NBL1 South Recap | Saturday Round 1

There was Sydney Kings championship winners Angus Glover and DJ Vasiljevic locking horns, and game winners from Kelly Wilson and Mitch Dielemans all part of the opening Saturday night of the NBL1 South season.

The opening night women's results saw the Mount Gambier Pioneers beat the Sandringham Sabres 78-74 while the Launceston Tornadoes defeated the Hobart Chargers 92-53, the Kilsyth Cobras downed the Geelong Supercats 60-51, and the Ballarat Miners defeated the Melbourne Tigers 79-54.

The Bendigo Braves won a thriller 57-56 against the Frankston Blues with the Diamond Valley Eagles defeating the Eltham Wildcats 84-73 and the Dandenong Rangers prevailing 77-67 over the Casey Cavaliers.

Then in the men's action, Mount Gambier beat Sandringham 119-89, the North West Tasmania Thunder defeated Hobart 80-70, Kilsyth downed Geelong 97-95, Ballarat prevailed 92-68 over Melbourne, Frankston defeated Bendigo 101-87, Eltham beat Diamond Valley 87-77 while the Rangers defeated the Cavaliers 97-72.

WOMEN

Pioneers finish strong to run over Sabres

The Mount Gambier Pioneers overran the Sandringham Sabres for a season-opening 78-74 victory at Southern Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.

The Sabres were on top most of the evening and were up 10 early in the fourth quarter, but from there the Pioneers took over including going on a 10-0 run to claim the eventual four-point win.

Miela Goodchild was outstanding in the win for Mount Gambier with 26 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals with Isabella Brancatisano adding 20 points, five assists and three steals. Haliegh Reinoehl added 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Funda Nakkasoglu ended the night with 22 points, three rebounds and two assists for Sandringham while Georgia Pineau contributed 21 points, five boards and three steals, and Morgan Ili 14 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Funda Nakkasoglu drops her defender for the easy 2??

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West stars as Tornadoes thump Chargers

The Launceston Tornadoes opened the new season in imposing fashion beating the Hobart Chargers 92-53 at Mazda BT-50 Thunder Stadium.

The battle of Tasmanian NBL1 South teams saw a thumping Tornadoes victory as they continued to build on their lead all evening before winning by 39 points.

Olivia West was tremendous for Launceston in the win with 31 points, four rebounds and three assists with Riley Lupfer contributing 22 points, nine boards, seven assists and five steals, and Taya Webb 18 points, five steals and four rebounds.

Kayla Steindl is back in NBL1 action after giving birth to her second child and put up 20 points and six rebounds for Hobart. Angeliki Vintsilaiou also had 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

 

Even contribution sees Cobras overcome Supercats

The Kilsyth Cobras opened the NBL1 South season with a hard earned 60-51 victory over the Geelong Supercats at Kilsyth Sports Centre.

It was a tight affair all evening to start the new season but Kilsyth managed to continue to extend their lead as the game unfolded before winning by nine points.

All five of Kilsyth's starters had a significant impact on the result with Alexa Hart top-scoring with 14 points. Isia Lopes had 10 points and 12 rebounds, Carly Turner 10 points and 16 boards, Nikita Young 10 points, three rebounds and three steals, and Georgia Booth 10 points, seven boards and three assists.

Sarah Elsworthy did what she could to give the Supercats a chance with 23 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals with Eva Braslis contributing 16 points and six boards.

 

Wehrung dominates in big Miners win over Tigers

The Ballarat Miners made an emphatic start to the NBL1 South season beating the Melbourne Tigers 79-54 at Selkirk Stadium.

The Tigers started well enough on the road leading 21-19 by quarter-time but Ballarat took over in the second period with 24 points to eight which set the tone for the eventual 25-point win.

Abbey Wehrung starred for the Miners on the back of her WNBL season with 30 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals while playing all but one minute of the game.

Milly Sharp added 16 points, eight rebounds and eight steals, and Kristy Rinaldi 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Sam Simons top-scored for the Tigers with 15 points and eight rebounds with Mikayla Peterson contributing 11 points and four boards, and Leila Davis 10 points and 13 rebounds.

 

Kelly Wilson the hero in Bendigo win over Frankston

The thriller of the night to open the NBL1 South season was at Red Energy Arena with the Bendigo Braves claiming the nail-biting 57-56 win against the Frankston Blues.

Frankston was leading 56-55 on the back of a triple from Micaela Cooks but coming out of a timeout, Bendigo had possession with the chance to go ahead and that's exactly what they did thanks to Kelly Wilson.

Catching the inbounds pass, Wilson took it upon herself and drove to the hoop, stopped on a dime and delivered a pretty fadeaway jumper to put Bendigo back in front and that's where they stayed when Frankston couldn’t get off a final shot.

Cassidy McLean finished the night with 22 points and six rebounds for the Braves on 3/5 three-point shooting with Kasey Burton adding 12 points and nine boards, and Wilson nine points, eight assists, four rebounds and four steals.

Micaela Cocks top-scored for Frankston with 23 points and seven rebounds while Louise Brown finished with 14 points and 11 boards.

 

Big third quarter helps Diamond Valley overcome Eltham

The Diamond Valley Eagles produced a huge third quarter which set up an eventual 84-73 home victory against the Eltham Wildcats.

The Eagles were at home to open the season at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre but it was the Wildcats who hit back in the second quarter with scores tied at half-time.

However, Diamond Valley put up 27 points to 17 in the third quarter to set up the eventual 11-point win.

Monique Andriuolo put up 22 points and seven rebounds for Diamond Valley with Kara Tessari contributing 19 points, nine assists and six boards, and Ivana Vasiljevic 15 points and seven rebounds.

Bec Pizzey top-scored for Eltham with 26 points, 13 rebounds and five steals with Hailey Leidel contributing 23 points and six boards.

 

Dandenong open season with home win over Casey

It was only the third quarter that proved the difference between the two teams on Saturday night at Dandenong Basketball Stadium with the Dandenong Rangers beating the Casey Cavaliers 77-67.

Dandenong outscored Casey 22 points to 15 in the third quarter and ultimately that was enough to secure the 10-point win for the home team to open the new season.

Sarah Boothe delivered 22 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three assists for the Rangers while Luisa Fakalata contributed 14 points and five boards, Elly Morgan 10 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Holly Griffiths 10 points.

Tayla Gilliam top-scored for Casey with 18 points while Rachel Bell put up 16 points and seven rebounds, Steph Blicavs 13 points, six rebounds and three steals, and Shereesha Richards 12 points and seven boards.

MEN

Marshall lights it up as Pioneers win big to open season

The Mount Gambiuer Pioneers produced quite the statement to start the NBL1 South season with a 119-89 road win against the Sandringham Sabres.

It was a tight and high-scoring first half at Southern Basketball Stadium but it was all Mount Gambier in the second half highlighted by 39 points to 20 in the third quarter to set up the 30-point triumph.

The Pioneers shot 54.1 per cent for the game as a team and hit 19/39 from three-point range with Nick Marshall delivering 32 points and six rebounds with 8/10 shooting from beyond the arc.

Julian Pesava has made the move after being an NBL1 West championship winner and put up 21 points and five boards while hitting 5/9 from downtown. Jacob Lampkin added 18 points and 11 boards, and Chris Seeley 14 points and 11 boards.

CJ Asuncion-Byrd top-scored for Sandringham with 27 points with Campbell Blogg adding 21 points and five boards, and David Okwera 18 points and eight rebounds.

 

Thunder beat Chargers in Battle of Tasmania

The battle of Tasmanian NBL1 South teams saw the North West Tasmania Thunder defeat the Hobart Chargers 80-70 at Mazda BT-50 Thunder Stadium.

North West started well with 26 points to 19 in the first quarter and another 20 to 12 in the third set up the eventual 10-point win over their Tasmanian rivals.

Joe Chilcott led the charge for the Thunder with 20 points and four assists on 4/9 three-point shooting while Venky Jois added 17 points, 16 boards and seven assists, Vionte Daniels 15 points, and Kye Savage 14 points and two steals.

Sam McDaniel finished with 19 points and eight rebounds for the Chargers, Devin Watson 18 points and four boards, and Jordan Hargraves 12 points and 10 rebounds.

You're joking Venky Jois ?

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Dielemans sinks Supercats with winning for Cobras

The Kilsyth Cobras claimed the heart stopping 97-95 home win over the Geelong Supercats in the most remarkable of finishes and winning shots from Mitch Dielemans.

Geelong looked on track to score the win on the road to open the season with back-to-back three-pointers from Gabe Hadley and DeMarcus Gatlin to give them a two-point lead.

The Supercats were then still leading by one with possession, but then disaster struck. Gatlin couldn’t keep possession and Ben Ursich forced the turnover, and on the fast break Ursich was able to find Dielemans ready to shoot.

He drained the three-pointer to send the home crowd into raptures and the Cobras celebrated the most stunning of dramatic victories.

Corey Jeffs ended the night with 25 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals for Kilsyth with Adrian Tomada contributing 17 points, Dielemans 12 points, five rebounds and three assists, Ursich 11 points, six boards and three assists, and Jamie Ahale 11 points.

On the back of being with the Cairns Taipans in NBL23, Hadley was superb for Geelong with 37 points and 8/13 three-point shooting. Gatlin contributed 26 points and 12 rebounds.

MITCHELL DIELEMANS HAS THE CLUTCH GENE ?

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Ballarat prove too much for Melbourne on opening night

It was an emphatic start to the 2023 season for the Ballarat Miners, beating the Melbourne Tigers 92-68 at home on Saturday night.

Ballarat started strongly at Selkirk Stadium with 25 points to 13 in the first quarter and were never really in danger from there from the Andrew Gaze-coached Tigers, going on to win by 24 points.

Tyler Rudolph delivered 20 points and 13 rebounds on 9/14 shooting for Ballarat with Jack Davidson contributing 20 points and seven boards, and Adam Thoseby 19 points on 5/8 three-point shooting.

Jack Purchase put up 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Tigers with Mason Gaze adding 13 points, three boards and three assists.

NICOLAS POZOGLOU FLEW FOR THE PUTBACK ?

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High-powered Frankston overrun Bendigo

The Frankston Blues relied on their strong starting five to open the new season and they delivered in spades in the 101-87 victory against the Bendigo Braves.

The Braves played host to the Blues at Red Energy Arena and were leading at both quarter and half-time, but Frankston took over with 34 points to 16 in the third quarter to set up their 14-point victory.

Lucas Barker led the charge for Frankston with 29 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals with 12/19 field goal shooting and 4/8 from the land of plenty.

Brad Newley added 18 points and 12 rebounds, Daniel Trist 18 points and 10 boards, Igor Hadziomerovic 15 points and nine rebounds, and Jordan Evans 13 points.

Adam Pechacek top-scored for Bendigo with 24 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocks with Luke Rosendale adding 24 points, eight boards, five assists and three steals, and Bijan Johnson 18 points and five assists.

 

Glover's Wildcats overcome DJ's Eagles

With Sydney Kings championship winners Angus Glover and DJ Vasiljevic on either side, all attention was on Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre, and it was the Eltham Wildcats prevailing 87-77 over the Diamond Valley Eagles.

It's not often you get an NBL1 clash with NBL championship winners from just weeks ago doing battle with one another, but that was the case on Saturday night and it proved quite the spectacle.

In the end, the Wildcats shook off a slow start and produced 26 points to 16 in the fourth quarter to defeat the Eagles by those 10 points.

Kings' championship hero Glover finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals for Eltham while South East Melbourne Phoenix guard Owen Foxwell delivered 25 points.

Josh Sykes added 15 points and seven rebounds, Sam Short 15 points, three boards and three assists, and Callum Dalton 10 points and seven rebounds.

Vasiljevic put up 22 points, four rebounds and three assists for Diamond Valley but went 1/7 from downtown. Ngor Manyang added 17 points and Desmond Owili 11 to go with seven rebounds.

Dejan Vasiljevic is getting to the rack ?

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Rangers dominate Cavs to open season

The Dandenong Rangers dominated the Casey Cavaliers to open the NBL1 South season with a 97-72 home victory.

The Rangers dominated from the outset with 28 points to 11 in the opening quarter to set up the eventual 25-point triumph.

Jesse Ghee is fresh off an outstanding NBL1 West season in 2022 at the Goldfields Giants and opened his life with Dandenong with 27 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals on shooting 8/13 from the floor and 4/7 from long-range.

Deng Puoch added 20 points and five rebounds, Jack Roberts 12 points and seven boards, and Mike Amius 11 points.

Preston Bungei put up 18 points and eight rebounds, Malcolm Bernard 17 points and seven boards, and Mason Perry 11 points.