South Recap | Round 2 Sunday

Image credit: @In2Action Photography-Jodie Rawiri

Cassidy McLean, Izzy Feller, Esra McGoldrick, Corey Jeffs, Tyler Harris and Ole Angerstein all lifted their NBL1 South teams to Sunday afternoon victories to close Round 2 of the 2025 season.

SOUTH RECAP | ROUND 2 SATURDAY

SOUTH RECAP | ROUND 2 FRIDAY

WOMEN

Kilsyth Cobras (68) lost to Nunawading Spectres (70)

The Nunawading Spectres fired back from a 13-point deficit to score their first win of the NBL1 South season and to keep the Kilsyth Cobras chasing a first win with the two-point victory.

Both teams did battle on Sunday afternoon at Kilsyth Sports Centre hunting that first win for 2025 with the Cobras having lost their opening two matches to the Knox Raiders and Melbourne Tigers while the Spectres lost first up to the defending champion Waverley Falcons.

The Cobras managed to open up a 23-20 lead by the end of the first quarter before then taking further control in the second frame with 16 points to seven to lead by as much as 13 points, and be on top 39-27 by the half-time interval.

Nunawading fired up in the third quarter, though, with 27 points to 15 to tie scores up by three quarter-time, but Kilsyth had worked back to a six-point lead with just over four minutes to go.

It was still a four-point lead for the home team when Abby O'Connor hit a three with just under three minutes to play, but that's when the Spectres took charge starting with two free throws from Laina Snyder.

Izzy Feller then scored at the basket, Rachel Brewster added another pair of foul shots, and added one more for the two-point lead which they held on to even with Nikita Young having a good look at a winning three for Kilsyth, and then Hannah Day unable to score on collecting the offensive board.

It's a first win of 2025 for Nunawading with Feller delivering 17 points, six rebounds and two assists with Rachel Brewster adding 15 points, two boards and two assists, Faith Dut 12 points and three rebounds, and Laina Snyder 11 points, 25 boards, three assists and three steals.

Nikita Young produced 23 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals for Kilsyth who are now 0-3 to start the season with Abby O'Connor contributing 15 points, three boards, two assists and two steals, and Shannon Dufficy nine points and six rebounds.

KILSYTH COBRAS 68 (Young 23, O'Connor 15, Dufficy 9)

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 70 (Feller 17, Brewster 15, Dut 12)

Bendigo Braves (83) defeated Launceston Tornadoes (79)

The Launceston Tornadoes threw everything into their first win of the season and had a nine-point fourth quarter lead, but couldn’t quite complete the deal with the Bendigo Braves escaping with the 83-79 win.

It was the back end of the first road double of the season for the Tornadoes with them attempting to hit back from losing to the Hobart Chargers last week, and then to the Waverley Falcons on Saturday.

Bendigo were back home at Red Energy Arena fresh off a loss as well the previous evening to Keilor Thunder setting up a fascinating Sunday afternoon match up.

Launceston started well to lead 23-17 by quarter-time but Bendigo responded with 23 points to 13 in the second period to go into half-time on top 40-36 having gone on a 13-0 scoring run.

It was the Tornadoes turn to grab the momentum again in the third frame with 24 points to six, and the visitors were leading by nine points with just five minutes to play after Megan Mullings knocked down back-to-back three balls, and Taya Webb hit another.

Bendigo had plenty of work to do in the final five minutes but they were up to the challenge outscoring the Torns 15 points to two the rest of the way with Cassidy McLean and Mikayla Pivec making sure of the win in the last minute at the foul line.

The Braves are now 2-1 to start the season under new coach Doccy Black with McLean leading the way with 21 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Mikayla Pivec produced 15 points, six boards, five assists and two steals, Taisheka Porchia 13 points and 11 rebounds, Lavinia Cox 13 points, three blocks, three assists and two boards, and Caitlin Richardson 12 points, four rebounds and three steals.

It was an encouraging performance from Launceston despite not quite completing the deal with Megan Mullings finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds, Ava McDonald 15 points and seven boards, Vitolia Tuilave 11 points and three blocks, and Taya Webb 11 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

BENDIGO BRAVES 83 (McLean 21, Pivec 15, Cox 13, Porchia 13)

LAUNCESTON TORNADOES 79 (Mullings 15, Flavell 15, McDonald 15)

Casey Cavaliers (80) defeated Hobart Chargers (73)

The Casey Cavaliers completed a perfect weekend double by returning home and beating the Hobart Chargers 80-73 on Sunday thanks to a dominant final quarter.

After a season-opening loss last weekend to the Dandenong Rangers, the Cavaliers hit back on Friday night to open Round 2 with the win against the Mount Gambier Pioneers.

They made the trip back to Casey Stadium on Sunday to host a Chargers team who beat the Launceston Tornadoes in Round 1, and started their road double this weekend with a tight loss to the Sandringham Sabres.

The Chargers were looking to head home splitting their double and started well with 22 points to 16 in the first quarter and they did lead by as much as eight points in the second term, but then the Cavs fired back.

Hobart was just clinging to a 41-39 half-time advantage before it was still a two-point lead for the Chargers at three quarter-time, but it was then all Casey with the game on the line.

The Cavs outscored the Chargers 21 points to 12 in the final quarter including going on a 9-0 scoring run to break things open and secure the seven-point victory on their home floor.

Esra McGoldrick delivered 21 points, 14 rebounds and six assists on 7/9 shooting from the field and 6/8 at the foul line for Casey with Sharne Robati contributing 20 points, six boards and two blocked shots.

Jaden Owens also had 15 points, three assists and two rebounds, Hailey Wynd 11 points, 11 boards, two assists and two steals, and Lauryn Hippolite seven points, nine rebounds and two assists.

The Chargers might go home without a win but put in two strong showings this weekend nonetheless with Sharna Thompson finishing with 21 points, three rebounds and three assists on 5/14 three-point shooting.

Tayla Roberts added 18 points and five rebounds, Chelsea D'Angelo 15 points, eight steals, six rebounds and five assists, and Ellie Collins 12 points, seven boards and three steals.

CASEY CAVALIERS 80 (McGoldrick 21, Robati 20, Owens 15)

HOBART CHARGERS 73 (Thompson 21, Roberts 18, D'Angelo 15)

MEN

Kilsyth Cobras (72) defeated Nunawading Spectres (67)

A dominant first quarter was enough for the Kilsyth Cobras to set up their eventual 72-67 Sunday home victory against the Nunawading Spectres.

The Cobras were back home at Kilsyth Sports Centre on the back of their first win of the season back on Friday night with Dillon Stith on board against the Melbourne Tigers.

Nunawading were making their lone appearance of the weekend on the back of losing first up to the Waverley Falcons in Round 1, and the Spectres only managed 10 points in the opening 10 minutes of the contest.

That saw the Cobras go into quarter-time already leading 19-10 with that advantage growing to as much as 12 points in the second period and the home team was still on top 37-29 by the main break.

That Kilsyth lead blew out to a game high 17 points in the third quarter as well but Nunawading did well to stay in touch and were only trailing by seven at three quarter-time.

The Spectres then scored the first five points of the last quarter to get back to within two, but they couldn’t quite get any closer with a late three-point bomb Corey Jeffs providing to be the biggest shot of the game in the five-point Kilsyth win.

On top of that big shot, Jeffs finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the game with Khadim Dy huge with 17 points, 18 boards and two blocked shots.

Dillon Stith added 17 points, seven rebounds and two steals, and Adrian Tomada 10 points, eight assists, three steals and two boards.

Fresh off his NBL season at the Brisbane Bullets, Tristan Devers did all he could to lift Nunawading with 25 points, seven rebounds and two assists with Christian D'Angelo adding 21 points and four boards, and Brian Mack II seven points and 12 rebounds.

KILSYTH COBRAS 72 Jeffs 20, Sy 17, Stith 17)

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 67 (Devers 25, D'Angelo 21, Mack II 7)

Bendigo Braves (81) lost to North West Tasmania Thunder (90)

Tyler Harris couldn’t miss from the three-point line and put up 25 points to lead the North West Tasmania Thunder to their first win of 2025 with the 90-81 victory against the Bendigo Braves.

After the game was declared a no contest last week with the Hobart Chargers, the Thunder completed their first game of the NBL1 South season on Saturday night going down to the Waverley Falcons to start their road double-header.

Bendigo also played on Saturday night and scored their first win of the season against the Keilor Thunder before staying at home at Red Energy Arena to play host to North West Tasmania on Sunday afternoon.

It was a tight contest throughout the first half with the Thunder managing to lead 26-23 by the end of the first quarter before the Braves had 21 points to 18 in the second frame and that saw scores all square at 44-44 by half-time.

It was in the third quarter when North West began to pull away with 22 points to 13 and the Thunder would end up leading by as much as 11 points on the way to the eventual nine-point win to open their account for 2025.

Tyler Harris played a starring role in the win for North West Tasmania making all four of his three-point attempts while shooting 9/11 overall on his way to 25 points and nine rebounds.

Lachlan Barker added 17 points, five assists and three rebounds, Kye Savage 17 points, seven boards and two assists, and Archie Woodhill 15 points, three rebounds and two steals.

Charles Matthews produced an impressive showing despite the loss for Bendigo ending up with 24 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.

Justin Johnson provided 15 points and three rebounds, Billy Smythe 10 points and seven boards, and Lual Diing nine points and five rebounds.

BENDIGO BRAVES 81 (Matthews 24, Johnson 15, Smythe 10)

NORTH WEST TASMANIA THUNDER 90 (Harris 25, Barker 17, Savage 17)

Casey Cavaliers (75) lost to Hobart Chargers (78)

The Hobart Chargers head home with two wins from their first road double of the NBL1 South season after securing the 78-75 win after a high quality battle with the Casey Cavaliers.

With their game last week against the North West Tasmania Thunder unable to be completed, Saturday night was the first game finished of 2025 for the Chargers and they scored the spirited win over the Sandringham Sabres.

They backed up on Sunday up against the Cavs at Casey Basketball Stadium with the home team having won their own heartstopper in Mount Gambier against the Pioneers on Friday night.

It turned out to be a tremendous contest all afternoon too with no more than seven points ever separating the Cavaliers and Chargers.

Casey were leading by a point at quarter-time before Hobart turned that around to be up by two at half-time, and then stretching that advantage to four by three quarter-time.

The biggest margin of the game went to the Chargers three minutes into the last quarter when Jordan Straatsma hit a three-pointer but Casey responded immediately thanks to Trendon Hankerson.

Sydney Kings NBL guard Tyler Robertson then nailed another three to bring the Cavs back within a point and Preston Bungei drilled another to put the home team in front, but Hobart responded this time starting with a putback from Ole Angerstein.

After a game full of big shots, ultimately it was Straatsma, Jacob Richards and Henry Makeny hitting their free throws late that was the difference with the Cavaliers going cold in the last minute with the Chargers ending up with the three-point win.

Ole Angerstein was the difference the previous night against Sandringham and he was imposing once more against Casey delivering 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in the win for Hobart.

Henry Makeny also had 17 points and five rebounds, Will Cranston-Lown 12 points, 10 boards and three assists, and Jacob Richards 10 points, 14 rebounds and three assists.

Nate Roberts ended up with 15 points and 14 rebounds for Casey while Tyler Robertson provided 15 points and three assists, Preston Bungei 11 points and four rebounds, and Trendon Hankerson 10 points, three steals, two assists and two boards.

CASEY CAVALIERS 75 (Robertson 15, Roberts 15, Bungei 11)

HOBART CHARGERS 78 (Angerstein 20, Makeny 17, Cranston-Lown 12)