South Spotlight | Spectres overcome gritty Hawks

Featured image: Ian Knight Photography

A shorthanded Ringwood Hawks put in a spirited Tuesday night NBL1 South effort at home but the Nunawading Spectres finished on a 14-5 run with an offensive rebound from Eliza Hollingsworth huge in the 86-82 win.

Norwood Secondary College hosted the Tuesday night action with the Hawks having lost their opening two games of the season and coming into the match up shorthanded including the absence of Annabel Deerbon, Lily Scanlon and Emma Clarke.

Nunawading arrived on the back of winning their two road games in Tasmania to open the season as well and they did open up a 12-point lead in the first quarter only for the Hawks dig deep.

Ringwood then found themselves five points up with just over three minutes to go but Nunawading responded with the next seven points. Ultimately Hollingsworth's offensive board on a missed free-throw was the game clinching play as the Spectres won by four to improve to 3-0.

Kylee Blacksten took over the game in the third quarter and finished with 21 points and five rebounds for Nunawading while shooting 8/12 from the field and 5/6 at the stripe.

Rachel Antoniadiou also had 15 points, five assists and three rebounds, Eliza Hollingsworth 14 points, 14 boards and three assists, Riley Lupfer 14 points, four rebounds and four assists, and Kate Tanner 11 points and 12 boards.

Given who they were missing and despite now slipping to 0-3, there was a lot to like in the effort from Ringwood with Taylor Mole delivering 21 points, eight rebounds, five steals and three assists on 7/25 shooting.

Chelby Koker added 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks, Izzy Feller 15 points, nine boards and three assists, Honey Kaur 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Ally Bates six points on 2/5 three-point shooting.

The Spectres were looking to keep their momentum going from their two wins in Hobart to start the season as they stayed on the road against a Hawks team just trying to compete after a couple of losses and without some key players.

Nunawading would end up scoring 13 points in-a-row during the first quarter to open up a double-figure lead and to be on top 23-12 by the end of one with Rachel Antoniadou outstanding with eight points and a couple of three balls.

But to Ringwood's credit, they got on a roll in the second quarter and outscored Nunawading 23 points to 13 and by half-time that saw the Hawks leading 38-36 on the back of 12 points from Taylor Mole and 11 from Chelby Koker.

It remained a tight battle throughout the third quarter as well but Kylee Blacksten caught fire for Nunawading and by three quarter-time she had 19 points to her name.

The Spectres ended up with 25 points to 20 in the quarter to take a narrow 61-58 lead into three quarter-time, but then the Hawks put themselves in position for what would have been a memorable win.

When Ally Bates landed a three with 3:30 to play, Ringwood were leading by five and the challenge was thrown down to Nunawading. The Spectres responded starting with the next seven points courtesy of Kate Tanner, Teagan Potter and Riley Lupfer.

That included a three ball to Potter and then again after Honey Kaur tied scores up for the Hawks, Antoniadou put the Spectres back in front before Tanner stretched the lead to four, but there was still a frantic finish.

Koker hit a three ball to bring the Hawks back within three before they fouled Tanner with 5.6 seconds to go, and she missed both.

That was the good news for the home team, but Eliza Hollingsworth grabbed the offensive rebound and was quickly fouled.

She made one, but Nunawading retained possession because of the unsportsmanlike foul called, Hollingsworth made another two at the line and that sealed the win.

The Spectres will be back in action on Saturday night at home to the Waverley Falcons while Ringwood's hectic week at home continues on Thursday against the Eltham Wildcats and then Saturday against the Northern Force.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | MENTAL HEALTH ROUND

RINGWOOD HAWKS 82 (Mole 21, Koker 18, Feller 15)

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 86 (Blacksten 21, Antoniadou 15, Lupfer 14, Hollingsworth 14)