NBL1 South Recap | Friday Men's Round 7

The lone game on Friday night in the NBL1 South competition saw the Eltham Wildcats overrun the Frankston Blues to claim a thrilling five-point Round 7 victory.

It might have been the only game on Friday night to bring Round 7 of the 2022 NBL1 South season to a close ahead of the Queen's Birthday long weekend, but it was a terrific contest between the Wildcats and Blues.

In the end, Eltham overcame a three quarter-time deficit to beat Frankston 88-83 at Eltham High School.

Mitchell Dance finished with 21 points and 3/4 shooting from downtown in the win for the Wildcats while Adrio Bailey put up 24 points and eight rebounds in just 18 minutes for Frankston.

Also on Friday night, the Diamond Valley Eagles hosted the Indonesia national team and scored a 108-80 victory.

The rest of the Round 7 action took place last weekend starting on Friday night with the Hobart Chargers defeating the Casey Cavaliers 82-79.

Then on Saturday, the Mount Gambier Pioneers beat the Frankston Blues 109-91, the Ballarat Miners beat the Geelong Supercats 78-63, the Bendigo Braves defeated the Ringwood Hawks 90-73 and the Knox Raiders downed the Nunawading Spectres 92-67.

The Diamond Valley Eagles also prevailed 89-66 against the Kilsyth Cobras, the Keilor Thunder beat the Melbourne Tigers 66-62 and the Casey Cavaliers downed the North West Tasmania Thunder 102-71.

Then on Sunday, the Kilsyth Cobras downed the Sandringham Sabres 86-78, the Ringwood Hawks defeated the Eltham Wildcats 73-67, the Mount Gambier Pioneers beat the Nunawading Spectres 113-74, the Knox Raiders prevailed 87-61 against the Waverley Falcons and the Dandenong Rangers beat the Frankston Blues 105-101.

That all means that following Round of the 2022 NBL1 South season, it's the Mount Gambier Pioneers clear on top of the standings at 9-1 ahead of the 7-3 Ballarat Miners.

The Kilsyth Cobras are next at 7-4 in front of the Geelong Supercats (6-3), Waverley Falcons (6-3), Frankston Blues (6-4), Knox Raiders (6-5), Sandringham Sabres (6-5), Hobart Chargers (5-3), Diamond Valley Eagles (5-4) and Nunawading Spectres (5-5).

Then there is the Ringwood Hawks at 5-5 in front of the North West Tasmania Thunder (4-4), Bendigo Braves (3-6), Dandenong Rangers (3-6), Casey Cavaliers (3-7), Melbourne Tigers (2-7), Keilor Thunder (2-8) and Eltham Wildcats (1-8).

NBL1 SOUTH – 2022 MEN'S SEASON
ROUND 7 – FRIDAY NIGHT

ELTHAM WILDCATS 88 defeated FRANKSTON BLUES 83

Josh Sykes provided the highlight plays all evening, but it was a bucket from veteran Mitchell Dance on an offensive rebound that ultimately sealed Friday night's win for the Eltham Wildcats against the Frankston Blues.

The two teams locked horns at Eltham High School in the lone Friday night game and the only NBL1 South match of the Queen's Birthday long weekend to wrap up Round 7 of the 2022 season.

It turned out to be quite the entertaining affair as well including a 57-point opening quarter.

Josh Sykes set the tone for the evening for Eltham with a couple of big throwdown dunks and some big blocked shots, but it remained a tight contest virtually all evening.

The Wildcats were able to open up a 12-point lead in the first quarter and were again up by 11 in the second term but the Blues had closed the gap to cut their advantage to 52-49 by the half-time break.

Frankston then worked their way on top during the third quarter with 19 points to 12 to head into three quarter-time leading 68-63.

The Blues did lead by as much as six points during the fourth term as well but the Wildcats were able to turn things back around on their home floor and with five minutes to go, South East Melbourne Phoenix teenager gave them a five-point edge.

However, Frankston hit the next six points to regain the lead before the teams traded marks. Mitchell Dance put Eltham back in front, Alister Macdonald regained the lead for Frankston and then Foxwell scored again to put the Wildcats on top.

Sykes then got in the passing lane for a steal and breakaway slam to extend the Eltham advantage but still with under a minute left, it was just a one-point ball game. 

It ended up a frantic possession where Dillon Stith blocked Deng Kuany, but Dance grabbed it for a layup that ended up sealing the eventual 88-83 victory for the Wildcats on their home floor.

On top of hitting the biggest shot of the night, Mitchell Dance delivered 21 points for Eltham on the back of shooting 8/12 from the field and 3/4 from deep.

Sam Short added 18 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Wildcats, Owen Foxwell 17 points, four boards, four assists and three steals, Josh Sykes 13 points, five rebounds and four blocks, and Sam Whelan eight points and four assists.

Adrio Bailey made quite the impression for Frankston in just 18 minutes of court time, finishing with 24 points and eight rebounds on 6/9 shooting from the field and 10/12 from the foul line.

Daniel Trist added 18 points for Frankston, Alister Macdonald 11 points and five rebounds, Dillon Stith 11 points and eight boards, and Lachlan Barker nine points and five rebounds.

DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 108 defeated INDONESIA 80

The Indonesia national team started their Australian tour of playing against NBL1 teams up against the Diamond Valley Eagles on Friday night.

The Eagles hosted the Indonesian team at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre with Sydney Kings NBL championship winning star DJ Vasiljevic having a night to remember against the Indonesian national team.

Diamond Valley started strongly with 30 points to 20 in the opening quarter before heading into the half-time break leading 49-39.

With Vasiljevic catching fire like few players in the country can, Diamond Valley pulled further away with 30 points to 18 in the third quarter, and another 29 to 23 in the fourth to end up beating Indonesia 108-80.

Vasiljevic lit up the building in stunning fashion for the Eagles to finish the night with 41 points, six rebounds and five assists on the back of shooting 8/13 from three-point territory.

Mark Scherf also finished with 13 points and four assists for Diamond Valley, Ngor Manyang 11 points and 12 rebounds, Luke Liesegang 10 points, and Ben Allen 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Brandon Van Dorn Jawato ended up top-scoring for the Indonesia national team with 22 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Juan Laurent Kokodiputra added 19 points and three assists, Abraham Damar Grahita 16 points, four boards and four assists, Yudha Saputera 11 points and four assists, and Vincent Rivaldi Kosasih 10 points and four assists.