North Spotlight | Phoenix overcome slow start, Dove's 41

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The Northside Wizards scored the first 15 points and Quintin Dove had 41 by end of the night but Sunshine Coast Phoenix ended up continuing their hot NBL1 North form with the eventual 84-80 victory.

The Wizards were back home at Northside Indoor Sports Centre fresh off beating the Rockhampton Rockets but the Phoenix arrived in hot form on a four-game winning streak.

But it was Northside on their home floor with the stunning start with the game's first 15 points in the opening five minutes but eventually Sunshine Coast worked their way back into the contest.

The Wizards were still clinging to a five-point lead at half-time and a three-point advantage by three quarter-time before Sunshine Coast did put up 31 points in the fourth quarter to secure the four-point win despite 18 points in the last 10 minutes for Northside from Dove.

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The win is a fifth in-a-row for the Phoenix as they improve to a 7-2 record with Nelson Kahler still to come back in while the Wizards slip to 3-6.

Considering the Phoenix conceded the first 15 points of the game, it was a strong win in the finish with Jamaal Robateau finishing with 20 points and three assists, and Darnell Robateau 17 points, five rebounds and four assists with 4/6 three-point shooting.

Earnest Ross might have only shot 5/15 for Sunshine Coast but ended up with 16 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two assists with Erik Kafritsas adding 13 points, six boards and two assists, and DeShawn Ross-Paiwan nine points, two rebounds and two assists against his former team.

The Wizards will be disappointed to not capitalise on that hot start with what could have been a statement win but Quintin Dove still had a monster night with 41 points on 11/23 shooting from the floor, 5/14 from three-point territory and 14/15 at the foul line.

Tyler Williams also ended up with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists, Durrell McDonald eight points, 10 boards and eight assists, Jed Richardson seven points, 14 rebounds, two assists and two blocks, and Tyson Warren 13 boards to go with two points and two steals.

The Wizards were fresh off beating the Rockhampton Rockets last week and then started in blistering fashion by scoring the opening 15 points of the game inside the first five minutes to leave the visiting Phoenix shellshocked.

But eventually Sunshine Coast did steady and outscored Northside 16 points to 11 for the rest of the quarter even though still Northside were on top 26-16 by quarter-time with nine points apiece to Tyler Williams and Quintin Dove.

Dove did add another seven points in the second quarter for Northside but the rest of the team only scored seven with Sunshine Coast putting up 21 to cut the lead for the Wizards to 42-37 by the half-time interval.

Things went up a gear with the tension in the third quarter with technicals to both Durrell McDonald and DeShawn Ross-Paiwan in an incident just before three quarter-time where some courtside fans also interjected themselves.

Order was soon restored and by three quarter-time it was the Wizards clinging to the three-point advantage but the Phoenix had too much firepower in the finish to put up 31 points in the fourth quarter.

Sunshine Coast ended up shooting 5/11 from three-point territory in the last term to end up securing the four-point win despite the Wizards still putting up 24 themselves with 18 of those by Dove who got himself up over 40 again.

The Wizards now don’t play again until being away to the Ipswich Force next Sunday while the Phoenix are on the road to the South West Metro Pirates next Saturday night.

NBL1 NORTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 8

NORTHSIDE WIZARDS 80 (Dove 41, Williams 13, McDonald 8)

SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 84 (J Robateau 20, D Robateau 17, Ross 16)