Marshall shines as Pioneers defeat Spectres

Adelaide 36ers swingman Nick Marshall has continued his great form as Mount Gambier Pioneers continued to stay at the top of the NBL1 South standings.

In another superstar performance, Marshall scored a game-high 34 points to go with nine assists and seven rebounds as the Pioneers ran away with a 96-78 win against Nunawading Spectres at Wulanda Recreation Centre on Friday night.

The Pioneers stormed home with a 27-15 final quarter, Marshall scoring 12 of his 34 points in the last stanza, Mount Gambier now sitting at a 7-2 record ahead of this weekend’s double header against Knox Raiders (8^th, 5-4) and Casey Cavaliers (19^th, 2-7).

Some clutch free throws down the stretch from DJ Vasiljevic were key as Waverley Falcons defeated reigning NBL1 National Champions Knox Raiders 98-91 in overtime in Knox on Saturday night.

The Falcons were firing early, building a double-digit lead in the opening half, before the Raiders stormed back into the contest and had the chance to win the game at the end of regulation.

Vasiljevic scored 18 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in almost 44 minutes of playing time as the Falcons moved to 6-4 on the season to jump up to fourth place on the standings.

Waverley are back on home court this Saturday night when the Falcons play Kilsyth Cobras (17^th, 3-7).

Sunday Dech has starred down the stretch as his East Perth Eagles snapped the NBL1 West league leaders winning streak to start the 2024 season.

Dech scored 10 of his team-high 19 points in the final quarter as East Perth Eagles defeated Geraldton Buccaneers 87-72 at Active West Stadium on Saturday night.

The Eagles trailed by one point going into the final 10 minutes, but East Perth exploded for a 32-16 final quarter to give the Buccaneers their first loss of the NBL1 West season.

East Perth’s win sends the Eagles up to sixth place in the standings ahead of Friday night’s clash against Cockburn Cougars at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

Jason Cadee returned to action for Gold Coast Rollers in a big way, scoring 25 points and dishing 15 assists to go with six rebounds in his side’s 98-94 win against Northside Wizards at Carrara Stadium on Saturday night.

The Rollers fought back from a double-digit deficit at three-quarter time to force overtime as Cadee played the entire 45 minutes of game time.

Gold Coast, who now move to a 3-2 record and are in fifth position, are on the road this round to play Logan Thunder (4^th, 3-2) at Bendigo Bank Cornubia Park Sports Centre on Saturday night.

New signing Jacob Rigoni had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds but it was not enough for Sturt Sabres, who went down 104-81 to West Adelaide Bearcats at Springbank on Saturday night.

The Bearcats jumped the Sabres in the opening quarter to lead 34-10 after 10 minutes and as much as Sturt tried, the reigning NBL1 Central champions held sway for the rest of the contest to hand Sturt their second loss of the season.

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Sturt (2^nd, 7-2) will now play Forestville Eagles (1^st, 8-1) in a top of the table clash when NBL1 Central resumes on Saturday, May 25.

Alex Starling had the chance to hit the game-winning shot against Forestville Eagles on Saturday night, but his baseline jump shot came up short as South Adelaide Panthers fell to an 89-88 loss.

Starling scored 19 points, including 10 in the final quarter as the Panthers fought back from a 16-point deficit during the third quarter to have the shot to win the game on the buzzer.

South Adelaide will be back on home court on Saturday, May 25 when the Panthers host West Adelaide Bearcats (4^th, 5-4).

Across the Tasman in the NZNBL, newly-signed forward Lat Mayen played all 40 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to lift Wellington Saints, who fell to a 105-96 defeat to Nelson Giants at home on Sunday.

Mayen scored 14 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished six assists, but the Saints couldn’t hold in the final 10 minutes, the Giants coming back with a 35-22 last quarter for the nine-point win.

Wellington now move to 6-2 for the season and sit in equal first place on the standings along with Auckland Tuatara, Canterbury Rams and Franklin Bulls. The Saints will play the Bulls this Sunday afternoon.