South Recap | Round 1 Saturday

Geelong United (112) defeated Mount Gambier Pioneers (72)

Geelong United narrowly missed finals last season but on the back of now having a team competing in the WNBL they made a statement at home to open 2025 beating the Mount Gambier Pioneers 112-72.

Geelong fell out of playoff contention by losing the last four games of 2024, but couldn’t have started 2025 more impressively on Saturday night hosting the Pioneers at The Geelong Arena.

Mount Gambier again reached the preliminary final last year and will get better as 2025 goes on, but Geelong started on fire in the season-opener with 27 points to 15 in the first quarter and never let up.

Geelong then turned things up another level again in the second half with 31 points to 15 in the third term, and 33 to 24 in the fourth on the way to the statement 40-point triumph.

The big guns all delivered as well for Geelong with Gemma Potter producing 25 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Hannah Hank also was a powerful force with 22 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists with Jaz Shelley contributing 19 points, eight boards, six assists and four steals, Jasmine King 12 points and two assists, and Dakota Crichton 12 points, two rebounds and two steals.

Cat MacGregor is a significant signing for Mount Gambier and showed how valuable she will be with 18 points and three assists with Isabella Brancatisano providing 14 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists, and Edie Easterby 12 points and 10 rebounds.

GEELONG UNITED 112 (Potter 25, Hank 22, Shelley 19)

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 72 (MacGregor 18, Brancatisano 14, Easterby 12)

Casey Cavaliers (56) lost to Dandenong Rangers (98)

The Dandenong Rangers have an impressive line-up coming into the 2025 and despite losing Nyadiew Puoch early, they were too strong for the Casey Cavaliers to score the 98-56 win.

The Rangers finished in third position at the end of the 2024 regular season before being bundled out of the finals in straight sets but they have loaded up once more to put themselves in a position to contend for the championship in 2025.

They started their season on the road at Casey Stadium on Saturday night and the Rangers started well with 25 points to 18 in the first quarter.

Dandenong then really put their foot down at both ends of the floor in the second frame holding Casey to just the four points in the entire 10 minutes and then scoring 27 themselves to head into half-time on top 52-22.

The Rangers then had another 46 points to 34 in the second half on the way to the emphatic 42-point win to start the season off on a positive even with Nyadiew Puoch lasting just 3:46.

Dallas Loughridge had a standout performance with 24 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals while making 4/8 from three-point territory.

Amber Smith contributed 18 points and six rebounds with Manuela Puoch adding 17 points and eight boards, Georgia Booth 11 points, four rebounds and two steals, Imogen Rock nine points and nine boards, and Clare Camac nine points and three assists.

It was a tough start to the season for the Cavs with Esra McGoldrick and Jaden Owens both scoring 12 points with Ahlise Hurst adding nine points, three rebounds and two assists, and Hailey Wynd nine points, seven boards and two blocked shots.

CASEY CAVALIERS 56 (Owens 12, McGoldrick 12, Wynd 9, Hurst 9)

DANDENONG RANGERS 98 (Loughridge 24, Smith 18, Puoch 17)

Ballarat Miners (74) lost to Bendigo Braves (82)

It's a new look Bendigo Braves team on a number of fronts and they made a winning start to the 2025 season winning on the road 82-74 against the Ballarat Miners.

The Braves looked invincible on the way to winning both the NBL1 South and National Finals championship in 2023 and then winning the first five games of 2024, but once that winning streak ended it was a challenge for Bendigo.

A lot of that was purely just on a personnel front and they ended up losing nine of the last 14 games to miss finals altogether after being just about unbackable favourites to go back-to-back early in the season.

Now there has been plenty of change for Bendigo coming into 2025 starting with 'Doccy' Black taking over as coach having previously been a championship winning coach at the Perry Lakes Hawks in the NBL1 West on the back of a glittering playing career.

Despite being on the road to Ballarat at Selkirk Stadium, Bendigo made a strong start with 24 points to 16 in the first quarter and were able to maintain that lead the rest of the way despite a strong finish from the home team.

The Braves managed to build a lead as big as 22 points in the third quarter but the Miners scored 13 straight points in the final term but could never quite get close enough to strike with Bendigo still ending up winning by eight.

Cassidy McLean delivered 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the win for the Braves while Elsie Noonan provided 15 points and 12 boards, Lavinia Cox 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, and Poppy Blanch 15 points.

There's great excitement for Ballarat this season despite the first up loss with Kennedy Kereama in charge fresh off taking the Bendigo Spirit to the WNBL championship.

Abbey Wehrung was a key player on that team and she is playing at the Miners under him too and delivered 15 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Micah Simpson contributed 15 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals, Laura Taylor 13 points, five boards and three steals, and Opal Bird 11 points and seven rebounds.

BALLARAT MINERS 74 (Wehrung 15, Simpson 15, Taylor 13)

BENDIGO BRAVES 82 (McLean 22, Cox 16, Noonan 15)

Frankston Blues (62) lost to Sandringham Sabres (73)

Even though Lou Brown delivered 33 points and 16 rebounds for the Frankston Blues, the Sandringham Sabres showed off their depth with five players scoring in double-figures in the 73-62 win.

After missing the finals narrowly in 2024, Frankston started 2025 at home at Dreamstreet Lending Arena playing host to a Sabres outfit who lost in the first round last year to the eventual champion Waverley Falcons.

It was a tight contest through the first three quarters of the match up too with no more than seven points separating the two teams and with Frankston a point up at quarter-time before that lead grew to five at half-time and was still three at three quarter-time.

It was then all Sandringham in the final stanza with 24 points to 10 on the way to the eventual 11-point win to start the season in winning fashion under new coach Mark Alabakov.

The strong depth of the Sabres was on show by the end of the contest with Funda Nakkasoglu top-scoring with 20 points, three assists and two steals with Isis Lopes adding 16 points, three boards, three steals and two assists.

Klara Wischer also had 14 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals, Haylee Andrews 10 points, and Lucy Cochrane 10 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.

It was a different story with the Blues with Lou Brown their standout performer finishing with 33 points, 16 rebounds, four steals and two blocks on 13/28 shooting from the floor, 2/8 from three-point range and 5/6 at the foul line.

FRANKSTON BLUES 62 (Brown 33, Monaghan 7, Deas 7)

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 73 (Nakkasoglu 20, Lopes 16, Wischer 14)

Diamond Valley Eagles (74) lost to Keilor Thunder (90)

Issie Bourne and Maddy Rocci were spectacular combining for 75 points as the Keilor Thunder opened their 2025 season beating the Diamond Valley Eagles 90-74.

Keilor had a strong 2024 season finishing in second position before losing in the Grand Final to the Waverley Falcons, and now their quest to go one better in 2025 started in imposing fashion at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre.

With the one-two punch of Bourne and Rocci under the coaching guidance of Kristi Harrower, the Thunder got off to a fast start with 32 points to 17 in the first quarter.

The lead for Keilor did get out to as much as 21 points in the final quarter before ending up winning by 16 with Bourne and Rocci combining for 75 of their 90 points, and taking 57 of their 80 shot attempts for the game.

In that sort of form, they are going to be tough for any team to deal with in 2025 with Bourne finishing with 39 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals on 17/30 shooting while Rocci delivered 36 points, nine boards, eight assists and three steals.

Madeline Puli also contributed strongly ending up with 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Diamond Valley did well to remain competitive over the last three quarters with Abbey Ellis finishing with 22 points, five rebounds and three assists, Tayha Watkins 19 points and three boards, and Sophie Byrnes 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 74 (Ellis 22, Watkins 19, Byrnes 14)

KEILOR THUNDER 90 (Bourne 39, Rocci 36, Puli 10)

Eltham Wildcats (75) lost to Ringwood Hawks (82)

The Ringwood Hawks came from behind at three quarter-time to score the 82-75 road victory to open the season against the Eltham Wildcats.

Eltham started the season on their home floor at Montmorency Secondary College playing host to the Hawks with the Wildcats having reached the finals last year from eighth spot while the Hawks didn’t quite make it with a 9-13 record.

Eltham started well with an early seven-point lead before being on top 19-17 by quarter-time and then pushing back out to a nine-point edge in the second term.

The Wildcats were still leading 46-39 by half-time and they were still on top by a point at three quarter-time, but then the Hawks dug deep with 22 points to 14 in the final frame to come away with the season-opening seven-point victory.

Sarah Elsworthy has joined Ringwood this season having made the move from Geelong and delivered a starring performance with 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Nyaduoth Lok also contributed 21 points and nine rebounds with Annabel Deerbon adding 10 points, five steals and two blocks, Alex Wittinger nine points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks, and Lana Hollingsworth nine points and three boards.

Lil Dart top-scored for Eltham with 24 points, nine assists and five rebounds with Jayde Cadee adding 13 points and five boards, Taylah Short 11 points and four rebounds, and captain Bec Pizzey 11 points and four boards.

ELTHAM WILDCATS 75 (Dart 24, Cadee 13, Pizzey 11, Short 11)

RINGWOOD HAWKS 82 (Elsworthy 25, Lok 21, Deerbon 10)

Waverley Falcons (84) defeated Nunawading Spectres (63)

The championship defence of the Waverley Falcons got off to an ominous start with the 84-63 home victory against the Nunawading Spectres.

The season started for both teams with the champions of last season taking on the wooden spooners, and it provided the chance for the Falcons to celebrate their NBL1 South and National Finals triumphs at home at Waverley Basketball Centre.

Waverley got off to a strong start with 29 points to 14 in the first quarter and never let up from there with the lead getting out to 21 points in the second frame and 27 in the third before the eventual 21-point triumph.

The win means that the Falcons have now won 14 straight matches going back to the end of last season, then the four finals to win the NBL1 South championship, and the three games at the National Finals on the Sunshine Coast.

Amelia Todhunter opened the new season for Waverley top-scoring with 19 points and two assists while Renae Mokrzycki delivered 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Katelyn Shumate also had 12 points, seven rebounds and two steals with Carley Ernst providing 12 points, seven boards, four assists and three steals, and Meg Crupi nine points on 3/4 three-point shooting.

Rachel Brewster put up 18 points and seven rebounds for Nunawading with Rachel Antoniadou nine points, seven assists and five boards, and Kate Tanner eight points, three rebounds and two assists.

WAVERLEY FALCONS 84 (Todhunter 19, Mokrzycki 17, Ernst 12, Shumate 12)

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 63 (Brewster 18, Antoniadou 9, Tanner 8)

Launceston Tornadoes (66) lost to Hobart Chargers (76)

The Hobart Chargers had too many weapons in the battle of Tasmania to open the 2025 NBL1 South season as they defeated the Launceston Tornadoes 76-66.

Both Tasmanian combatants missed out on making the finals in the women's competition last season and Saturday presented the chance to make a winning start when they did battle at Elphin Sports Stadium.

It was a tight opening quarter but Hobart began to take charge in the second period with 24 points to 16 to head into the half-time break leading 44-35.

The lead for the Chargers then got out to double-figures in the second half with them ending up prevailing by 10 on the back of having five players scoring in double digits for the evening.

There was plenty to be encouraged about from Hobart for getting back in the finals hunt in 2025 with Chelsea D'Angelo top-scoring with 21 points, six steals, five rebounds and five assists.

She had plenty of help too including Tayla Roberts delivering 15 points, six rebounds and three blocks while Ellie Collins added 14 points, five assists and four boards, Sharna Thompson 13 points, six steals and five rebounds, and Kayla Steindl 11 points, six boards, four blocks and three assists.

Keely Froling made a successful return from a knee injury that ended her WNBL season prematurely by leading the charge for Launceston with 19 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.

Megan Mullings also had 19 points, 12 rebounds and six steals, Taya Webb 11 points and four boards, and Ava McDonald eight points and two rebounds.

LAUNCESTON TORNADOES 66 (Froling 19, Mullings 19, Webb 11)

HOBART CHARGERS 76 (D'Angelo 21, Roberts 15, Collins 14)

MEN

Geelong United (58) lost to Mount Gambier Pioneers (108)

With Akech Aliir leading the way, Mount Gambier Pioneers made a statement on the road to open their NBL1 South season with the 108-58 victory against Geelong United.

The Pioneers finished two games clear in top spot at the end of last season but failed to reach the NBL1 South Grand Final having been knocked out by the Eltham Wildcats in the semi finals.

Geelong also had their finals campaign ended in the first round by the eventual champion Eltham and both teams were looking to make winning starts to 2025 when they did battle at The Geelong Arena.

It didn’t take long for Mount Gambier to take charge of the match up with 32 points to 12 in the first quarter and the Pioneers wouldn’t let up the rest of the way.

The lead for the visitors grew to as much as 27 points during the second frame, 39 in the third and 50 in the fourth before the Pioneers settled on the eventual 50-point victory.

Mount Gambier ended up collecting 49 rebounds to just 29 from Geelong but a lot of that was down to the difference in shooting. The Pioneers went at 51.5 per cent from the field to 34.9 from United while the winners also went 28/30 from the foul line to Geelong's 7/12.

Fresh off being part of Melbourne United's NBL Championship Series, Akech Aliir delivered 31 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists in the win for Mount Gambier.

Joe Palmer also put up 17 points, 12 rebounds and three assists, Austin Shelley 15 points, five boards, three assists and three steals, Titus Robinson 15 points and nine rebounds, and Alex Mudronja 12 points, three boards and two assists.

Tristan Forsyth finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two steals for Geelong with Marach Marach contributing 11 points and two rebounds.

GEELONG UNITED 58 (Forsyth 13, Marach 11, Jones 8, Herbert 8)

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 108 (Aliir 31, Palmer 17, Shelley 15, Robinson 15)

Casey Cavaliers (87) defeated Dandenong Rangers (80)

After just three wins last season, the Casey Cavaliers made an encouraging start to the 2025 season with the home victory 87-70 against finalists from 2024, the Dandenong Rangers.

The Cavs ended up in bottom place at the end of last season with a 3-19 record as they began 2025 at Casey Stadium playing host to a Rangers team who made the semi finals in 2024 before losing to Grand Finalists the Ballarat Miners.

That provided a chance for the Cavaliers to make a statement of their intentions for 2025 and the home team started strongly with 23 points to 16 in the first quarter.

Dandenong did fire back in the second quarter and even briefly grabbed the lead, but the Cavs were on top most of the evening and ended up completing the deal for the seven-point victory having led by as much as 13 in the second half.

Luke Kendall has taken over as coach at Casey and made a winning start to his tenure with Trendon Hankerson delivering 21 points and three assists on 3/6 three-point shooting, and Tyler Robertson 21 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Nate Roberts also had 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists, Hunter Marks 12 points and six boards, and Preston Bungei nine points and nine rebounds.

Bryton Hobbs top-scored for Dandenong with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals with Jack Roberts delivering 14 points and four boards, Ryan Rapp 14 points and seven rebounds, and Austin Foxwell 13 points, three boards and two assists.

CASEY CAVALIERS 87 (Robertson 21, Hankerson 21, Roberts, Marks 21)

DANDENONG RANGERS 80 (Hobbs 18, Roberts 14, Rapp 14)

Ballarat Miners (109) defeated Bendigo Braves (75)

He might have seen little court time in NBL25 at the South East Melbourne Phoenix, but Majok Majok was an imposing force leading the Ballarat Miners to the 109-75 win over the Bendigo Braves.

The Miners reached the Grand Final in the NBL1 South last season and will be looking to go a step better under coach Luke Brennan in 2025, and they made an impressive statement to open the campaign on Saturday night at Selkirk Stadium.

It's an impressive squad that Ballarat has put together as well with Majok and Luke Rosendale coming off the NBL season at South East Melbourne, and Nick Stoddart fresh off his first NBL chance at the Tasmania JackJumpers.

It was quite an opening quarter performance from the Miners as well as they piled on 38 points to set up the win over the Braves with the lead ballooning to 34 by the final buzzer with the home team scoring another 34 points in the final period.

It was a hot shooting performance from Ballarat as they went 53.5 per cent from the floor to go with 13/26 from downtown while limiting Bendigo to 41.7 per cent overall and 6/29 from behind the arc.

Majok was a force to be reckoned with down low in the win for the Miners finishing with 24 points and 12 rebounds on 9/12 shooting even though he only played a total of 16 minutes this entire NBL season at the Phoenix.

Rosendale added 19 points, four steals and three assists in the win for Ballarat with Stoddart contributing 18 points and six assists, Clancy Bird 12 points on a perfect 4/4 three-point shooting, and Zac Dunmore 10 points and seven rebounds.

It was a tough way to start the new season for Bendigo with Justin Johnson finishing with 24 points and six rebounds with Lachlan O'Brien contributing 14 points and five boards, Josiah Pattinson 11 points and two rebounds, and Billy Smythe 10 points and two boards.

BALLARAT MINERS 109 (Majok 24, Rosendale 19, Stoddart 18)

BENDIGO BRAVES 75 (Johnson 24, O'Brien 14, Pattinson 11)

Frankston Blues (103) defeated Sandringham Sabres (80)

Two top four teams from last year did battle to open the new NBL1 South season and it was the Frankston Blues making a statement with the 103-80 win against the Sandringham Sabres.

Frankston finished second last season at 15-7 with Sandringham fourth at 15-7 as well before the Blues lost to the Eltham Wildcats in a preliminary final as did the Sabres against the Ballarat Miners.

Both those were heartbreaking losses too so the Blues and Sabres come into the 2025 season on a mission leading to a fascinating first up match up on Saturday night at Dreamstreet Lending Arena.

Frankston made a statement right from the outset with 29 points to 15 in the first quarter before continuing to build on that lead with it getting out to as much as 21 points in the second term, 25 in the third and 27 in the fourth.

The Blues would end up winning by 23 in the finish with veteran guard Igor Hadziomerovic showing he still has plenty left to give with 23 points and three rebounds on 9/17 shooting from the floor.

Michael Harris starred with the Warwick Senators in the NBL1 West last season, but now is an NBL free agent and has come to Frankston in 2025 and delivered 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Taane Samuel also had 18 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots, Tom Garrett 17 points on 5/6 three-point shooting, and Lucas Barker nine points, nine assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Malith Machar top-scored for Sandringham with 19 points and three assists while Elliott Brown providing 17 points on 3/3 three-point shooting, Tom Koppens 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Dave Barlow 11 points, five boards and two blocked shots.

FRANKSTON BLUES 103 (Hadziomerovic 23, Samuel 18, Harris 18)

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 80 (Machar 19, Brown 17, Barlow 11, Koppens 11)

Knox Raiders (88) defeated Kilsyth Cobras (84)

The defending National Champion Knox Raiders started the NBL1 South season with an 88-84 home victory but they had to withstand a spirited late Kilsyth Cobras fightback.

The Raiders might have been bundled out in the first round of the finals last season, but they retooled and made it back-to-back National Finals triumphs on the Sunshine Coast to now be looking to make it a three-peat in 2025.

That quest started on Saturday night against the Cobras at the State Basketball Centre but it was Kilsyth who got the better of the start to be leading 23-16 at the end of the opening period.

Knox turned that around in the second frame with 29 points to 18 and then continuing that momentum with another 27-18 third period to open up a 15-point advantage during the second half.

However, Kilsyth kept on coming and even got all the way back to within a solitary point with 3:45 to go when Corey Jeffs hit a three-pointer, but recently re-signed Tasmania JackJumpers guard Brody Nunn answered with consecutive three-pointers.

That would end up securing the four-point win for the Raiders on their home court with NBL free agent Sunday Dech starring on debut for his new club having played at his local club, the East Perth Eagles, in the NBL1 West in 2024 before going to Paris 2024 with South Sudan.

Dech finished with 24 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists with Nunn delivering 19 points and six assists, Ade Murkey 16 points and seven rebounds, and Tad Dufelmeier 14 points, seven boards, five assists and two steals.

There was plenty to be encouraged about despite the loss for Kilsyth with Jamie Ahale delivering 24 points on 4/7 three-point shooting while Adrian Tomada contributed 19 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Corey Jeffs 15 points, five boards and five assists.

KNOX RAIDERS 88 (Dech 24, Nunn 19, Murkey 16)

KILSYTH COBRAS 84 (Ahale 24, Tomada 19, Jeffs 15)

Diamond Valley Eagles (82) lost to Keilor Thunder (97)

Keilor Thunder produced a 34-point fourth quarter to open the new season with an impressive 97-82 road victory against the Diamond Valley Eagles.

Keilor looked on track to play finals last season before losing the last three games so were keen to start the season on a winning note but it wasn’t going to be easy with the Eagles at home on Saturday night at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre.

Keilor did start the game with a dominant first quarter with 26 points to 11 and would end up leading as much as 19 points in the second term before Diamond Valley fought back into the contest.

By three quarter-time, Keilor's lead was all the way back to four points, but then the Thunder pulled away once more with 34 points to 23 in the final frame to secure the 15-point victory to open the new season.

Keilor dominated the glass ending up with 54 rebounds to 35 for the game including 21 to 10 at the offensive end which helped them to an extra 10 field goal attempts.

Daniel Poelsma finished with 20 points on 5/9 three-point shooting in the win for Keilor with Deng Cut adding 20 points, 12 assists, three rebounds and two steals, Daniel Foster 15 points, 11 boards and five assists, and Magnus Richards 13 points, nine rebounds and three steals.

Jock Perry did his best to keep Diamond Valley in the contest ending up with 27 points and nine rebounds on 11/19 shooting with Ngor Manyang delivering 19 points, six boards, five assists and three steals, Jesse McIntosh 11 points and five rebounds, and Jesse Ghee 10 points and six assists.

DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 82 (Perry 27, Manyang 19, McIntosh 11)

KEILOR THUNDER 97 (Cut 20, Poelsma 20, Foster 15)

Eltham Wildcats (72) lost to Ringwood Hawks (82)

The Ringwood Hawks snapped their 12-game NBL1 South losing streak with a season-opening 82-72 road victory against the defending champion Eltham Wildcats.

The Wildcats made history last year with their remarkable run to winning a first ever championship, but there's been great turnover in that playing squad including South East Melbourne Phoenix NBL pair Owen Foxwell and Angus Glover not there.

There are some strong replacement signings including Gabe Hadley and Mitch McCarron, but Ringwood is looking to be a great improver this season as well and were on a mission in the season-opener.

Ringwood did manage to open up an 11-point lead in the second quarter but Eltham kept things close and by three quarter-time it was the Hawks just clinging to a four-point advantage.

However, Ringwood were able to close the deal with 22 points to 16 in the final period on the way to the eventual 10-point win for their first NBL1 South victory since May 4 last year, ironically which also came against Eltham.

The Hawks produced an efficient offensive performance shooting at 51.7 per cent from the field with Jonathan Lawton delivering 22 points and two steals with 4/8 three-point shooting.

Tom Carroll added 17 points and 11 rebounds, Tanner Krebs 16 points, seven boards and four assists, and Harry Sealey 14 points, four assists and three rebounds.

Sam Short finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, five steals and three blocked shots for the Wildcats with Gabe Hadley adding 16 points, four boards, three steals and two assists, and Mitch McCarron 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

ELTHAM WILDCATS 72 (Short 16, Hadley 16, McCarron 15)

RINGWOOD HAWKS 82 (Lawton 22, Carroll 17, Krebs 16)

Waverley Falcons (98) defeated Nunawading Spectres (83)

The Waverley Falcons started on fire and were able to close the deal to beat the Nunawading Spectres 98-83 on the back of Mason Forbes and DeJuan Clayton combining for 48 points.

Both the Falcons and Spectres narrowly missed making the finals in the NBL1 South last season and will be looking to rectify that in 2025 setting up the season-opening match up at Waverley Basketball Centre.

Waverley shot right out of the blocks with 31 points to 18 in the first quarter and then putting up another 31 to 20 in the second to go into the half-time break well in control at 62-38.

Nunawading might have outscored the Falcons 45-36 in the second half, but the Spectres were never going to bridge that gap with Waverley having led by as much as 27 points on the way to the eventual 15-point triumph.

The Falcons ended up shooting 51.6 from the field for the game while going 26/32 at the foul line opposed to 40.9 per cent shooting for the Spectres who went 17/23 from the stripe with Waverley also pulling down 46 rebounds to 30.

Mason Forbes delivered 25 points and eight rebounds on 11/12 shooting in the win for the Falcons with DeJuan Clayton contributing 23 points and three assists, Robbie Heath 15 points and two assists, and Malik Meunier 13 points and seven rebounds.

Brian Mack II top-scored for Nunawading with 19 points and four assists with Christian D'Angelo contributing 15 points and three rebounds, Cameron Cranston 15 points and two boards, Jack Gandolfo 13 points, and Daniel Baxter eight points, seven rebounds and four assists.

WAVERLEY FALCONS 98 (Forbes 25, Clayton 23, Heath 15)

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 83 (Mack II 19, D'Angelo 15, Cranston 15)

North West Tasmania Thunder (84) Hobart Chargers (85)

The North West Tasmania Thunder and Hobart Chargers were putting on quite the show with one-point separating them with 1:24 left when a power outage occurred at Harcourts Stadium.

The two Tasmanian teams began their NBL1 South seasons at the Ulverstone venue and having both missed finals in 2024, had no shortage of motivation to get off to a winning start.

It was a tight contest in the first half with Hobart leading by two points at quarter-time but the Thunder turned that into their own two-point edge by half-time.

The Chargers had a strong third quarter with 23 points to 12 but North West fired back in the fourth term and had got all the way back to within a point with 1:24 to play when Logan Gibson made a layup.

That's when the power was lost in the stadium and NBL1 South released the following statement regarding the next steps:

"With 1:24 remaining, the 84-85 game between NW Tasmania and Hobart lost power at Harcourts Stadium. To ensure the most fair and correct decision is made, the NBL1 South League Advisory Panel will meet to decide the outcome of the game."

At the time the game was stopped, Brisbane Bullets development player Kye Savage had 24 points, four rebounds and two assists for the Thunder with Tre Armstrong adding 21 points and three assists, and Archie Woodhill 13 points and three rebounds.

With Jarrad Weeks in charge of Hobart for the first time, Jacob Richards had produced 27 points and six rebounds with Ole Angerstein 20 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, and two-time NBL1 East MVP Will Cranston-Lown 12 points, 11 assists, five boards and five steals.

NORTH WEST TASMANIA THUNDER 84 (Savage 24, Armstrong 21, Woodhill 13)

HOBART CHARGERS 85 (Richards 27, Angerstein 20, Cranston-Lown 12)

* There was still 1:24 remaining when a power outage occurred