankston Blues.

Isa Brancatisano once again topped the scoring for Mount Gambier with 16 points to go with 18 rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Maddy Timms also had 10 points, four rebounds and three steals, and Cat MacGregor eight points, seven boards and three assists.

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 53 (Brancatisano 16, Timms 10, MacGregor 8)

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 65 (Snyder 13, Antoniadou 13, Dut 11)

Knox Raiders (81) defeated Ringwood Hawks (49)

The Knox Raiders made it nine straight wins to consolidate second spot after Keilor Thunder's Friday night loss with their own 81-49 victory against the Ringwood Hawks.

Without even playing on Friday night, the Raiders moved up into second position with Keilor's loss to the Ballarat Miners so Knox just needed to keep winning to secure they stay in that position.

They were back home at the State Basketball Centre to take on a Ringwood team having won their past three matches as well to be knocking on the door of the top eight so there was plenty for the Hawks to play for as well.

It didn’t take Knox long to take control of the contest with 29 points to 13 in the first quarter with 11/15 shooting from the floor opposed to just 5/18 from the Hawks.

It was then another 20 points to eight in the second term for the Raiders as they went into the half-time break in a dominant position leading 49-21 thanks to shooting 17/30 from the field to the 8/34 from Ringwood.

That lead for Knox continued to grow throughout the second half getting out to 30 points in the third quarter, and 33 in the fourth before they settled on that eventual 32-point victory.

The Raiders finished up shooting 46 per cent from the field to 29 from Ringwood along with going 13/19 at the foul line to 6/7 while Knox collected 52 rebounds to 35 for the game.

Knox improves to a 17-3 record to remain solid in second place with nine straight wins with two games to finish next weekend against Keilor Thunder and the Ballarat Miners.

Alicia Froling delivered 21 points, eight rebounds and two assists in the win with 7/12 shooting from the field and 7/11 at the foul line.

Rachel Bell added 13 points, six rebounds and two steals, Kristy Wallace nine points, four boards and four assists, and Katelyn Young eight points and three rebounds.

Ringwood are now going to find it tough to reach the playoffs at 11-10 with one game to come on Tuesday night at home to the Kilsyth Cobras.

Camille Hobby top-scored for the Hawks with 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists with Annabel Deerbon adding 13 points and seven boards, and Nyaduoth Lok seven points and four rebounds.

KNOX RAIDERS 81 (Froling 21, Bell 13, Wallace 9)

RINGWOOD HAWKS 49 (Hobby 14, Deerbon 13, Lok 7)

Frankston Blues (108) defeated Hobart Chargers (64)

The Frankston Blues took full advantage of the severely shorthanded Hobart Chargers with Lou Brown and Lauren Scherf contributing 59 points and 34 rebounds in their team's 108-64 victory.

The Blues were fresh off a 34-point win the previous night against the Eltham Wildcats and they continued to be nomads with their home games this time playing host to the Chargers at Dandenong Basketball Stadium.

Hobart came into this weekend's road double significantly shorthanded with Claire Murray, Sharna Thompson and Emerson Wells unavailable because of 3x3 commitments while Chloe Broomhall and Tayla Roberts were also unable to make the trip.

Despite that, the Chargers made a tremendous start with 28 points to 18 in the first quarter on the back of a hot shooting display going 11/17 from the field.

That threw the gauntlet down to Frankston to respond and that's exactly what they did knowing they needed to keep winning to stay in eighth spot.

The Blues put up 34 points in the second term including going 5/10 from three-point range while limiting Hobart to 11 points on 4/16 shooting.

That saw Frankston leading 52-39 by the half-time break and the Blues were able to go on with the job from there with 29 points to 15 in the third term, and 27 to 10 in fourth.

That saw Frankston scoring the 44-point victory to improve to a 12-8 record and stay inside the top eight with two games remaining next weekend away to the Mount Gambier Pioneers and Diamond Valley Eagles.

Lou Brown delivered another 33 points, 21 rebounds and three assists on 14/25 shooting for the Blues with Lauren Scherf providing 26 points, 13 boards and six assists with 5/8 three-point shooting.

Emily Monaghan added 16 points and three rebounds with 4/8 three-point shooting with Tori Jackson contributing 10 points and five assists, and Marta Hermida eight points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and three steals.

Hobart fought valiantly considering how shorthanded they are and they have to back up on Sunday against the Eagles as well who also are without Steph Reid and Abbey Ellis.

Chelsea D'Angelo finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists with Ellie Collins contributing 20 points, seven boards, four steals and three assists, Kayla Steindl 13 points and five rebounds, and Portia Chopping nine points and seven boards.

FRANKSTON BLUES 108 (Brown 33, Scherf 26, Monaghan 16)

HOBART CHARGERS 64 (D'Angelo 22, Collins 20, Steindl 13)

Ballarat Miners (66) lost to Dandenong Rangers (108)

The Dandenong Rangers put in a dominant performance to return to the winner's list and remain in touch of the top four with the 108-66 road victory against the Ballarat Miners.

The Miners were back home at The Minerdome Stadium where they also beat Keilor Thunder the previous night as they hosted a Rangers team still knocking on the door of the top four despite losing their past two matches.

It was a hot start on the road for the Rangers knocking down 7/10 from three-point range to already be leading 28-19 by quarter-time.

It was then another 30 points to 12 in the second term from Dandenong and they went into half-time with the dominant 58-31 lead on the back of shooting 21/32 from the field and 11/17 from downtown up against the Miners who were going at 13/35 overall and 5/20 from deep.

It was then another commanding third quarter from Dandenong with 31 points to 13 and the lead grew to as much as 46 points, and they would go on from there to end up winning by 42.

The victory improves Dandenong to a 14-6 record to stay in touch of the top four with two games remaining against the Hobart Chargers and Launceston Tornadoes next week.

Dallas Loughridge finished with 24 points and seven assists for the Rangers with 4/5 three-point shooting.

Nyadiew Puoch added 20 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals with Georgia Booth contributing 14 points, five boards and three assists with 4/6 shooting from behind the three-point line.

Imogen Rock also provided 11 points, four rebounds and two assists, and Georgia Taylor 10 points, three boards and three assists on 3/6 three-point shooting.

Ballarat slip to a 7-13 record with the loss ahead of finishing up on the road next weekend against the Knox Raiders and Casey Cavaliers.

Laura Taylor top-scored for the Miners with 14 points, three rebounds and three assists on 4/11 three-point shooting with Kaleena Lewis contributing 13 points, three boards and two assists, and Olivia Ogston 10 points with 2/3 shooting from deep.

BALLARAT MINERS 66 (Taylor 14, Lewis 13, Ogston 10)

DANDENONG RANGERS 108 (Loughridge 24, Puoch 20, Booth 14)

Geelong United (90) defeated Casey Cavaliers (53)

Geelong United made it a double win weekend and remained perfect this NBL1 South season with the 20th straight win beating the Casey Cavaliers at home 90-53.

Geelong were pushed the previous night on the road to the Dandenong Rangers in what was only one of two single figure wins they have recorded all season long as part of their 19-game undefeated streak.

They were back home at The Geelong Arena on Saturday night looking to maintain that perfect record against a Casey team who arrived on a four-game winning run including the previous night against the Kilsyth Cobras.

It didn’t take Geelong long to take over the contest with 24 points to 11 in the first quarter and then another 21 to 15 in the second to see them head into half-time leading 45-26.

United then kept on building that lead throughout the second half with it growing to as much as 28 points in the third quarter and 42 in the fourth on the back of a 20-0 scoring run before securing the eventual 37-point victory.

The win improves Geelong to the perfect 20-0 record with two more games to go for the perfect regular season next weekend away to Keilor Thunder and at home to the Eltham Wildcats.

Taylor Mole produced 20 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks for Geelong with 4/10 three-point shooting while Jaz Shelley put up 17 points, seven boards, seven assists and four steals.

Lilly Rotunno also had 15 points, five rebounds and three assists, Gemma Potter 11 points, 12 boards, three assists and two steals, and Hannah Hank 13 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Casey's finals hopes took a big hit with the loss with their four-game winning streak ended to now remain outside the top eight with a 9-11 record with their last two games against the Melbourne Tigers and Ballarat Miners.

Sabrina Haines finished with 14 points and five rebounds for the Cavs with Ahlise Hurst contributing 14 points and five boards, Jaden Owens nine points, two rebounds and two assists, and Hailey Wynd four points and 10 boards.

GEELONG UNITED 90 (Mole 20, Shelley 17, Rotunno 15)

CASEY CAVALIERS 53 (Hurst 14, Haines 14, Owens 9)

Sandringham Sabres (105) defeated Launceston Tornadoes (86)

The Sandringham Sabres welcomed back Funda Nakkasoglu and she played a key role in their 105-86 win over the Launceston Tornadoes that keeps them alive in the hope of breaking back into the top eight.

The Sabres were without Nakkasoglu on Friday night suffered a loss on the road to the Waverley Falcons to remain outside of the top eight while the Tornadoes started their road double fresh off a win last Saturday at home to the Mount Gambier Pioneers.

There were 50 points split between the two teams in the first quarter with the score tied at 25-25 by quarter-time with the Sabres shooting 9/17 from the field opposed to the 9/18 from the Tornadoes.

That continued on a similar path in the second quarter as well with Launceston scoring another 25 points with Sandringham adding 24, and as a result it was the Torns leading narrowly 50-49 by half-time.

That all changed in the third quarter when Sandringham took control with 32 points to 12 thanks to 11/20 from the field opposed to the 5/18 from Launceston.

That saw the Sabres lead get out to 19 points and then 23 in the fourth term before they secured the important 19-point win to keep their season alive.

Sandringham improves to a 10-10 record with the win with games to finish next weekend against the Eltham Wildcats and Bendigo Braves.

The Sabres ended up having six players scoring in double-figures led by Funda Nakkasoglu with 22 points, four rebounds and two assists on 7/13 field goal shooting and 3/7 from downtown.

Isis Lopes added 21 points, four steals, three assists and three rebounds, Lucy Cochrane 17 points, six boards and three assists, and Keeley Frawley 14 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Hayley Andrews narrowly missed a triple-double with 12 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and three steals with Klara Wischer adding 10 points, six boards, four assists and two steals.

Launceston are now 4-16 on the season ahead of playing the Eltham Wildcats on Sunday and then finishing the season at home to the Dandenong Rangers next Saturday.

Shelby Rayner top-scored for the Tornadoes with 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals with 4/8 three-point shooting while Keely Froling added 18 points, nine boards and three assists.

Megan Mullings also had 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Taya Webb 10 points, four rebounds and two assists.

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 105 (Nakkasoglu 22, Lopes 21, Cochrane 17)

LAUNCESTON TORNADOES 86 (Rayner 20, Froling 18, Mullings 12)

MEN

Mount Gambier Pioneers (92) defeated Nunawading Spectres (86)

Akech Aliir put up another 31 points and the Mount Gambier Pioneers marked their last home game of the regular season with a fifth straight win beating the Nunawading Spectres 92-86.

The Pioneers were fresh off beating the Bendigo Braves also at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre to maintain second position in the NBL1 South as they took on a Nunawading team needing to win all three matches left to be any hope of reaching the playoffs themselves.

Nunawading started well in hostile territory leading 27-24 by quarter-time and then the Spectres were still holding on to the 47-44 lead by half-time.

Eventually late in the third quarter Mount Gambier managed to work their way into the lead before scores were all level by three quarter-time.

The Pioneers kept that momentum going to end up leading by nine points in the final minute and then holding on for the six-point win with the result keeping them clear in second place with a 15-6 record.

Akech Aliir is gearing up for joining the South East Melbourne Phoenix in NBL26 and produced another 31 points, 11 rebounds and two assists on 13/25 shooting from the floor.

Alex Mudronja added 18 points, six assists and four rebounds, Titus Robinson 17 points, seven boards and two assists, and Joe Palmer 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Nunawading's job of reaching the finals now looks a forlorn one with the 9-11 record with games to finish next week against the Diamond Valley Eagles and Keilor Thunder.

Brick Mack II finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Spectres with Tristan Devers providing 20 points and four boards, Christian D'Angelo 17 points on 3/5 three-point shooting, and Jack Gandolfo 10 points, four rebounds and four assists.

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 92 (Aliir 31, Mudronja 18, Robinson 17)

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 86 (Mack II 22, Devers 20, D'Angelo 17)

Knox Raiders (107) defeated Ringwood Hawks (104)

The league-leading Knox Raiders held out the fast finishing Ringwood Hawks in a high-quality and high-scoring affair before it was the home team prevailing 107-104 with the result crucial in different ways for both teams.

In a game featuring the likes of Tad Dufelmeier, Brody Nunn, Keli Leaulepe, Sunday Dech, Jonathan Lawton, Angus Glover and Tanner Krebs, just through experience and star power alone it was always going to be a high quality affair.

It certainly didn’t disappoint at the State Basketball Centre with the Raiders needing to keep winning to stay in top spot and Ringwood still trying to break into the top eight.

The first quarter set the tone for the rest of the evening with the teams combining for 62 points on a combined 11/27 three-point shooting with Knox narrowly leading 32-30 by quarter-time.

It was another 25 points to 19 in the second term for Knox and by half-time that saw the home team leading 57-49.

After the lead for the Raiders got out to 16 points in the third quarter, Ringwood dug deep to work back into the contest and then in the last term, they scored the first 10 points including triples to Matthew Fennell and Tanner Krebs to grab the lead.

Once Knox regained the lead thanks to Brody Nunn with five minutes to play they wouldn’t surrender it again and did open up a 10-point advantage when Keli Leaulepe threw down a dunk with 1:45 on the clock.

Ringwood still weren’t done and responded with three balls to Krebs and Jonathan Lawton but Knox held on for the three-point victory in one of the highest quality games of the NBL1 South season.

The Raiders ended up shooting 55 per cent from the field and went 15/32 from three while the Hawks finished up with 51 per cent field goal shooting and knocking down 13/43 from downtown.

Knox maintain their hold on top spot with a 16-4 with games to finish against Keilor Thunder and the Ballarat Miners.

Sydney Kings NBL powerhouse Keli Leaulepe finished with 32 points, nine rebounds and four assists for the Raiders on shooting 13/19 from the field, 2/3 from downtown and 4/4 from the free-throw line.

Tad Dufelmeier also had 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists with 5/8 shooting from deep with Brody Nunn contributing 19 points, four boards and three assists, Brayon Blake 13 points, five assists and three rebounds, and Sunday Dech 13 points, five boards, five assists and two steals.

Ringwood remain outside the top eight with the defeat to now sit on an 11-10 record with just one game to play on Tuesday against the Kilsyth Cobras.

Tanner Krebs delivered 36 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals with 6/15 three-point shooting while Jonathan Lawton added 28 points, seven steals and four assists.

Matthew Fennell also had 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Harry Sealey 10 points and four boards, and Angus Glover eight points, five assists and three rebounds despite shooting 4/13 and missing all six three-point attempts.

KNOX RAIDERS 107 (Leaulepe 32, Dufelmeier 22, Nunn 19)

RINGWOOD HAWKS 104 (Krebs 36, Lawton 28, Sealey 10, Fennell 10)

Frankston Blues (118) lost to Hobart Chargers (119)

Taane Samuel hit a huge three to get the Frankston Blues to overtime with the Hobart Chargers but it was the visitors who ended up prevailing 119-118 with the game winner coming from Vincent DeAngelo.

The teams came together on neutral surface at Dandenong Basketball Stadium with the Blues needing a win to stay any chance at all of playing finals while the Chargers also had to win to avoid slip out of the top eight.

That meant there was plenty at stake for both teams and they sure played like it with Hobart clinging to a 24-22 lead by quarter-time.

The Chargers were then still clinging to the 46-44 advantage by half-time and then the two teams combined for 63 points in the third term with Hobart scoring 33 of those to be leading by five at three quarter-time having been up 10 during the quarter.

Hobart were back out to a seven-point lead with 1:45 to play thanks to a triple from Will Cranston-Lown but Taane Samuel proved the saviour for Frankston firstly with a three-point play.

He then ended up hitting the game tying three-pointer and the scores stayed at 105-105 by the end of regulation with the game going to overtime.

Ultimately by the end of the extra period, it was a strong finish going to the basket from Vincent DeAngelo that put the Chargers on top by one and that's where they stayed when Igor Hadziomerovic's shot at the buzzer wouldn’t quite fall.

The overtime win improves Hobart to an 11-8 record on the season ahead of another away clash with the Diamond Valley Eagles on Sunday.

He's a two-time NBL1 East MVP and Will Cranston-Lown is settling in nicely at the Chargers with another 26 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals with 4/9 three-point shooting.

Jacob Richards also had 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, Vincent DeAngelo 20 points, five boards and two assists along with hitting the game winner, Ole Angerstein 16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks, and Jordan Straatsma 15 points and five boards.

Frankston remain out of a playoff spot with a 9-11 record with two games remaining next week against the Mount Gambier Pioneers and Diamond Valley.

Michael Harris finished with 29 points, five assists and five rebounds for Frankston with Taane Samuel continuing his career-best form this season with another 28 points, five boards and three assists on 12/21 shooting from the floor.

Corey Hastings added 14 points and four assists, Igor Hadziomerovic 12 points, four rebounds and four assists, Henry Peirce 11 points, five boards and two steals, Lucas Barker nine points, five rebounds and three assists, and Tom Garrett eight points, eight boards, five assists and two blocks.

FRANKSTON BLUES 118 (Harris 29, Samuel 28, Hastings 14)

HOBART CHARGERS 119 (Cranston-Lown 26, Richards 22, DeAngelo 20)

Ballarat Miners (93) defeated Dandenong Rangers (73)

The Ballarat Miners consolidated their hold on a playoff position with the 93-73 win over a Dandenong Rangers team who had arrived on a three-game winning streak.

Ballarat were fresh off a win on Friday night also at home over Keilor Thunder to maintain their hold on a spot in the top eight as they prepared to host a Rangers team who might be out of the finals hunt, but were also on a three-match winning run.

It was a flying start at The Minerdome Stadium on Saturday night for the home team with Ballarat putting up 33 points to 17 in the first quarter on the back of shooting 13/23 from the field opposed to the 6/15 from the Rangers.

That lead for Ballarat grew to 22 points in the second quarter and they went into the half-time break in control at 56-37.

That lead kept on growing too getting out to 25 points in the third frame and 26 in the fourth before the Miners secured the 20-point win to improve to a 12-8 record and remain solid in the top eight.

Tasmania JackJumpers NBL guard Nick Stoddart produced 21 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals in the win for Ballarat with Luke Rosendale adding 20 points, four assists and three boards while knocking down 5/6 from three-point territory.

Dayne Prim also had 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals, Majok Majok 14 points and seven boards, and Mackuei Puondak 11 points and six rebounds on 5/6 field goal shooting.

Dandenong slips to a 6-14 record with the loss after winning their past three matches with Sam Davidson putting up 18 points on 5/12 shooting from beyond the three-point line.

Ruot Monyyong also had 13 points, four rebounds and two steals, Mason Peatling 10 points, 11 boards and three assists, and Justin Bieker 10 points, four assists and two steals.

BALLARAT MINERS 93 (Stoddart 21, Rosendale 20, Prim 16)

DANDENONG RANGERS 73 (Davidson 18, Monyyong 13, Peatling 10, Bieker 10)

Geelong United (71) lost to Casey Cavaliers (77)

The Casey Cavaliers got the win they needed beating Geelong United on the road 77-71 to keep themselves a chance to take part in the playoffs still.

The Cavs slipped to a third straight loss on Friday night to the Kilsyth Cobras to remain outside of the top eight but they are still within striking distance ahead of the trip to The Geelong Arena on Saturday.

Geelong were also looking to avoid a third consecutive defeat but it was Casey with the better of the start to be on top 26-15 by quarter-time.

Casey then turned that into a 13-point lead in the second term and that saw them still leading 43-35 by the half-time break.

Geelong weren’t going away, though, and had closed to just two points by three quarter-time, but they couldn’t quite make up the rest of the gap with Casey doing enough to score the six-point win in what was a must-win affair to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Cavaliers improve to an 11-9 record with the win stay in touch of a spot in the top eight with two games to go next weekend against Melbourne United and the Ballarat Miners.

Trendon Hankerson delivered 22 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists in the win for the Cavs on the back of knocking down 4/6 from behind the arc.

Hunter Marks added 17 points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks, Preston Bungei 15 points, six boards and three assists, and Nate Roberts 13 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

Geelong are now 7-13 on the season having lost their past three matches despite Tristan Forsyth continuing his standout form this season with another 24 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

George Blagojevic added 13 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, Kaelen Malone 10 points despite 4/16 shooting, and Liam Herbert seven points, six boards and three assists.

GEELONG UNITED 71 (Forsyth 24, Blagojevic 13, Malone 10)

CASEY CAVALIERS 77 (Hankerson 22, Marks 17, Bungei 15)

Sandringham Sabres (100) defeated North West Tasmania Thunder (98)

Ben Ayre continues to lead the hot form of the Sandringham Sabres and he hit the game winner on Saturday night to make 11 straight wins in the thrilling 100-98 victory at home to the North West Tasmania Thunder.

The Sabres were back home at Southern Basketball Stadium as the hottest team in the competition having won their past 10 matches to have shot up into third position including beating the Waverley Falcons on Friday night.

North West might have been out of the finals race and having lost their past three matches, but they arrived a dangerous team and one much better than their record considering they have suffered six single figure defeats along the way.

The Sabres continued their scintillating form by going on a 17-0 run in the first quarter on the way to opening up a 12-point lead, and still being on top 32-25 by the end of the opening 10 minutes.

It was another 28 points to 22 in the second term from Sandringham and that saw the home team leading 60-47 by the half-time interval.

That lead got out to 15 points in the third quarter and even during the fourth the Sabres were up by 11, but the Thunder wouldn’t go away and even found a way to level the scores in the dying stages.

When Tre Armstrong knocked down a three-pointer with the shot clock turned off, North West had eaten completely into that double-figure deficit and drew level with all the momentum on their side.

Sandringham took the ball directly up the other end and it was Ben Ayre scoring the go ahead bucket and it proved to be the winning shot when Armstrong's attempt in response to send the game to overtime wouldn’t quite go down.

With the thrilling win, the Sabres have now won 11 straight matches to improve to a 13-7 record and a chance to still break into the top two with two matches to go next week against the Eltham Wildcats and Bendigo Braves.

Ben Ayre is gearing up for a first NBL season with the Tasmania JackJumpers and he's going to do so in hot form after another 31 points, three rebounds and here assists with 10/17 field goal shooting and going 9/11 at the free-throw line.

Malith Machar added 18 points and three rebounds, CJ Asuncion-Byrd 14 points and five boards, Fabijan Krslovic 13 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, and Tom Koppens seven points, nine boards and four assists.

North West Tasmania are now 5-14 on the season with four straight losses, but it was yet another performance where there was plenty to like about the way they performed.

Kye Savage put up 25 points, four rebounds and two steals for the Thunder with Lachlan Barker adding 22 points, seven assists and five boards, Archie Woodhill 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Bang Majok 10 points and three boards.

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 100 (Ayre 31, Machar 18, Asuncion-Byrd 14)

NORTH WEST TASMANIA THUNDER 98 (Savage 25, Barker 22, Woodhill 16)