South Spotlight | Raiders win again to go to top

Featured image: Rachel Louise - Rachel Louise Photography @rachellouisephotographyau

Trazarien White scored 28 points with eight assists to lead the Knox Raiders to a second win of the weekend beating the Nunawading Spectres 104-95 to move to the top of the NBL1 South.

Both teams arrived at Nunawading Basketball Centre on Sunday afternoon fresh off Saturday night wins with the Spectres winning on the road to the Waverley Falcons with the Raiders prevailing in a three-point thriller at home to the Ringwood Hawks.

The Raiders made their move in the second quarter with 32 points on 14/18 shooting from the field and even though Nunawading kept on battling and were within four by three quarter-time, and again late in the piece, Knox continued to have the answers.

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In the end, Knox secured the nine-point victory to make it a double win weekend to improve to a 12-4 record to now sit on top of the NBL1 South by the end of Round 10.

The Raiders ended up shooting 56 per cent from the floor for the game to the 44 per cent from the Spectres which ultimately was the major difference to help them overcome having 16 turnovers and giving up 15 offensive rebounds.

Knox now finish the weekend in top spot in the NBL1 South with the double win weekend with Trazarien White showing the way with another 28 points, eight assists and six rebounds with 12/17 field goal shooting.

Tad Dufelmeier also had 20 points and seven rebounds with 4/7 shooting from downtown with Brandon Slater contributing 17 points, nine boards and two assists, Brody Nunn 13 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Kobe Williamson 11 points and six boards.

Ben Griscti continued his tremendous form on return from the nasty neck injury that ended his NBL26 season before it even started with the Adelaide 36ers. He finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and three steals with 3/6 three-point shooting.

Christian D'Angelo added 22 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals, Kingsley Box 18 points, five boards and two assists, Dylan Penn 16 points, 10 assists, two rebounds and two steals, and Owen Lobsinger 12 points, seven boards, three assists and three steals.

Both teams were not only coming off playing the night before, but also having recorded impressive victories and no more than four points separated them in the first quarter with scores tied at 23-23 by the end of one.

Kingsley Box and Christian D'Angelo combined for 15 of those 23 points for Nunawading while Kobe Williamson had eight points for Knox while the Spectres were shooting 56 per cent from the field to 45, but the Raiders got up six extra shots with five offensive rebounds and forcing their opponents into four turnovers.

Knox then took control in the second period with 32 points on 14/18 shooting including 4/5 from downtown to head into half-time leading 55-45 with Trazarien White up to 13 points and Tad Dufelmeier 10.

The lead for Knox did grow to as much as 14 points in the third quarter but then Nunawading fired back and by three quarter-time all of a suddenly were only down by four and had the momentum.

But Dufelmeier hit a three to start the final frame to put Knox back up seven and the Raiders continued to have all the answers even after Nunawading once again got back within four thanks to Ben Griscti with three minutes to play.

Knox went on to score the nine-point victory to finish Round 10 of the NBL1 South in top spot as a result with the double win weekend.

Knox will now look to keep the momentum going on Saturday at home to the Waverley Falcons with Nunawading also at home to the Ringwood Hawks that same evening.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 10

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 95 (Griscti 27, D'Angelo 22, Box 18)

KNOX RAIDERS 104 (White 28, Dufelmeier 20, Slater 17)