North Recap | Round 11 Saturday

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Gold Coast Rollers women under Mark Bradtke broke through for first NBL1 North win while Logan Thunder made it 11 straight, Southern Districts Spartans consolidated top spot and Cairns Dolphins maintained a finals place.

NORTH RECAP | ROUND 11 FRIDAY

WOMEN

Northside Wizards (68) lost to Southern Districts Spartans (86)

The Southern Districts Spartans maintained top spot in the NBL1 North with the 86-68 win against the Northside Wizards to make it four consecutive victories.

The Wizards were back home to Northside Indoor Sports Centre fresh off a win against the Gold Coast Rollers to breath some life back into their season on the back of playing in each of the two grand finals, and winning the 2023 NBL1 North championship.

Southern Districts sitting in top spot in the NBL1 North having won three straight and lost just once so far in 2025, and the two teams couldn’t be separated by quarter-time with the scores locked at 21-21.

After scoring the last seven points of the opening term, Northside turned that into a 10-0 run to start the second term to open up a three-point lead before the Spartans stemmed the tide and in the end it was the Wizards narrowly leading 40-39 by half-time.

The longer the game went and the more the Spartans were able to work on top including opening up a three-point lead by three quarter-time, and then turning that into a 27-12 final term to secure the comfortable 18-point victory in the finish.

The victory improves Southern Districts to an 11-1 record with four wins in-a-row and just two matches to go in the regular season away to the Ipswich Force and at home to the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.

Taylah Simmons finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two assists for the Spartans with Odette Isaac adding 19 points, five boards, two assists and two steals.

Nicole Fransson also had 18 points, six rebounds and three steals, Jess McDowell-White 11 points and eight assists, and Emily Preston six points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists.

The Wizards remain outside a playoff spot with a 4-9 record now with just one match to go in the regular season against the Brisbane Capitals in two weeks' time.

Cierra Walker finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists on 5/10 three-point shooting for the Wizards.

Alice O'Driscoll added 14 points, 11 rebounds and three assists, Courtney Virgo 11 points, two boards and two assists, and Saskia Gunness nine points, 15 rebounds and four assists.

NORTHSIDE WIZARDS 68 (Walker 22, O'Driscoll 14, Virgo 11)

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 86 (Simmons 22, Isaac 19, Fransson 18)

South West Metro Pirates (63) lost to Cairns Dolphins (95)

The Cairns Dolphins consolidated their hold on a spot in the playoffs by hitting the road and scoring the 95-63 victory against the South West Metro Pirates.

The Pirates were back home at Hibiscus Sports Stadium fresh off a win against the Sunshine Coast Phoenix and trying to staying touch of the top six while Cairns arrived looking to hit back from a last up loss to the Mackay Meteorettes.

It was the Dolphins who got off to a flying start with 32 points to 18 in the first quarter on the back of shooting 13/22 from the field opposed to the 6/17 from the Pirates.

The Dolphins continued to be in control throughout the second period and their lead got out to 24 points, and by half-time they were leading 57-35 while shooting 22/43 to the 10/34 from South West Metro.

The Pirates did attempt a fightback in the third frame with 21 points to 13, but it wouldn’t last with Cairns producing a dominant final term with 25 points to seven on the way to securing the emphatic 32-point victory.

The Dolphins ended up shooting 50 per cent from the field to the 33 from the Pirates to go with making 9/22 from downtown while South West Metro went 3/19 from beyond the arc.

Cairns improves to a 7-4 record with the win ahead of taking on the Ipswich Force on Sunday to complete their road double with Leichan Williams a powerful force down low on her way to 20 points, 13 rebounds and three assists with 9/12 shooting.

Mia Loyd added 18 points, six rebounds and four assists, Taryn Bond 19 points, six boards, three assists and three steals, and Teyahna Bond 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

South West Metro slip further from the playoff race with a 4-8 record with Grace Champion finishing with 15 points and three rebounds.

Beyonce Bea added 14 points, six boards, three assists, three steals and two blocks, and Steph Bairstow 10 points, two rebounds and two steals.

SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES 63 (Champion 15, Bea 14, Bairstow 10)

CAIRNS DOLPHINS 95 (Williams 20, Taryn Bond 19, Loyd 18)

Rockhampton Cyclones (86) lost to Logan Thunder (89)

Logan Thunder made it 11 wins in-a-row to keep the pressure on for top spot in the NBL1 North with the 89-86 win over the defending champion Rockhampton Cyclones.

The defending champion Cyclones were back home at Bravus Arena knocking on the door of the top six having won their past two matches while hosting a Logan team in hot form on a 10-game winning streak and yet to lose on the road so far in 2025.

Rockhampton got the better of the start with a 27-22 by the end of the first quarter but Logan turned things around in the second term with 25 points to 16 which saw the Thunder head into the half-time break leading 47-43.

Logan were still leading by three points at three quarter-time but it would prove to be a dramatic and rollercoaster last quarter with Rockhampton grabbing the lead two minutes into it after a three-point bomb from Chelsey Perry.

They were able to turn that into a five-point lead a minute later but Logan answered back with the next seven points including a three ball from Amandine Toi to reclaim the lead.

Toi hit another triple to extend the Thunder lead back out to five points and from there Logan wouldn’t surrender the advantage again going on to score the three-point victory.

The win improves the Thunder to an 11-1 record on the season with the 11 straight victories and just the two games to go over the final two weeks of the regular season against the Brisbane Capitals and South West Metro Pirates.

Amandine Toi knocked down 5/8 from long range in the win for Logan on her way to 26 points, two rebounds and two assists.

Leah Scott also had another 23 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and five steals, Kendell Heremaia 20 points and six boards, and Mikhaela Cann 13 points, 11 assists and three rebounds.

Rockhampton are now 5-6 to remain outside of the top six with games to finish against the Townsville Flames, Cairns Dolphins and Mackay Meteorettes.

Chelsey Perry ended up with 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists on 7/11 field goal shooting for the Cyclones while Moira Joiner finished with a triple-double consisting of 19 points, 10 boards, 10 assists and four steals.

Alana Paewai also provided 17 points, four rebounds and four assists, and Mary Goulding nine points, seven boards and three assists.

ROCKHAMPTON CYCLONES 86 (Perry 20, Joiner 19, Paewai 17)

LOGAN THUNDER 89 (Toi 26, Scott 23, Heremaia 20)

Gold Coast Rollers (99) defeated Brisbane Capitals (89)

Mark Bradtke has his first win as coach and the Gold Coast Rollers are on the board for 2025 with the 99-89 home win against the Brisbane Capitals.

When Gold Coast arrived at Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium, they had not won since June 7 last year but it did present as a real opportunity against a Capitals team without Miela Sowah and who had lost three straight themselves.

It was an impressive start from the Rollers who went on 12-0 run in the first quarter to end up leading 26-20 by quarter-time.

Brisbane responded with 26 points to 19 in the second term and that meant by half-time it was the Capitals narrowly leading to the 46-45 advantage.

Gold Coast worked back on top in the third term to open up an eight-point lead before still being up 71-67 by three quarter-time.

That set up a big finish with both teams desperate for the win and it was Gold Coast who wouldn’t be denied opening up a 20-point lead on the way to eventual 10-point triumph.

It snaps a 19-game losing streak dating back to losing the last eight games of 2024 and the first 11 of 2025 with Gold Coast improving to a 1-11 record as a result.

Juna Umezawa was the star in the win for Gold Coast which is their first under the coaching of Australian basketball legend Mark Bradtke. She finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots.

Emma Petrie added 18 points and six rebounds with 3/4 three-point shooting while Nyah Morris added 19 points, five assists and two steals, Tera Reed 19 points, seven assists, six boards and three steals, and Tara Manumaleuga 16 points, seven assists and three rebounds.

Brisbane have now lost their past four matches to sit on a 3-8 record with Ashley Arlen giving all she could with 40 points, six rebounds and two assists despite being limited to 28 minutes thanks to foul trouble.

Alleah Hanson with 11 points and nine rebounds while Keriana Hippolite scored eight points, and Tyla Stolberg contributed seven points and four rebounds, Chanel Enriquez-Paea six points, Grace Ellis six points, eight boards and three assists, and Audrey Fuller six points, five rebounds and four assists.

GOLD COAST ROLLERS 99 (Umezawa 24, Morris 19, Reed 19)

BRISBANE CAPITALS 89 (Arlen 40, Hanson 11, Hippolite 9)

MEN

Northside Wizards (87) lost to Southern Districts Spartans (95)

The Southern Districts Spartans were still without Kyle Adnam but got 30 points out of Tamuri Wigness in their 95-87 win against the Northside Wizards to move closer to a playoff position.

The Wizards came into the contest on their home floor at Northside Indoor Sports Centre having slipped outside the top six following the last two losses to the Logan Thunder and Gold Coast Rollers.

Southern Districts arrived fresh off a win against Gold Coast which kept their finals prospects alive and setting up a crucial Saturday night Round 11 match up.

With both teams trying to break into the top six, there was plenty at stake and it was a tight contest most of the way including in the first quarter when they shared 50 points with the Spartans leading 26-24 by quarter-time.

It was then 23 points to 22 in favour of the Wizards in the second term and that meant by half-time it was the Spartans clinging to the 48-47 advantage.

Then in the third period Southern Districts opened up the biggest lead of the game of 14 points and while the Wizards did keep fighting, from there the Spartans were able to complete the deal on the eight-point victory.

With the win, Southern Districts improves to a 6-6 record with games to finish the season against the Ipswich Force and Sunshine Coast Phoenix.

Tamuri Wigness continued his spectacular form to bang down the door to earn another NBL opportunity and he finished with another 30 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals.

He was mightily efficient too shooting 13/17 from the field and 3/6 from behind the three-point arc.

Max Kerle added 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals, Blake Jones 14 points, five boards and five assists, Nandor Kuti 11 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals, Matt Hodgson seven points, seven boards and three blocks, and Andre Ugrinic seven points, six rebounds and four assists.

Northside are now 6-7 following the defeat with just one game left in their season in two weeks away to the Brisbane Capitals.

Jed Richardson delivered big time for the Wizards despite the loss with 26 points, nine rebounds, four steals and two assists on 10/12 shooting from the floor.

Tyler Williams added 19 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and three steals, Josh Kunen 13 points and three boards, Durrell McDonald 13 points, seven assists, five steals and three rebounds, and Nikau McCullough eight points, five assists and three boards.

NORTHSIDE WIZARDS 87 (Richardson 26, Williams 19, McDonald 13, Kunen 13)

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 95 (Wigness 30, Kerle 15, Jones 14)

South West Metro Pirates (92) defeated Cairns Marlins (77)

Lachlan Anderson scored 23 points and knocked down six three-pointers as the South West Metro Pirates made it four straight wins by beating the bottom placed Cairns Marlins 92-77.

The Pirates were back home at Hibiscus Sports Stadium on the back of three straight wins as they try to earn a finals position while Cairns arrived to start their road double this weekend also coming off a win against the defending champion Mackay Meteors.

South West Metro got off to a good start on their home floor opening up an eight-point lead in the first term and to still be leading 27-22 by quarter-time.

That lead for the Pirates got out to double-figures in the second period before they went into the half-time break on top 54-45.

That lead for South West continued to grow in the second half getting out to 16 points in the third stanza, and 21 in the fourth on the way to scoring the eventual 15-point victory.

The win for the Pirates is their fourth in-a-row as they improve to a 6-6 record on the season as they narrow in on a playoff position with just two games remaining of the regular season against the Gold Coast Rollers and Logan Thunder.

Lachlan Anderson produced a standout performance for South West Metro with 23 points, 11 rebounds and four steals with 6/11 three-point shooting.

Junior Madut added 17 points and two assists with Brendan Teys contributing 16 points on 7/11 field goal shooting, Ben Volkman 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots, and Dragan Stajic 13 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and three steals.

Cairns remain in bottom spot in the NBL1 North with the loss ahead of completing their road trip on Sunday against the on fire Lamar Patterson and the Ipswich Force.

Kody Stattmann ended up with 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Marlins with Kian Dennis adding 12 points, seven boards and three assists, and Moses Nuangki 12 points, three rebounds and two assists.

SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES 92 (Anderson 23, Madut 17, Teys 16)

CAIRNS MARLINS 77 (Kody Stattmann 21, Nuangki 12, Dennis 12)

Rockhampton Rockets (93) defeated Logan Thunder (81)

The Rockhampton Rockets kept their finals hopes alive with Jalen Graham and Harrison Hornery combining for 50 points in the 93-81 home victory against Logan Thunder.

The Rockets were back home at Bravus Arena on the back of beating Ipswich Force two weeks ago while Logan had started their road double this weekend with an eight-point loss to the Mackay Meteors.

It was Logan clinging to the two-point lead by quarter-time before the Thunder were able to extend that lead with another 27 points to 12 in the second term on the way to the 49-43 lead by half-time.

Rockhampton fired back in the third quarter with 26 points to 17 to have turned that six-point deficit into their own three-point advantage by three quarter-time.

From there, the Rockets kept the momentum going with another 24 points to 15 in the last quarter on the way to the 12-point victory.

Rockhampton improves to a 5-6 record with the win to stay a chance of playing finals in 2025 after losing in the first round to the Brisbane Capitals last year.

Jalen Graham finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in the win for the Rockets with 12/22 shooting from the field.

Harrison Hornery also had 22 points and 10 rebounds with 6/7 three-point shooting for Rockhampton while Malcolm Bernard added 18 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals, and Isaac Ayoubi 15 points, five boards and five assists.

Logan are now 5-7 on the season after the pair of losses this weekend after they also lost in the quarter finals last year to the Southern Districts Spartans.

Zac Triplett continued his tremendous season with the Thunder by producing another 22 points, five assists and three rebounds with 4/12 three-point shooting.

Matt Kenyon added 17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals, Callum Dalton 14 points, six boards and three assists, Tom Howard 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Elijah Puna nine points, seven boards, two assists and two steals.

ROCKHAMPTON ROCKETS 93 (Graham 28, Hornery 22, Bernard 18)

LOGAN THUNDER 81 (Triplett 22, Kenyon 17, Dalton 14)

Gold Coast Rollers (106) defeated Brisbane Capitals (91)

Preston Le Gassick and Reuben Te Rangi combined for 55 points as the Gold Coast Rollers kept their winning form going to beat the Brisbane Capitals 106-91 on Saturday night.

Gold Coast were back home at Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium coming off beating the Northside Wizards last Saturday night on the same floor with the Capitals arriving having lost their last game to the Ipswich Force but still sitting in top spot of the NBL1 North.

The Rollers did open up a seven-point lead in the first quarter before clinging to a two-point lead at quarter-time, but it was in the second term when the home team took over the contest.

Gold Coast outscored Brisbane 32 points to 19 on the back of shooting 13/21 from the field with 4/5 from deep while the Caps shot 9/23 with 0/5 from behind the three-point arc.

That saw the Rollers leading 56-41 by half-time before the lead got out to a game high 20 points in the third quarter, and the home team remained in control the rest of the way to secure the 15-point victory.

Gold Coast finished the game shooting 57 per cent from the field opposed to the 44 per cent from Brisbane while making 8/17 of their three-point attempts to 6/20.

The Rollers improve to a 7-5 record with the win to stay solid in a playoff position with just two games remaining against the South West Metro Pirates and Ipswich Force.

Preston Le Gassick starred in the win for Gold Coast with 31 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals with 13/21 shooting from the field.

Reuben Te Rangi added 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals, Boston Mazlin 17 points and five assists on 3/3 three-point shooting, Charles Smith IV 15 points and four rebounds, and Jensen Bradtke six points, 13 boards and two steals.

Brisbane are now 7-4 with the second straight defeat but they have three matches left to try and lock away top spot against Logan Thunder, the Sunshine Coast Phoenix and the Northside Wizards.

Reigning MVP Sam McDaniel produced 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists for Brisbane with Uche Dibiamaka adding 18 points, four boards and two assists, Geordan Papacostas 14 points and four rebounds, and Cameron Thew 13 points and seven boards.

GOLD COAST ROLLERS 106 (Le Gassick 31, Te Rangi 24, Mazlin 17)

BRISBANE CAPITALS 91 (McDaniel 18, Dibiamaka 18, Papacostas 14)