Match Reports Round 9 v Northern Force

Match Report: Chargers Women Fall to Northern Force in Physical Road Contest

The Hobart Chargers were unable to maintain their early momentum on Saturday night, falling 74-64 to the Northern Force at Elphin Sports Stadium in their Round 9 NBL1 South Women’s clash.

After a strong opening half, the Chargers were held to just 27 points across the second half as Northern took control with a physical defensive effort and dominance on the boards.

Hobart made an encouraging start to the contest, showing strong offensive intent through Sharna Thompson and Tishara Morehouse. The Chargers found success from the perimeter and controlled the early tempo, outscoring Northern Force 23-17 in the opening quarter to take an early lead.

The second quarter tightened considerably, with both teams struggling to score consistently as defensive pressure increased. Northern found improved balance offensively while Hobart’s scoring slowed, but the Chargers were able to hold a narrow 37-36 lead at halftime in what had become a low-scoring, contested battle.

The momentum shifted after the main break, with the Force gaining control of the contest. Northern’s inside presence became a major factor, led by Parker Hill and Keely Froling, as Hobart struggled to generate efficient offence. The Force outscored the Chargers 17-12 in the third quarter to take a 53-49 lead into the final period.

Northern continued to apply pressure in the fourth quarter, capitalising on second-chance opportunities and limiting Hobart’s scoring. The Chargers were unable to close the gap as the Force finished strongly, winning the quarter 21-15 to secure the 74-64 victory.

Sharna Thompson led the Chargers with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Tishara Morehouse added 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Support was limited, with Portia Chopping contributing eight points and Emerson Wells adding seven.

For Northern, Parker Hill was dominant with 21 points and 20 rebounds in a commanding performance, while Keely Froling recorded 17 points and 15 rebounds. Sarah O’Neill added 15 points as the Force controlled the paint and the glass throughout the second half.

The loss sees the Chargers unable to convert a strong first half into a result, with Northern’s rebounding advantage and defensive pressure proving decisive after halftime.

Match Report: Chargers Men Overrun Late as Northern Force Snatch Road Win

The Hobart Chargers were unable to hold onto a second-half lead on Saturday night, falling 99-94 to the Northern Force at Elphin Sports Stadium in their Round 9 NBL1 South Men’s clash.

After producing a strong second quarter to take control of the game and leading at three-quarter time, the Chargers were overrun in the final period as Northern finished strongly to secure the home win.

The opening quarter was tightly contested, with both teams struggling to create separation in an intense start. Hobart found early scoring through Anthony Drmic, Jacob Richards and Jasper Hay, but Northern stayed in touch through Kye Savage and Cameron Brown. The Force edged the opening term 18-17 to take a narrow lead into quarter time.

Hobart responded impressively in the second quarter, producing their best offensive stretch of the game. Richards began to take control as both a scorer and creator, while Jackson Pepper provided an important spark off the bench. The Chargers put up 30 points for the term and outscored Northern 30-22 to take a 47-40 lead into halftime.

The contest remained high pressure after the break, with both teams trading baskets throughout the third quarter. Northern lifted offensively behind Savage and Logan Gibson, but Hobart continued to find answers through Richards, Drmic and Luke Rosendale. Although the Force won the quarter 30-25, the Chargers held a narrow 72-70 lead heading into the final term.

The game swung decisively in the fourth quarter. Northern closed strongly, with Savage catching fire from the perimeter and Gibson making a major impact inside. Hobart had chances to stay in front and reclaim momentum, but the Force executed better down the stretch and outscored the Chargers 29-22 in the final period to secure the 99-94 victory.

Anthony Drmic and Jacob Richards both finished with 21 points for Hobart, with Drmic also pulling down 11 rebounds and Richards adding nine rebounds and eight assists in a strong all-round performance. Luke Rosendale contributed 17 points, while Jackson Pepper added 16 points off the bench.

For Northern, Kye Savage led the way with 33 points, including eight three-pointers, while Logan Gibson delivered a powerful all-round performance with 22 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. Vincent DeAngelo added 14 points and eight rebounds, with the Force finding enough scoring depth to close the game out late.

The result was a frustrating one for the Chargers, who played well in patches and led entering the final quarter, but were unable to contain Northern’s late surge on the road.