South Recap | Round 8 Saturday

Image credit: @In2Action Photography-Jodie Rawiri

Harry Froling had a spectacular start to his NBL1 South time with Melbourne Tigers after Sara Blicavs continued to shine while Maddy Rocci had a 42-point triple-double in overtime win for Keilor Thunder and Dash Daniels shone for Sandringham Sabres.

SOUTH RECAP | ROUND 8 FRIDAY

WOMEN

Dandenong Rangers (66) lost to Waverley Falcons (87)

WNBL, NBL1 South and NBL1 National championship winning guns Bec Cole and Carley Ernst combined for 42 points and nine three-pointers as the Waverley Falcons got back to winning with the 87-66 road win over the Dandenong Rangers.

The Rangers were back home at Dandenong Basketball Stadium having won their last couple and knocking on the door of a top two spot as they hosted a Falcons team who saw their five-match winning streak ended last week in a grand final rematch with Keilor Thunder.

Waverley came out ready to make a statement too by putting up 29 points to 16 in the opening quarter on the back of shooting 11/16 from the field including making 3/6 from three-point territory.

The Falcons turned that into a 21-point lead in the second quarter as well before heading into the half-time break leading the Rangers 53-40.

The reigning champions maintained control of the contest throughout the second half too and even ended up leading by as much 28 points before scoring the 21-point win to improve to 8-3 on the season.

Bec Cole delivered 25 points, six assists and three steals in the win for Waverley while shooting 9/16 from the field and 5/7 from downtown while Carley Ernst provided 17 points and seven boards with 4/10 shooting from three-point land.

Renae Mokrzycki added 18 points, 11 rebounds and three assists, Amelia Todhunter 11 points, eight assists and three boards, and Katelyn Shumate eight points, four rebounds and three steals.

Dandenong are now 7-4 as a result of the loss with Manuela Puoch producing 22 points and six rebounds on 8/13 shooting from the floor and 5/6 from the foul line.

Dallas Loughridge added 19 points, three assists and two rebounds, and Nyadiew Puoch eight points and eight boards.

DANDENONG RANGERS 66 (M Puoch 22, Loughridge 19, N Puoch 8)

WAVERLEY FALCONS 87 (Cole 25, Mokrzycki 18, Ernst 17)

Ballarat Miners (56) lost to Mount Gambier Pioneers (100)

The Mount Gambier Pioneers will be hoping what they did on Saturday night could be the kickstart to the season they've been looking for with the 100-56 road win over the Ballarat Miners.

The Pioneers arrived at Selkirk Stadium with just three wins from 10 games so far this season including a last up loss to the undefeated Geelong United ahead of the Miners being back on their home floor and attempting to avoid a fourth consecutive loss.

It was a scorching start from Mount Gambier away from home having knocked down 7/10 from three-point range to be leading Ballarat 34-13.

The Pioneers then continued to remain in control with another 20 points to 14 in the second frame on the way to leading 54-27 by the half-time break.

The visitors went on with the job from there too with Mount Gambier outscoring Ballarat 22 points to 15 in the third quarter, and 24 to 14 in the fourth on the way to the 44-point victory.

The Pioneers finished up shooting 51 per cent from the floor and knocking down 14/29 from three-point range while the Miners managed just 31 per cent shooting and going 4/32 behind the three-point arc.

Mount Gambier improves to a 4-7 record on the season with the win ahead of taking on the Bendigo Braves on Sunday with Isa Brancatisano delivering 18 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Jayda Jansen top-scored with 19 points and seven assists on 3/4 three-point shooting with Haliegh Reinoehl adding 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Keryl Ousey 18 points on 4/6 from three-point territory.

Ballarat have now lost four straight for a 3-8 record with Abbey Wehrung finishing with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Opal Bird also had 13 points and three rebounds, Millie Cracknell eight points and two boards, and Julia Gladkova six points and seven rebounds.

BALLARAT MINERS 56 (Wehrung 15, Bird 13, Cracknell 8)

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 100 (Jansen 19, Brancatisano 18, Ousey 18)

Launceston Tornadoes (67) lost to Ringwood Hawks (78)

Despite playing virtually with just a six-player rotation, the Ringwood Hawks came away with a second straight win on their road double in Tasmania with the 78-67 victory against the Launceston Tornadoes.

The Tornadoes were back playing at familiar territory at Elphin Sports Stadium fresh off their first win of the season last week against the Wildcats.

Their attempts to trying to back that up weren’t going to be easy with the absence of Keely Froling as they played host to a Ringwood team fresh off beating the Hobart Chargers the previous night by 21 points.

The Hawks kept that momentum going from the previous evening with 26 points to 18 in the opening quarter on the back of getting to the foul line nine times to zero from the Tornadoes.

Ringwood maintained a 43-36 lead going into the half-time interval before that advantage got out to as much as 16 in the third period before the Hawks confirmed the 11-point victory.

The win gives Ringwood the perfect weekend on the road double to Tasmania as they improve to a 7-5 record on the season with Camille Hobby producing 21 points and seven rebounds on 9/13 shooting.

Sarah Elsworthy added 19 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals, Nyaduoth Lok 15 points and five boards, and Alex Wittinger nine points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots.

The Tornadoes are now 1-11 on the season having been unable to back up that breakthrough through win of the season with Bailey Flavell doing all she could with 28 points, six rebounds and five assists on 12/18 shooting from the field.

Sarah O'Neill added 11 points and five rebounds for Launceston, Megan Mullings nine points, three boards and three steals, and Taya Webb five points and three rebounds.

LAUNCESTON TORNADOES 67 (Flavell 28, O'Neill 11, Mullings 9)

RINGWOOD HAWKS 78 (Hobby 21, Elsworthy 19, Lok 15)

Bendigo Braves (85) defeated Diamond Valley Eagles (83)

The Diamond Valley Eagles almost shot themselves to a miraculous win with five three-point bombs in just over the last three minutes but the Bendigo Braves were able to hold firm for the 85-83 home victory.

The Braves were back home at Red Energy Arena looking to snap an eight-game losing run but it wasn’t going to be easy against an Eagles team having won seven straight and having the likes of Steph Reid and Abbey Ellis in their line-up.

It was a blistering start from the Braves as they went on a 10-0 scoring run in the first quarter to open up a 14-point lead, and to still be leading 25-13 at quarter-time on the back of shooting 10/14 from the field opposed to the 5/16 from the Eagles.

Bendigo only managed 12 points in the second period and Diamond Valley put up 17, but the Braves were still holding onto the 37-30 advantage going into the half-time break.

The Eagles were warming to the task nicely, though, and the visitors put up 29 points in the third quarter while knocking down 6/11 from three-point territory to end up having their own lead of as much as seven points.

But by three quarter-time, Bendigo were back in front by five and then the Braves were back out to a 12-point lead when Poppy Blanch scored with 3:30 on the clock.

Diamond Valley weren’t going down without giving it their all, though, and Abbey Ellis started their three-point flurry with a couple in the space of just over a minute before Tayha Watkins added another to make the margin just seven with 1:45 to play.

Ellis then hit another from downtown as did Lauren Jones and suddenly it was back to a one-point ball game in the final minute but that would be Diamond Valley's last score with Bendigo ending up winning by two after a Cassidy McLean free-throw before a Steph Reid miss at the buzzer.

It's a first win for the Braves since April 6 and snapping their eight-game losing streak to improve to a 3-9 record with Taisheka Porchia the star with 32 points, nine rebounds and three steals on 12/20 shooting from the field and 8/8 at the foul line.

Cassidy McLean added 17 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals, Poppy Blanch 11 points, and Elsie Noonan 10 points and 12 rebounds on 4/5 shooting.

The loss snaps Diamond Valley's winning streak at seven with the Eagles now sitting on an 8-3 record with Tayha Watkins ending the night on 28 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals on shooting 6/12 from downtown.

Abbey Ellis contributed 20 points, six rebounds and four assists on 4/6 shooting from three-point range with Steph Reid adding 15 points, eight assists, six steals and three boards, and Erin Riley seven points, six rebounds, four steals and two assists.

BENDIGO BRAVES 85 (Porchia 32, McLean 17, Blanch 11)

DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 83 (Watkins 28, Ellis 20, Reid 15)

Casey Cavaliers (77) lost to Melbourne Tigers (85)

The Melbourne Tigers big three even without Izzy Borlase of Sara Blicavs, Eve Braslis and Ella Tofaeono combined for 68 points in the 85-77 road win over the Casey Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers were back home at Casey Stadium attempting to snap a three-game losing slide as they hosted a Tigers team having won four straight and with plenty of firepower even if they were without Borlase for the Saturday night match up.

It was a flying start from Melbourne as they put up 32 points in the first quarter on the back of shooting 14/22 from the floor while limiting Casey to the 18 to already hold a 14-point edge by quarter-time.

Casey were able to turn the tide in the second term with 27 points to 17 and that cut the lead for the Tigers at half-time to 49-45.

Melbourne responded once more in the third quarter to push their advantage back out to 17 points and from there they were able to complete the eventual eight-point victory.

The Tigers improve to a 7-3 record on the season with the fifth straight victory with Sara Blicavs continuing her stunning form on return this season with 25 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two steals with 4/11 three-point shooting.

Eve Braslis also had 22 points and six rebounds on 8/10 shooting, Ella Tofaeono 21 points, nine boards and four assists, and Indiah Bowyer 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

The Cavaliers have now lost four in-a-row to be 4-7 on the season despite Sharne Robati finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Esra McGoldrick added 10 points and six rebounds, Sabrina Haines nine points, three boards, two assists and two steals, and Lauryn Hippolite nine points, four rebounds and two assists.

CASEY CAVALIERS 77 (Robati 21, McGoldrick 10, Haines 9, Hippolite 9)

MELBOURNE TIGERS 85 (Blicavs 25, Braslis 22, Tofaeono 21)

Nunawading Spectres (69) defeated Sandringham Sabres (66)

The last score of the game was a three-pointer from Rachel Brewster with just over a minute to go and that delivered the Nunawading Spectres the 69-66 in a remarkably tight battle with the Sandringham Sabres.

The Spectres and Sabres both came into the Saturday night match up at Nunawading Basketball Centre trying to break into the top eight with Sandringham sitting 6-4 and just ahead of the 5-5 Nunawading.

The Sabres were fresh off a 37-point win over the Ballarat Miners while the Spectres lost to the Ringwood Hawks by 31 points last Saturday.

What eventuated was a stunning tightly contested battle for the entire 40 minutes with no more than five points ever separating them the whole way.

It was Nunawading clinging to the 17-16 lead by the end of the first quarter even with both teams only combining to shoot 1/12 from behind the three-point arc.

It was during the second frame that Sandringham did open up a five-point lead but Nunawading responded with a 5-0 run and by half-time it was the Spectres still leading by that solitary point at 36-35.

The Sabres were able to outscore the Spectres 23 points to 18 in the third frame to be leading by four at three quarter-time, but they then only managed just the eight points on 3/17 shooting in the final period.

The Spectres could never quite put them away, though, but in the end the last score of the game was a three-pointer from Rachel Brewster with just over a minute to play that put Nunawading up by three.

Both teams missed some good looks over the final minute which meant the Spectres secured the three-point win to improve to a 6-5 record to be banging on the door of the top eight.

Not only did Brewster hit that big three after missing her first five attempts, she top-scored for Nunawading with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals.

Isabel Feller added 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, and Rachel Antoniadou 13 points, six assists and two boards.

The Sabres are now 6-5 as well following the defeat with Funda Nakkasoglu finishing with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists while Luch Cochrane contributed 12 points, 10 boards and seven assists, and Haylee Andrews 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Madison Ryan also had 10 points and three rebounds, Klara Wischer eight points, 12 boards and five assists, and Eilidh Vanderwal eight points, two rebounds and two steals.

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 69 (Brewster 16, Feller 13, Antoniadou 13)

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 66 (Nakkasoglu 17, Cochrane 12, Ryan 10, Andrews 10)

Eltham Wildcats (84) lost to Geelong United (104)

Jaz Shelley and Hannah Hank combined for 57 points, 17 rebounds, nine assists and six steals as Geelong United continued their unbeaten start to the season beating the Eltham Wildcats 104-84.

Eltham were the latest team with the challenge try and hand Geelong their first loss of 2025 when they played host to them at Montmorency Secondary College on Saturday night.

The Wildcats came into the match up on a six-game losing streak including losing both games on their trip to Tasmania last week against the Hobart Chargers and Launceston Tornadoes.

Meanwhile, Geelong won their two matches last weekend over the Knox Raiders and Mount Gambier Pioneers by a combined 45 points meaning it was a big task ahead of the Wildcats.

It was a hot start from United who shot 4/6 from behind the arc in the first quarter on the way to already leading 28-13 by quarter-time.

Both teams caught fire then in the second term as they combined for 56 points with Geelong still building on the lead with 30 of those to go into half-time leading 58-39.

The Geelong lead then got out to as much as 35 points in the fourth quarter on the back of a 12-0 scoring run but Eltham at least finished well with their own run of 12 straight points to cut the final United winning margin to 20.

Geelong improve to a perfect 11-0 record on the season following the win with Jaz Shelley knocking down 6/8 from three-point territory on the way to 32 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals.

Hannah Hank also produced 25 points, 10 rebounds and two steals with Annika Stewart contributing 17 points, six boards and two assists, and Lilly Rotunno eight points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals.

Eltham are now 2-9 following the seventh consecutive defeat with Lil Dart top-scoring with 12 points on 3/5 three-point shooting with Bec Pizzey adding 20 points, six rebounds, four blocks, two assists and two steals, and Kennedy Dickie 20 points, eight boards, four assists and two steals.

ELTHAM WILDCATS 84 (Dart 21, Pizzey 20, Dickie 20)

GEELONG UNITED 104 (Shelley 32, Hank 25, Stewart 17)

Keilor Thunder (92) defeated Kilsyth Cobras (86)

Maddy Rocci delivered a remarkable triple-double made up of 42 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to lift Keilor Thunder to the hard fought 92-86 overtime home win against the Kilsyth Cobras.

Keilor came into the match up looking to maintain their top two spot and stay in touch of the unbeaten Geelong United, but they would need to do it without Issie Bourne who is with the Australian Gangurrus 3x3 team this weekend.

That potentially opened the door for Kilsyth to get a win that would help them stay in touch of a playoff spot and it was the Cobras leading 24-23 by quarter-time.

That set the stage for what would be a remarkably tight and hard fought contest the rest of the way with no more than six points ever separating both teams.

The biggest lead of the first half was five points the way of Kilsyth in that first quarter but by half-time it was the Thunder narrowly leading 47-45.

By three quarter-time it was Keilor clinging to the three-point lead and it was all set up for a massive finish.

With just over two minutes to play, Abby O'Connor knocked down the go-ahead three-pointer for Kilsyth for her team to lead by that margin but with just over 30 seconds left Keilor responded with a triple thanks to Kasey Burton.

Both Burton and Nikita Young had a chance at a game winner for their respective teams, but it wasn’t to be and scores remain locked at 82-82 and it went to overtime.

Then in the extra period, there was just the one score apiece in the opening two minutes before it was Burton who landed from downtown to put Keilor up by that margin.

Rocci then hit a huge three as well to put the Thunder up by six and she had played every second of the game until with a minute to play she had to leave the game after copping a nasty cut to the face while drawing an offensive foul on O'Connor.

Kilsyth were still able to close out the six-point victory to improve to a 9-2 record on the season with Rocci providing a dazzling triple-double made up of 42 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals on 14/30 shooting from the floor, 5/11 from downtown and 9/11 at the foul line.

Kasey Burton knocked down 3/6 from behind the arc for 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists with Isobelle Wightman contributing 14 points, four assists, two boards and two steals, and Nikki Metcalfe eight points, two rebounds and two assists.

It was a strong showing from Kilsyth to push last year's grand finalists to overtime but they are now 3-8 on the season with the loss ahead of playing host to the Frankston Blues on Sunday.

Abby O'Connor finished with 26 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks with 4/9 three-point shooting while Nikita Young had 15 points, seven boards and four assists.

Shannon Dufficy added 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals, and Anamaria Virjoghe 14 points and 10 boards.

KEILOR THUNDER 92 (Rocci 42, Burton 15, Wightman 14)

KILSYTH COBRAS 86 (O'Connor 26, Young 15, Dufficy 14, Virjoghe 14)

MEN

Dandenong Rangers (91) lost to Waverley Falcons (106)

The return of Mason Peatling wasn’t quite enough for the Dandenong Rangers with Mason Forbes delivering 32 points for the Waverley Falcons in their 106-91 victory.

The Rangers were back home at Dandenong Basketball Stadium looking to back up just their second win of the season last Sunday against the Ringwood Hawks while Waverley arrived trying to arrest a two-match losing slide.

It was the Rangers making the better of the start to be leading 20-16 at the end of the opening quarter before taking over further early in the second frame completing a 13-0 scoring run to open up an 11-point advantage.

Waverley were able to turn the momentum back their way on the back of 28 points in the second term themselves on shooting 10/16 to cut the Dandenong lead at half-time to 47-44.

It was then still a three-point lead in favour of Dandenong at three quarter-time but then it was all Waverley in the final period with 35 points to 17 on the back of shooting 15/24 from the field and holding the Rangers to just 5/12 for the 17 points.

The end result was Waverley scoring the 15-point victory to improve to a 5-6 record on the season ahead of hosting the league-leading Knox Raiders on Sunday.

Mason Forbes played a starring role in the win with 32 points and eight rebounds on 14/20 shooting from the floor with Madut Akec adding 24 points, 13 boards, five assists and two steals.

Khalil Shabazz also had 18 points, eight assists and five steals, and Malik Meunier 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Dandenong remain in last place despite another competitive showing to be 2-9 with Illawarra Hawks NBL championship winner Mason Peatling returning and putting up 22 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

Ryan Rapp also had 18 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, Ruot Monyyong 19 points, 14 boards, two assists and two steals, and Jack Roberts 10 points and six rebounds.

DANDENONG RANGERS 91 (Peatling 22, Monyyong 19, Rapp 18)

WAVERLEY FALCONS 106 (Forbes 32, Akec 24, Shabazz 18)

Ballarat Miners (69) lost to Mount Gambier Pioneers (116)

Dylan Marshall hit six threes for 25 points as the Mount Gambier Pioneers consolidated a top two position with the thumping 116-69 road win over the Ballarat Miners.

The Miners were back home at Selkirk Stadium with last year's grand finalists looking to stay inside the top eight as they hosted a Pioneers team starting their road double looking for a third consecutive win.

It was a stunning opening quarter performance from Mount Gambier as they piled on 42 points on the back of shooting 14/18 from the field which including 6/8 from behind the three-point line, and 8/9 at the free-throw line.

In contrast, Ballarat managed just 11 points on 5/16 shooting with Mount Gambier leading by 31 already at quarter-time thanks to scoring 28 unanswered points.

From there, the Pioneers went on with the job continuing to build on the lead throughout the evening with it growing to 44 points in the second stanza, 48 in the third and 58 in the fourth.

In the end, Mount Gambier won by 47 points on the back of shooting 62 per cent from the floor to 34 including going 16/29 from three to 10/31, and 22/29 at the charity stripe to 5/13.

The emphatic victory improves the Pioneers to an 8-3 record ahead of taking on the Bendigo Braves on Sunday with Dylan Marshall delivering 25 points and five rebounds on 6/8 shooting from behind the three-point line.

Austin Shelley added 19 points on 4/5 three-point shooting, Joe Palmer 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds, Akech Aliir 16 points, 13 boards, three steals and two blocks, Kaden Archie 16 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Alex Mudronja 13 points, four assists and three boards.

Ballarat are now 6-5 on the season following the hefty defeat with Majok Majok finishing with 17 points and five rebounds, Luke Rosendale 14 points on 3/9 three-point shooting, and Ethan Fiegert nine points, five rebounds and two assists.

BALLARAT MINERS 69 (Majok 17, Rosendale 14, Fiegert 9)

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 116 (Marshall 25, Shelley 19, Palmer 17)

North West Tasmania Thunder (87) lost to Ringwood Hawks (107)

The Ringwood Hawks responded in the best possible way to a rough start to their Tasmanian road double by finishing it with the 107-87 victory against the North West Tasmania Thunder.

Ringwood lost by 23 points on Friday night to the Hobart Chargers ahead of taking on the Thunder on Saturday at Elphin Sports Stadium with North West Tasmania attempting to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat.

The Hawks found the going tough the previous night, but came out ready to make amends 24 hours later and that started with them piling on 31 points in the first quarter on shooting 13/21 from the floor including 5/9 from three-point range.

North West only managed 13 points themselves on 5/17 shooting before the Thunder did manage to outscore the Hawks 23 to 21 in the second term to cut Ringwood's half-time lead to 52-36.

Ringwood pulled away further and were leading by 25 points in the third quarter and even with the Thunder going on a 12-0 run in the fourth frame, the Hawks still cruised to the eventual 20-point victory.

It was a hot shooting performance from Ringwood with 57 per cent from the floor along with going 11/26 from downtown opposed to the 41 per cent from North West who also only managed 9/5 from deep.

Ringwood improves to a 4-8 record having split their two games in the Apple Isle for the weekend with Josh Tomasi delivering 27 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks on 12/16 shooting.

Jonathan Lawton added 24 points, five rebounds and five assists with 4/7 shooting from behind the arc while Tanner Krebs had 21 points six rebounds and five assists, Angus Glover 14 points, six boards and four assists, and Tom Carroll 12 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals.

North West Tasmania are now 3-8 having lost five in-a-row with Lachlan Barker top-scoring with 19 points and two steals on 3/6 three-point shooting.

Tyler Harris added 14 points and six rebounds, Tre Armstrong 14 points and three boards, Logan Gibson 12 points and five rebounds, and Archie Woodhill 10 points and two boards on 4/5 shooting.

NORTH WEST TASMANIA THUNDER 87 (Barker 19, Armstrong 14, Harris 14)

RINGWOOD HAWKS 107 (Tomasi 27, Lawton 24, Krebs 21)

Bendigo Braves (68) lost to Diamond Valley Eagles (98)

Ngor Manyang and Jock Perry combined for 40 points and 24 rebounds for the Diamond Valley Eagles in the big 98-68 road win against the Bendigo Braves.

The Braves were back home at Red Energy Arena looking for a third straight win and to retain their hold on a top four position while the Eagles arrived attempting to snap a three-match losing slide.

Bendigo did make a good start with an early eight-point lead and the Braves were still on top 26-22 by quarter-time.

Diamond Valley completely flipped the script in the second frame by putting up 2e points to just the 10 from the Braves, and as a result the Eagles went into half-time leading 45-36.

It was another 23 points to 14 in the third quarter with Diamond Valley completing a 13-0 scoring run to build a lead as big as 21 points, which grew to as much as 32 in the fourth and then stopped at 30 by the final buzzer.

The Eagles ended up shooting 12/32 from three-point territory to 5/31 from Bendigo while Diamond Valley finished with 24/35 at the foul line opposed to 9/11 from the Braves.

The Eagles improve to a 4-7 record with the win with Ngor Manyang delivering 21 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals on 4/8 shooting from behind the arc.

Jock Perry also had 19 points, 19 rebounds and two blocks, Jesse McIntosh 14 points, four boards, three assists and two steals, and Jesse Ghee 11 points, nine steals, eight rebounds and six assists.

Bendigo slips to a 7-5 record following the loss and ahead of hosting the Mount Gambier Pioneers on Sunday with Charles Matthews top-scoring with 23 points, five rebounds and four steals.

Justin Johnson added 11 points, 10 rebounds and two steals, Lual Diing 10 points and four boards, Billy Smythe nine points and four rebounds, and Lachlan O'Brien eight points and three boards.

BENDIGO BRAVES 68 (Matthews 23, Johnson 11, Diing 10)

DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 98 (Manyang 21, Perry 19, McIntosh 14)

Casey Cavaliers (81) lost to Melbourne Tigers (83)

Harry Froling made a spectacular debut with the Melbourne Tigers with 28 points and 14 rebounds as they beat the Casey Cavaliers 83-81 with his combination up front with Jack Purchase combining for 50 of their team's 83 points.

The Tigers came into the round knocking on the door of the top eight ahead of welcoming Froling after his stint in the NZNBL signified his stunning return to basketball that did seem nine on impossible when he was cowardly attacked leading to a brain injury while playing in the NBL at the Brisbane Bullets back in January 2023.

He signed up for the rest of the NBL1 South season to play under Andrew Gaze at the Tigers with his debut coming on Saturday night on the road to the Cavaliers at Casey Stadium.

After it was the Cavs leading 18-15 by the end of the first quarter, the Tigers got rolling in the second frame with 25 points to 14 on the way to the 40-32 half-time lead with Melbourne shooting 14/34 from the field and Casey 13/36.

After the Tigers managed to build an 11-point lead in the third quarter, Casey hit back with a 7-0 run and then ended up setting up a thrilling finish.

With just over a minute to play, Melbourne opened up a five-point lead once more thanks to a triple from Taj Chehhal and then Jack Purchase knocking down a jumper.

That's when the Cavs responded with a three ball to Trendon Hankerson and then a jump shot to Sydney Kings NBL guard Tyler Robertson, and scores were level at 69-69 and the two teams were heading to overtime.

Then in the extra five minutes, the Tigers scored the first seven points thanks to Mason Gaze, Purchase and Froling, and eventually they held on for the two-point win with a later three for the Cavs to Robertson making it look closer.

Tom Wilson wasn’t there for the Tigers, but Harry Froling sure was and helped them improve to a 6-4 record with his 28 points, 14 rebounds and three assists on 10/20 shooting from the field and 6/7 at the foul line.

Jack Purchase also had 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals on 4/11 three-point shooting with Michael Wearne contributing 10 points and two assists, and Mason Gaze 10 points, six rebounds and five assists on 2/3 shooting from deep.

Casey are now 7-4 on the season following the defeat with Hunter Marks top-scoring with 19 points and seven rebounds with Tyler Robertson contributing 18 points and seven board, and Nate Roberts 13 points and 17 rebounds.

CASEY CAVALIERS 81 (Marks 19, Robertson 18, Roberts 13)

MELBOURNE TIGERS 83 (Froling 28, Purchase 22, Wearne 10, Gaze 10)

Nunawading Spectres (86) lost to Sandringham Sabres (93)

The Sandringham Sabres made it consecutive wins with NBL1 Next Star Dash Daniels in the line-up and he produced in 18 points in Saturday night's 93-86 road win over the Nunawading Spectres.

Ahead of his first NBL season at Melbourne United, Daniels joined Sandringham for last Saturday's win over the Ballarat Miners and the Sabres took on the Spectres this Saturday at Nunawading Basketball Centre with Nunawading on their own three-match winning run.

The Sabres managed to open up a 24-20 lead by the end of the first quarter before they put up another 25 points to 17 in the second frame to open up an 18-point lead thanks to an 11-0 scoring run.

Sandringham turned that into the 49-37 lead at half-time but Nunawading made an impressive fight back all the way to finding themselves in front when Joe Mutimer knocked down a three-pointer midway through the final quarter.

Dash Daniels and Malith Machar immediately responded with scores for Sandringham before Daniels also knocked down a three-pointer, Machar threw down a dunk and from there the Sabres secured the eventual seven-point victory.

The win improves Sandringham to a 4-7 record on the season with Dash Daniels impressive with 18 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Malith Machar top-scored for the Sabres with 20 points and five rebounds, Tom Koppens 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and two blocks, Elliott Brown 11 points, six boards and four assists, and Dane Pineau seven points, 12 rebound and two steals.

Nunawading are now 6-5 on the season following the defeat with Christian D'Angelo doing all he could to lift his team over the line with 29 points, five rebounds and five assists 12/24 shooting from the floor.

Daniel Baxter added 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists, Jack Gandolfo 14 points, four assists, two boards and two steals, and Brian Mack II 11 points, 20 rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals.

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 86 (D'Angelo 29, Baxter 15, Gandolfo 14)

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 93 (Machar 20, Daniels 18, Koppens 16)

Eltham Wildcats (73) defeated Geelong United (68)

The Eltham Wildcats scored 10 straight points after being down five in the fourth quarter to lead by that margin themselves and to end up beating Geelong United 73-68.

The Wildcats were back home at Montmorency Secondary College looking to build on their win at the death last Saturday thanks to Josh Sykes against the North West Tasmania Thunder.

Geelong arrived having lost their past two as well and looking to get a win to stay in touch of a top eight position.

Eltham got off to the fast start going on an 8-0 run to open up a 10-point lead but Geelong answered back and by quarter-time the Wildcats were only clinging to the 24-22 lead with both teams knocking down four three-pointers apiece.

The scoring dried up in the second frame and the two teams only combined to shoot 2/14 from downtown with Geelong outscoring Eltham 16 points to 13 to take a 38-37 lead into half-time.

Geelong did push out to a six-point lead in the third quarter but again by three quarter-time things remained close and they were only leading by the three points.

Eltham did end up finishing the better and it was a run of scoring 10 straight points early in the fourth quarter after they were down five that proved the difference.

During that run, Zahn Agosta made a three-pointer, Josh Sykes and Mitch McCarron both scored at the rim, and from there the Wildcats were able to complete the deal for the eventual five-point victory.

With the win, Eltham improves to 6-5 on the season with their championship defence still alive with Josh Sykes continuing to play with a purpose after being suspended for last Friday night's game by producing 22 points, eight rebounds and two steals.

Gabe Hadley added 13 points and three rebounds, Xavier Bledson 13 points, five boards and two assists, and Mitch McCarron 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Geelong slips to a 4-7 record having now lost three straight with George Blagojevic making his first appearance of the season and putting up 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Liam Herbert also had 15 points, six rebounds and four assists, Tristan Forsyth 14 points and three boards, and DeMarcus Gatlin four points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

ELTHAM WILDCATS 73 (Sykes 22, Bledson 13, Hadley 13)

GEELONG UNITED 68 (Blagojevic 16, Herbert 15, Forsyth 14)

Keilor Thunder (78) lost to Kilsyth Cobras (94)

Khadim Sy delivered a dominant performance with 34 points for the Kilsyth Cobras in the 94-78 win against Keilor Thunder as they scored a third successive win.

The Thunder were back home at Keilor Stadium looking to maintain touch with the top eight back up their last up win over the Waverley Falcons ahead of hosting a Kilsyth team who arrived having won two straight and looking to further consolidate a hold on a playoff spot.

It was an entertaining opening to the contest with Keilor leading 25-20 by the end of the first quarter before Kilsyth worked on top in the second frame by outscoring the Thunder 28 points to 18.

The Cobras knocked down 4/7 from three-point range in the quarter on the way to leading 48-43 at the half-time break.

Kilsyth pulled away further in the third quarter with 26 points to 17 to end up leading by as much as 17 points when they completed a 13-0 scoring run.

The lead for the Cobras got out to 22 points in the final term before they went on to secure the 16-point victory to make it three straight wins and improve to a 7-4 record ahead of hosting the Frankston Blues on Sunday.

Khadim Sy produced a monster performance in the win for Kilsyth with 34 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots on the back of shooting 11/18 from the field, 4/6 from long-range and 8/9 at the foul line.

Corey Jeffs added 18 points, four rebounds and four assists, Hamish MacDonald 14 points, four boards and two steals, Ben Ursich nine points, five rebounds and two steals, and Adrian Tomada seven points, six boards and four assists.

Keilor is now 4-7 on the season following the loss at home with Daniel Poelsma top-scoring with 21 points and three rebounds on 4/8 three-point shooting.

Deng Dut added 14 points, five assists and four rebounds, Daniel Foster 13 points, seven boards, two assists and two steals, and Jayce Beasley 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

KEILOR THUNDER 78 (Poelsma 21, Dut 14, Foster 13)

KILSYTH COBRAS 94 (Sy 34, Jeffs 18, MacDonald 14)