North Recap | Round 7 Saturday

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Erin Bollmann enjoyed another win with Sunshine Coast Phoenix over Northside Wizards while Cairns Dolphins handed Southern Districts Spartans a first NBL1 North loss while Kyle Adnam, Tamuri Wigness and Blake Jones starred in win for Spartans in Cairns.

NORTH RECAP | ROUND 7 FRIDAY

WOMEN

Northside Wizards (56) lost to Sunshine Coast Phoenix (73)

Erin Bollmann produced another masterful defensive display to lead the Sunshine Coast Phoenix to the 73-56 road win over her former Northside Wizards team.

The Wizards played in the last two NBL1 North grand finals including winning the championship at 2023, and Saturday night presented the second chance already in 2025 for Bollmann to take on her former team.

The Phoenix beat the Wizards back on May 24 on their home floor before the return clash at Northside Indoor Sports Centre with both teams locked in a battle over a spot in the lower part of the top six.

Sunshine Coast were coming off a win in Townsville last Saturday night and started strongly to be leading Northside 17-10 by the end of the opening quarter.

It was another 22 points to 12 in the second term with the Phoenix opening up a 20-point lead and heading into the half-time break on top 39-22 with them holding Northside to 8/34 shooting for the half.

The lead for Sunshine Coast blew out to 30 points in the second half before they secured the 17-point victory even with the strong finish on their home floor from the Wizards.

The Phoenix improve to a 5-3 record with the defeat to remain solid inside the top six with Erin Bollmann having a significant impact at both ends finishing with 14 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks despite 5/21 shooting.

Shannon Ryan top-scored for Sunshine Coast with 16 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks and two steals while Mia Byrne added 14 points, seven boards and three assists, and Jessica Boundy had 10 points, two rebounds and two blocked shots.

The Wizards remain outside a playoff spot with a 3-5 record having now lost back-to-back games with Courtney Virgo top-scoring with 14 points, four rebounds and three steals.

Saskia Gunness added 12 points and 14 rebounds, Erin Harvey 10 points, three boards and three assists, and Cierra Walker nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

NORTHSIDE WIZARDS 56 (Virgo 14, Gunness 12, Harvey 10)

SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 73 (Ryan 16, Byrne 14, Bollmann 14)

Mackay Meteorettes (99) defeated South West Metro Pirates (83)

The Mackay Meteorettes hit back impressively from their first loss of the season beating the South West Metro Pirates 99-83 with Monique Bobongie and Unique Thompson putting in standout performances.

The Meteorettes lost their first game of the season two weeks ago at home to the Cairns Dolphins and they were back home at Mackay Basketball Stadium on Saturday night attempting to hit back against a Pirates team yet to taste victory in 2025.

It was the Pirates who got the better of the start to be leading 28-18 by the end of the first quarter but Mackay hit back by going on a 10-run in response and to end up narrowly leading 45-44 heading into half-time.

It was then 28 points to 21 from the Meteorettes in the third quarter and then another 26 to 18 in the fourth which saw Mackay secure the 16-point victory to bounce back from that first loss of the season a fortnight ago.

As a result of the win, the Meteorettes improve to a 6-1 record to open the season with Monique Bobongie top-scoring with 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Unique Thompson had another 21 points and 24 rebounds.

Amari Robinson also contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals, Cheyenne Bobongie eight points, seven assists and four boards, and Emme Shearer eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

South West Metro remain winless at 0-6 ahead of a Sunday match up with the Rockhampton Cyclones to complete their road double this weekend.

Grace Champion ended up with 19 points, four rebounds and two steals for the Pirates with Beyonce Bea contributing 14 points, seven boards and four assists, Bronte Corke 14 points and five rebounds, Jenna Kilty 11 points, and Steph Bairstow nine points and 12 boards.

MACKAY METEORETTES 99 (M Bobongie 25, Thompson 21, Robinson 16)

SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES 83 (Champion 19, Corke 14, Bea 14)

Cairns Dolphins (78) defeated Southern Districts Spartans (63)

There is no longer an unbeaten team in the NBL1 North with Cayla George, Teyahna Bond and Taryn Bond starring as the Cairns Dolphins won 78-63 to hand the Southern Districts Spartans a first loss of 2025.

The Spartans arrived at Trinity Ford Stadium fresh off winning in Townsville the previous night while holding them to 43 points to improve to a 7-0 record which they put on the line against the Dolphins.

Cairns came into the clash having won their last two matches as well and by quarter-time it was the Dolphins clinging to the narrow 21-20 lead.

Things remained tight going into half-time with Cairns leading 40-39 having shot 16/32 opposed to the 17/42 from the Spartans with Southern Districts also missing all three of their free-throw attempts.

It was then just a two-point lead for Cairns by three quarter-time but it was in the last term when the Dolphins made a real statement by outscoring the Spartans 24-12 thanks to shooting 13/18 at the foul line to 2/3 from the Spartans.

That saw Cairns secure the 15-point victory to hand Southern Districts a first loss of the season and improve to 5-3 themselves with three straight wins.

Cayla George was a strong force in the win for the Dolphins with 19 points, 19 rebounds, three assists and three blocks while Teyahna Bond added 17 points, four assists and two boards.

Taryn Bond also had 15 points, six rebounds and two assists, Summah Evans 10 points, six boards and three steals, and Aimee Brett eight points, four rebounds and two assists.

The Spartans are now 7-1 having split their road trip to Far North Queensland this weekend with Jess McDowell-White finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals with 5/14 three-point shooting.

Kalani Purcell also had nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks, Nicole Fransson eight points and six boards, Tiana Mangakahia eight points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals, and Taylah Simmons eight points and 10 boards.

CAIRNS DOLPHINS 78 (George 19, Teyahna Bond 19, Taryn Bond 15)

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 63 (J McDowell-White 20, Purcell 9, Fransson 8, Mangakahia 8)

Ipswich Force (78) lost to Logan Thunder (93)

Amandine Toi and Leah Scott combined for 52 points to lead Logan Thunder to the 93-78 road win over the Ipswich Force to keep their winning form going.

Logan arrived at Ipswich Basketball Stadium on a six-game winning streak as they took on an Ipswich team looking to build on their last up win against the South West Metro Pirates.

It was a strong start on the road from the Thunder with 28 points to 19 in the first quarter on the back of shooting 5/7 from three-point territory.

From there Logan turned that into the 48-35 lead going into the half-time break before then piling on 30 points in the third frame on shooting 11/20 from the field with another four three-point makes.

The lead for the Thunder got out to as much as 25 points in the second half before they secured the 15-point victory to make it seven straight wins and to improve to a 7-1 record.

Amandine Toi produced 27 points, two rebounds and two steals with 5/11 three-point shooting for Logan with Leah Scott adding 25 points, seven boards and five assists while Prasayus Notoa contributed 14 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, and Mikhaela Cann eight points, five boards and five assists.

Ipswich are now sitting on a 3-5 record following the loss despite Kahlaijah Dean top-scoring with 27 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals.

Anna Bassett also had 15 points on 5/11 three-point shooting, Olivia West 14 points, five assists and four rebounds, Nathasha Elliott 10 points, six boards and two assists, and Hannah Young eight points and eight rebounds.

IPSWICH FORCE 78 (Dean 27, Bassett 15, West 14)

LOGAN THUNDER 93 (Toi 27, Scott 25, Notoa 14)

MEN

Northside Wizards (68) lost to Sunshine Coast Phoenix (85)

The Sunshine Coast Phoenix made it three straight wins to consolidate second position with the 85-68 road win over the Northside Wizards.

The Phoenix arrived at Northside Indoor Sports Centre having won their past couple of games to take on a Wizards team also looking for a third straight victory.

It was a high-scoring opening to the contest with the Phoenix leading 32-25 by quarter-time on the back of shooting 12/20 from the field opposed to 10/19 from the Wizards.

Sunshine Coast then maintained that seven-point lead heading into half-time and then throughout the second half that advantage got out to as much as 19 points, and the Phoenix scored the 17-point victory.

The win improves Sunshine Coast to a 6-2 record to remain in second place in the standings with Earnest Ross top-scoring with 18 points and five rebounds.

Erik Kafritsas also ended up with 17 points, five assists and three rebounds, Jamaal Robateau 14 points, six boards, two assists and two steals, DeShawn Ross-Paiwan 14 points and four rebounds, Darnell Robateau 10 points, nine boards and six assists, and Nelson Kahler 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Wizards are now 4-4 following the loss which is their first defeat at home for the season with Tyler Williams finishing with 19 points, six rebounds and two assists with 4/7 shooting from behind the arc.

Jed Richardson added 15 points, nine rebounds and two assists, Durrell McDonald 12 points, three boards and two assists, and Josh Kunen 11 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and two steals.

NORTHSIDE WIZARDS 68 (Williams 19, Richardson 15, McDonald 12)

SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 85 (Ross 18, Kafritsas 17, J Robateau 14, Ross-Paiwan 14)

Mackay Meteors (95) defeated South West Metro Pirates (89)

An impressive triple-double from Dragan Stajic and first appearance of the season from former NBL Next Star Roman Siulepa wasn't quite enough for the South West Metro Pirates with Jerron Jamerson leading the Mackay Meteors to the 95-89 win.

The defending champion Meteors were back home at Mackay Basketball Stadium attempting to bounce back from a loss to the Cairns Marlins two weeks ago while the Pirates arrived having lost their past three games to be in last place in the NBL1 North.

Even with Mackay opening up an eight-point lead in the first quarter, South West Metro hit back with an 8-0 scoring run to open up an 11-point lead and to be on top 22-18 by quarter-time still.

That lead for the Pirates was back out to nine points early in the second frame too before the Meteors began to take charge to end up outscoring the visitors 27 points to 19 leading into half-time with the 45-41 lead.

Even when the Meteors managed to push out to a nine-point lead in the third term, the Pirates still fired back and even returned to the lead with seven minutes to play when Kai Woodfall drained a three ball.

Riley Inkson responded with a three-pointer for Mackay before Sunshine Coast were back on top with three free-throws from Woodfall.

It was still a tied ball game in the final two minutes after Lachlan Anderson landed from downtown for South West but then Cameron Goldfinch put Mackay back on top, and from there they were able to secure the win by converting at the foul line.

The defending champion Meteors improve to a 5-2 record with the win with Jerron Jamerson starring with 33 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Cameron Goldfinch added 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals, Jaxon Brenchley 18 points, five boards and three assists, and Riley Inkson 11 points on 3/4 three-point shooting.

The Pirates are now 1-5 with four straight losses ahead of taking on the Rockhampton Rockets on Sunday despite the impressive triple-double from Dragan Stajic with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals with 4/10 shooting from downtown.

Roman Siulepa made his first appearance of the season with 16 points and seven rebounds with Ben Volkman contributing 13 points, 10 boards and two assists, Lachlan Anderson 12 points, five rebounds and two assists, and Brendan Teys 11 points and three boards.

MACKAY METEORS 95 (Jamerson 33, Brenchley 18, Goldfinch 18)

SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES 89 (Stajic 25, Siulepa 16, Volkman 13)

Cairns Marlins (90) lost to Southern Districts Spartans (104)

Kyle Adnam, Tamuri Wigness and Blake Jones combined for 75 points to lead the Southern Districts Spartans to the 104-90 road win over the Cairns Marlins.

The Spartans started their road double in Far North Queensland this weekend by losing to the Townsville Heat on Friday night ahead of taking on the Marlins at Trinity Ford Stadium.

Cairns came into the match with just two wins from seven matches so far this season and having yet to won on their home floor, but the Marlins started impressively to open up a 25-17 lead by quarter-time.

That lead for Cairns then got out to as much as 17 points in the second quarter and the home team were still leading 46-39 by the half-time interval.

The Spartans then fired up spectacularly in the third quarter with 36 points on the back of shooting 15/22 from the field which included making all five of their three-point attempts.

That saw Southern Districts turn that seven-point deficit at the half to a seven-point lead by three quarter-time, which they were able to convert into the 14-point victory.

The win improves the Spartans to a 3-5 record on the season after splitting their double-header road weekend with Kyle Adnam delivering 31 points and five assists with 14/15 free-throw shooting.

Tamuri Wigness produced 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals with 4/5 shooting from behind the three-point line with Blake Jones adding 22 points, eight boards, three assists and two blocks.

Nandor Kuti also had 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Jean-Luc Morel 12 points, 11 boards, two assists and two steals on 5/7 shooting.

Cairns are now 2-6 having lost their past two to remain in second last place in the standings with Kody Stattmann finishing with 22 points to go with nine assists and eight rebounds as he threatened a triple-double.

Curt Ah Wang also had 17 points on 5/12 three-point shooting for the Marlins, Kian Dennis 14 points and three rebounds, Ky Stattmann 11 points, nine boards, four assists and two steals, and Aron Farmer 10 points and six rebounds.

CAIRNS MARLINS 90 (Kody Stattmann 22, Ah Wang 17, Dennis 14)

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 104 (Adnam 31, Jones 22, Wigness 22)

Ipswich Force (87) lost to Logan Thunder (90)

Lamar Patterson and DJ Mitchell couldn’t quite get the Ipswich Force to overtime and instead it was a three-pointer from Tom Howard with 30 seconds to go that ended up securing the 90-87 win over Logan Thunder over the Ipswich Force.

With Ipswich coming into the round in fifth position and Logan in sixth, there was plenty on the line for both teams when they locked horns on Saturday night at Ipswich Basketball Stadium.

The two teams combined for 51 points in the first quarter with Ipswich leading 26-25 by quarter-time on the back of shooting 10/16 from the floor to the 10/18 from the Thunder.

Even with Ipswich opening up a seven-point lead in the second quarter, by half-time their advantage was only 46-44 before Logan worked in front in the third period thanks to 27 points to 22.

It would then turn out to be quite the rollercoaster ride of a last quarter and just when Ipswich had opened up a six-point lead with 5:30 to play, Logan responded with a three ball from Tom Howard and an and-one play from Callum Dalton.

Ipswich were back up three with 2:45 to go with a triple from Khobie De Haan and then it took more than two minutes for another field goal, and that would be a three ball from Howard.

It would ultimately be the game winner for Logan as well with late attempts at forcing overtime from Lamar Patterson and DJ Mitchell not falling, and the Thunder scored the three-point win.

Logan improves to a 4-4 record as a result of the win with Callum Dalton providing 19 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots.

Matt Kenyon added 16 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, Zac Triplett 16 points, four boards, three assists and two steals,, and Tom Howard 14 points, five rebounds and three assists on 3/6 three-point shooting.

Ipswich are now also 4-4 following the defeat with Patterson top-scoring with 24 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Jason Ralph delivered 15 points, four rebounds and three assists on 3/6 three-point shooting, Ngor Nai 14 points, five boards and two blocked shots, Merrick Small 10 points and three rebounds, and Mitchell eight points, seven boards, six assists and two steals.

IPSWICH FORCE 87 (Patterson 24, Ralph 15, Nai 14)

LOGAN THUNDER 90 (Dalton 19, Kenyon 16, Triplett 16)