North Recap | Round 8 Saturday

Darnell Robateau had a triple-double in NBL1 North win for Sunshine Coast Phoenix while Preston Le Gassick had 32 for Gold Coast Rollers, Moira Joiner 31 for Rockhampton Cyclones, and Southern Districts Spartans had two tight wins over Mackay.

NORTH RECAP | ROUND 8 FRIDAY

WOMEN

Gold Coast Rollers (88) lost to South West Metro Pirates (93)

Juna Umezawa did all she could to lift Gold Coast Rollers to a first win of NBL1 North season with 38 points, but instead Grace Champion's 29 helped South West Metro Pirates to the 93-88 victory.

The Rollers were back home at Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium looking for a first win of the season and to snap a 15-game losing streak hosting a Pirates team who snapped their own winless run the previous week against the Rockhampton Cyclones.

It was a high scoring start from the bottom two teams as they combined for 50 points in the first quarter with the Pirates leading 28-22 by quarter-time having hit all four of their three-point attempts.

It was then 22 points apiece in the second quarter with South West Metro leading 50-44 by the half-time break before it was still a six-point lead by three quarter-time for the Pirates.

Gold Coast kept fighting, though, and eventually with two minutes to play Juna Umezawa knocked down a three-pointer and that tied scores up and the home team had all the momentum in the chase of that elusive win.

Beyonce Bea responded immediately with a three-point play for South West Metro and in the end they were able to close out the win at the foul line thanks to Steph Bairstow and Alana Fraser.

It makes it consecutive wins for the Pirates this season after losing their opening six matches with Grace Champion leading the charge with 29 points, five assists and four rebounds with 5/10 three-point shooting.

Beyonce Bea added 24 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, Steph Bairstow 20 points, four boards and three assists, and Alana Fraser seven points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Gold Coast remain winless in 2025 having not only lost all eight matches this season, but 16 in-a-row dating back to 2024 as well.

Juna Umezawa put in an inspired performance for Gold Coast with 38 points, 10 rebounds and three steals on 13/17 field goal shooting and 11/14 free-throw shooting.

Nyah Morris added 16 points and four assists with 4/8 three-point shooting, Tara Manumaleuga 10 points, five assists and three rebounds, and Emma Petrie 10 points, 10 boards and two assists.

GOLD COAST ROLLERS 88 (Umezawa 38, Morris 16, Petrie 10, Manumaleuga 10)

SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES 93 (Champion 29, Bea 24, Bairstow 20)

Southern Districts Spartans (88) defeated Mackay Meteorettes (77)

Nicole Fransson and Tiana Mangakahia combined for 59 points as the Southern Districts Spartans bounced back from their first loss of 2025 to beat the Mackay Meteorettes 88-77.

The Spartans won their opening seven matches of the season before a loss on the road to the Cairns Dolphins last Saturday night before returning home this Saturday to Rowland Cowan Stadium.

Mackay were playing their second game on the road of the weekend having beaten the Brisbane Capitals the previous evening setting up the mouth watering match up with the Spartans.

Southern Districts made the fast start with 25 points to 15 in the first quarter and then were still leading 39-33 by the half-time break.

The scoring picked up from both teams in the third frame with the Spartans putting up 32 points with 6/10 three-point shooting while the Meteorettes added 24 while making 11 of their shots inside the arc.

Southern Districts ended up leading by as much 18 points in the fourth quarter and then held on for the eventual 11-point win to bounce back from last week's loss to improve to an 8-1 record.

Nicole Fransson was a powerful force inside for the Spartans with 34 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, three blocks and two assists with 14/19 at the foul line.

Tiana Mangakahia's remarkable comeback continued too with 25 points on 7/12 three-point shooting while Jess McDowell-White threatened a triple-double with nine points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.

Mackay split their weekend double on the road to now sit with a 7-2 record by the end of Round 8 with Unique Thompson finishing with 22 points and 14 rebounds on 10/15 field goal shooting.

Monique Bobongie also delivered 17 points, seven assists and three rebounds, Amari Robinson 11 points, four boards and two assists, and Emme Shearer eight points, four assists and two rebounds.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 88 (Fransson 34, Mangakahia 25, J McDowell-White 9)

MACKAY METEORETTES 77 (Thompson 22, M Bobongie 17, Robinson 11)

Townsville Flames (98) defeated Northside Wizards (73)

The Townsville Flames outscored the Northside Wizards by 18 points in the third quarter on the way to securing the home 98-73 victory against the Northside Wizards.

The Wizards started their weekend in Far North Queensland with a tough 39-point loss the night before against the Cairns Dolphins ahead of taking on a Townsville team at home at Carmichael Ford Stadium and trying to avoid a third consecutive defeat.

Townsville won a championship in 2022 and Northside did in 2023 but both are just trying to stay in touch of the top six at the moment, and it was the Flames who went on a 10-0 run in the first quarter to end up leading 25-20 by the end of one.

It was still a tight contest at half-time with Townsville narrowly leading 45-41 but in the third quarter it was all the Flames as they blew the game apart.

Townsville scored 30 points in the third stanza on the back of shooting 13/24 from the field and while holding the Wizards to just the 12 points, and that saw the Flames open up a lead as big as 25 in the second half.

From there the Flames secured the 25-point victory while ending up taking 31 extra shots than the Wizards thanks to pulling down 20 offensive rebounds to five, and forcing Northside to 20 turnovers from which they scored 16 points.

Townsville improves to a 4-5 record with the victory with Sam Bowman dominant with 25 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Chailee Ward added 16 points, six assists and five rebounds, Harriet Carey 15 points on 3/6 three-point shooting, Kali Grootenboer 15 points, six rebounds and there assists, and Ainslie Minogue 10 points.

Northside goes home with two losses by a combined 64 points this weekend to now sit at 3-7 for the season with Cierra Walker battling hard once more for 24 points, five rebounds and two assists with 6/12 three-point shooting.

Saskia Gunness added 16 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals, Alice O'Driscoll 11 points, six boards, five assists and three steals, and Erin Harvey 10 points, seven assists and two boards.

TOWNSVILLE FLAMES 98 (Bowman 25, Ward 16, Carey 15, Grootenboer 15)

NORTHSIDE WIZARDS 73 (Walker 24, Gunness 16, O'Driscoll 11)

Sunshine Coast Phoenix (62) lost to Rockhampton Cyclones (77)

The defending champion Rockhampton Cyclones snapped their losing run by hitting the road and coming away with the 77-62 win over the Sunshine Coast Phoenix with Moira Joiner delivering 31 points.

The Phoenix were on their home floor at Maroochydore Stadium on a two-game winning streak while Rockhampton arrived looking to hit back from losing their past three matches.

The Cyclones made a strong start with 21 points to seven while holding Sunshine Coast to 3/19 shooting while they got up 14 three-point attempts in those opening 10 minutes, making four.

Rockhampton's lead then grew to 19 points in the second quarter and the defending champs went into the half-time interval on top 37-22.

Sunshine Coast tried to mount a comeback in the second half but the Cyclones would have all the answers on the way to the 15-point victory even while only shooting 32 per cent from the field up against the 35 from the Phoenix.

However, Rockhampton did attempt an extra 10 field goals for the game along with nine more free throws and also won the rebound count by 14, pulled down 16 offensive boards to six, and forced Sunshine Coast into 17 turnovers.

The win improves the Cyclones to a 4-5 record on the season with Moira Joiner delivering 31 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals while she knocked down 7/13 from behind the three-point line.

Chelsey Perry added 17 points, 17 rebounds and six assists, Mary Goulding 14 points, eight boards, four assists and two steals, and Alana Paewai nine points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Sunshine Coast are now 5-4 following the defeat on their home floor with Jessica Boundy top-scoring with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.

Shannon Ryan added 16 points, 15 rebounds and two assists, Amy Browne 14 points, two boards, two assists and two steals, and Mia Byrne five points, five rebounds and five assists.

SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 62 (Boundy 18, Ryan 16, Browne 14)

ROCKHAMPTON CYCLONES 77 (Joiner 31, Perry 17, Goulding 14)

MEN

Gold Coast Rollers (109) defeated South West Metro Pirates (93)

Preston Le Gassick didn’t miss from downtown and put up 32 points as the Gold Coast Rollers returned to the winner's list beating the South West Metro Pirates 109-93.

The Rollers were back home at Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium trying to bounce back from a loss two weeks ago to Logan Thunder and playing their first game since then.

The Pirates had a double on the road last weekend splitting their games with the Mackay Meteors and Rockhampton Rockets setting up the Saturday night match up between the two teams.

Gold Coast started well to open up a 29-24 lead by the end of the first quarter and then would continue to extend that the rest of the evening.

The advantage for the Rollers got out to eight points by half-time, nine at three quarter-time and they outscored the Pirates 26 points to 19 in the final 10 minutes to claim the 16-point victory.

The Rollers had a hot shooting night going 62 per cent as a team along with knocking down 14/22 from three at 64 per cent with South West managing 49 per cent form the floor and 39 per cent from three-point territory.

The win improves Gold Coast to a 4-4 record on the season with Preston Le Gassick producing 32 points, nine assists and three rebounds on 12/17 field goal shooting and 3/3 from downtown.

Charles Smith IV also had 21 point and six rebounds with 5/7 from deep while Boston Mazlin contributed 21 points, four boards, three steals and two assists with 5/6 shooting from behind the arc.

Reuben Te Rangi added 14 points, nine rebound and there assists, Elijah Kamu eight points and two assists, and Jensen Bradtke six points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocked shots.

South West are now 2-6 following the loss with Ben Volkman finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds and three assists on 12/15 field goal shooting.

Brendan Teys provided 13 points and three rebounds, Jarred Bairstow 13 points and four boards, Lachlan Anderson 12 points, three steals, two rebounds and two assists, and Dragan Stajic nine points, 15 assists, three boards and two steals.

GOLD COAST ROLLERS 109 (Le Gassick 32, Smith IV 21, Mazlin 21)

SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES 93 (Volkman 29, Teys 13, Bairstow 13)

Southern Districts Spartans (84) defeated Mackay Meteors (83)

Three huge three-point bombs from Jaxon Brenchley from the Mackay Meteors looked to be sending the game to overtime but Tamuri Wigness got fouled on the last possession and won the game 84-83 for the Southern Districts Spartans.

The Spartans were back home fresh off beating the Cairns Marlins last week while Mackay came into the match up having already played on Friday night and coming storming home to overrun the league-leading Brisbane Capitals.

They backed up on Saturday night at Rowland Cowan Stadium to take on the Spartans and by quarter-time it was the home team leading 23-21 on the back of taking four more shots and seven extra free throws than the Meteors.

Then in the second quarter, Southern Districts pushed out to an 11-point lead in the second quarter and then went into the half-time break on top 41-35.

Mackay turned the tide in the third quarter by putting up 23 points to 16 while making all 11 of their shot attempts inside the arc, and that saw them turn into the fourth frame leading by two.

The momentum continued to swing through the fourth quarter and Southern Districts were back out to a six-point lead with three minutes to play when Tamuri Wigness scored.

Mason Khalu hit a three-pointer to bring Mackay back within three and then Jaxon Brenchley hit three monster triples in the game's last two minutes which meant scores were all tied, and appeared heading to overtime.

The Spartans still had one final possession and Tamuri Wigness was fouled by Khalu, he stepped up to the line and missed the first but made the second which won them the game and avoided having to go to overtime.

The win improves Southern Districts to a 4-5 record on the season with back-to-back wins and they did it without the services of Cairns Taipans NBL guard Kyle Adnam too.

Tamuri Wigness was without his back court running mate and finished with 21 points, nine assists, three rebounds and three steals despite shooting 1/11 from downtown.

Blake Jones added 21 points, 13 rebounds and two assists on 10/15 field goal shooting with Nandor Kuti contributing 16 points, boards and seven assists, and Andre Ugrinic 10 points and two rebounds.

Mackay split their weekend on the road in Brisbane having beaten the Capitals on Friday before losing this one to the Spartans on Saturday with the reigning champs now holding a 6-3 record as a result.

Jaxon Brenchley landed 5/7 from behind the three-point arc for 24 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals with Akol Mawein adding another 19 points, 10 boards and three assists.

Mason Khalu also provided 12 points, three rebounds and two assists, Cameron Goldfinch 10 points and three boards, and Manny Malou nine points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 84 (Wigness 21, Jones 21, Kuti 16)

MACKAY METEORS 83 (Brenchley 24, Mawein 19, Khalu 12)

Townsville Heat (88) lost to Northside Wizards (91)

Josh Kunen produced his best performance of the season and teamed up with Tyler Williams and Durrell McDonald to lead the Northside Wizards to the 91-88 road win over the Townsville Heat.

The Wizards started their weekend double in Far North Queensland beating the Cairns Marlins on Friday night while the Heat came into the match up trying to back up last week's win against the Southern Districts Spartans.

It was the Heat who got the better of the start to be leading 25-18 by quarter-time and then building on that to get out to a 17-point lead in the second term and going into half-time on top 49-37.

The lead for Townsville was then as much as 20 points early in the third quarter but that's when the Wizards made their move and then delivered a 31-point to 17 fourth quarter to come from 11 points down at three quarter-time to secure the three-point win.

Townsville were still up six with 1:45 to go but Northside scored the next nine points of the game to secure the win that improves them to a 6-4 record with the pair of wins for their weekend road trip.

Josh Kunen is coming off an NBL season at the Brisbane Bullets and put in his best showing so far of the NBL1 North campaign at the Wizards with 27 points, 11 rebounds and four assists with 9/12 field goal shooting.

Tyler Williams produced another 26 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals with 5/9 shooting from downtown, and Durrell McDonald 16 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists.

The Heat are now 4-5 on the season following the defeat with Ethan Betts finishing with 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

Grant Teichmann added 16 points, four assists and three rebounds, Richard Peachey 16 points, four boards and three steals, Kuany Kuany 14 points and seven rebounds, and Chris Cedar 13 points with 3/7 three-point shooting.

TOWNSVILLE HEAT 88 (Betts 21, Teichmann 16, Peachey 16)

NORTHSIDE WIZARDS 91 (Kunen 27, Williams 26, McDonald 16)

Sunshine Coast Phoenix (112) defeated Rockhampton Rockets (85)

Darnell Robateau produced a triple-double and he had six other Sunshine Coast Phoenix teammates scoring in double digits in the 112-85 win at home against the Rockhampton Rockets.

The Phoenix came into the match on a three-game winning streak as they hosted a Rockets team at Maroochydore Stadium who had lost their past two games.

Sunshine Coast then produced a blistering start to the contest with 38 points in the first quarter while knocking down 8/13 from three-point range as a team.

That saw them open up a 13-point lead already by quarter-time which grew to 21 points in the second term and the Phoenix went into half-time on top 65-44.

Rockhampton did attempt to mount a fightback in the third frame with 24 points to 17 but then Sunshine Coast pulled away once more with a 30-point final term to secure the emphatic 27-point victory.

The Phoenix ended up going 18/46 from three-point range as a team opposed to the 6/25 from the Rockets with Darnell Robateau delivering a triple-double consisting of 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists along with four steals and going 5/9 from downtown.

Earnest Ross also made 4/9 from deep for 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists with Jamaal Robateau contributing 13 points, five assists, two rebounds and two steals, and Erik Kafritsas 13 points, seven assists, five boards and two steals.

Elias Cato was another strong contributor in 16 minutes off the bench with 13 points with DeShawn Ross-Paiwan adding 11 points and Liam Switzer four to go with 10 rebounds and three assists.

Rockhampton have now lost three straight matches for a 3-6 record on the season with Jalen Graham finishing with 24 points, six rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocked shots.

Malcolm Bernard also had 22 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals, and Jared Blanchard 17 points and 10 boards.

SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 112 (D Robateau 21, Ross 20, Cato 13, Kafritsas 13, J Robateau 13)

ROCKHAMPTON ROCKETS 85 (Graham 24, Bernard 22, Blanchard 17)