North Spotlight | Huge Q4 gives Meteorettes winning start

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The Mackay Meteorettes produced a dominant fourth quarter to turn a four-point lead at three quarter-time into the emphatic 92-71 home win over the Rockhampton Cyclones to open the NBL1 North season.

It was a first game of 2026 for both teams on Saturday night at Mackay Basketball Stadium with the Meteorettes coming off reaching the second round of the playoffs last year while the Cyclones just missed out on making it as defending champions.

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Not much separated the teams through the opening three quarters and it was just a four-point lead for the Meteorettes by three quarter-time, but the home team then dominated with 29 points to 12 in the last term.

That secured Mackay the 21-point victory on the back of their 25 offensive rebounds that helped them take an extra eight shots in the game and three more free throws.

Cheyenne Bobongie delivered 21 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals in the win for Mackay with sister Monique adding 11 points, 11 boards and three assists despite 3/19 shooting.

River Baldwin also had 19 points, 14 rebounds and two assists, Charli Kenny 14 points on 6/8 shooting, Alley Simpson 11 points and eight boards, Nikita Muscat 10 points and seven rebounds, and Chelsea Brook six points, six boards, five assists and two blocked shots.

The game might not have finished how the Cyclones hoped to open the season in that last 10 minutes but Tai Wakelin-Gray finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and two steals on 7/11 shooting.

Akaysha Muggeridge added 15 points and three rebounds, Gracie Stugart 13 points, nine assists and seven boards, Aria Dooley 11 points and two assists, and Halle Shipton 11 points and three rebounds.

There were no signs of rust in the first quarter from either team as they combined to put up 53 points with Mackay narrowly leading Rockhampton 27-26 by quarter-time.

The Meteorettes did make it a focus to go inside and 20 of their 27 points came inside the paint including eight second chance points while Tai Wakelin-Gray hit 3/4 from deep on her way to nine points for Rockhampton.

The scoring rate didn’t quite continue in the second quarter but still it remained a fascinating opening night contest for both teams with 20 more points to 16 in favour of the Meteorettes as they built a 47-42 half-time edge.

Mackay were still shooting 53 per cent at half-time to 41 even while going 1/9 from beyond the arc while the Cyclones kept in touch thanks to their 9/21 three-point shooting with Aria Dooley nailing 3/3 for her 11 points.

It remained a tight battle through the third quarter and it was just a 63-59 advantage by three quarter-time in favour of Mackay but the game was right up for grabs.

That didn’t stay the case for long with the Meteorettes dominated the last 10 minutes with 29 points to 12 on the back of shooting 11/22 from the floor and 6/9 at the foul line.

Rockhampton ran out of gas with just 4/18 shooting in the last quarter and going 0/4 from behind the arc with Mackay ending up winning big by 21 points to open the season.

The Meteorettes will be back in action on Anzac Day at home to the Southern Districts Spartans while the Cyclones play their first home game of 2026 on Friday hosting the Spartans as well.

NBL1 NORTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 1

MACKAY METEORETTES 92 (C Bobongie 21, Baldwin 19, Kenny 14)

ROCKHAMPTON CYCLONES 71 (Wakelin-Gray 15, Muggeridge 15, Stugart 13)