Recap NBL1 South | ANZAC Round Wednesday

Feature image via: Ian Knight Photography 

In the opening games of the 2024 NBL1 ANZAC Round, there was plenty of action to break out in the two games. 

See the recaps below: 

Dandenong secures ANZAC eve victory over Frankston

In the game to open the 2024 NBL1 ANZAC Round, the Dandenong Rangers closed out a win against the Frankston Blues 68-63 in a nail-biting encounter on Wednesday evening at the Dreamstreet Lending Arena.

Dandenong’s performance was marked by a well-rounded team effort and solid defensive plays, limiting Frankston to just 37.3 percent shooting from the field. WNBA Draft pick Nyadiew Puoch led the game in scoring with 24 points, while Amber Smith added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds -- bolstering her team's frontcourt presence.

Blues star Steph Reid got up to 19 points before receiving an elbow to the face, leaving her to miss the remainder of the game. In her absence, Louise Brown put up 14 points with 15 rebounds and their bench contributed significantly, adding 15 points -- but it wasn't enough to secure a win.

DANDENONG RANGERS 68 (Puoch 24, Smith 16, Imogen Rock 14).

FRANKSTON BLUES 63 (Reid 19, Brown 14, Kessie Boorer 11).

The Dandenong Rangers will take on Geelong United on Saturday, streaming from 6:00pm AEST live via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.

Frankston dominates Dandenong in a spectacular win

In a thrilling Wednesday evening match in Frankston, the Blues secured a commanding 95-78 victory against Dandenong.

Frankston's approach was a blend of aggressive offence and tight defence. They shot an impressive 53.8 per cent from the field and capitalised significantly on turnovers, scoring 12 points from Dandenong's mistakes.

NBL1 South Co-MVP Daniel Trist led the team in scoring with 22 points while Stokley Chaffee added 18 points and four blocks. The team's depth was on display, with 27 points coming from the bench compared to the Rangers' 19.

Conversely, Dandenong struggled to find their rhythm from outside, shooting 30.7 per cent (8/26) from the arc. Tad Dufelmeier and Jack Roberts were standouts despite the loss, scoring 23 and 19 points respectively.

FRANKSTON BLUES 95 (Trist 22, Chaffee 18, Lucas Barker 11).

DANDENONG RANGERS 78 (Dufelmeier 23, Roberts 19, Mason Peatling 13).

The Blues will next play in Round 5, while the Rangers will host Geelong United on Saturday from 8:00pm AEST streaming live via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.