Vasiljevic shoots Falcons into top two

Adelaide 36ers star guard DJ Vasiljevic has led Waverley Falcons to second position in the NBL1 South standings after another big-time performance last weekend.

Vasiljevic scored a game-high 27 points to go with five rebounds and three assists as the Falcons scored a 104-91 win against Nunawading Spectres away from home on Saturday night.

The Falcons used a 27-15 third quarter avalanche to spark the 13-point success, which now puts Waverley into second position on the standings with a 9-4 record.

The Falcons now face Sandringham Sabres (7^th, 8-4) this Saturday night back on their home court.

Nick Marshall again led Mount Gambier with a game-high 30 points to go with eight rebounds and three steals, but the Pioneers dropped their second game in-a-row at home, going down 84-77 to Geelong United on Friday night.

The Pioneers held the advantage through a tough first half, but Geelong took control of the contest with a 20-12 third quarter to run out seven-point winners.

Mount Gambier now moves to 9-4 on the standings, to sit in third position heading into Friday night’s match against Keilor Thunder (6^th, 9-5) at Keilor Stadium.

Swingman Jacob Rigoni was on fire for Sturt Sabres in NBL1 Central, scoring a game-high 32 points in his side’s 111-98 win against Forestville Eagles at Wayville Sports Centre on Saturday night.

Rigoni swished four three-pointers as the Sabres took control of the contest after half-time, leading by as much as 24 points during the third quarter, where they outscored the Eagles 31-17.

Ben Griscti added 14 points and six rebounds for Sturt, who now move to equal first on the NBL1 Central standings with Forestville at 9-2.

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Sturt will now face a double-header in a fortnight’s time, playing at home against Norwood Flames (5^th, 5-6) on June 15, before travelling to Mitchell Park Sports Centre on Sunday, June 16 for a clash against South Adelaide Panthers (3^rd, 8-3).

Power forward Alex Starling recorded another double double as his South Adelaide Panthers defeated Southern Tigers 79-64 at Morphett Vale Stadium on Saturday night.

Starling scored an equal game-high 19 points to go with 10 rebounds as the Panthers powered away in the third quarter to record the 15-point success.

South Adelaide will now face a double-head weekend in two weeks’ time, travelling to Lights Community Centre on Saturday, June 15 to play North Adelaide Rockets (10^th, 2-9), before going home on the Sunday for the clash against the Sabres (1^st, 9-2).

In NBL1 North, point guard Jason Cadee scored 12 points and dished out a game-high 10 assists as Gold Coast Rollers got back onto the winners’ list, defeating Ipswich Force 76-70 at Carrara Stadium on Saturday night.

The Rollers held the lead for most of the night, including a 14-point advantage just before three-quarter time, but the Force cam storming back, reducing the margin to just three points with just under two minutes remaining.

Enter Cadee, who hit a huge three-pointer as Gold Coast moved to eighth on the standings with a 4-4 record after the six-point success.

Gold Coast this weekend face Logan Thunder (2^nd, 7-2) on home court on Friday night before travelling to battle North Gold Coast Seahawks (11^th, 4-6) at Runaway Bay Stadium on Saturday night.

East Perth Eagles split their double-header weekend in NBL1 West, with Sunday Dech continuing to fill the stats sheet.

Dech recorded a triple double as the Eagles defeated Perth Redbacks 90-78 last Friday night at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

The 1985cm swingman scored 20 points, hauled in 11 rebounds and dished 10 assists to go with two steals as East Perth led throughout the contest for a solid 12-point victory.

But the Eagles couldn’t replicate their Friday night form on Sunday night, East Perth going down to Goldfield Giants 109-88 at Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium.

Dech scored a team-high 21 points to go with four rebounds, four assists and three steals, but the Eagles were playing catch up for most of the game after taking an early lead in the first quarter.

The Eagles have another tough double-header this weekend, with a home clash against Joondalup Wolves (3^rd, 8-3) on Friday night, before travelling to Mandurah Recreation Centre on Saturday night for a battle against Mandurah Magic (4^th, 9-5).