North Spotlight | Phoenix send another big message

Featured image: @taylorearnshaw.photog

On the back of beating Logan Thunder the night before, Sunshine Coast Phoenix backed it up with a standout performance led by 25 points from Luke Anderson to beat the defending NBL1 North champion Southern Districts Spartans 106-84.

The Spartans were back home at Rowland Cowan Stadium trying to hit back from last Saturday night's loss to the Northside Wizards while the Phoenix arrived having won three straight including against Logan the night before by 29 points on their home floor.

Sunshine Coast then started on fire against the Spartans to already be leading by 17 at quarter-time before going on another 16-0 run in the third quarter to build a 33-point lead on the way to the eventual 22-point victory.

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That's four straight wins now for the Phoenix as they improve to a 6-2 record with Luke Anderson scoring 25 points to go with four rebounds and shooting 7/10 from the field, 2/3 from downtown and 9/10 at the free-throw line.

Earnest Ross is settling back in nicely too and produced 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals while Erik Kafritsas contributed 13 points and six boards, and Nelson Kahler 12 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Darnell Robateau produced nine points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals as well with Jamaal Robateau ending up with nine points, five assists, three boards and three steals, and DeShawn Ross-Paiwan nine points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

The championship defence of Southern Districts continues to struggle with them now 4-5 having lost the past two with Tamuri Wigness struggling on 6/18 shooting with four turnovers on his way to 17 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Ben Hastings also had 14 points, four rebounds and three assists, Dhieu Magier 13 points, three boards and two steals, and Troy Baxter Jr 12 points, three rebounds and three assists.

The Phoenix had momentum coming into the Sunday match up after a big win over Logan Thunder on Saturday night while the Spartans were fresh, and trying to hit back from last Saturday's loss to the Northside Wizards.

It was a flying start from Sunshine Coast on the back of what they did to Logan the night before and away from home, they went on a 12-0 scoring run on the way to leading 30-13 by quarter-time.

The Phoenix shot 10/20 from the field and 7/9 from the foul line in the opening term while the defending champions struggled shooting just 6/19 along with 1/1 at the stripe while also having seven turnovers.

The lead for Sunshine Coast grew to 19 in the second term but Southern Districts then worked back into the contest and by half-time had limited the Phoenix lead to 50-39.

Luke Anderson already had 23 points to the half for Sunshine Coast with them leading still thanks to 17 free-throw attempts to eight, and forcing the Spartans into 11 turnovers.

The Phoenix then totally blew the game open in the third quarter with 33 points to 12 and on the back of going on another 16-0 run their advantage got out to 33 points.

Sunshine Coast were leading 83-51 by three quarter-time and even with 33 points in the last quarter from Southern Districts, the Phoenix still cruised to the 22-point win for the best possible weekend beating the Spartans and Thunder by a combined 51 points.

The Spartans will try to hit back next Sunday when they host the Townsville Heat while Sunshine Coast will attempt to keep their momentum rolling on Saturday on the road to the Northside Wizards.

NBL1 NORTH 2026 SEASON | HERITAGE ROUND

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS 84 (Wigness 17, Hastings 14, Magier 13)

SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 106 (Anderson 25, Ross 17, Kafritsas 13)