South Recap | Finals Week 1 Saturday

Image credit: Xavier Papadakos | @xnp_photography

Geelong United and Knox Raiders women booked home NBL1 South preliminary finals as did the Knox and Mount Gambier Pioneers men with the seasons over for Frankston Blues women, and Ballarat Miners and Hobart Chargers men.

POTTER FINDS HER BASKETBALL HOME IN GEELONG

NBL1'S UNBEATEN OUTFITS ON NATIONALS COLLISION COURSE

NEWLY RETIRED PINEAU FOCUSED ON SABRES SUCCESS

SOUTH RECAP | ROUND 15 SUNDAY

WOMEN

ELIMINATION FINAL – Frankston Blues (81) lost to Diamond Valley Eagles (87)

One of the teams was always going to be mighty disappointed to see their seasons come to an end and it was the Frankston Blues with Steph Reid returning for the Diamond Valley Eagles and delivering 38 points in the 87-81 win.

The teams finished the regular season on identical 14-8 records but with the Blues earning home court advantage thanks to claiming the series split and going into the finals on a four-game winning streak.

Diamond Valley did lose to Frankston last weekend by 33 points, but all of a sudden they regained Steph Reid and Abbey Ellis from the triumphant Opals team at the Asia Cup in China, and it was a decidedly different story.

Diamond Valley did open up a seven-point lead in the first quarter before Frankston hit back and by the end of one the scores were all tied at 22-22.

Frankston then managed to outscore Diamond Valley 23-19 in the second term and by half-time the Blues were leading on their makeshift home of Jubilee Park Stadium 45-41.

The Blues had hit 8/14 to 4/14 from three-point territory in that opening half but the game took on a dramatic transformation in the third quarter with Steph Reid taking over for the Eagles.

Diamond Valley outscored Frankston 26 points to 16 with 5/13 three-point shooting and from there the Eagles were able to complete the deal for the six-point elimination final victory.

Diamond Valley did look to be a top four team for most of the season when at full strength and now they will get the chance to show that in a semi-final against a losing top four team next weekend.

Steph Reid was spectacular in the win for the Eagles with 38 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals on the back of shooting 7/15 from three-point territory.

Erin Riley added 13 points, nine rebounds and three assists for Diamond Valley with Lara McSpadden providing 12 points, seven boards and three steals, Tayha Watkins eight points and two rebounds, Abbey Ellis eight points, six assists, three boards and three steals, and Carly Turner eight points and six rebounds.

The season is now over for Frankston despite Lauren Scherf delivering another 27 points, 14 rebounds and four assists with Lou Brown adding 18 points, 15 boards, five assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Marta Hermida also had 14 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals, and Emily Monaghan 10 points and two assists.

FRANKSTON BLUES 81 (Scherf 27, Brown 18, Hermida 14)

DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 87 (Reid 38, Riley 13, McSpadden 12)

QUALIFYING FINAL – Knox Raiders (65) defeated Dandenong Rangers (62)

Despite the Knox Raiders not scoring in the last four minutes of the game they just were able to do enough to move straight into a preliminary final with the 65-62 win over the Dandenong Rangers.

The Raiders finished the regular season in second position with a 19-3 record and with 11 straight wins to earn the hosting rights at the State Basketball Centre of the qualifying final.

They were hosting a Dandenong team who finished third at 16-6 and it turned out to be quite the defensive grind for most of the evening.

Dandenong did open up a five-point lead early in the game but Knox responded with a 10-0 run to open up their own six-point advantage, and to then be still narrowly leading 20-17 by quarter-time.

The Rangers were able to turn that around with 21 points to 14 in the second period with shooting 8/15 from the field to the 7/20 from the Raiders to go into the half-time break with the 38-34 advantage.

The momentum swings continued and Knox outscored Dandenong 22 points to 16 in the third term and that saw the home team leading 56-54 by three quarter-time.

The scoring really dried up for both teams in the last quarter as they combined for just the 17 points on 8/34 shooting.

Knox did appear in control with four minutes remaining when Paige Bradley scored to give them a nine-point lead, but the Raiders wouldn’t score again.

Manuela Puoch scored four straight points for Dandenong before Dallas Loughridge also scored to make the margin just three with 30 seconds to go.

However, there wouldn’t be another score and Knox did hold on for the three-point win to now earn the week off and to remain at home to host a preliminary final.

Alicia Froling had a big night in the win for the Raiders with 28 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots on the back of shooting 13/16 from the field.

Paige Bradley also had nine points, three rebounds and two assists, and Rachel Bell seven points and nine boards.

Dandenong will now host the winner of Sunday's clash between the Waverley Falcons and Ringwood Hawks next week in a semi-final with Nyadiew Puoch producing 18 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Dallas Loughridge also had 17 points, three assists and two steals, Manuela Puoch 10 points and nine rebounds, Amber Smith eight points, and Georgia Booth eight points, eight rebounds and two assists.

KNOX RAIDERS 65 (Froling 28, Bradley 9, Bell 7)

DANDENONG RANGERS 62 (N Puoch 18, Loughridge 17, M Puoch 10)

QUALIFYING FINAL – Geelong United (84) defeated Keilor Thunder (69)

Geelong United are now just one win away from a spot in the 2025 grand final by remaining undefeated this season with the 84-69 win over a Keilor Thunder team who welcomed back Issie Bourne and Maddy Rocci.

Geelong had completed a perfect regular season winning all 22 games and doing so in dominant fashion to earn the right to remain at home at The Geelong Arena to host Keilor to open the finals.

The two teams did meet last Friday night with Geelong winning by 18 points but it was a different proposition this time around with Bourne back from the Asia Cup and Rocci returning from injury for Keilor.

Geelong did take control in the first quarter by going on a 9-0 run to open up a 15-point lead on the way to still being on top 28-17 by quarter-time thanks to shooting 10/19 to the 7/21.

United remained in control by going into the half-time break leading 48-34 and while that lead did grow to 17 in the third stanza, Keilor were able to fire back.

The Thunder ended up outscoring Geelong 21 points to 15 in the third term to cut the United lead back to eight by three quarter-time.

Geelong responded, though, and completed another 10-0 run to put the Keilor challenge to bed on the way to leading by 19 points, and scoring the 15-point win to earn the week off and book in a home preliminary final.

Gemma Potter showed the way in the win for Geelong with 23 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists with Hannah Hank contributing 13 points, five boards and three assists.

Jaz Shelley also had 12 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals, Taylor Mole 10 points and three boards, Dakota Crichton 10 points and six rebounds, and Lilly Rotunno 10 points, six boards and six assists.

By finishing in the top four, Keilor now will host a semi-final next week against the Diamond Valley Eagles in what is shaping as a fascinating cut-throat affair.

Issie Bourne was back from the Asia Cup playing with the Opals and she produced 25 points, 12 rebounds and three assists for Keilor.

Jasmine Dickey added 22 points, three rebounds and two assists while Maddy Rocci returned from injury by playing 28:29 and having six points, seven assists and six rebounds.

GEELONG UNITED 84 (Potter 23, Hank 13, Shelley 12)

KEILOR THUNDER 69 (Bourne 25, Dickey 22, Wightman 6, Rocci 6)

MEN

ELIMINATION FINAL – Melbourne Tigers (89) defeated Ballarat Miners (77)

The dynamic trio of Jack Purchase, Harry Froling and Tom Wilson have combined to end the season of the grand finalists from last year with the 89-77 win over the Ballarat Miners.

The Tigers had earned hosting rights for the elimination final at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre by finishing in sixth position while the Miners were seventh with both teams ending up on identical 14-8 records.

Melbourne finished higher just based on their 25-point win over Ballarat all the way back on May 10 but it was always going to be a tantalising battle with both teams attempting to keep their season alive.

It was a tight opening to the do-or-die contest with Ballarat holding the slender 21-19 lead by quarter-time before it was 26 points to 20 from Melbourne in the second frame to see the Tigers go into the half-time break leading 45-41.

The Tigers then took further control in the third period with 24 points to 13 with that lead getting out to as much as 15 points, and then it grew to 18 in the fourth.

Despite the Miners throwing everything at their fightback and going on a 9-0 scoring run, the gap was too big to make up and the Tigers went on to score the 12-point victory.

As a result, Melbourne will now take on the Kilsyth Cobras in a semi-final next weekend with a spot in the preliminary final against the Knox Raiders on the line.

Jack Purchase produced 27 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Tigers with 4/10 three-point shooting while Harry Froling added 20 points, 11 boards and three assists with 6/9 shooting from the floor and 7/9 at the foul line.

Tom Wilson also had 19 points, five rebounds and three assists with Mason Gaze contributing nine points, seven boards, three assists and two steals.

The season is now over for Ballarat after they reached the grand final in 2024 with Nick Stoddart top-scoring with 27 points and three assists.

Dayne Prim added 17 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals, Majok Majok 13 points and 10 boards, and Luke Rosendale five points, six rebounds and five assists despite shooting 2/14 from the field.

MELBOURNE TIGERS 89 (Purchase 27, Froling 20, Wilson 19)

BALLARAT MINERS 77 (Stoddart 27, Prim 17, Majok 13)

ELIMINATION FINAL – Sandringham Sabres (111) defeated Hobart Chargers (98)

The hot form of Ben Ayre and the Sandringham Sabres continued to open the finals with him producing another 36 to lead his team to the 111-98 elimination final win over the Hobart Chargers.

After starting the season losing the opening six games, the Sabres caught fire winning 14 of the last 16 including going on an 11-0 winning streak which saw them finish in fifth position with a 14-8 record.

That saw them earn the rights to host the elimination final at Southern Basketball Stadium against a Chargers team who claimed the last playoff position for 2025 with a 12-9 record.

It was a strong start at home for Sandringham with 31 points to 25 in the first quarter before they added another 27 to 20 in the second to go into half-time leading 58-45 thanks to shooting 7/19 three-point shooting to the 1/10 from Hobart.

That lead continued to grow for the Sabres throughout the second half with it growing to 17 points in the third quarter, and 24 in the fourth thanks to a 13-0 scoring run.

Hobart did respond with an 11-0 run of their but Sandringham still ended up cruising to the 13-point win to now advance to a semi-final next weekend against the defending champion Eltham Wildcats in a fascinating match up.

Ben Ayre produced another brilliant display as he prepares for a first NBL season with the Tasmania JackJumpers. He finished with 36 points, seven assists and five rebounds with 11/20 shooting from the field, 4/8 from downtown and 10/10 at the foul line.

Malith Machar also had 25 points, three rebounds and two assists for Sandringham with Tom Koppens adding 17 points, five boards, two assists and two steals, CJ Asuncion-Byrd 13 points and two steals, Dane Pineau two points, nine rebounds and two steals and two blocks, and Fabijan Krslovic four points, nine boards and four assists.

The season is now over for Hobart with two-time NBL1 East MVP Will Cranston-Lown finishing his first South season with 27 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals.

Jacob Richards delivered 18 points, three steals and two rebounds, Jordan Straatsma 14 points and five boards, Ole Angerstein 13 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and two assists, and Vincent DeAngelo 12 points, nine boards and two assists.

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 111 (Ayre 36, Machar 25, Koppens 17)

HOBART CHARGERS 98 (Cranston-Lown 27, Richards 18, J Straatsma 14)

QUALIFYING FINAL – Mount Gambier Pioneers (97) defeated Kilsyth Cobras (61)

The Mount Gambier Pioneers now won't have to leave home until the grand finals should they qualify following a dominant qualifying final performance to beat the Kilsyth Cobras 97-61.

Mount Gambier finished the regular season in second position with a 16-6 record and a six-game winning streak to get to remain at home for the qualifying final at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.

Kilsyth ended the regular season with a seven-match winning streak too to end up in fourth place at 14-8 but it was always going to be a big ask taking on the Pioneers in front of their raucous home crowd.

It was a flying start from the home team with Mount Gambier opening up a 27-14 lead by quarter-time thanks to 8/15 shooting from the field opposed to the 5/16 from Kilsyth.

It was then another 29 points to 14 from the Pioneers in the second period thanks to another 12/20 shooting to the 5/16 from Kilsyth.

That saw Mount Gambier in a dominant position by half-time leading 56-28 before another 23 points to 12 in the second frame on the way to building a lead as big as 43 points.

From there the Pioneers cruised to the 36-point win to the delight of their home fans to book in a preliminary final spot back home against either the Eltham Wildcats or Sandringham Sabres.

Joe Palmer produced a standout performance in the win for Mount Gambier with 27 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals on 11/19 shooting from the field and 4/4 at the free-throw line.

Akech Aliir added 17 points, six rebounds and four assists, Titus Robinson 13 points and six boards, Austin Shelley 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Alex Mudronja 11 points, six boards and two steals.

Kilsyth now have the chance to bounce back at home in a semi-final next weekend against the Melbourne Tigers.

Dillon Stith finished with 25 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots in the loss for the Cobras with Mitch Dielemans adding 13 points, six boards and two assists, and Khadim Sy eight points and four rebounds.

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 97 (Palmer 27, Aliir 17, Robinson 13)

KILSYTH COBRAS 61 (Stith 25, Dielemans 13, Sy 8)

QUALIFYING FINAL – Knox Raiders (72) defeated Eltham Wildcats (67)

The Knox Raders are already guaranteed of the chance at a third straight national championship but now they are one step from returning to the NBL1 South grand final with the hard fought 72-67 win over the Eltham Wildcats.

The last two NBL1 South championship winning teams locked horns in the qualifying final at the State Basketball Centre with Knox having finished the regular season a game clear in top spot at 17-5 while Eltham's championship defence saw them win seven straight to end up fourth at 14-8.

It was always going to be a fascinating and spirited contest with a home preliminary final spot up for grabs and it did turn out to be a dramatic, defensive grind most of the way.

Knox managed a 10-0 scoring run in the first quarter for a seven-point lead but by quarter-time that advantage was just back to 20-18.

The Raiders did open up a handy 11-point lead in the second term but by half-time Eltham had managed to stay in touch and limit that Knox advantage to 39-33.

It was when the Raiders got up by 13 early in the second half when things began to get interesting and Eltham started to work back in the contest and were only trailing by five at three quarter-time.

The Wildcats kept the momentum going and hit the front just over three minutes into the fourth quarter when Sam Short knocked down a three ball before Tad Dufelmeier answered in kind for the Raiders.

A big Josh Sykes dunk threw down a big dunk as his fascinating battle with Keli Leaulepe continued before Gabe Hadley did briefly break the shackles of Sunday Dech for a couple of jumpers to keep Eltham in front.

Leaulepe answered with a three-pointer with two minutes to play but then on the next play at the other end he picked up a foul guard Sykes and his night was over.

That's when former NBA player Norvel Pelle stepped up and his dunk in the last 30 seconds put Knox up by three which they converted into the five-point win.

Having won the last two championships at the National Finals also claiming the 2023 NBL1 South championship, Knox are one win from another grand final having booked themselves into a home preliminary final.

For a player that had just three points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals with 1/9 shooting, Sunday Dech had as big a say in the result as anyone with the Knox captain doing a tremendous lockdown job on Gabe Hadley limiting him to 12 points on 4/12 shooting.

Norvel Pelle finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in his 20 minutes while Brody Nunn contributed 14 points, seven assists, six boards and three steals, Tad Dufelmeier 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists, and Brayon Blake six points and six boards.

Eltham's championship is still alive despite the loss with them set to host the on-fire Sandringham Sabres in the semi-final next weekend.

Josh Sykes finished with 17 points, four rebounds and three steals for Eltham with Sam Short adding 12 points, six boards and five assists, and Xavier Bledson eight points and seven rebounds.

KNOX RAIDERS 72 (Pelle 17, Leaulepe 16, Nunn 14)

ELTHAM WILDCATS 67 (Sykes 17, Hadley 12, Short 12)