South Spotlight | Wilson, Tigers overcome Djeric, Eagles

Featured image: @xnp_photography

Reigning NBL1 South MVP Tom Wilson produced 29 points and eight assists to help the Melbourne Tigers retain top spot but they were made to fight all the way before beating the Diamond Valley Eagles 88-83 who got 17 points and 13 assists from Mirko Djeric.

Both teams arrived at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in impressive form with the Tigers returning to top spot the previous night with the win over the Bendigo Braves while the Eagles kept their playoff hopes alive beating the Casey Cavaliers.

Every time Melbourne would threaten to pull away, Diamond Valley would hit back in what was a high quality affair but the Tigers did end up having enough of the answers on the way to the five-point win.

The result improves Melbourne to a 13-4 record to be in top spot by the end of Round 11 having won three straight since back-to-back losses to the Nunawading Spectres and Casey Cavaliers.

Diamond Valley remain outside the top 10 now with a 7-10 record having split their double header weekend.

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Even though the Eagles shot 11/32 from three-point territory to 5/21 from the Tigers and 28/37 at the foul line to 21/24, Melbourne scored the win with eight extra shot attempts while going at 46 per cent to the 37.

The Tigers maintain top spot with the third straight win with reigning MVP Tom Wilson delivering 29 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals with 11/21 shooting from the field, and 7/7 at the free-throw line.

George Blagojevic also had 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, Mason Gaze 14 points, three boards, three blocks, two assists and two steals, and Jack Purchase 10 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

It might have been a loss for Diamond Valley and it might mean their job of making the top 10 is increasingly difficult, but there was still plenty to like in their performance at the same time.

Mirko Djeric is embracing his role as a playmaker at the Eagles this season and the league's assists leader dished out another 13 dimes to go with 17 points and seven rebounds while hitting all nine free-throw attempts.

Xavier Bledson ended up top scoring for Diamond Valley with 18 points, two rebounds and two steals with Archie Woodhill providing 16 points, eight boards and two steals, Manny Malou 11 points, four rebounds and two blocks, and Daniel Poelsma 10 points and six boards.

Both teams came into the Sunday match up after winning on Saturday night and the Eagles came out and scored the first five points of the game before Melbourn responded with the next 12 points.

By the end of the first quarter, it was the Tigers leading 25-18 with Jack Purchase already having eight points, four rebounds and four assists while Mirko Djeric had three points, three assists and three rebounds.

Melbourne were leading on the back of shooting 53 per cent from the field to the 33 from Diamond Valley but the Eagles stayed in touch through the second quarter and by half-time the Tigers were only leading 41-37.

Tom Wilson had 10 points for Melbourne and Xavier Bledson for Diamond Valley while Djeric had another three points, three assists and three rebounds for the quarter.

It remained a tight battle in the third quarter with no more than four points between the teams with Wilson adding another 11 points while Djeric had six more assists for the Eagles and Archie Woodhilll was up to 13 points at three quarter-time.

The Tigers were clinging to the 61-59 advantage going into the fourth quarter before the home team got back out to an 11-point lead in the fourth term and while the Eagles stayed in touch, Melbourne had the answers to secure the five-point victory.

The Tigers will look to keep their winning form going when they host the Dandenong Rangers next Sunday with Diamond Valley on the road on Saturday night to the Kilsyth Cobras.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 11

MELBOURNE TIGERS 88 (Wilson 29, Blagojevic 18, Gaze 14)

DIAMOND VALLEY EAGLES 83 (Bledson 18, Djeric 17, Woodhill 16)