Recap NBL1 South | Round 1 Sunday

Jade Melbourne starred once again on Sunday to keep Melbourne Tigers unbeaten after Round 1 of NBL1 South with Nick Marshall's Mount Gambier Pioneers and the Frankston Blues among the other impressive winners.

Sunday's NBL1 South women's results saw the Ballarat Miners beat the Geelong United Supercats 95-85 while the Frankston Blues beat the Eltham Wildcats 66-62, the Melbourne Tigers defeated the Nunawading Spectres 86-79, and the Mount Gambier Pioneers downed the Waverley Falcons 95-66.

The men's matches then saw the Braves beat the Falcons 90-73, the Supercats defeat the Miners 81-79, the Blues down the Wildcats 104-91, and the Spectres prevail 89-74 against the Tigers.

RECAP NBL1 SOUTH | ROUND 1 SATURDAY

RECAP NBL1 SOUTH | ROUND 1 FRIDAY

RECAP NBL1 SOUTH | ROUND 1 WEDNESDAY

WOMEN

Ballarat Miners (95) defeated Geelong United Supercats (85)

Chloe Bibby was in for the Ballarat Miners and they opened their account for 2024 with her help with the 95-85 win at home to the Geelong United Supercats.

The Miners started the season back on Wednesday night at home to the Bendigo Braves but went down by 42 points.

Bibby wasn’t there for that game, but she was on deck back at Selkirk Stadium on Sunday as they played host to the Supercats who were making their first appearance of 2024.

With Shaneice Swain leading the charge, Geelong United started their season in impressive fashion opening up a 10-point lead in the opening quarter.

Even though Ballarat were able to fire back, the Supercats pulled away once more to be up by 10 during the fourth quarter, but then the Miners fired up and produced a stunning finish to the contest to overrun them.

From the moment Geelong were leading 78-68 with 8:45 remaining in the game, Ballarat managed to outscore them 27 points to seven in a stunning turnaround for the 10-point victory for their first win of 2024.

Chloe Bibby finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and three assists for Ballarat despite going 6/23 from the field for the game.

Alex Bunton added 20 points and 10 rebounds, Abbey Wehrung 17 points, six boards and five assists, Micah Simpson 11 points and six assists, and Ella Gordon nine points and five boards.

Shaneice Swain ended up with 26 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for Geelong United with Lasha Petree contributing 21 points and seven rebounds, Kobe Tehau King-Hawea, Jessica Scannell 10 points and nine boards, and Sarah Elsworthy 10 points and four steals.

Geelong United will play their first home game of the season on Friday to the Bendigo Braves at 6pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Miners will be on the road to the Mount Gambier Pioneers on Sunday.

BALLARAT MINERS 95 (Bibby 22, Bunton 20, Wehrung 17)

GEELONG UNITED SUPERCATS 85 (Swain 26, Petree 21, King-Hawea)

Frankston Blues (66) defeated Eltham Wildcats (62)

The Frankston Blues held on in a Sunday thriller at home to beat the Eltham Wildcats to close Round 1 action.

Frankston were hunting their first win of the season after a narrow loss also at home to the Keilor Thunder back on Friday while the Wildcats were doing the same having lost the previous evening hosting the Diamond Valley Eagles.

The two teams came together at Dreamstreet Lending Arena and it was in the second quarter when Frankston took control by outscoring Eltham 15 points to five.

That saw the Blues take a 32-21 advantage into half-time but the Wildcats did fire back in the second half and even hit the front when Bec Pizzey scored with 5:40 remaining.

Eventually it was Steph Reid who scored on a floater for the Blues to tie scores up again and then she answered a three ball from Taylah Wynne with one of her own to keep the home team in front with two minutes remaining.

Kassie Boorer then landed the killer blow also from behind the arc and Frankston won by four to open their account for 2024.

Steph Reid showed what a superstar she is once more for Frankston to be instrumental in the win with 23 points, six assists, four rebounds and four steals including going 7/7 from the foul line.

Jacqui Trotto added 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, Courtney Wilkins eight points, four boards and two steals, and WNBL championship winner Lou Brown pulled down 10 rebounds.

Bec Pizzey finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks for Eltham with Lily Scanlon contributing 14 points and three boards, Hailey Leidel 14 points and three assists, and Erin Riley six points, eight rebounds and two assists.

Eltham are next in action on the road to the Dandenong Rangers on Wednesday at 6pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Blues remain at home to host the Diamond Valley Eagles on Thursday.

FRANKSTON BLUES 66 (Reid 23, Trotto 14, Wilkins 8)

ELTHAM WILDCATS 62 (Pizzey 14, Scanlon 14, Leidel 14)

Melbourne Tigers (86) defeated Nunawading Spectres (79)

The Melbourne Tigers kept their hot start to the season rolling on Sunday with Jade Melbourne and Steph Blicavs combining for 52 points in 86-79 win against the Nunawading Spectres.

The Tigers opened their season back on Thursday night beating the Dandenong Rangers by 28 points while the Spectres went down to the Ringwood Hawks at home by 35 points back on Friday.

That set up Sunday's match up at Melbourne Sport and Aquatic Centre and the Tigers kept that momentum going from Thursday racing out to a 12-point lead in the opening quarter.

However, Nunawading did well to fight back into the contest and even take the lead briefly in the second term before Melbourne still went into half-time leading 50-43.

The Tigers continued to maintain their advantage throughout the second half again leading by as much as nine points before ending up winning by seven to remain perfect to open 2024.

Jade Melbourne continued her superb start to the season for Melbourne with 28 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals with Steph Blicavs strong as well with 24 points, four boards and three assists on 4/8 three-point shooting.

Sam Simons also put up 15 points and five assists with Abbey Sutherland contributing eight points, five rebounds and three blocked shots.

Louise Forsyth top-scored for Nunawading with 23 points on 3/4 shooting from behind the three-point line with Batabe Zempare contributing 21 points, 17 rebounds and five assists, and Bride Kennedy-Hopoate 20 points and seven boards.

The Tigers remain at home to host the Ringwood Hawks on Saturday at 5:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. Later that evening the Spectres are away to the Eltham Wildcats.

MELBOURNE TIGERS 86 (Melbourne 28, Blicavs 24, Simons 15)

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 79 (Forsyth 23, Zempare 21, Kennedy-Hopoate 20)

Waverley Falcons (66) lost to Mount Gambier Pioneers (95)

The Mount Gambier Pioneers made it a perfect road double weekend to start their NBL1 South season beating the Waverley Falcons 95-66 on Sunday.

The Pioneers opened their season on Saturday beating the Sandringham Sabres ahead of taking on the Falcons at Waverley Basketball Centre on Sunday.

Waverley also started its season on Saturday night losing to the defending champion Bendigo Braves on the road and it was a seesaw contest throughout the opening half of the Sunday match up.

The Pioneers were leading by two at quarter-time before holding a narrow 43-40 advantage at the half-time interval.

Mount Gambier then pulled away in the third quarter thanks to putting up 34 points to 21. Another 18 points to five in the final period and that saw the Pioneers end up scoring the 29-point victory to go 2-0 after two games on the road inside 24 hours.

Isabella Brancatisano ended up top-scoring for Mount Gambier with 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals while knocking down 5/11 from three-point range.

Haliegh Reinoehl also had 22 points and six rebounds while hitting 3/5 from deep with Sherrie Calleia contributing 19 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals, and Zitina Aokuso 18 points, nine boards, five assists and three blocked shots.

Fresh off being a key part of the Southside Flyers winning the WNBL championship, Carley Ernst put up 20 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists for the Falcons while connecting on 4/7 from beyond the arc.

Amelia Todhunter added 13 points, five assists and three rebounds, and Sharna Thompson 13 points, three boards and three assists.

The Falcons are on the road to the Launceston Tornadoes next up on Friday at 6pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App while the Pioneers are at home to the Frankston Blues on Saturday at 6.30pm.

WAVERLEY FALCONS 66 (Ernst 20, Thompson 13, Todhunter 13)

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 95 (Brancatisano 23, Reinoehl 22, Calleia 19)

MEN

Ballarat Miners (79) lost to Geelong United Supercats (81)

The Geelong United Supercats opened their 2024 season with a narrow 81-79 win on the road against the Ballarat Miners on Sunday.

While the Supercats were making their first appearance of the season, Ballarat had already played back on Wednesday night and scored a first up 11-point win against the Bendigo Braves.

Ballarat were again at home on Sunday to host Geelong United at Selkirk Stadium and it turned out to be quite the tight contest throughout.

The Miners were able to open up a 13-point lead thanks to an 11-0 scoring run in the second quarter, and were still up by 12 during the second frame, but then the Supercats were able to work their way on top.

Geelong would go on to lead by six points with just over two minutes to play after a layup to Latrell Jones.

Ballarat weren’t done yet and Tyler Rudolph knocked down a three-pointer but it was a jumper from Liam Herbert that proved the final dagger and the Supercats held firm in the finish for the two-point road victory.

Latrell Jones finished up his first appearances with the Supercats with 21 points and five rebounds with Liam Herbert adding 15 points, three rebounds and two assists, Owen Odigie 13 points and seven boards, and Marach Marach 12 points and five rebounds.

Tyler Rudolph knocked down 4/7 from three-point land for 21 points and 13 rebounds for Ballarat with Nick Stoddart adding 13 points and three assists, Makuei Puondak 15 points and three rebounds, and Luke Rosendale 11 points and four boards.

Geelong United will play their first home game of the season on Friday to the Bendigo Braves at 8pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Miners will be on the road to the Mount Gambier Pioneers on Sunday.

BALLARAT MINERS 79 (Rudolph 21, Puondak 15, Stoddart 13)

GEELONG UNITED SUPERCATS 81 (Jones 21, Herbert 15, Odigie 13)

Frankston Blues (104) defeated Eltham Wildcats (91)

The Frankston Blues completed their supremely impressive Round 1 of the 2024 season beating the Eltham Wildcats 104-91 at home on Sunday.

Frankston opened the season strongly beating the Keilor Thunder on Friday by 17 points while Eltham also started off beating the Diamond Valley Eagles on the back of Angus Glover nailing his first six three-point attempts.

Frankston was back home on Sunday to host Eltham at Dreamstreet Lending Arena and it was a blockbuster contest with the talent on both teams, and it lived up to the billing.

It was the Blues who held the edge virtually the whole way, though, including opening up a nine-point lead in an opening quarter where both teams combined to score 50 points.

From there Frankston would end up leading 56-43 at the half-time break and despite 33 points from Eltham in the third period, the Blues had the answers to go on and score the 13-point win to improve to 2-0 to start the new season.

Lachlan Barker was outstanding in the win for Frankston with 24 points, three assists and two rebounds while shooting 8/14 from the floor and 4/7 from behind the arc.

Lucas Barker added 18 points and five assists, Daniel Trist 16 points and 13 rebounds, Klay Brown 13 points on 4/6 shooting from downtown, Brad Newley 13 points and eight rebounds, and Stokley Chaffee 11 points and 11 boards.

Owen Foxwell did all he could to keep Eltham in the contest with 26 points and three rebounds on 10/16 shooting with NBL free agent Angus Glover delivering another 21 points, four assists, three steals and two rebounds on 4/9 shooting from three-point range.

Ralph Bissainthe added 21 points and three rebounds, and Josh Sykes 13 points and four boards.

Eltham are next in action on the road to the Dandenong Rangers on Wednesday at 8pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Blues remain at home to host the Diamond Valley Eagles on Thursday.

FRANKSTON BLUES 104 (Lachlan Barker 24, Lucas Barker 18, Trist 16)

ELTHAM WILDCATS 91 (Foxwell 26, Bissainthe 21, Glover 21)

Melbourne Tigers (74) lost to Nunawading Spectres (89)

The Nunawading Spectres produced a dominant fourth quarter to secure the eventual 89-74 road victory against the Melbourne Tigers.

The Spectres were attempting to back up their first up win over the Ringwood Hawks on Friday with Melbourne out to open their account for 2024 having lost narrowly at home also to the Dandenong Rangers on Thursday.

The Tigers again hosted the Spectres at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre and it was a tight contest for the majority of the first three quarters.

While Nunawading led most of the way, it was a single-figure contest and Melbourne were within striking distance, but then the Spectres dominated the fourth quarter with a 12-0 run to end up securing the 15-point to improve to 2-0 after Round 1.

Jack Gandolfo finished with 20 points and six assists in the win for Nunawading with Trendon Hankerson contributing 20 points, six boards, six assists and five steals while hitting 5/7 from three-point range.

Jalen Johnson added 19 points, five rebounds and two steals with Daniel Baxter contributing 14 points, eight boards, three assists and two steals.

Mason Gaze put up 24 points and seven rebounds on 7/9 shooting from behind the three-point line for the Tigers with Tom Wilson adding 24 points and six boards.

Jack Purchase also had 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

The Tigers remain at home to host the Ringwood Hawks on Saturday at 5:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. Later that evening the Spectres are away to the Eltham Wildcats.

MELBOURNE TIGERS 74 (Wilson 24, Gaze 24, Purchase 10)

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 89 (Gandolfo 20, Hankerson 20, Johnson 19)

Waverley Falcons (63) lost to Mount Gambier Pioneers (67)

The Mount Gambier Pioneers held firm down the stretch to score the 67-63 Sunday victory on the road to the Waverley Falcons.

Mount Gambier opened their season with a Saturday night road win over the Sandringham Sabres while Waverley also lost on Saturday away to the Bendigo Braves setting up Sunday's match up at Waverley Basketball Stadium.

Both teams had their turn with the advantage throughout the afternoon with the Falcons leading by as much as seven points in the first half and then the Pioneers working their way on top throughout the second.

Mount Gambier went on a 10-0 scoring run to end up leading by as much as eight points in the final period, and holding out the Falcons for the eventual four-point victory.

Nick Marshall put in another strong showing in the win for the Pioneers with 23 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks after his NBL24 season at the Adelaide 36ers.

Austin Shelley added 12 points and two steals for Mount Gambier, Titus Robinson 11 points and 11 rebounds, Dylan Marshall eight points and three boards, and Akech Aliir pulled down 13 rebounds to go with four blocked shots.

DJ Vasiljevic put up 20 points and 10 rebounds despite shooting 2/13 from three-point range for Waverley with Malik Meunier adding 18 points, four rebounds and two steals after helping the Geraldton Buccaneers to the NBL1 West championship last season.

Matthew McCarthy also had eight points, 12 rebounds and three assists.

The Falcons are on the road to the North West Tasmania Thunder next up on Friday at 8pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App while the Pioneers are at home to the Frankston Blues on Saturday at 8.30pm.

WAVERLEY FALCONS 63 (Vasiljevic 20, Meunier 18, McCarthy 8)

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 67 (Marshall 23, Shelley 12, Robinson 11)