NBL1 North Recap | Saturday Round 1

Tiana Mangakahia, Ariana Moorer, Andrew White III, Jason Cadee and Sean Macdonald were among the standout opening round Saturday night performers to lead their teams to NBL1 North victories.

In the Saturday night women's action, the Northside Wizards defeated the Brisbane Capitals 95-64, the Gold Coast Rollers beat the North Gold Coast Seahawks 89-53, USC Rip City downed the Sunshine Coast Phoenix 75-54 and the Darwin Salties beat the Southern Districts Spartans 80-72.

In the men's match ups, the Wizards beat the Capitals 113-109 in an overtime cracker while the Rollers beat the Seahawks 93-80, the Phoenix downed Rip City 102-82 and the Salties overcame Southern Districts 102-89.

WOMEN
Wizards open new season with road win over Capitals
Led by Tiana Mangakahia, the Northside Wizards opened the season beating the Brisbane Capitals 95-64 at Auchenflower Stadium.

It was a tight game at half-time with the Wizards narrowly leading 34-30, but it all changed in the second half with Northside dominating and outscoring the Capitals 61 points to 34 to win by 31.

Fresh off her breakout WNBL season at the Sydney Flames, last seasons' league MVP Mangakahia delivered 27 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Wizards.

Amanda Johnson added 18 points and 12 rebounds, Lil Dart 15 points, five boards, three assists and two steals, and Georgia Dale 11 points and eight rebounds.

Abby Cubillo top-scored for Brisbane with 21 points while Mia Loyd finished with 13 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists.

The reigning #NBL1North MVP was on FIRE in her 2023 debut ?

2?7? points, 9? rebounds, 5? assists and 4? steals in a massive win ?

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— NBL1 (@NBL1) March 25, 2023

Moorer dominates as Rollers run over Seahawks
Ariana Moorer had a night out as the Gold Coast Rollers opened the new season with an 89-53 road victory against the North Gold Coast Seahawks.

The Seahawks were still just hanging in there with a six-point deficit at three quarter-time, but the Rollers delivered 26 points to six in the fourth quarter to claim the first up 26-point victory.

Moorer was outstanding in the win for Gold Coast with 37 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists on 11/21 shooting from the field and 13/13 at the foul line.

Carla Drennan added 15 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Rollers.

Erin Riley finished with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals for North Gold Coast.

Impressive home opening win for Rip City
It was an impressive start to the new season at home for USC Rip City with a 75-54 victory against the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.

Rip City gradually built on their lead throughout the evening to end up winning by 21 points for the perfect start at USC Sports Stadium.

N'dea Flye finished the night with 17 points for USC while Carlie Smith had 14 points and 17 rebounds, Steph Bairstow 13 points and seven boards, and Madeline Campbell 10 points.

Kathleen MacLeod top-scored for Sunshine Coast with 23 points and six assists with Amy Browne adding 14 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.

Salties open up with season opening win in Darwin
The Darwin Salties thrilled their home fans with a first up 80-72 victory against the Southern Districts Spartans to open the 2023 season at Darwin Basketball Stadium.

The Spartans started on fire away from home with 31 points in the opening quarter, but from there the Salties were able to work their way on top including winning the second half 40 points to 26 to win by eight.

Ruby Porter produced 22 points and four steals with four three-pointers for Darwin while Erin Bollmann contributed 20 points, eight boards, six assists and five steals.

Madelyn Allen delivered 28 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists with 6/11 three-point shooting in the loss for the Spartans.

Ruby Porter hits the dagger 3?? and sends Darwin into a frenzy!

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— NBL1 (@NBL1) March 25, 2023

MEN
Spectacular White III debut lifts Wizards over Capitals in OT
What a start it was to the 2023 season with overtime needed at Auchenflower Stadium with the Northside Wizards ending up prevailing 113-109 against the Brisbane Capitals.

There was star power galore on either side setting up the match up but ultimately Andrew White III was the difference maker. 

He hit the clutch free throws at the end of regulation to force the game into overtime on the back of a 20-point first half for the Wizards having arrived this past NBL season to play at the Brisbane Bullets midway through.

The Wizards then had the answers in overtime to win the game by four in quite the start to the NBL1 North season.

It was a spectacular NBL1 debut for White finishing with 46 points and seven rebounds on 11/21 shooting from the floor, 4/10 from downtown and a phenomenal 20/24 from the foul line.

Kyle Zunic added 22 points and seven assists for Northside and Lual Diing 19 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks.

There was a lot to like for the Capitals too with Nick Stoddart ending up with 23 points with Lachie Dent contributing 12 points and 14 assists, Geordan Papacostas 18 points and nine rebounds, and Malok Majak 15 points and 12 boards. 

Cadee leads Rollers to win to open championship defence
The Gold Coast Rollers started their NBL1 North championship defence with a solid first up road win 93-80 against the North Gold Coast Seahawks.

Gold Coast started well with 29 points to 21 in the first quarter to set the tone for the eventual 13-point victory.

Championship winning captain Jason Cadee put up 29 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for Gold Coast with Elijah Kamu adding 17 points and six boards, Cameron Thew 14 points and 10 boards, and Jaryd Eustace 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Biwali Bayles finished with 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Seahawks, Aiden Krause 12 points and seven boards, Kody Stattmann 11 points and seven rebounds, and Majok Majok 11 points and 10 rebounds. 

Deep Phoenix impressive on opening night against Rip City
The Sunshine Coast Phoenix proved too strong for the USC Rip City to open the season winning 101-82 at USC Sports Stadium.

It was a standout all-round performance to open the new season from the Phoenix with six players all playing a key role in the victory.

Jamaal Robateau ended the night with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Phoenix while Max Kerle contributed 19 points, four boards and three assists.

Kiran Shastri also had 16 points and five rebounds, Mason Bragg 11 points, six boards and two assists, and Jonathan Janssen 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Brandon Wood put up 26 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals for Rip City with Eric McAlister contributing 13 points and seven boards, and Corey Shervill 11 points and five rebounds.

OH MY Makuach Maluach ?

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— NBL1 (@NBL1) March 25, 2023

Macdonald sparks Salties to first up win at home
Sean Macdonald continued on his form from NBL23 to help deliver the Darwin Salties the 102-89 season opening home win against the Southern Districts Spartans.

With Macdonald leading the charge for the Salties on the back of what he did this NBL season at the Tasmania JackJumpers, Darwin proved too strong to open 2023 to beat Southern Districts by 13 points.

Macdonald ended the night with 30 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals while connecting on 7/11 from three-point range.

Jerron Jamerson added 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, Makuach Maluach 17 points and 11 boards, and Deba George 14 points.

Kobe McDowell-White produced 23 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists for the Spartans with Akoldah Gak contributing 18 points, Koen Sapwell 15 points and four rebounds, Alex Mudronja 15 points and seven boards, and Andre Ugrinic 14 points and nine rebounds.

Kyle Zunic ?? Lual Diing ?

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— NBL1 (@NBL1) March 25, 2023