South Spotlight | Cavs open account in 2026

Featured image: @In2Action Photography-Jodie Rawiri 

Patrick Ryan had 14 first quarter points and Preston Bungei 33 for the game with the Casey Cavaliers getting a first win of NBL1 South season leaving no more winless teams with the 101-84 victory over the Ringwood Hawks.

The Hawks arrived at Casey Stadium having just won their first game of the season while the Cavaliers were still chasing their first victory after opening up with losses at the hands of the Dandenong Rangers, Knox Raiders and Frankston Blues.

From the outset the Cavs were able to work on top and with Ryan and Ibrahima Diallo catching fire in the first quarter, Bungei doing the same in the second and then that trio influential the rest of the way, they were able to get on the board in 2026 with the 17-point home triumph.

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The Cavaliers won for the first time in 2026 despite going 4/18 from three for the game. They did shoot 55 per cent still overall and 29/37 at the foul line with Preston Bungei leading the charge.

He finished with 33 points, six rebounds and five assists on 12/16 field goal shooting, 2/3 from three-point territory and 7/8 at the free-throw line.

Coming off his season with the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the NBL, Patrick Ryan had 23 points and five rebounds on 8/9 shooting with 14 of his points coming in the opening period.

Ibrahima Diallo added 22 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, and Tanner Krebs 12 points, nine boards and two steals even on 1/7 three-point shooting.

Ringwood are now 1-5 on the season unable to back up their breakthrough win on Saturday against the Northern Force to cap a run of three home matches in five days last week.

Uche Dibiamaka was instrumental in that victory having just come into the team and he was again impressive despite the result with 22 points and six rebounds.

Tom Carroll went 3/4 from beyond the arc for 15 points and seven rebounds with Harry Sealey contributing 15 points and four assists, Lawson Eales 10 points and four rebounds, and Mitch Dielemans 10 points and two boards.

The Cavs were trying to win for the first time this season and started well at home to the Hawks with 30 points to 23 in the first quarter on the back of shooting a scorching 67 per cent from the field with Patrick Ryan and Ibrahima Diallo combining for 24 of their 30 points.

Ringwood stayed in touch with 50 per cent shooting themselves and 10 points from Uche Dibiamaka.

Once again the two teams combined for 53 points in the second frame and this time it was Casey outscoring Ringwood 28-25 to stretch that advantage to 10 going into the half-time interval.

Preston Bungei caught fire in that second quarter and had 20 points to his name going into the half and with the Cavaliers still shooting at 63 per cent and getting to the foul line 16 times, they remained in control.

That lead got out to 18 points in the third quarter as well with Casey's lead still 15 by three quarter-time even if they missed all six three-point attempts in the frame.

It was another 24 points to 22 in the last term in favour of the Cavs as they won for the first time in 2026.

The Cavaliers will now head to Tasmania for the double-header road trip against the Hobart Chargers and Northern Force across Anzac weekend while the Hawks will attempt to bounce back at home to the Melbourne Tigers on Anzac Day.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 3

CASEY CAVALIERS 101 (Bungei 33, Ryan 23, Diallo 22)

RINGWOOD HAWKS 84 (Dibiamaka 22, Carroll 15, Sealey 15)