North Recap | Round 7 Sunday

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South West Metro Pirates won their first NBL1 North game of 2025 in a Sunday thriller where Grace Champion scored 34 and Chelsey Perry 40 while Roman Siulepa led the Pirates men to the win in Rockhampton.

NORTH RECAP | ROUND 7 SATURDAY

WOMEN

Rockhampton Cyclones (93) lost to South West Metro Pirates (97)

Steph Bairstow scored the last four points of the game at the foul line to secure the 97-93 win to get the South West Metro Pirates on the board for 2025 against the Rockhampton Cyclones with Chelsey Perry scoring 40 points for the losers and Grace Champion 34 for the winners.

The defending champion Cyclones were back home at Bravus Arena on the back of their triple-header on the road last week where they started off beating the Northside Wizards in a grand final rematch but then lost to the Southern Districts Spartans and Brisbane Capitals by a combined 82 points.

That was without Moira Joiner as well in those last two games but she was back for the Sunday match up against the Pirates who lost to the Mackay Meteorettes to being their road double on Saturday.

It was a strong start from the Pirates with 22 points to 14 in the first quarter but then Rockhampton totally flipped things around in the second term with 29 points to 14 on the back of shooting 9/14 from the field and 8/9 from the foul line.

That saw the Cyclones lead 43-36 by half-time but then the swings continued and South West Metro took back charge in the third term with 31 points to 19 with 9/17 shooting and going 9/11 at the free-throw line.

That saw the Pirates lead by five at three quarter-time but it would prove to be a game going right down to the wire and it was a dramatic final minute with a three-point play from Grace Champion putting South West Metro on top by those three points.

Chelsey Perry then responded with a three ball to level scores up but Rockhampton didn’t get up another shot attempt and up the other end Steph Bairstow knocked down all four of her free throws to secure the four-point road win for the Pirates.

It's the first win of the season for South West Metro as they improve to a 1-6 record with Grace Champion delivering 34 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists on 5/12 three-point shooting.

Beyonce Bea also had 24 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals, Jenna Kilty 12 points and two boards, and Steph Bairstow 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Rockhampton are now 3-5 on the season following the defeat with Chelsey Perry outstanding finishing with 40 points, 10 rebounds and three assists on 5/9 three-point shooting.

Moira Joiner returned to the line-up with 22 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists with Alana Paewai contributing 13 points and seven assists, and Kiara Phillips 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

ROCKHAMPTON CYCLONES 93 (Perry 40, Joiner 22, Paewai 13)

SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES 97 (Champion 34, Bea 24, Bairstow 12, Kilty 12)

MEN

Rockhampton Rockets (100) lost to South West Metro Pirates (106)

The South West Metro Pirates produced a monstrous fourth quarter to come from behind to complete their weekend on the road with the bounce back 106-100 win against the Rockhampton Rockets.

The Pirates had already played on Saturday night in Mackay where they lost a tight battle with the defending champion Meteors as they backed up on Sunday against Rockhampton at Bravus Arena.

It was a first game for the Rockets since losing to the Brisbane Capitals last Sunday to complete their road triple where they also had beaten the Southern Districts Spartans and lost to the Northside Wizards.

The Pirates have added in former NBL Next Star Roman Siulepa this weekend too and Junior Madut was with the team but didn’t hit the floor, but it was the home team that started well with Rockhampton leading 30-23 by quarter-time.

The Rockets were then still leading 58-51 by half-time before that lead got out to 18 points in the third period and the home team was still in control leading 81-75 by three quarter-time.

The Pirates had their work cut out to avoid going home without a win this weekend and they were up to the challenge outscoring the Rockets 31 points to 19 in the last quarter to come from six points down to end up scoring the six-point win.

The victory improves South West Metro to a 2-5 record on the season having recorded their second win of 2025 with Roman Siulepa showing why he is one of the most exciting teenage products in the country by delivering 27 points and 12 rebounds on 11/19 field goal shooting.

Lachlan Anderson also had 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, Brendan Teys 15 points, four boards and two assists, Kai Woodfall 14 points and six assists, Jarred Bairstow 12 points and nine rebounds, and Dragan Stajic 11 points, four assists, three boards and three steals.

Rockhampton are now 3-5 on the season following the defeat on their home floor with Jalen Graham finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks on 10/17 field goal shooting.

Malcolm Bernard added 23 points, 11 assists and five rebounds on 11/11 free-throw shooting with Isaac Ayoubi contributing 20 points and five assists, Malok Majak 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists, and Harrison Hornery 10 points and three boards.

ROCKHAMPTON ROCKETS 100 (Graham 25, Bernard 23, Ayoubi 20)

SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES 106 (Siulepa 27, Anderson 20, Teys 15)