NBL1 Recap 22 & 23 July

The NBL1 North quarter finals were underway on the weekend, and Todd Blanchfield’s Gold Coast Rollers secured a tight win against USC Rip City 99-96.

If you rewind 12 months, Gold Coast finished the regular season in the NBL1 North in top spot before taking on the Logan Thunder, and had to fight for their lives to overcome a slow start to win. The Rollers went on to win the championship from there beating Rip City in the grand final.

Gold Coast once again finished in first place and had a fascinating battle with an eighth seed, this time a grand final rematch with Rip City.

Todd Blanchfield added 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks in his sides win.

The Rollers now advance to the semi-finals to play the South West Metro Pirates in a semi-final next Friday, tipping off at 7pm.

Knox Raiders were the hottest team in the NBL1 South coming into the playoffs but the Sandringham Sabres snapped the winning run of the Raiders with the 97-90 qualifying final victory. Mason Peatling adding 14 points and five boards.

Knox finished up as the regular season champions with an 18-4 record with a 10-game winning streak to be two games clear in top spot as they earned the right to host the Sabres in the qualifying final at the State Basketball Centre.

Knox will have to back up on Saturday night in a semi-final with the red hot Eltham Wildcats, tipping off at 8pm.

The Illawarra Hawks would have been disappointed to not still be in finals contention but even without Davo Hickey were able to finish the season on a high defeating the reigning champion Canberra Gunners 91-78.

The Hawks were playing their last game of the season and were at home at The Snakepit hosting the defending champion Gunners who were locked into third position going into the finals no matter the result.

Harry Morris added 18 points, six rebounds and three assists, Noah Pagotto 18 points, nine boards and two steals, Philip Dopud 16 points and five rebounds, and Tim Coenraad 12 points, 13 boards, six assists and two steals.

The win sees Illawarra finish the season with a 12-10 record in ninth position.

Despite the Centre of Excellence being locked into top spot and the Sydney Comets being out of playoff contention, it was the Comets prevailing 95-80 on Saturday night. Wani Swaka Lo Buluk delivering 25 points, nine rebounds and two steals for Sydney.

The Norths Bears confirmed themselves fourth place and a home quarter-final thanks to beating the Sydney Comets 85-71 at home on Sunday to close the regular season.

The Comets might have been out of finals contention but were attempting to end their season on a four-game winning streak when they arrived at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre on Sunday.

Despite the loss, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk added nine points and seven boards.

The Comets' season ends with an 11-11 record in eleventh position.

The West Adelaide Bearcats had the weekend off, thanks to their first place finish. With the results from the weekend, Lachlan Olbrich’s Bearcats will come up against the Forestville Eagles on Sunday 30 July, tipping off at 2pm ACST.