Marshall leads Pioneers charge to remain top

Adelaide 36ers swingman Nick Marshall continues to impress in the NBL1 South competition with his Mount Gambier Pioneers sitting in first place on the ladder.

Marshall hauled in an equal game-high 13 rebounds to go with 18 points and three assists as the Pioneers defeated Hobart Chargers 96-70 at Wulanda Recreation Centre on Friday night.

Mount Gambier took control of the contest in the second quarter, taking an 11-point lead into the main break before running away with the big 26-point victory.

The win keeps the Pioneers in equal first place on the NBL1 standings at 13-4 ahead of this weekend’s double header against Nunawading Spectres (9^th, 9-8) on Saturday night and Dandenong Rangers (4^th, 11-6) on Sunday afternoon.

Jason Cadee had the chance to win the game on the buzzer for Gold Coast Rollers on Saturday night, but his lay-up rimmed out as Southern Districts Spartans took a thrilling 114-113 NBL1 North win after overtime at Carrara Stadium.

The Rollers fought back from a nine-point deficit at three quarter time to force the extra five minutes, but the Spartans hit all the big shots in the extended period.

Cadee scored 21 points, dished 10 assists and had five rebounds in the loss, which sends Gold Coast to a 5-8 win-loss record for the season.

The Rollers now face a tough double-header this weekend, hosting Rockhampton Rockets (6^th, 6-6 ) at home on Friday night before travelling to Maroochydore Stadium on Saturday night to battle Sunshine Coast Phoenix (7^th, 6-7).

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In NBL1 Central, Ben Griscti had a big double-double of 13 points and 16 rebounds and Jacob Rigoni added five points, six rebounds and three steals as Sturt Sabres bounced back with a 99-80 win against West Adelaide Bearcats at Port Adelaide Recreation Centre on Saturday night.

The Sabres stormed away in the third quarter, outscoring the Bearcats 25-11 to run out with the 19-point win, which moves Sturt to an 11-3 record.

Sturt now face a double-header this weekend, the Sabres hosting Central District Lions (4^th, 8-6) at Springbank on Saturday night before heading to St Clair on Sunday afternoon for a battle against Woodville Warriors (5^th, 7-7).

Alex Starling also had another double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds to go with five assists as South Adelaide Panthers defeated Forestville Eagles 88-85 at Mitchell Park on Saturday night.

Starling fouled out of the contest with just over five minutes remaining, but the Panthers held on down the stretch to record the thrilling three-point win which moves them to an 11-3 record and creates a three-way tie at the top of the NBL1 Central standings with the Eagles and Sabres.

South Adelaide will now face Woodville Warriors (5^th, 7-7) this Saturday night at St Clair Recreation Centre.