South Wrap | Men's Round 8

Featured image: @3 Point Photography by Tania Millard

Tanner Krebs and Jesse Ghee had 78 points and 14 threes in a big Casey Cavaliers NBL1 South win while Harry Froling had 68 over two games for Dandenong Rangers, Jonathan Lawton hit the winner for Ringwood Hawks, and Jacob Richards had 45 for Hobart Chargers.

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SATURDAY

Geelong United (113) defeated Northern Force (92)

Geelong United snapped a seven-game losing slide in style with the 113-92 home win against the visiting Northern Force.

United were back at The Geelong Arena with just one win so far in 2026 as the Force arrived with just one more victory to their name this season.

It was a flying start from Geelong with 32 points to 24 in the first quarter before the home team had another 27 to 20 in the second on the way to the 59-44 half-time lead.

Geelong then confirmed the big win with another 30 points to 21 in the last term on the way to the 21-point victory to end the seven-game losing run and improve to a 2-9 record.

Lachlan Barker top scored with 21 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and four steals with 4/7 three-point shooting while Liam Herbert put up 18 points and six assists while also hitting 4/8 from long-range.

DeMarcus Gatlin also had 14 points, seven assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks, Malang Athian 13 points and four boards with 3/4 three-point shooting, Deng Riak 13 points and seven rebounds, and Malik Hunt 12 points and three boards.

The Force are now 2-10 following the loss with Logan Gibson putting up 27 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, Kye Savage 21 points, four boards, three assists and two steals, and Vincent DeAngelo 12 points and seven assists.

Kilsyth Cobras (83) lost to Melbourne Tigers (95)

Jack Purchase knocked down five triples for 27 points and the Melbourne Tigers won a fourth straight and retained top position by beating the Kilsyth Cobras 95-83.

The Tigers arrived at Kilsyth Sports Centre sitting in top spot while the Cobras had also won four straight but were without a couple of key players as they hosted the league-leaders.

Melbourne made a flying start with 62 points on the board already by half-time to be leading by 20 and with Purchase already having 18 to his name with 4/5 three-point shooting.

The Cobras did outscore the Tigers in the second half, but Melbourne still went on to secure the 12-point victory to make it four straight and to improve to 9-2 with Kilsyth now 7-4 following the defeat.

Kilsyth did finish up attempting nine extra shots than Melbourne and even went 21/29 at the foul line opposed to 16/23, but the Tigers shot at 53 per cent to 36 on the way to the 12-point victory.

It's a fourth straight win for the Tigers to keep hold of top spot with Jack Purchase delivering 27 points, four assists, three rebounds and two blocks with 5/7 three-point shooting.

Tom Wilson added 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, Wilson Amos 20 points, eight boards and two assists, George Blagojevic 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists, and Mason Gaze seven points, eight boards, four steals and two assists.

In the absence of Dillon Stith and Corey Jeffs, Kilsyth put in a spirited showing especially in the second half with Jamie Ahale finishing with 21 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Chris Payton Jr added 20 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, Adrian Tomada 17 points, seven assists and four boards, and Hamish MacDonald 11 points, eight rebounds and two assists.

Bendigo Braves (77) lost to Frankston Blues (87)

Dibaji Walker put up 34 points and Austin Shelley 31 as the Frankston Blues hit the road to beat the Bendigo Braves 87-77.

The Braves were back home at Red Energy Arena trying to end a two-game losing slide with Frankston arriving also having lost their past couple.

It was then a tight opening with scores all level at 23-23 by quarter-time before it was 20 points to 15 in the second term which saw Frankston head into half-time with the 43-38 advantage.

The Blues then continued to build on that through the second half going up nine in the third period and 13 in the fourth before securing the 10-point win.

Walker delivered 34 points, nine rebounds, three steals, three blocks and two assists on 11/16 shooting from the field and 11/13 from the foul line for Frankston who improve to a 7-5 record.

Shelley also provided 31 points, three steals and two assists on 6/11 shooting from downtown while the rest of the team only managed 22 points on 8/37 shooting.

The Braves are now 5-6 following the home defeat with Biwali Bayles finishing with 16 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds but it was Jarvis Doles showing the way with 36 points and seven boards on 15/23 field goal shooting with 6/12 from downtown.

Dandenong Rangers (102) defeated Knox Raiders (87)

No Joe Palmer, no worries for the Dandenong Rangers as they kept their winning form going with the 102-87 home victory against the Knox Raiders.

The Rangers came into the match up at Dandenong Basketball Stadium without their star scorer Palmer who was back home getting married for the weekend as they hosted the third placed Raiders.

Dandenong started impressively with 30 points to 24 in the first quarter but Knox steadied in the second term to cut the Rangers advantage to 54-50 by half-time.

It was just a six-point lead for the Rangers by three quarter-time but it was in the last period where the home team pulled away with 24 points to 15 on the way to the 15-point victory to improve to an 8-4 record.

Harry Froling stepped up impressively for Dandenong with 34 points, nine rebounds and four assists on 14/25 field goal shooting with Sam Davidson adding 23 points, four boards and two steals with 4/9 three-point shooting.

Ryan Rapp added 22 points and five rebounds while going 4/6 from behind the arc, Josh Kunen 13 points, six boards and two assists, and Michael Meadows five points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals.

The Raiders slip to 8-4 as well with the defeat with Trazarien White finishing with 30 points, six rebounds and two assists on 11/17 shooting.

Kobe Williamson also had 21 points and 13 rebounds, Brody Nunn 16 points, three boards and two assists, Deng Acouth 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks, and Tad Dufelmeier four points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Nunawading Spectres (95) lost to Sandringham Sabres (105)

Shea Ili ran things nicely and Malith Machar, Kyle Bowen and Kyle Adnam were all along for the ride as the Sandringham Sabres handed the Nunawading Spectres consecutive losses with the 105-95 road win.

The Spectres were back home at Nunawading Basketball Centre trying to bounce back from a loss to the Casey Cavaliers while the Sabres arrived after a win against the Ringwood Hawks.

The Sabres were leading by just the two points at quarter-time before taking over with 27 to 16 in the second to head into half-time leading 50-37.

The Spectres tried to make a run through the second half but Sandringham maintained a double digit lead through most of it on the way to the 10-point win to see the defending champions improve to a 6-5 record.

Malith Macar finished with 26 points and five rebounds with 4/8 three-point shooting.

Kyle Adnam added 23 points, seven assists and five rebounds, Shea Ili 20 points and three assists, Kyle Bowen 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Dane Pineau pulled down 12 rebounds with four of those offensive to go with four assists, two points and two blocks.

Nunawading are now 8-4 with back-to-back losses with Christian D'Angelo putting up 29 points, four assists and three rebounds with Owen Lobsinger adding 25 points and 10 boards, Dylan Penn 15 points and four assists, and Ben Griscti 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Ringwood Hawks (93) defeated Ballarat Miners (91)

Jonathan Lawton has been in hot form and he turned match winner hitting the clutch shot just before the buzzer as the Ringwood Hawks beat the Ballarat Miners 93-91 in a thriller.

The Hawks were back home at The Rings looking to get back on the winner's list while the Miners arrived trying to snap an eight-game losing run.

It was a flying start from Ringwood with 29 points to 12 in the first quarter and that lead grew to as much as 19 in the second term but then Ballarat dug deep to make a game of it.

The Miners ended up scoring 33 points in the second quarter to cut the lead of Ringwood to 49-35 by half-time.

Ballarat kept that momentum going with 23 points to 18 in the third quarter and then led by as much as 10 in the fourth term, but Ringwood were then the team that dug deep.

Eventually scores were level with 45 seconds left with Will Hynes scoring for Ballarat before both teams had empty possessions leading to a last play out of a timeout from Ringwood.

It ended up with Lawton hitting the go-ahead pull up jumper just before time expired and it was a rushed contested shot in the corner for Ballarat from Jaden Campbell from there out of a timeout with 2.4 seconds left.

Ringwood held on to win by two to improve to a 5-7 record with Lawton ending up with 23 points and seven assists as well as hitting the game winner.

Lawson Eales added 16 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists, Harry Sealey 15 points, six assists, four boards and two blocks, Tom Carroll 13 points and six rebounds, and Uche Dibiamaka 12 points and three boards.

Ballarat are now 1-10 with nine straight defeats with Will Hynes delivering 23 points, four rebounds and three assists with Jaden Campbell adding 21 points and two steals on 5/10 three-point shooting, Lachlan Dent 16 points and 13 assists, and Bol Bak 10 points and five rebounds.

Eltham Wildcats (108) defeated Hobart Chargers (65)

The Eltham Wildcats put up 38 points in the first quarter to set the tone for the eventual 108-65 thumping home win against the Hobart Chargers.

The Wildcats were back home at Montmorency Secondary College trying to string wins together against a Chargers team starting their road double and also trying to make it back-to-back wins.

Eltham fired to a spectacular first quarter with 38 points to be leading by 20 already by quarter-time before another 28 to 18 in the second frame on the way to the 66-36 half-time advantage.

The Wildcats continued to dominate from there too with the lead growing to 34 points in the third quarter and 43 in the fourth before they secured the win by that margin to improve to a 9-3 record.

Leonardo Colimerio finished with 20 points, six rebounds and two assists with Harry Hornery contributing 17 points, three boards and two assists, and TJ Weeks 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals.

Mitch McCarron added 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals, Zak Cunningham 15 points, eight boards, three assists and three blocks, and Sam Short eight points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Hobart are now 6-6 with the loss with Luke Rosendale top scoring with 17 points and two assists with Anthony Drmic adding 13 points on 3/3 three-point shooting, Joe Chilcott seven points, four rebounds and three assists, Jacob Richards seven points, six assists and five boards, and Nick Paul seven points and six rebounds.

Mount Gambier Pioneers (85) lost to Casey Cavaliers (109)

The Casey Cavaliers hit the road and kept their winning form going beating the Mount Gambier Pioneers 109-85 with Tanner Krebs exploding for 44 points while Jesse Ghee adding 34 with the pair combining for 14 three-pointers.

The Pioneers were back home at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre having split their road double last weekend while the Cavaliers arrived having won their past couple.

It was a tight contest through the first half with Casey leaving by three at quarter-time and then Mount Gambier going into half-time up 50-47.

It was all the Cavs from there, though, with 28 points to 15 in the third period and 34 to 20 in the fourth on the way to the 24-point win having outscored the home team 62-35 after half-time.

The win improves Casey to a 7-5 record on the back of shooting 16/29 from behind the arc with Krebs and Ghee combining for 14/20 of those.

Krebs finished with 44 points and eight rebounds on 8/11 fresh off signing at the South East Melbourne Phoenix for NBL27 with Ghee going 6/9 for 34 points with five rebounds.

Preston Bungei also had 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Mount Gambier are now 5-7 following the home loss with Alex Mudronja providing 21 points and three assists with Collin Moore adding 16 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Lucas Gordon 14 points, 14 boards and two blocked shots.

SUNDAY

Waverley Falcons (88) lost to Geelong United (99)

Gabe Hadley took on his former team and put up 25 points for the Waverley Falcons but it wasn’t quite enough with Geelong United making it a double win weekend with the 99-88 road win.

Geelong had beaten the Northern Force at home by 21 points on Saturday night ahead of taking on the Falcons at Waverley Basketball Centre with the home team making their lone appearance of the weekend.

Geelong started strongly with 29 points to 19 in the first quarter before another 31 to 21 in the second term to be in control heading into half-time leading 60-40.

While Waverley attempted to mount a comeback through the second half, Geelong had enough answers to secure the 11-point win to improve to 3-9 with the pair of wins for the weekend.

DeMarcus Gatlin provided 21 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and two steals for United with Liam Herbert adding 19 points, four boards, three assists and two steals, and Lachlan Barker 18 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Deng Riak also had 14 points and seven rebounds, and Malik Hunt 12 points and five boards.

Waverley are now 5-6 following the loss with Gabe Hadley providing 25 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Matthew McCarthy also had 16 points and five rebounds, Malike Meunier 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Jordan Anderson 11 points and four rebounds.

Keilor Thunder (94) defeated Dandenong Rangers (79)

Tana Kopa drained six triples and had 25 points as Keilor Thunder got back to the winner's list with the 94-79 home win against the Dandenong Rangers.

The Thunder were back home at Keilor Stadium for their lone game of the weekend against a Rangers outfit fresh off beating the Knox Raiders the previous night.

That was without Joe Palmer who is back in the United States getting married this weekend but still the Rangers managed to be leading 26-25 by quarter-time.

Keilor worked on top in the second quarter with 24 points to 11 to go into half-time leading 49-37 before then pulling away in the last term with 22 to 15 on the way to the 15-point victory to improve to a 7-5 record.

Tana Kopa finished with 25 points on 6/10 three-point shooting for the Thunder with Deng Dut adding 24 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, and Matthew Johns 13 points, six assists and four boards.

Landon Seaman also had 12 points and five rebounds with Cooper Kirkman contributing 11 points, eight boards and two assists, and Mayoum Mayoum seven points, four rebounds and two steals.

Dandenong are now 8-5 having split their weekend double without Palmer with Harry Froling putting up another 34 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Josh Kunen added 11 points and five rebounds, Michael Meadows 10 points, seven boards and five assists, and Ryan Rapp eight points and three rebounds.

Diamond Valley Eagles (90) defeated Bendigo Braves (75)

The Diamond Valley Eagles produced a dominant second half to overrun the Bendigo Braves for the 90-75 victory.

The Eagles were back home at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre making their lone appearance of the weekend with the Braves trying to bounce back from a loss the night before at home to the Frankston Blues.

Diamond Valley were narrowly leading by two at quarter-time before Bendigo had 28 points to 24 in the second term on the way to the 47-45 advantage at the main break.

The Eagles took over from there with a 12-0 run either side of three quarter-time seeing them open up an 18-point lead and to end up outscoring the Braves 45 to 28 in the second half for the 15-point win.

Diamond Valley improve to 4-8 following the win with Xavier Bledson producing 23 points, three rebounds and three steals with Ryley Haywood adding 22 points, five boards and three assists, Noah Todd 21 points and three rebounds, and Mitch Blackburn 12 points, six boards and three assists.

Mirko Djeric also delivered four points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals.

Bendigo are now 5-7 after the double loss weekend with Biwali Bayles providing 20 points, six assists and five rebounds with Jarvis Doles adding 20 points and 10 boards, and Ray Turner 10 points and three rebounds.

Ballarat Miners (110) lost to Hobart Chargers (114)

Jacob Richards shook off a quiet Saturday night to explode for 45 points on Sunday with the Hobart Chargers prevailing 114-110 in a high scoring thriller against the Ballarat Miners.

The Chargers arrived at The Minerdome having lost the previous night to the Eltham Wildcats while Ballarat lost a thriller on the road to the Ringwood Hawks.

The tone was set for the afternoon with both teams combining to score 64 points in the first quarter with Hobart leading 35 to 29 before Ballarat put up 30 to 17 in the second term to go into half-time on top 59-52.

It was 32 points to 23 from Hobart in the third quarter and the Chargers were holding on to a slender lead for most of the final period on the way to securing the four-point victory in a game featuring 224 points.

The Chargers improve to a 7-6 record having split their weekend double with Jacob Richards having an afternoon to remember with 45 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals with 16/25 field goal shooting and going 12/12 at the foul line.

Luke Rosendale also had 22 points, three rebounds and two assists, Anthony Drmic 17 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds, and Joe Chilcott nine points, two boards and two assists.

Ballarat are now 1-11 despite the two losses this weekend by a combined six points with Lachlan Dent finishing with 29 points, 10 assists and four rebounds with 6/12 three-point shooting.

Jaden Campbell added 24 points and five rebounds, Will Hynes 18 points, two assists and two steals, and Lucas Byrne 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Sandringham Sabres (110) defeated Kilsyth Cobras (64)

The Sandringham Sabres are now showing what they are capable of in the hunt of back-to-back championships with an emphatic Sunday display to beat the Kilsyth Cobras 110-64.

Both teams arrived at Southern Basketball Stadium having played the previous night with the Sabres beating the Nunawading Spectres by 10 points on the road while the Cobras went down at home to the Melbourne Tigers.

Sandringham made a blistering start with 31 points in the first quarter with 15 of those from Malith Machar on 5/5 three-point shooting and the Sabres never looked back.

Another 24 points to nine in the last quarter saw them win by 46 in the finish to improve to 7-5 on the season and ending the afternoon shooting 59 per cent from the floor and 15/32 from downtown while limiting the now 7-5 Cobras to 31 per cent shooting and 6/27 from downtown with eight free-throw attempts.

Even without the presence of 288-game NBL veteran Shea Ili, it was a dominant all-round performance from Sandringham showing that there's plenty of life still in their championship defence.

Malith Machar had 15 points in the first quarter on his way to 24 for the game with three rebounds and two assists on 6/9 three-point shooting.

Kyle Adnam also had 20 points, six assists and three rebounds on 4/10 three-point shooting, Kaylan Kitto 20 points, three boards and three assists with 4/5 from downtown, and Kyle Bowen 17 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and two blocked shots.

Elliott Brown added 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists, CJ Asuncion-Byrd nine points and two boards, and Dane Pineau 15 rebounds with seven of those offensive to go with six blocks, four points and two assists.

The Cobras were once again without Dillon Stith and Corey Jeffs, and just couldn't go with the Sabres on the back of the loss the previous night to the other Grand Final team from 2025.

Chris Payton Jr finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Kilsyth with Isaiah Harvey adding 10 points and three assists, Malik McKinney 10 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Jamie Ahale 10 points and three boards.

Frankston Blues (96) defeated Northern Force (85)

Tom Garrett landed seven three-pointers and put up 31 points as the Frankston Blues made it a double win weekend beating the Northern Force 96-85.

Both teams arrived at Jubilee Park Stadium having played the previous night with Frankston winning on the road to the Bendigo Braves while the Force started their road double losing to Geelong United.

It was a fast start at home from the Blues with 26 points to 18 before the Force did work back into the contest before half-time and cut the Frankston advantage to 49-46 at the main break.

The Force then continued that momentum to be leading by as much as eight in the third quarter and still by five in the fourth, but the Blues responded from there with 26 points to 10 in the final term on the way to the 11-point victory.

The two wins this weekend improve Frankston to an 8-5 record with Tom Garrett finishing with 31 points with 10 rebounds on 7/11 three-point shooting.

Dibaji Walker also had 22 points and six rebounds, Jack Stanwix 14 points, five boards and four assists, and Henry Peirce eight points, four boards and three assists.

The Force head home with two losses to be 2-11 with Kye Savage delivering another 31 points, three rebounds and two assists on 6/15 three-point shooting.

Vincent DeAngelo added 17 points and seven assists, Cameron Brown 15 points and three rebounds, Jack Moran nine points and four boards, and Logan Gibson eight points and 10 rebounds.