North Finals | Bruce dominates as Logan win big

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Shaun Bruce played like a man unlucky not to have been named NBL1 North MVP again by putting up 35 points and 13 assists with six three-pointers to lead Logan Thunder to the thumping 108-85 qualifying final win over the Mackay Meteors.

Logan earned the right to host the qualifying final on Saturday night at Bendigo Bank Cornubia Park Sports Centre having finished the regular season in fourth place at 12-4 ahead of taking on the fifth placed Mackay who were 9-7.

Logan had won five of their past six games entering the finals while Mackay had lost two of the last three and it was the Thunder on their home floor who made a flying start with 28 points to 11 in the first quarter.

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Logan had another 25 points to 16 in the second quarter with the lead growing to as much as 25 points and that's where it stayed by half-time.

Mackay did manage 30 points in the third quarter but Logan remained in control at 80-57 by three quarter-time with Shaun Bruce already up to 30 points and seven assists while they had got to the foul line 30 times already to just 12 from the Meteors.

It was then 28 points apiece in the fourth quarter with Logan securing the 23-point victory to advance to a mouth watering semi-final match up against the Gold Coast Rollers while the season is over for the Meteors.

Logan finished the game shooting 56 per cent from the field along with 24/32 from the foul line  with Bruce showing the way after being named to the All-First Team with 35 points, 13 assists, three steals, three rebounds and two blocked shots.

Hunter Marks also finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, Zac Triplett 12 points, eight boards and two assists, Tyrone Fui 10 points and two rebounds, and Cal Dalton 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Mackay finished the night shooting just 40 per cent from the field with 11/35 from beyond the arc and 18/26 at the foul like as their season came to an end with them losing four of the last seven games to bow out at the same stage as last year.

Khobie De Haan top scored for the Meteors with 22 points, four rebounds and two assists with 4/7 shooting from the outside.

Derek Emelifeonwu also had 13 points, five assists and four rebounds, Jalen Johnson 11 points, four boards and two steals, and Jerron Jamerson 10 points and six assists.

NBL1 NORTH 2026 SEASON | QUALIFYING FINAL

LOGAN THUNDER 108 (Bruce 35, Marks 24, Triplett 12)

MACKAY METEORS 85 (De Haan 22, Emelifeonwu 13, Johnson 11)