Big weekends for Marshall, Starling in double delight

Adelaide 36ers duo Nick Marshall and Alex Starling have lifted their NBL1 sides to back-to-back wins across a huge round of action last weekend.

Marshall was the star yet again as Mount Gambier Pioneers had a perfect weekend on the road to consolidate second position on the NBL1 South standings.

Marshall averaged 23 points per game across the weekend as the Pioneers won back-to-back games against Kilsyth Cobras and Diamond Valley Eagles.

The 198cm guard/forward was everywhere on Saturday night, scoring 21 points to go with four rebounds and four assists as Mount Gambier won a tough battle against the Cobras 90-81.

Kilsyth cut the Pioneers’ lead to just one point with two minutes to go in the contest before Marshall stepped up big time, connecting on a huge three-pointer as Mount Gambier scored the final eight points of the contest.

Marshall scored a game-high 25 points and had an equal game-high 14 rebounds as the Pioneers hade it two-from-two with a 96-81 victory against Diamond Valley Eagles on Sunday afternoon.

A superb 30-14 second quarter explosion from Mount Gambier was the catalyst for the 15-point success, Mount Gambier now move to 12-4 on the season ahead of Friday night’s home clash against Hobart Chargers (7^th, 9-6) at Wulanda Recreation Centre.

Starling had an amazing second half on Sunday afternoon as South Adelaide Panthers also had a perfect 2-0 weekend in the NBL1 Central.

The 199cm power forward scored 23 of his game-high 29 points after the main interval as the Panthers ran away from Sturt Sabres 87-68 at Mitchell Park. Starling also hauled in eight rebounds, collected seven steals and had two assists.

Starling scored 11 points to go with eight rebounds, four assists and a steal as South Adelaide fought back from an opening quarter deficit to defeat North Adelaide Rockets 86-67 at The Lights Community and Sports Centre on Saturday night.

The Panthers now face NBL1 Central league leaders Forestville Eagles (1^st, 11-2) this Saturday night on home court at Mitchell Park.

Swingman Jacob Rigoni was on triple double watch on Saturday night as Sturt Sabres fought back from a final quarter deficit to defeat Norwood Flames 94-92 at Springbank.

Rigoni scored 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished seven assists as Sturt survived a late Flames rally in the final seconds.

The 198cm forward scored 16 points to go with six rebounds, four steals and three assists as the Sabres fell to the Panthers on Sunday afternoon.

Big man Ben Griscti scored 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds against South Adelaide, while adding 11 points for the Sabres in their win against Norwood.

Sturt, who remain in second position on the standings equal with the Panthers with a 10-3 record, this week travel to Port Adelaide Recreation Centre for a huge clash against the reigning champions West Adelaide Bearcats (4^th, 7-6).

Point guard Jason Cadee hit a huge three-pointer down the stretch as Gold Coast Rollers snapped a three-game NBL1 North losing streak in Cairns on Saturday night.

After a disappointing 102-83 defeat to Townsville Heat on Friday night, the Rollers backed up 24 hours later in Cairns with Cadee scoring a game-high 26 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists in the 92-90 win.

With scores tied at 88-88, Cadee stepped up big, connecting from downtown with just under 20 seconds remaining, the Rollers holding on for the much-needed win, which moves Gold Coast to a 5-7 record and seventh position.

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Gold Coast are back on home court this Saturday night when the Rollers battle Southern District Spartans at Carrara Stadium.

The NBL1 campaigns for DJ Vasiljevic and Sunday Dech have both come to an end as the pair focus on upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic camps for the Boomers and South Sudan.

Lat Mayen is also on his way to Rwanda for the Bright Stars’ Olympic camp and will miss upcoming NZNBL matched for the Wellington Saints.

Mayen will return to the Saints if he’s not selected in the 12-man roster for the Paris Games.