North Spotlight | Force survive despite loss to Thunder

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Ipswich Force missed a chance to keep their NBL1 North finals destiny in their own hands with Logan Thunder winning on 24 points and 18 assists from Shaun Bruce but things fell their way where they will make the playoffs.

There was plenty at stake for both teams at Bendigo Bank Cornubia Park Sports Centre with Logan needing to win to try and stay third while Ipswich could potentially miss finals without a win.

Considering the firepower and experience on both teams too, they deserve to feel like they can have an impact during the finals too but the Saturday night match up was going to play a big part in that.

The scores were all level at 24-24 by quarter-time before Ipswich had worked on top to be leading 53-40 by half-time on the back of shooting 50 per cent to 48 heading into the break, but tellingly 7/19 from the outside to 2/12.

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While Logan did respond with 26 points to 19 in the third quarter, Ipswich were still leading 72-66 by three quarter-time and on target to lock away their playoff position.

But the Thunder hit back and by the time Tyrone Fui scored going to the basket inside the last two minutes, the home team had grabbed the one-point lead.

Lamar Patterson responded with two free throws for Ipswich before Shaun Bruce responded in kind for Logan and then Lachlan Anderson scored to put the Force back on top by one.

Coming out of a timeout, Logan went quickly inside to Cal Dalton who made a nice move to make his bucket to return the Thunder to the lead but it did leave 12 seconds on the clock for the Force.

Anderson attempted a similar shot to what he made 20 seconds earlier but this time it rattled out and Logan were able to complete the one-point win.

Despite the win, it wasn’t enough for Logan to stay third with Sunshine Coast Phoenix leapfrogging them with both teams ending the regular season with identical 12-4 record.

Shaun Bruce did nothing to hurt his MVP credentials finishing with 24 points, 18 assists and eight rebounds for the Thunder in the win with 9/10 free-throw shooting.

Zac Triplett also had 24 points and three rebounds with 4/11 shooting from the outside, and Cal Dalton 19 points, five boards and four assists along with the go-ahead bucket with 12 seconds on the clock.

Tyrone Fui added13 points and four rebounds with 3/3 three-point shooting, and Tane Kirisome nine points, three assists and two rebounds.

The loss had the potential to end the finals hopes for Ipswich should the Brisbane Capitals win at the same time, but they lost their Grand Final rematch to the Southern Districts Spartans.

That means that with an 8-8 record, Ipswich will most likely finish in sixth place and take on the Phoenix to open the finals.

Lachlan Anderson delivered 31 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Force with 9/18 shooting from the field, 3/8 from beyond the arc and 10/12 at the free-throw line.

Lamar Patterson also had 25 points, seven assists and four rebounds with 4/11 shooting from the outside with Merrick Small adding 15 points and 12 boards, Will Mahoney 14 points, four rebounds and two assists, and Jason Ralph nine assists.

NBL1 NORTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 14

LOGAN THUNDER 96 (Triplett 24, Bruce 24, Dalton 19)

IPSWICH FORCE 93 (Anderson 31, L Patterson 25, Small 15)