South Recap | Round 15 Friday

Image credit: Andrew Scherer / DLNQNT PHOTOGRAPHY

It was a big night for Melbourne Tigers in last round Friday NBL1 South action with Geelong United's women improving to 21-0 and big guns from Waverley Falcons and Frankston Blues firing while Mount Gambier Pioneers men locked away second place.

SOUTH RECAP | ROUND 15 TUESDAY

WOMEN

Hobart Chargers (71) lost to Dandenong Rangers (96)

The Dandenong Rangers further consolidated their top four spot in the NBL1 South with the dominant 96-71 road win over the Hobart Chargers with Georgia Booth, Lara Edmanson and Nyadiew Puoch combining for 73 points.

The Chargers were back home for their last game of the 2025 season at Hobart Netball and Sports Centre just looking to finish on a high but it was never going to be easy against a Rangers team who needed to keep winning to stay in the top four.

Even with Dandenong knocking down four early three-pointers and going on a 12-0 run in the first quarter, the Chargers had come to play and responded with 12 straight points themselves and by quarter-time, the Rangers were narrowly leading 28-25.

The Chargers even managed to briefly hit the front in the second quarter, but Dandenong responded and by half-time had worked on top 50-41.

The Rangers produced another 30 points in the third quarter and that saw the lead grow to 15 points which then got out to 25 points in the final term as they held Hobart to just six points with 3/17 shooting from the floor to close their season.

Dandenong secured the 25-point victory which keeps them in fourth position with a 15-6 record ahead of Saturday's clash with the Launceston Tornadoes.

Georgia Booth knocked down 6/10 from three-point range for 30 points, four rebounds and two steals with Nyadiew Puoch adding 20 points, 10 boards, seven assists and two steals.

Lara Edmanson also had 23 points and six rebounds for the Rangers, and Clare Camac nine points, seven boards and three assists.

Hobart's season finishes with a 5-17 record and having lost the last three matches with Sharna Thompson finishing with 20 points on 4/8 three-point shooting.

Tayla Roberts added 20 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, Kayla Steindl 15 points, nine boards, four assists and two blocks, and Ellie Collins nine points, four assists and two rebounds.

HOBART CHARGERS 71 (Roberts 20, Thompson 20, Steindl 15)

DANDENONG RANGERS 96 (Booth 30, Edmanson 23, Puoch 20)

Mount Gambier Pioneers (74) lost to Frankston Blues (86)

The big guns of the Frankston Blues, Lou Brown, Marta Hermida and Lauren Scherf, all fired in the crucial 86-74 road win over the Mount Gambier Pioneers to consolidate their playoff position.

The Pioneers were playing their last game of the season and looking to avoid an eighth straight loss when hosting the Blues at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.

While Mount Gambier wanted to finish on a winning note, Frankston's season was potentially on the line with them needing a win this weekend to confirm their playoff place although they were likely safe even with a pair of slip ups.

They could make sure of it with a win, though, only to see Mount Gambier get off to the better start to be leading 21-20 by quarter-time.

Frankston turned things around in the second quarter with 22 points to 13 even with shooting 1/10 from three-point range and then managed to go into the half-time break leading 42-34 as a result.

The lead kept on building throughout the second half for Frankston with it getting out to 13 points in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth before they secured the 12-point victory.

The Blues improve to a 13-8 record to be guaranteed of playing finals as a result even before taking on the Diamond Valley Eagles on Sunday afternoon.

Lou Brown produced 27 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals with Marta Hermida adding 23 points, five steals, four assists and two boards, and Lauren Scherf 18 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.

Mount Gambier's season finishes with eight straight losses with a 6-16 record with Isa Brancatisano finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Cat MacGregor added 16 points with 4/11 three-point shooting while Keryl Ousey contributed 11 points, five rebounds and three assists, and Jayda Jansen 11 points on 3/4 shooting from downtown.

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 74 (Brancatisano 22, MacGregor 16, Ousey 11, Jansen 11)

FRANKSTON BLUES 86 (Brown 27, Hermida 23, Scherf 18)

Diamond Valley Eagles (90) defeated Nunawading Spectres (84)

Shaneice Swain put up 28 points for the Nunawading Spectres but the Diamond Valley Eagles got the win they needed minutes their Asia Cup stars with the 90-84 home victory.

The Eagles were back home at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre having done well to bounce back with an important win last week against the Hobart Chargers despite having key pair Steph Reid and Abbey Ellis currently with the Australian Opals at the FIBA Asia Cup.

That ensured Diamond Valley booked in a playoff spot but a top four position was potentially still a chance should they win both their matches in the final round and other results went their way.

Nunawading came into the last round one game too far out of the top eight despite last week's win against the Mount Gambier Pioneers.

Diamond Valley got off to the impressive start with a 14-0 run in the first quarter to be leading 22-13 by quarter-time thanks to shooting 9/18 from the field opposed to 6/21 from Nunawading.

It was then another 29 points to 19 from the Eagles in the second frame which saw the lead blow out to as much as 22 points, and from there they went into half-time leading 51-32.

It was then another 26 points to 18 in the third quarter from Diamond Valley and 26 to 21 in the fourth before Nunawading did produce a blistering fightback that only ended up falling six points short.

The win improves the Eagles to a 14-7 record with a game to go on Sunday at home to the Frankston Blues.

Carly Turner finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in the win for Diamond Valley on shooting 5/7 from the land of plenty.

Lauren Jones added 16 points with 4/6 three-point shooting while Erin Riley contributed 16 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals, Tayha Watkins 16 points, five boards and five steals, and Lara McSpadden 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots.

Nunawading are now 9-12 with a game to go in their season when they host last year's grand finalists Keilor Thunder.

Shaneice Swain is looking to finish her NBL1 South season on a high and produced 28 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals on 4/17 shooting from behind the three-point line.

Izzy Feller added 11 points and five rebounds, Zoe Shanahan nine points and two boards, Faith Dut eight points and six rebounds, Taylah Schmidtke seven points, three boards and three assists, and Jordan Pyle seven points, six rebounds and two steals.

DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 90 (Turner 23, Jones 16, Riley 16, Watkins 16)

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 84 (Swain 28, Feller 11, Shanahan 9)

Melbourne Tigers (79) lost to Casey Cavaliers (86)

The Casey Cavaliers can't quite break into the finals still but they put a huge dent in the hopes of the Melbourne Tigers with the 86-79 road victory on Friday night.

The Tigers were back home at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre but were still missing their Australian Opals stars Sara Blicavs and Izzy Borlase along with Sienna Harvey, and they needed at least one win this weekend to guarantee a playoff spot.

With Ringwood beating Kilsyth back on Tuesday night, the pressure was still on the Tigers to need to get a win or risk missing out altogether as they hosted a Casey team three games out with two games to play, but wanting to finish the season on a high.

Casey had managed to open up a 26-20 lead by the end of the first quarter on the back of hitting 4/9 from three-point territory to the 1/5 from the Tigers.

It was another 22 points to 16 from the Cavaliers in the second frame which saw them in control at 48-36 by the half-time break with seven extra free-throw attempts and making seven three-pointers to one.

Casey kept building on that lead with it getting out to 18 points in the second half before at least the Tigers went on an 8-0 run in the last term, but that only cut the winning margin of the Cavs to seven points.

The result improves the Cavaliers to a 10-11 record on the season with their season to end with a home clash to the Ballarat Miners on Sunday.

Ahlise Hurst delivered 25 points with 5/11 three-point shooting in the win for Casey with Sharne Robati adding 19 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Sabrina Haines 18 points, seven assists and five boards.

Brooke Malone also had 14 points, two rebounds and two assists, Hailey Wynd four points and 10 boards, and Jaden Owens four points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

The Tigers now must win against the on-fire defending NBL1 South and National Champion Waverley Falcons on the road on Sunday or they will miss the playoffs.

Indiah Bowyer finished with 27 points, four assists and three rebounds but just 3/13 three-point shooting while Eve Braslis contributed 23 points and nine boards, Leila Davis 10 points and seven rebounds, and Tylah Hooper nine points, five boards and two assists.

MELBOURNE TIGERS 79 (Bowyer 27, Braslis 23, Davis 10)

CASEY CAVALIERS 86 (Hurst 25, Robati 19, Haines 18)

Keilor Thunder (78) lost to Geelong United (96)

Geelong United are one win away from completing the undefeated regular season after beating the shorthanded Keilor Thunder 96-78 on the road on Friday night.

Geelong needs to record two more wins in the final round to secure the perfect regular season record and the first challenge was the third placed Keilor at Keilor Stadium on Friday night.

At full strength, the Thunder would have liked their hopes up against the league-leaders but suddenly it's a very different looking Keilor team in the absence of the injured Maddy Rocci and with Issie Bourne with the Australian Opals at the Asia Cup.

Keilor did come into the contest still sitting third and there's a chance of finishing fourth if they can't get a win this weekend and it was always going to be tough even at home to Geelong on Friday night.

Geelong did hit 4/8 from three-point range in the first quarter but they were only clinging to a 27-25 lead by quarter-time.

United then did start to pull away in the second frame with 22 points to 16 to be on top 49-41 by half-time and then Geelong continued to open up a larger gap throughout the second half.

Geelong would end up leading by 19 points in the third frame and 20 in the fourth before securing the 18-point victory to improve to a perfect 21-0 record with their regular season ending on Saturday night at home to the out of contention Eltham Wildcats.

Jaz Shelley starred in the win for Geelong with 29 points, 10 rebounds and four steals on 4/13 three-point shooting while Taylor Mole contributed 20 points, nine rebounds and two assists with 5/8 shooting from three-point land.

Hannah Hank also had 18 points, nine rebounds and three steals, and Gemma Potter 15 points, 13 boards, six assists and five steals.

Keilor are now just clinging to third position with a 16-5 record having now lost three straight in the absence of Issie Bourne and Maddy Rocci.

Jasmine Dickey provided 28 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals for Keilor with Isobelle Wightman adding 21 points on 3/5 shooting from deep, and Penina Davidson 19 points, 11 rebounds and two assists.

KEILOR THUNDER 78 (Dickey 28, Wightman 21, Davidson 19)

GEELONG UNITED 96 (Shelley 29, Mole 20, Hank 18)

Kilsyth Cobras (77) lost to Waverley Falcons (92)

Championship greats Bec Cole and Carley Ernst delivered another 50 points as the Waverley Falcons made it five straight wins to keep their top four hopes alive with the 92-77 win over the Kilsyth Cobras.

The Falcons know all about coming good at the right time of the season having come from seventh in 2024 to not only go on to win the NBL1 South championship but then to also secure the Nationals Finals triumph on the Sunshine Coast.

Waverley arrived at Kilsyth Sports Centre building some impressive momentum too with a four-game winning streak to remain a chance of breaking into the top four as they took on the out of contention Cobras.

Waverley took the only nine free-throw attempts of the first quarter and were leading 28-23 by quarter-time despite Kilsyth knocking down 5/8 from downtown.

The Falcons couldn’t break away from the Cobras in the second term with the home team going on a 9-0 scoring run to limit Waverley's lead to just 51-47 by half-time.

Any chance of a top four spot was on the line for Waverley but they did find themselves five points down in the third term before scoring 10 straight points before reclaiming a five-point advantage by three quarter-time.

Waverley then guaranteed the win with the 23-13 fourth quarter to secure the 15-point victory to improve to a 15-6 record ahead of finishing their regular season against the Melbourne Tigers at home on Saturday night.

Bec Cole continues to lead the charge for Waverley with another 29 points, nine assists, six rebounds and three steals with shooting 9/16 from the floor and 8/9 at the free-throw line.

Carley Ernst added 21 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two blocks with Sophia Locandro delivering 18 points, eight boards, five steals and three assists, Amelia Todhunter 11 points, five rebounds and two assists, and Katelyn Shumate eight points, 10 boards and two assists.

Kilsyth's season is now over with a 5-17 record having lost their last six matches with Abby O'Connor delivering 28 points, four assists, four steals and two rebounds with 4/11 shooting from three-point range.

Shannon Dufficy added 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists, Nikita Young 11 points, five assists and four boards, and Miranda Gartner eight points on 2/2 shooting from the field and 3/3 at the free-throw line.

KILSYTH COBRAS 77 (O'Connor 28, Dufficy 15, Young 11)

WAVERLEY FALCONS 92 (Cole 29, Ernst 21, Locandro 18)

Eltham Wildcats (94) lost to Sandringham Sabres (108)

To be any hope of making the playoffs the Sandringham Sabres have to win both games this weekend and they started with the win they needed beating the Eltham Wildcats 108-94.

Eltham were playing their last home game at Montmorency Secondary College and looking to build on last week's win against the Launceston Tornadoes while Sandringham had no choice but to win to remain any hopes of making the finals.

The Sabres kept their season alive by beating the Tornadoes as well but they had to win both their games this weekend and hope for the best.

They did start that quest off strongly with 32 points to 24 in the first quarter with shooting 14/23 from the field opposed to the 10/19 from the Wildcats.

It was then another 29 points to 18 in the second frame in favour of Sandringham as they went on a 10-0 scoring in response to Eltham briefly grabbing the lead.

From there the Sabres took charge to end up leading by as much as 19 points and being on top 61-42 by the half-time break.

Sandringham then pushed that out to a 26-point lead in the third quarter and then eventually secured the 14-point victory that keeps the Sabres alive at 11-10 but still needing a lot to go their way even with a win at home to the Bendigo Braves on Sunday.

Funda Nakkasoglu continues her standout form for the Sabres with 27 points with 4/10 three-point shooting while Lucy Cochrane added 23 points and nine rebounds, and Isis Lopes 14 points, seven boards and three steals.

Klara Wischer added 13 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Haylee Andrews 10 points, nine assists and six rebounds.

Eltham are now 4-17 on the season with game to go on Saturday night away to the undefeated Geelong United.

Kennedy Dickie provided 21 points, four assists and three rebounds for the Wildcats with Addison Knight contributing 16 points, four assists and three boards, Jayde Cadee 15 points, four assists and three rebounds, and Julia Drop 13 points, four boards and three assists.

Emily Maltezos also had 12 points, four rebounds and four assists, Taylah Short nine points, six boards, five assists and two steals, and Kayla Salmons eight points, three assists and three blocks.

ELTHAM WILDCATS 94 (Dickie 21, Knight 16, Cadee 15)

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 108 (Nakkasoglu 27, Cochrane 23, Lopes 14)

MEN

Hobart Chargers (92) lost to Dandenong Rangers (99)

The Dandenong Rangers outscored the Hobart Chargers 57 points to 45 in the second half to give the home team a nervous wait over the weekend now with the 99-92 road victory.

The Chargers were playing their last game of the regular season and were at home at Hobart Netball and Sports Centre just needing to make it three straight wins and they would be guaranteed of playing finals.

Dandenong arrived having fallen well out of the playoff race but they weren’t out to make it an early holiday road trip to Tasmania in the last round of the season.

It was Hobart clinging to the narrow 22-21 lead by the end of the first quarter and the Chargers remained on top 47-42 by half-time and they were on track to get the win they needed.

The lead for Hobart then blew out to 14 points early in the third quarter but that's when Dandenong fired up and went on a stunning 20-0 scoring run to turn the game on its head.

From there the Rangers ended up leading by 10 points in the last quarter on the way to securing the seven-point victory to improve to a 7-14 record on the season with the road clash to the North West Tasmania Thunder to finish with on Saturday night.

Justin Bieker top-scored for Dandenong with 25 points and three rebounds with 9/15 field goal shooting, 3/6 from downtown and 4/4 from the foul line.

Ruot Monyyong also had 20 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists, Mason Peatling 18 points, 10 boards, five assists and two steals, Ryan Rapp 17 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Jack Roberts 10 points and eight boards.

Hobart now finish their regular season with a 12-9 record and now just have to wait to see where they end up by the end of the weekend while the other teams continue to battle it out.

Ole Angerstein top-scored for the Chargers with 27 points and 13 rebounds on 12/14 field goal shooting.

Jordan Straatsma added 21 points and six rebounds, Will Cranston-Lown 17 points, seven assists and five boards, and Jacob Richards 16 points, five rebounds and three assists.

HOBART CHARGERS 92 (Angerstein 27, Straatsma 21, Cranston-Lown 17)

DANDENONG RANGERS 99 (Bieker 25, Monyyong 20, Peatling 18)

Mount Gambier Pioneers (105) defeated Frankston Blues (68)

The Mount Gambier Pioneers finished their regular season by locking away second position with the 105-68 dominant win at home over the Frankston Blues.

The Pioneers were playing their last game of the regular season at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre up against a Frankston team who has fallen out of playoff contention having lost their past couple of games.

Mount Gambier came into the match up on a five-game winning streak and they opened up on fire to the delight of the home fans with a 15-0 run in the first quarter on the way to leading 29-16 by quarter-time.

It was even more of a dominant second quarter for the Pioneers with 36 points to 21 and by half-time the home team was well in control leading 65-37 on the back of shooting 26/41 from the field with 10 three-pointers while the Blues managed just 13/32.

That lead only continued to grow through the second half with Mount Gambier's advantage out to 36 points in the third frame, and 43 in the fourth before they secured the eventual 37-point triumph.

The Pioneers finished the game shooting at 56 per cent from the field to 37 from Frankston along with knocking down 14/34 from downtown to 8/27.

The win improves Mount Gambier to the 16-6 and they will finish the regular season in second spot with six straight wins with Kaden Archie delivering 21 points on 8/10 field goal shooting.

Alex Mudronja added 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals with 4/5 three-point shooting while Akech Aliir contributed 13 points, five boards, three assists and two steals.

Joe Palmer also had 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, Titus Robinson 13 points, seven boards and two assists, and Austin Shelley 10 points, two assists and two steals.

Frankston have now lost three straight to be 9-12 and their season will end on Sunday when they are away to the Diamond Valley Eagles.

Michael Harris top-scored for Frankston with 18 points, three assists and two rebounds with Taane Samuel adding 12 points and two steals, Kingsley Box 12 points and eight rebounds, and Corey Hastings 11 points and six boards.

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 105 (Archie 21, Mudronja 20, Robinson 13, Palmer 13, Aliir 13)

FRANKSTON BLUES 68 (Harris 18, Samuel 12, Box 12)

Diamond Valley Eagles (77) lost to Nunawading Spectres (104)

The Nunawading Spectres can't quite break into the finals but it's going to be a season of missed opportunity after they impressed again with a 104-77 road win over the Diamond Valley Eagles.

Both teams arrived at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre out of the finals mix and starting their double-headers to close the last round of the regular season.

It was a high scoring opening to the contest with the two teams combining for 55 points in the first quarter with Nunawading shooting 12/21 with 5/13 from three to be leading 29-26 with the Eagles going at 10/16 with 4/7.

The Spectres then worked their way further on top in the second term with 29 points to 20 to go into the half-time break leading 58-46.

Nunawading then continued to pull away through the second half with the lead getting out to 20 points in the third frame, and then 29 in the fourth before they secured the 27-point victory away from home.

The win improves the Spectres to a 10-11 record with one game to go at home to Keilor Thunder on Saturday night with Jack Gandolfo   providing 22 points, four assists and four rebounds with 4/7 shooting from behind the arc.

Christian D'Angelo also had 21 points and three rebounds with shooting 4/8 from deep for Nunawading while Nicolas Tata contributed 17 points and 17 rebounds, Dihan Wiggett 10 points, four assists and four steals, and Tristan Devers nine points and five assists.

Diamond Valley remain in last spot with a 5-16 record before finishing the season back home again on Sunday against the Frankston Blues.

Adam Thoseby top-scored for the Eagles with 24 points and five rebounds with 4/7 three-point shooting while Ryley Haywood added 17 points, four boards and three assists, and Noah Todd 14 points and three rebounds

DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 77 (Thoseby 24, Haywood 17, Todd 14)

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 104 (Gandolfo 22, D'Angelo 21, Tata 17)

Melbourne Tigers (97) defeated Casey Cavaliers (94)

Harry Froling, Jack Purchase and Tom Wilson all came up with massive plays late to lead the Melbourne Tigers to the 97-94 over the Casey Cavaliers to stay solid in fourth position.

There was plenty on the line for both teams coming into the match up at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre with the Tigers out to consolidate a top four spot while the Cavaliers needed a win to try to break into the top eight.

Melbourne made a strong start with 28 points to 19 in the first quarter thanks to going 10/10 at the foul line to 0/1 from Casey.

The Tigers were still leading 45-39 by the half-time break and then after the Melbourne lead got out to 12 points in the third term, the Cavaliers fired back and by three quarter-time it was just a one-point ball game.

The game was destined for a thrilling finish and the Cavaliers did manage to open up their own five-point advantage by the time Nate Roberts knocked down a three-pointer with six minutes to play.

Tom Wilson answered with a three ball and then so did Jack Purchase with two of them to return Melbourne to the lead, and before long an offensive rebound from Michael Wearne led to a Harry Froling drunk and the home team was back up seven.

A long two with a foot on the line from Tom Wilson then ended up being the game sealing bucket for the Tigers in the final minute and from there they were able to hold on for the three-point victory.

It's a crucial win in the context of the season too for Melbourne as they improve to third position heading into the rest of the weekend with a 13-8 record.

Tom Wilson is returning to the NBL this coming season with Melbourne United and he's doing so in blistering form with 34 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals with 14/19 free-throw shooting.

Jack Purchase added 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists with 4/10 three-point shooting while Harry Froling added 17 points, six boards and five assists, and Michael Wearne 14 points and three rebounds.

Casey missed a chance to break into the top eight to be 11-10 and now will have to beat the Ballarat Miners on Sunday and then hope an awful lot goes their way if they wish to make it to the playoffs.

Trendon Hankerson hit a late three to give Casey a chance but then Melbourne's pressure on him didn’t allow him to get off a shot to try and get the game to overtime.

Hankerson finished with 30 points, six assists and three rebounds with 7/10 three-point shooting while Preston Bungei contributed 17 points, four assists and three boards, Nate Roberts 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Ben Waller 10 points and three boards.

MELBOURNE TIGERS 97 (Wilson 34, Purchase 25, Froling 17)

CASEY CAVALIERS 94 (Hankerson 30, Bungei 17, Roberts 15)

Keilor Thunder (85) defeated Geelong United (80)

Both teams might have been out of the finals hunt but still put on an entertaining show with 27 points from Daniel Foster helping Keilor Thunder overcome the 27 from Tristan Forsyth to prevail 85-80.

Both teams came into the match up at Keilor Stadium on identical 7-13 records wand with having lost their past three matches entering the last weekend of the regular season.

It would prove to be a tight affair the entire evening with no more than nine points ever separating the teams, and with both enjoying a nine-point advantage at different times.

It was Geelong lead 22-17 by quarter-time but then Keilor managed 25 points to 20 themselves in the second term and that meant scores were all level at 42-42 by the half-time break.

The Thunder opened up their nine-point advantage in the third quarter but by three quarter-time Geelong had got things back close to be just four points down.

The lead then continued to switch hands throughout the final term but in the end when Adetomi Ayilara landed a three ball with two minutes to play, it gave Keilor a four-lead which they were able to convert into the five-point victory.

The win improves the Thunder to an 8-13 record ahead of their season ending away to the Nunawading Spectres on Saturday night with South East Melbourne Phoenix development player Daniel Foster finishing with 27 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals on 12/13 shooting.

Dante Thompson added 14 points, five rebounds and two assists, Deng

Dut 11 points, three boards, three assists and two steals, Chris Harris eight points, two rebounds and two blocks, and Jayce Beasley eight points.

Geelong's season will finish against the Eltham Wildcats at The Arena on Saturday night with Tristan Forsyth continuing his terrific season form with 27 points, 11 rebounds and three steals.

Kaelen Malone also had 18 points, three assists and two rebounds, George Blagojevic 13 points, eight boards and three assists, and Ma'alo Hicks seven points and four rebounds.

KEILOR THUNDER 85 (Foster 27, Thompson 14, Dut 11)

GEELONG UNITED 80 (Forsyth 27, Malone 18, Blagojevic 13)

 

Kilsyth Cobras (96) defeated Waverley Falcons (95)

The Waverley Falcons produced a big finish to regulation including scoring the last six points to get the game to overtime but the Kilsyth Cobras prevailed 96-95 after the extra period to confirm their playoff position.

The Cobras were back home on Friday night at Kilsyth Sports Centre fresh off beating the Ringwood Hawks back on Tuesday night to make it five straight victories.

They were playing host to a Waverley team no longer in finals contention, but who were determined to finish their season on a high note.

It was tough going in the first quarter with both teams only combining for 27 points with 2/21 three-point shooting and by quarter-time it was Waverley leading 17-10.

After the Falcons went up by 13 points early in the second stanza, Kilsyth fired back with a 12-0 scoring run and ended up outscoring Waverley 34 points to 18 in the term to go into the half-time interval leading 44-35.

That lead for Kilsyth grew to 14 points in the third term and they were still leading by as much as 12 early in the last quarter, but Waverley kept on firing and ended up scoring the last six points of regulation with buckets to Ryan Dean and Khalil Shabazz, and free throws to Shabazz to force overtime.

Corey Jeffs and Shabazz traded three balls to open the extra period but by the time Khadim Sy completed a three-point play the Cobras were out to a seven-point play and from there held on for the one-point thrilling win.

The win improves Kilsyth to a 14-8 record to close their regular season guaranteed of playing finals and they could still remain in the top four depending on other results over the weekend.

Dillon Stith had another 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals with 4/10 three-point shooting with Khadim Sy adding 20 points, nine boards and two assists.

Jamie Ahale added 17 points, six rebounds and two assists, Corey Jeffs 12 points, seven boards and four assists, Adrian Tomada 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and Hamish MacDonald eight points and five boards.

Waverley are now 9-12 with a game to finish at home to the Melbourne Tigers on Saturday night with Khalil Shabazz finishing with 32 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals despite 10/31 shooting from the field and 3/16 from downtown.

Mason Forbes added 21 points and 11 rebounds, Malik Meunier 18 points, eight boards, six assists and five steals, and Matthew McCarthy 14 points and 12 rebounds.

KILSYTH COBRAS 96 (Stith 21, Sy 20, Ahale 17)

WAVERLEY FALCONS 95 (Shabazz 32, Forbes 21, Meunier 18)

Eltham Wildcats (104) defeated Sandringham Sabres (98)

The Sandringham Sabres couldn’t quite keep their winning form going with the Eltham Wildcats delivering a 34-point fourth quarter to overrun them with the 104-98 victory.

The two teams arrived at Montmorency Secondary College on Friday night with plenty on the line with Eltham trying to break ingot the top four and continue their five-game winning streak.

Sandringham were on an 11-game winning run that had them still a chance to break into the top two should results go their way but locking away a top four finish was well within their grasp.

It was every bit an early finals match up a week early and by quarter-time it was the Wildcats narrowly leading 21-17.

The Sabres then took charge in the second term with 30 points to 16 on the back of shooting 13/22 from the field while the Wildcats only managed to be shooting 6/20.

That saw Sandringham leading 47-37 by half time and then after both teams combined for 61 points in the third term, the Sabres were still on top 77-68 by three quarter-time.

Sandringham looked every bit on track for a 12th straight win but Eltham instead put in a blistering final term with 36 points to 21 thanks to shooting 11/24 from the field and 11/13 at the foul line to just 6/21 and 8/9 from the Sabres in those last 10 minutes.

That saw the Wildcats turn the nine-point deficit into the six-point victory that improves them to a 13-8 record with six straight wins ahead of finishing their regular season away to Geelong United on Saturday night.

Xavier Bledson was spectacular int eh win for Eltham with 37 points, seven steals, five rebounds and three assists on 13/22 field goal shooting and 9/9 at the free-throw line.

Gabe Hadley added 32 points, three assists and two rebounds, Zak Cunningham 12 points and two boards, Sam Short nine points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals, and Josh Sykes eight points, nine boards and two assists.

Sandringham's 11-game winning streak is now over with them slipping to a 13-8 record ahead of finishing their regular season on Sunday at home to the Bendigo Braves.

Ben Ayre delivered another 30 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals for Sandringham with Malith Machar providing 23 points and four boards, Tom Koppens 15 points and 11 rebounds, CJ Asuncion-Byrd nine points, four boards and three assists, and Fabijan Krslovic seven points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

ELTHAM WILDCATS 104 (Bledson 37, Hadley 32, Cunningham 12)

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 98 (Ayre 30, Machar 23, Koppens 15)