No JackJumpers were in action over the weekend due to their awards night. However all four Tasmanian NBL1 sides took to their home floors as they hosted the Ringwood Hawks, who are new the NBL 1 level this season and on their first road trip to Tasmania.
Women
Hobart Chargers (0-5) vs Ringwood Hawks (4-1)
The Ringwood Hawks womens first game was against the Chargers women at the Kingborough Sports Centre on Friday night. The Hawks wasted no time in seizing control of the game from the tip off and jumping out to a 27-10 quarter time lead. That lead was extended to 25 points at halftime as Hobart struggled keeping control of the ball (19 turnovers for the game).
With a large lead established pressure was somewhat off Ringwood in the 2nd half as they they went deep into their bench, while Hobart looked for an improved team performance. Hobart put up a better effort at both ends to just lose the second half 30-32, but will need to bring that across four quarters.
Digna Straututmane was outstanding performer on the night for Ringwood in the 87-60 win. The Latvian filled the stat sheet with 14 points 11 rebounds, four steals and two blocks in 24 minutes. She was one of five Hawks in double figures.
For the Chargers Kylie McAuley was the stand out at both ends with eight points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and two steals in the loss. However they will need to start getting more players involved at the offensive end, with Sharna Thompson and Angela Tompkins taking 35 of the teams overall 56 field goals attempts. The fact that also only two made threes for the game (from 15 attempts) will also be a concern for coach Dwain Davie.
Launceston Tornadoes (4-1) v Ringwood Hawks (5-1)
In what was a battle of two of NBL1 frontrunners, the Tornadoes managed to power home late for big win at home. Ringwood started the game on fire, taking a 35-22 lead at the first break, in one of the highest scoring quarters of the NBL1 so far. The Torns upped their defensive effort but didn’t make any in-roads to the lead to still down double figures at half time.
That lead was stretched to 19 in the third quarter before the Tornadoes outscored them 22-2 in the final 6 minutes of the third quarter to take the lead heading into the final quarter.
Kelsey Griffin (28 points), Keely Froling (23 points) and Mariah Payne (20 points) continued Launceston’s charge in the final quarter as they ran out 90-82 winners. As on Friday night, it was a team effort by Ringwood on the offensve end with five players reaching double figures in scoring. But despite them shooting a solid 51% from the floor, it was their poor 3 point shooting (3 of 18) compared to Launceston (10 of 22) that proved a big difference between the two teams.
Men
Hobart Chargers (3-2) v Ringwood Hawks (3-2)
It was a game where if you left at halftime you wouldn’t have believed the final result. But the Ringwood Hawks mens side overcame a 22 point halftime deficit on the road, to defeat the Hobart Chargers 91-87.
The Chargers started the game with some impressive scoring. They scored 62 points in the first half with contributions from all over the floor, none more so than 24 points from Harry Froling. But they couldn’t get close to replicating that in the second half as they could only muster up a further 23 points for the game. This was on the back of some much-improved Hawks defense, but also some poor shot selections from the Chargers down the stretch. Hobart went away from going inside and attacking the paint, to settling for outside shots, where they were 0-13 in the second half.
Ringwood were very impressive in the second half, hitting a number of big shots late in the game. The were led by Tim Guers who had a game high 31 points and 12 rebounds and 2 steals. While they had key contributions from Robert Heath (11 points 7 rebounds six assists) and Shaun Clarke (15 points 8 Rebounds).
North West Tasmania Thunder (3-2) vs Ringwood Hawks (4-2)
The Hawks headed to Ulverstone aiming to complete a 2-0 sweep of their first trip to Tassie, but were met by an inspired Thunder outfit. North West Tasmania were undermanned coming in following the season ending injury to import KaVaugn Scott and the unavailability of NBL players Serj Deans, Fabian Krslovic, Matt Kenyon and Sean MacDonald. But they somehow found a way In front of a big Ulverstone crowd they trailed by a point at halftime, but were propelled to victory on the back of a 21-12 3rd quarter.
The game was tight through the first three quarters with the teams trading baskets throughout. But an 8-0 run by the Thunder in the final two minutes of the third quarter provided a 59-51 lead. Which was enough for the home team to hang on 80-72.
Coach Nick Haywood gave court time to all 12 of his men in the win, who were relentless on the defensive end, forcing 23 turnovers. Ben Wooley top scored with 19 points and 5 rebounds, while Kyle Furphy had 33 minutes off the bench for 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots. Meanwhile for the Hawks Tim Guers followed up his 31 against the Chargers to top score again with 25 points and 7 rebounds.
