NBL1 South Recap | Friday Round 2

DJ Vasiljevic put up 40 points for the Diamond Valley Eagles and that's what his team needed to overcome the Ringwood Hawks in just one game from a packed scheduled in the NBL1 South on Friday.

The Friday night women's results saw the Sandringham Sabres beat the Kilsyth Cobras 87-72, the Keilor Thunder defeat the Ballarat Miners 64-54, the Mount Gambier Pioneers defeat the Casey Cavaliers 105-70, and the Ringwood Hawks prevail 78-65 against the Diamond Valley Eagles.

And in the men's contests, the Cobras won big over the Sabres 112-84 while the Thunder defeated the Miners 95-92, the Pioneers downed the Cavs 97-80, and Diamond Valley beat Ringwood 108-99.

WOMEN

Sandringham hands Kilsyth first loss of 2023

The Sandringham Sabres handed the Kilsyth Cobras their first loss of the 2023 season with the 87-72 road victory on Friday night.

Kilsyth had won their opening two games of the NBL1 South season and the Cobras did start well enough at home but the Sabres worked their way on top in the second quarter.

Sandringham then put on the after burners with 33 points to 16 in the fourth quarter to come from behind at three quarter-time to win by 15 points.

Morgan Ili delivered 22 points, six assists and four rebounds on 4/7 three-point shooting for the Sabres with Klara Wischer contributing 18 points and 14 boards, Georgia Pineau 16 points and seven rebounds, and Brittany Smart 14 points, three boards and three assists.

Nikita Young put up 22 points, eight rebounds, five steals, three assists and two blocks for Kilsyth with Georgia Booth adding 16 points, and Alexa Hart 14 points, 19 rebounds and five blocked shots.

Thunder claim first win of season over Miners 

The Keilor Thunder were another team to win their first game of the season on Friday night beating the Ballarat Miners 64-54 at Keilor Stadium.

The Thunder started strongly at home to lead by eight points at quarter-time, but still a nine-point third quarter meant they had to respond. Keilor did and outscored Ballarat 17 points to eight in the fourth period to claim the 10-point win.

Grace Graham finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds for Keilor with Lana Hollingsworth contributing 13 points and seven boards, and Jaz Salon 11 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Emma Karamovic put up 13 points and five rebounds for Ballarat with Kristy Rinaldi contributing 11 points and five boards, and Abbey Wehrung 10 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Grace Graham & Jaz Salon pulled out some tricks with this 1??-2?? ?

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Brancatisano catches fire to keep Mount Gambier unbeaten

Mount Gambier remained undefeated to start the NBL1 South season and they kept the Casey Cavaliers winless in the process as the Pioneers won 105-70.

Mt Gambier began to pull away in the second quarter to lead 49-33 at half-time at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre, and then dominated the second half further to end up winning by 35 points.

Isabella Brancatisano finished with 23 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals for Mount Gambier while hitting 6/11 from three-point territory.

Cassanda Brown added 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Miela Goodchild 17 points, four boards and three assists, Sherrie Calleia 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists, and Haliegh Reinoehl 12 points, six rebounds, five steals and two assists.

Jacinta Beckley top-scored for Casey with 18 points and seven rebounds with Rachel Bell adding 15 points and three boards, and Steph Blicavs 14 points and seven rebounds.

Shereesha Richards takes it to the ?? with the tough euro-step finish ?

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Defending champs on the board in 2023 with Whittle back

The Ringwood Hawks are on the board for the NBL1 South season after beating the Diamond Valley Eagles 78-65 on Friday night.

The reigning NBL1 South champions had lost their opening game of the season to the Waverley Falcons but they bounced back with some troops back on Friday to hand the Eagles their first loss of 2023.

The Hawks had put up a commanding 20-point lead by three quarter-time before going on to secure the 13-point victory at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre.

Marena Whittle was back for Ringwood and led the charge with 29 points, 15 rebounds, three steals and two assists including hitting 4/7 from beyond the arc.

Shelby Britten added 13 points, three assists and two rebounds.

Sophie Burrows top-scored for Diamond Valley with 18 points and nine rebounds with Jade Dunne contributing 11 points.

MEN

Cobras stay undefeated against winless Sabres

The Kilsyth Cobras maintained their unbeaten start to the NBL1 South season and kept the Sandringham Sabres winless with the 112-84 victory.

The Cobras made the hot start with 31 points to 19 in the opening quarter to set the tone at Kilsyth Sports Centre and they converted that into the 28-point win to stay unbeaten so far in 2023 and to keep the Sabres without a win.

Jamie Ahale produced 28 points, five rebounds and three assists in the win for Kilsyth while Adrian Tomada added 20 points, six boards, five assists and two steals, and Corey Jeffs 10 points and six rebounds.

It was a Sandringham team still missing Shea Ili and Dave Barlow with CJ Asuncion-Byrd finishing with 18 points and six rebounds, Ben Ayre 14 points and five assists, Campbell Blog 13 points and four rebounds, and Dane Pineau 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Keilor prevail against hot finishing Ballarat

The Keilor Thunder just held off a fast finishing Ballarat Miners for the 95-92 home victory on Friday night at Keilor Stadium.

The Thunder build up a commanding lead over the opening three quarters to be on top 84-65 by three quarter-time. However, the Miners threw everything at a comeback and got within two but ultimately Zac Triplett was able to secure the three-point win for Keilor at the charity stripe.

Triplett finished the game with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists with Oliver Hayes-Brown contributing 19 points, nine boards and four steals, Robbie Heath 13 points and three boards, and Rhyss Lewis 15 points and three assists.

Nic Pozoglou ended up with 20 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals for Ballarat with Jack Davidson hitting another 4/9 from three-point range for 28 points, six boards and three assists.

HUGE CHASEDOWN BLOCK BY NIC POZOGLOU ?

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— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 14, 2023

Pioneers overcome 41 points from Malcolm Bernard

The Mount Gambier Pioneers were another team to remain undefeated on Friday night and keep their opponents winless with the 97-80 victory.

The Pioneers maintained their hot start to the season on the back of a dominant first half to be up 53-36 at the break before going on to beat the Casey Cavaliers by 17 points.

Jacob Lampkin top-scored for Mt Gambier with 22 points and eight rebounds with Nick Marshall delivering 20 points, eight boards, six assists and three steals, Julian Pesava 16 points and eight rebounds, and Chris Seeley 12 points, 11 boards and four assists.

Malcolm Bernard had a massive night despite the loss for the Cavs with 41 points on 15/27 shooting from the floor, 5/10 from downtown and 6/6 at the foul line.

Preston Bungei added 20 points and eight rebounds, and Sidy Djitte 12 points and 14 boards. 

Malcolm Bernard beats the ? from DEEP range ?

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DJ's 40 helps Diamond Valley overcome Lawton's 34 for Hawks

A 40-point night from DJ Vasiljevic was what was needed for the Diamond Valley Eagles to overcome the Ringwood Hawks 108-99 at home on Friday night.

The dual Sydney Kings NBL championship winner put in a performance reminiscent of his 42-point outburst with 10 threes in NBL23 against the South East Melbourne Phoenix by putting the Eagles on his back.

However, the Hawks made Diamond Valley earn it and the big effort of Vasiljevic was what it took. He finished with 40 points, nine rebounds and four assists on 10/14 shooting from the floor, 5/7 from three-point land and 15/15 at the free-throw line.

Ngor Manyang also finished with 19 points and three assists, Mandrell Worthy 15 points and four rebounds, and Joel Capetola 12 points, seven boards and seven assists.

Jonathan Lawton put up 34 points, nine assists and five steals for Ringwood while making 5/8 from three-point range with Kyle Daggett contributing 16 points and four boards, and Luke Shelley 12 points and three assists.

Another night at the office for @3jvasiljevic.

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— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 14, 2023