The Bendigo Braves mens and womens teams visited Tasmania for Round 6 of the NBL1 to take on the states NBL1 teams.
It was a triumphant weekend for the visitors, winning 3 of 4 games across the state. Their men’s teams losing the opener against Hobart, but backing up to spilt the weekend with a win over an inconsistent NW Tasmania. Meanwhile for the Braves women, they were made it 2-0 across weekend but had to grind out both wins against the winless Hobart and Launceston.
After a number of weeks away, we saw some of the JackJumpers return to action on the local level, with Serj Deans and Sean Macdonald suiting up for the Thunder,
Meanwhile in the NBL1 North Jack McVeigh played his first game for North Gold Coast Seahawks. McVeigh played 36 minutes for 15 points, five rebounds and four assists in the Seahawks 114-86 loss to the Mackay Meteors. Despite his teams slow 1-5 start the season, McVeigh is the third NBL player in their starting lineup along with Jordan Hunter (Sydney Kings) and Tamuri Wigness (Brisbane Bullets).
Women
Hobart Chargers (0-6) vs Bendigo Braves (5-1)
Despite going down 72-87 the Chargers have started to show some improvement as a team. Going up against the highly favored Braves, the Chargers shot out to a surprising 13-2 in the opening three minutes. The Braves composed themselves and clawed back into the game but Chargers held a 27-19 lead after the first.
Hobart were looking a much more composed outfit than in recent weeks with Paige Bradley at the point guard position. It was the American’s second game with the team after jumping on court straight off the plane last week.
The Braves restored order in the send quarter where they took the lead during a 10 point run, to take a five point lead at halftime. But Hobart wasn’t done yet, with Bradley regularly finding Angela Tompkins and being down 61-62 after three quarters.
But the class of the braves big three Megan McKay, Abigail Wehrung and Kelly Wilson stepped up when it mattered. All trio all finished with over 20 points each, and stormed home to win 87-72. But despite the loss coach Dwain Davie will have a lot of positives to take out if it, hanging with one of the leading NBL1 South’s best for three quarters.
Hobart Chargers 72 (Tompkins 23 points, Bradley 15 points 11 assists)
lost to
Bendigo Braves 87 (McKay 23 points 12 rebounds, Wehrung 29 points, Wilson 21 points 12 assists)
Launceston Tornadoes (5-1) v Bendigo Braves (6-1)
It was a clash of two of the top womens teams in NBL1, but the Torns were missing Keely Froling on Opals duty. Froling is leading the team in points and rebounds this season and was sorely missed by Launceston. The Braves were also missing a key player on opal duty, with Tess Madgen also on opals duty. Despite fighting hard the Braves were in control for most of the game to win 73-66.
The Braves were also missing a key player on opal duty, with Tess Madgen also on opals duty. Megan McKay stood tall for the Braves in the victory with 18 points and 14 rebounds and five three pointers
The Braves started far better than the night before, opening up a 24-17 at the end of the first. With Froling not in the lineup Kelsey Griffin battled hard all night to step up. However the former WNBL MVP was heavily guarded inside and had limited opportunities offensively, despite scoring 18 points. But it forced Launceston’s other players to step up, wit Mariah Payne Simpson and Charli Kay all scoring in double figures.
They hung with them all game long and reduced the margin to just three points at the final break, but that was as close as they got for the game.
Although not as individually dominant as the night before against Hobart, the Braves had all starters reach double figures in points. Megan McKay led the Braves in the victory with 18 points and 14 rebounds and five three pointers.
Launceston Tornadoes 72 (Griffin 18 points 15 rebounds, Payne 15 points 7 rebounds)
lost to
Bendigo Braves 87 (McKay 18 points 14 rebounds, Wehrung 14 points 12 rebounds)
Men
Hobart Chargers (3-3) vs Bendigo Braves (1-5)
The Chargers mens team couldn’t wait to return to Kingborough after blowing a 22 point the previous week against Ringwood. It was another close game for Hobart but managed to hold their nerve in the final minutes to record a 77-73 win.
Ole Angerstein led the way for the Chargers, as he recorded his fifth double double of the season with 20 points and 14 rebounds. While import AJ Harris had another strong performance with 15 points, six rebounds and nine assists.
After a fast-faced first quarter the Chargers took an early 25-20 lead, only to have all the scoring dry up in the second quarter. Only seven total points were scored across the first six minutes of the second quarter before some late threes by Luke Rosendale and Malcolm Bernard allowed the Braves to tie the game up 39-39 at halftime.
Bendigo took the lead in the third quarter with 10 points from Bernard as the visitors looked to score their first away win of the season. Although the shots weren’t dropping for Hobart, but they stayed in the game from the foul line, with Angerstein, Harry Froling and AJ Harris combining for 29 free throw attempts in the match.
After trailing by three heading into the final quarter the Hobart Chargers bigs Froling and Angerstein took over the scoring load. They were providing a difficult match up in the post and took the lead in the closing minutes. The Braves played the foul game in the closing minutes hoping the Chargers would miss from the line with the game on the line. But Angerstein and Froling combined went for 10/12 from the stripe see Hobart back on the winners list.
Hobart Chargers 77 (Angerstein 20 points 14 rebounds, Harris 15 points nine assists)
defeated
Bendigo Braves 73 (Kuany Kuany 20 points, Rosendale 17 points)
North West Tasmania Thunder (4-2) vs Bendigo Braves (1-6)
The Thunder had a big crowd on hand, including JackJumpers coach Scott Roth who was keen to see his players SerJ Deans and Sean MacDonald debut on thie home courts. But not even the presence of the NBL’s coach of the year was enough to get the home team over the line. With the Braves winning 69-60 in a low scoring game.
It was not a pretty game in the first half, with the Thunder in particular unable to find any ways to score. The Braves were also having trouble, but led the low scoring game 28-19 at halftime.
But a big 3rd quarter by the Thunder, led by Macdonald and Deans, saw them erase the deficit and take the lead. The Thunder hit six three pointers to outscore the Braves 27-13 and appeared to have the game in control up five after three quarters. However the game took another turn in the final quarter when the Braves began with an 11-0 point start to retake the lead. The Thunder struggled to fight back as they were unable to hold onto the ball, comitting nine turnovers for the quarter.
Kuany Kuany took full advantage for the Braves, scoring 12 of his game high 20 points in the 4th as the visitors claim their first road win of the season.
North West Thunder 60 (Macdonald 19 points three assists, Deans 9 points 8 rebounds 4 assists )
defeated by
Bendigo Braves 69 (Kuany Kuany 20 points, Sidy Mohamed Djitte 12 points 15 rebounds)
*please note – highlights from Thunder v Braves will be added once uploaded by NBL1
