Marshall returns as Pioneers get double chance

Adelaide 36ers swingman Nick Marshall was back on court last round as his Mount Gambier Pioneers finished the NBL1 South regular season in first place.

Marshall had 22 points, five rebounds and five assists as the Pioneers dominated Ringwood Hawks 117-75 at Wulanda Recreation Centre on Friday night.

The win gave Mount Gambier a 17-5 record and a two-game buffer I top of the NBL1 South standings ahead of the top eight playoff series which begins this week.

Mount Gambier will host Sandringham Sabres in a double chance qualifying final on Saturday night, the winner going directly through to a home court preliminary final in a fortnight.

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The loser will play the winner of the Eltham Wildcats-Geelong Supercats elimination final on home court next weekend.

Power forward Alex Starling has led South Adelaide Panthers to top spot on the NBL1 Central standings after another outstanding performance last Saturday night.

Starling scored a game-high 29 points to go with 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks as the Panthers fought back in the final 10 minutes to defeat Central District 90-88 at Starplex.

The victory gives the Panthers this weekend off, South Adelaide will play the winner of this Saturday night’s qualifying final between Sturt Sabres and Forestville Eagles.

Big man Ben Griscti was at his dominant best as Sturt Sabres finished the regular season in second position after a 104-75 win against Eastern Mavericks at Mount Barker.

Griscti had a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds to go with four assists as the Sabres took control of the contest after the main break.

Jacob Rigoni added 13 points and five rebounds as Sturt ended the regular season with a 15-3 record, level with South Adelaide.

The Panthers taking top spot from Sturt after a head-to-head tie breaker.

Sturt will have home court advantage when the Sabres play Forestville Eagles in this Saturday night’s qualifying final at Springbank.

Point guard Jason Cadee scored 26 points, dished 13 assists and grabbed seven rebounds in Gold Coast Rollers' 99-83 NBL1 North win against North Gold Coast Seahawks at Carrara Stadium on Saturday night.

But the 16-point success was not enough for the Rollers to qualify for the top six playoff series, Gold Coast finishing the regular season in seventh position with an 8-9 record.