North Spotlight | Rollers hand Thunder first loss

Featured image: @catchnkissphotography - Denise Saba

The Gold Coast Rollers hit back from a 12-point deficit to outscore Logan Thunder 55 points to 41 in the second half for their fourth straight win and hand their opponents a first NBL1 North defeat with the 104-96 victory.

Both teams came into the match up at Bendigo Bank Cornubia Park Sports Centre in impressive form with the Thunder having won their first four matches of 2026 with Gold Coast having won three straight since an opening round loss to Logan.

Logan looked on track to make it a fifth consecutive win to open the season when leading by 12 points in the second quarter but Gold Coast hit back to cut the deficit to six at half-time.

The Rollers then had 26 points to 13 in the third quarter and then went on a 9-0 run in the fourth to secure the eight-point win to make it four in-a-row to be 4-1 while Logan now sit on the same record after a first loss of 2026.

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Gold Coast despite just shooting 4/19 from beyond the arc to the 11/32 from Logan but the Rollers went 24/32 at the foul line to 15/22, and ended up taking nine extra shots as well thanks to their 16 offensive rebounds and just the seven turnovers.

It was a terrific performance from Gold Coast to make it four straight and hand Logan a first defeat with James Whitt shining once more with another 27 points, seven rebounds, five steals and three assists on 11/19 field goal shooting.

Preston Le Gassick was a standout once more showing why he earned an NBL opportunity at the New Zealand Breakers with 24 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Brodie McGregor also stepped up to provide 20 points and nine rebounds on 9/15 shooting for the Rollers with Boston Mazlin adding 15 points, nine boards, four assists and two steals, and Jensen Bradtke 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.

Logan suffered its first loss of the season despite a big night from Cal Dalton who delivered 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists on 10/17 shooting from the field.

Shaun Bruce might not have had an assist in the first quarter but still had another nine for the game to go with 19 points, four rebounds and two blocks with Zac Triplett adding 18 points, nine assists and six boards, and Hunter Marks 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Logan were looking to head into next week's bye still undefeated as they hosted Gold Coast and it was the Thunder leading narrowly 27-25 by the end of the first quarter.

Shaun Bruce and Zac Triplett had seven points each even if Bruce didn’t have an assist after having an NBL1 record 24 last week with Logan shooting at a blistering 67 per cent in the first quarter to 38 from Gold Coast.

But the Rollers were creating chances and got up nine extra shots on the back of six offensive rebounds and forcing the Thunder into five turnovers.

That lead for Logan grew to 12 points in the second quarter and by half-time Bruce was up to 12 points and three assists while Cal Dalton had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.

The Thunder were still on top 55-49 going into the main break on 57 per cent shooting to 43 from Gold Coast even with the Rollers still managing five more shots and three extra foul shots.

Gold Coast finally were able to convert their extra possessions into taking charge in the game in the third quarter with them outscoring Logan 26 points to 13 while shooting 11/23 from the field for the term to turn a six-point deficit into the seven-point lead.

Logan weren’t going to go down to their first loss of the season without a fight and the Thunder did score nine straight points in the final term to regain the lead.

But Gold Coast took over once more with their own 9-0 run on the way to securing the eventual eight-point victory.

Gold Coast back up on Saturday at home to the South West Metro Pirates while Logan have a long wait before they try to bounce back not playing again until hosting the North Gold Coast Seahawks on Friday May 29.

NBL1 NORTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 5

LOGAN THUNDER 96 (Dalton 24, Bruce 19, Triplett 18)

GOLD COAST ROLLERS 104 (Whitt 27, Le Gassick 24, McGregor 20)