North Spotlight | Kobe ensures Marlins stay undefeated

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Kobe McDowell-White had a huge night with 28 points and five triples but it still took a big fourth quarter for the Cairns Marlins to stay perfect this NBL1 North season with the 96-86 road win over the Townsville Heat.

Townsville were back home and not only needing a win to revive their own season, but attempting to hand Cairns a first loss of 2026 and they did start on fire with 33 points to 23 in the opening quarter.

The Heat were still leading by four at half-time on 22 points and 10 rebounds from Nathaniel Pollard Jr before scores were level by three quarter-time, and then the Marlins delivered 24 points to 14 in the final period to secure the 10-point win and improve to 10-0 as a result.

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After seeing their women suffer a first loss of the season earlier in the night, Cairns proved too strong with that big last quarter with Kobe McDowell-White delivering 28 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals with 5/9 shooting from beyond the arc.

Kody Stattmann had another strong showing with 23 points, six rebounds and two assists with 7/13 shooting from the floor and 7/8 at the charity stripe.

Amarco Doyle also had 15 points and four rebounds, Luca Yates 14 points, 10 boards, five assists, four steals and two blocks with Ky Stattmann contributing nine points, four rebounds and three assists.

Townsville couldn’t quite complete the job on what would have been a season reviving win with Nathaniel Pollard Jr starting on fire and ending up with 32 points, 17 rebounds, four steals, three blocks and two assists with 15/23 field goal shooting even while going 1/7 at the foul line.

Ethan Betts also ended up with 16 points, seven assists and four rebounds with 4/7 three-point shooting while Richard Peachey delivered 14 points, four boards, four assists and four steals, and Steven Richardson Jr eight points, two rebounds and two assists.

Townsville were back home and trying to stay in touch of the playoffs as they played host to the unbeaten Cairns and it was the Heat who made the scorching start with 33 points to 23 in the opening period.

Nathaniel Pollard Jr was especially on fire with 13 points while Ethan Betts added eight with Townsville knocking down 14/22 from the field and 5/9 from downtown opposed to the 9/20 and 2/7 from the visiting Marlins.

The lead for the Heat did get out to as much as 15 points in the second quarter but then Cairns hit back to end up having 24 points to 18 in the term and by half-time Townsville were just clinging to the 51-47 advantage.

Pollard Jr was already up to 22 points and 10 rebounds while Kobe McDowell-White had 16 points for the Marlins and Kody Stattmann 13 with the visitors having just the three turnovers over the opening 20 minutes.

Cairns then had 25 points to 21 in the third term and that meant scores were all square at 72-72 by three quarter-time and then it was all the Marlins with 24 points to 14 in the last quarter to remain undefeated this season with the eventual 10-point victory.

Townsville now don't play again until hosting the Ipswich Force next Saturday night while Cairns will complete their road double this weekend on Saturday against the Mackay Meteors.

NBL1 NORTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 10

TOWNSVILLE HEAT 86 (Pollard Jr 32, Betts 16, Peachey 14)

CAIRNS MARLINS 96 (McDowell-White 28, Kody Stattmann 23, Doyle 15)