On-fire Jacob Richards has Hobart on charge

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Jacob Richards delivered two dominant performances as Hobart Chargers opened the NBL1 South Men season with back-to-back wins over Nunawading and Frankston.

Hobart held off Nunawading Spectres 87–85 on March 27 before edging Frankston Blues 87–84 the following day, with Richards central to both results.

Watch all the Replays in the Game Centre

NBL1 South Men — Round 1 Top 5 Performances

1. Jacob Richards (Hobart Chargers) — vs Nunawading Spectres (Win 87–85)

30 pts │ 12 reb │ 7 ast │ 11-from-16 FG

Richards sets the standard for the round — elite efficiency, full stat-line impact, and it came in a two-point game. Controlled the fourth quarter and closed it.

2. George Blagojevic (Melbourne Tigers) — vs Mt Gambier Pioneers (Win 98–77)

29 pts │ 13 reb │ 13-from-18 FG

Dominant interior performance. High efficiency, double-double, and anchored a 21-point win with control across both ends.

3. Jacob Richards (Hobart Chargers) — vs Frankston Blues (Win 87–84)

27 pts │ 10 reb │ 5 ast

Followed it up with another near triple-double impact in a second tight finish. Richards paired with Luke Rosendale late, but still drove Hobart’s interior scoring and rebounding presence across all four quarters, including late-game execution in a one-possession result.

4. Lachlan Dent (Ballarat Miners) — vs Diamond Valley Eagles (Win 112–97)

28 pts │ 11 ast │ 13-from-22 FG

Primary creator in a 112-point offensive output. Scored and facilitated at volume, driving one of the most efficient team performances of the round.

5. Christian D’Angelo (Nunawading Spectres) — vs Northern Force (Win 101–59)

31 pts │ 12-from-22 FG

Highest scorer of the round. Led a 42-point win and took over after halftime — pure scoring dominance.

Geelong United 62, Kilsyth Cobras 74 (Final)

The Geelong Arena – March 28, 2026

Halftime: Geelong 33–28

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: Geelong 15–15, 18–13, 15–21, 14–25
• Kilsyth flipped the game in the second half, outscoring Geelong 46–29 after halftime.
• Geelong shot 32.4% from the field and 18.5% from three (5-from-27).
• Kilsyth generated balanced scoring with five players scoring eight or more points.

Kilsyth Cobras used a dominant second half to defeat Geelong United 74–62 at The Geelong Arena on March 28. After trailing by five at halftime, Kilsyth lifted defensively and found consistent scoring options, taking control through the third quarter before closing strongly in the fourth.

Adrian Tomada led Kilsyth with 13 points, six rebounds and four steals, while Chris Joseph Payton Jr added 12 points and seven rebounds. Macauley Haig provided 11 points off the bench, and Hamish MacDonald contributed 10 points on efficient shooting.

Demarcus Gatlin led Geelong with 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while Deng Riak added 13 points and 12 rebounds. Lachlan Barker contributed 12 points, and Liam Herbert added 10.

Top Performers

Geelong United: Demarcus Gatlin – 17 points, eight rebounds
Kilsyth Cobras: Adrian Tomada – 13 points, six rebounds

By the Numbers

• Geelong: FG 22-from-68 (32.4%) │ 3PT 5-from-27 (18.5%) │ FT 13-of-15 (86.7%) │ Rebounds 47 │ Assists 11 │ Turnovers 17
• Kilsyth: FG 24-from-68 (35.3%) │ 3PT 8-from-29 (27.6%) │ FT 18-of-27 (66.7%) │ Rebounds 44 │ Assists 18 │ Turnovers 11

Round 1: Hobart Chargers 87 def. Nunawading Spectres 85 – Men – March 27 at Hutchins School

Jacob Richards delivered 30 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists as Hobart Chargers surged late to defeat Nunawading Spectres 87–85 in a tight NBL1 South Men opener on March 27.

Hobart closed strongly in the fourth quarter, outscoring Nunawading 33–30 to overturn a halftime deficit and secure the two-point win at home.

Game Snapshot

• Quarter scores: Hobart 18–12, 15–26, 21–17, 33–30
• Hobart shot 49.3% from the field
• Hobart won the turnover battle 11–13

Richards led Hobart with 30 points on 11-from-16 shooting, adding 12 rebounds and seven assists in a dominant all-around performance.

Luke Rosendale added 23 points and eight rebounds, while Ambros Eugster contributed 13 points on efficient shooting to provide scoring support.

Christian D’Angelo led Nunawading with 20 points, while Jack Gandolfo added 19 points on 5-from-7 shooting from three. Dylan Penn contributed 16 points, but Nunawading fell short in the closing stages.

By the Numbers

Jacob Richards (HOB): 30 pts │ 12 reb │ 7 ast │ 11-from-16 FG
Luke Rosendale (HOB): 23 pts │ 8 reb
Christian D’Angelo (NUN): 20 pts │ 3 reb │ 0 ast

Round 1: Frankston Blues 103 def. Northern Force 89 – Men – March 27 at Ulverstone Sports & Leisure Centre

Austin Shelley and Daniel Trist led a balanced Frankston Blues attack as they defeated Northern Force 103–89 in their NBL1 South Men opener on March 27.

Frankston controlled the tempo across all four quarters, maintaining a consistent scoring output to pull away late and secure a 14-point road win.

Game Snapshot

• Quarter scores: Northern Force 27–28, 18–28, 24–25, 20–22
• Frankston shot 49.4% from the field
• Frankston recorded 23 assists to 21

Shelley led Frankston with 18 points, adding three assists and three steals while providing perimeter scoring throughout the contest.

Trist recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Tom Garrett and Corey Hastings each added 14 points. Vincent Monaghan contributed nine points on efficient shooting.

Logan Gibson led Northern Force with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Vincent DeAngelo added 17 points and six assists. Aaron Ridley III contributed 16 points, but the Force were unable to match Frankston’s depth.

By the Numbers

Austin Shelley (FRA): 18 pts │ 2 reb │ 3 ast │ 8-from-17 FG
Daniel Trist (FRA): 17 pts │ 10 reb │ 2 ast
Logan Gibson (NOR): 24 pts │ 9 reb │ 3 ast

Round 1: Bendigo Braves 89 def. Ballarat Miners 79 – Men – March 28 at Selkirk Stadium on March 28, 2026

Halftime: Bendigo 54–38

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: Ballarat 14–21, 24–33, 13–22, 28–13
• Bendigo built separation through the middle two quarters, outscoring Ballarat 55–27 across the second and third.
• Ballarat shot 34.2% from the field and 24.3% from three, while Bendigo finished at 46.3% overall.
• Bendigo controlled the glass 59–39, including 19 offensive rebounds, which created repeat possessions and extra scoring chances.

Bendigo Braves used their size, rebounding edge and interior production to defeat Ballarat Miners 89–79. The Braves opened with a seven-point first quarter edge, then broke the game open before halftime and pushed the margin further in the third. Ballarat won the fourth 28–13 but the earlier damage was too much to recover from.

Billy Smythe scored 18 points and seven rebounds for Bendigo, while Jordan Straatsma added 17 points on 7-from-11 shooting. Ray Turner produced 17 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, and Bilwali Bayles finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in an all-around performance.

Lachlan Dent led Ballarat with 18 points and eight assists despite shooting 5-from-21 from the field. Brooklyn Bruton matched him with 18 points, hitting 3-from-5 from beyond the arc, while Jaden Campbell added 13 points. Cearius Warren pulled down 10 rebounds and Yak Nyuon collected eight boards.

Top Performers
Ballarat Miners: Lachlan Dent – 18 points, eight assists
Bendigo Braves: Billy Smythe – 18 points, seven rebounds

By the Numbers

• Ballarat: FG 26-from-76 (34.2%) │ 3PT 9-from-37 (24.3%) │ FT 18-of-27 (66.7%) │ Rebounds 39 │ Assists 15 │ Turnovers 8
• Bendigo: FG 37-from-80 (46.3%) │ 3PT 8-from-25 (32.0%) │ FT 7-of-12 (58.3%) │ Rebounds 59 │ Assists 16 │ Turnovers 17

Round 1: Dandenong Rangers 92, Casey Cavaliers 81 (Final) - Dandenong Basketball Stadium on March 28, 2026

Halftime: Casey 40–40

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: Dandenong 23–16, 17–24, 27–18, 25–23
• Dandenong broke the game open in the third, outscoring Casey 27–18 to create separation.
• Dandenong shot 47.4% from the field and generated consistent interior scoring (31 two-point makes).
• Casey shot 36.1% overall and struggled to convert efficiently across all four quarters.

Dandenong Rangers used a decisive third-quarter push and balanced scoring to defeat Casey Cavaliers 92–81 at home on March 28. The game was level at halftime before Dandenong shifted momentum with improved execution and shot-making through the middle of the second half, maintaining control through the fourth.

Joe Palmer led Dandenong with 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Joe Lubarsky added 22 points on 9-from-15 shooting with eight rebounds. Justin Bieker contributed 12 points and four assists, and Harrison Froling added 11 points and six rebounds in the frontcourt rotation.

Preston Bungei led Casey with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Patrick Ryan added 15 points and nine boards. Tanner Krebs finished with 14 points, and Casey received 10 points from Chan Nai off the bench.

Top Performers
Dandenong Rangers: Joe Palmer – 24 points, 13 rebounds
Casey Cavaliers: Preston Bungei – 17 points, nine rebounds

By the Numbers

• Dandenong: FG 36-from-76 (47.4%) │ 3PT 5-from-19 (26.3%) │ FT 15-of-20 (75.0%) │ Rebounds 54 │ Assists 18 │ Turnovers 11
• Casey: FG 30-from-83 (36.1%) │ 3PT 9-from-33 (27.3%) │ FT 12-of-19 (63.2%) │ Rebounds 45 │ Assists 11 │ Turnovers 9

Round 1: Ringwood Hawks 95, Mt Gambier Pioneers 98 (Final) – The Rings on March 28, 2026

Halftime: Mt Gambier 64–53

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: Ringwood 24–30, 29–34, 23–12, 19–22
• Mt Gambier built a double-digit halftime lead behind a 64-point first half.
• Ringwood responded in the third (23–12) to close the gap, but Mt Gambier steadied late.
• Mt Gambier shot 52.9% from the field and 41.9% from three in an efficient offensive performance.

Mt Gambier Pioneers held off a second-half surge from Ringwood Hawks to secure a 98–95 win at The Rings on March 28. The Pioneers controlled the opening half with pace and shot-making, building an 11-point halftime advantage. Ringwood’s defensive lift in the third quarter cut the margin, but Mt Gambier executed down the stretch to close out the game.

Collin Moore led Mt Gambier with 25 points, five rebounds and five steals, while Ngor Manyang added 18 points, including 4-from-9 from three. Alex Mudronja contributed 16 points on efficient shooting, and Micale Mee added 12 points off the bench.

Harry Sealey led Ringwood with 22 points, while Junior Garbrah added 17 points and nine steals in an active defensive performance. Tom Carroll recorded 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, and Lawson Eales contributed 14 points and nine rebounds.

Top Performers
Ringwood Hawks: Harry Sealey – 22 points
Mt Gambier Pioneers: Collin Moore – 25 points, five rebounds, five steals

By the Numbers

• Ringwood: FG 36-from-73 (49.3%) │ 3PT 7-from-19 (36.8%) │ FT 16-of-28 (57.1%) │ Rebounds 41 │ Assists 16 │ Turnovers 16
• Mt Gambier: FG 36-from-68 (52.9%) │ 3PT 13-from-31 (41.9%) │ FT 13-of-17 (76.5%) │ Rebounds 37 │ Assists 20 │ Turnovers 23

Keilor Thunder 88, Knox Raiders 93 (Final)

Keilor Stadium – Keilor, VIC
Halftime: Knox 43–39

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: Keilor 16–25, 23–18, 18–30, 31–20
• Knox took control in the third quarter, outscoring Keilor 30–18 to create separation.
• Knox shot 50.0% from the field and dominated inside with 29 two-point makes.
• Keilor kept pace at the line (24-of-29) but couldn’t match Knox’s efficiency.

Knox Raiders used a dominant third quarter and efficient interior scoring to defeat Keilor Thunder 93–88 at Keilor Stadium on March 28. After trailing early, Knox flipped momentum through the middle of the game, building a double-digit lead before holding off Keilor’s late push in the fourth.

Trazarien White led Knox with 26 points, while Brandon Slater added 21 points on 8-from-11 shooting. Kobe Williamson contributed 18 points and eight rebounds, and Tad Dufelmeier added 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Daniel Foster led Keilor with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Tana Kopa added 21 points on efficient shooting. Landon Seaman contributed 12 points, and Ryan Philippe provided 10 points off the bench.

Top Performers
Keilor Thunder: Daniel Foster – 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists
Knox Raiders: Trazarien White – 26 points

By the Numbers

• Keilor: FG 28-from-61 (45.9%) │ 3PT 8-from-25 (32.0%) │ FT 24-of-29 (82.8%) │ Rebounds 29 │ Assists 15 │ Turnovers 13
• Knox: FG 32-from-64 (50.0%) │ 3PT 3-from-18 (16.7%) │ FT 26-of-33 (78.8%) │ Rebounds 40 │ Assists 11 │ Turnovers 15

Diamond Valley Eagles 66, Eltham Wildcats 76 (Final)

Diamond Valley Sports & Fitness Centre – March 28, 2026

Halftime: Eltham 43–32

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: Diamond Valley 19–21, 13–22, 15–12, 19–21
• Eltham created separation in the second quarter (22–13) to build a double-digit halftime lead.
• Diamond Valley shot 35.9% from the field and 25.9% from three across 27 attempts.
• Eltham moved the ball effectively with 21 assists and shot 44.8% overall.

Eltham Wildcats controlled the middle of the game to defeat Diamond Valley Eagles 76–66 at Diamond Valley Sports & Fitness Centre on March 28. After a tight opening quarter, Eltham’s second-quarter run created a buffer that held through the remainder of the contest. Diamond Valley made pushes in the second half but could not fully close the gap.

TJ Weeks led Eltham with 20 points, while Leonardo Colimério added 11 points and five rebounds. Mitchell McCarron contributed nine points, seven assists and six rebounds, and Zak Cunningham added nine points and seven rebounds.

Ryley Haywood led Diamond Valley with 18 points, while Mitchell Blackburn added 12 points and 13 rebounds on efficient shooting. Daniel Poelsma contributed 12 points, and Emmanuel Malou added six points.

Top Performers
Diamond Valley Eagles: Ryley Haywood – 18 points, four rebounds, three assists
Eltham Wildcats: TJ Weeks – 20 points

By the Numbers

• Diamond Valley: FG 23-from-64 (35.9%) │ 3PT 7-from-27 (25.9%) │ FT 13-of-23 (56.5%) │ Rebounds 39 │ Assists 9 │ Turnovers 15
• Eltham: FG 26-from-58 (44.8%) │ 3PT 6-from-27 (22.2%) │ FT 18-of-23 (78.3%) │ Rebounds 43 │ Assists 21 │ Turnovers 15

Northern Force 59, Nunawading Spectres 101 (Final)

Elphin Sports Stadium – March 28, 2026

Halftime: Nunawading 41–35

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: Northern Force 21–8, 14–33, 16–35, 8–25
• Nunawading flipped the game in the second quarter and dominated the second half 60–24.
• Nunawading controlled the glass 55–39 and forced just 6 turnovers, maintaining offensive flow.
• Northern Force shot 37.7% from the field and 11.1% from three (3-from-27).

Nunawading Spectres delivered a dominant second-half performance to defeat Northern Force 101–59 at Elphin Sports Stadium on March 28. After trailing early, Nunawading surged in the second quarter before completely taking control after halftime, outscoring Northern Force 60–24 across the final two periods.

Christian D’Angelo led Nunawading with 31 points on 12-from-22 shooting, while Jack Gandolfo added 21 points. Dylan Penn contributed 16 points on efficient shooting, and Daniel Baxter recorded 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Kye Savage led Northern Force with 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists, while Vincent DeAngelo added 14 points on 6-from-9 shooting. Logan Gibson contributed 11 points and nine rebounds.

Top Performers
Northern Force: Kye Savage – 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists
Nunawading Spectres: Christian D’Angelo – 31 points

By the Numbers

• Northern Force: FG 26-from-69 (37.7%) │ 3PT 3-from-27 (11.1%) │ FT 4-of-5 (80.0%) │ Rebounds 39 │ Assists 11 │ Turnovers 16
• Nunawading: FG 39-from-85 (45.9%) │ 3PT 8-from-29 (27.6%) │ FT 15-of-24 (62.5%) │ Rebounds 55 │ Assists 12 │ Turnovers 6

Ballarat Miners 112, Diamond Valley Eagles 97 (Final)

Selkirk Stadium – March 29, 2026

Halftime: Ballarat 58–53

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: Ballarat 24–25, 34–28, 26–27, 28–17
• Ballarat created separation late, outscoring Diamond Valley 28–17 in the fourth.
• Ballarat shot 59.0% from the field and 40.0% from three in an efficient offensive performance.
• Diamond Valley kept pace through three quarters before Ballarat’s late run broke the game open.

Ballarat Miners used a dominant offensive performance and fourth-quarter surge to defeat Diamond Valley Eagles 112–97 at Selkirk Stadium on March 29. The game remained tight through three quarters before Ballarat lifted its defensive pressure and converted efficiently down the stretch to secure the win.

Lachlan Dent led Ballarat with 28 points and 11 assists on 13-from-22 shooting, while Riley Nicolson added 22 points and seven rebounds. Brooklyn Bruton contributed 20 points and four assists, and Ethan Fiegert added 18 points on 7-from-8 shooting.

Emmanuel Malou led Diamond Valley with 26 points and five rebounds, while Mitchell Blackburn added 20 points and 12 rebounds on efficient shooting. Ryley Haywood contributed 14 points and five assists, and Daniel Poelsma added 14 points and seven assists.

Top Performers
Ballarat Miners: Lachlan Dent – 28 points, 11 assists
Diamond Valley Eagles: Emmanuel Malou – 26 points

By the Numbers

• Ballarat: FG 46-from-78 (59.0%) │ 3PT 12-from-30 (40.0%) │ FT 8-of-10 (80.0%) │ Rebounds 38 │ Assists 23 │ Turnovers 9
• Diamond Valley: FG 31-from-72 (43.1%) │ 3PT 14-from-39 (35.9%) │ FT 21-of-27 (77.8%) │ Rebounds 36 │ Assists 22 │ Turnovers 8

Melbourne Tigers 98, Mt Gambier Pioneers 77 (Final)

Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre – March 29, 2026

Halftime: Melbourne 53–46

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: Melbourne 27–19, 26–27, 13–9, 32–22
• Melbourne broke the game open in the fourth, outscoring Mt Gambier 32–22.
• Melbourne shot 53.9% from the field and dominated inside with 36 two-point makes.
• Mt Gambier shot 40.9% overall and struggled to keep pace offensively after halftime.

Melbourne Tigers used a dominant interior performance and a strong fourth quarter to defeat Mt Gambier Pioneers 98–77 at Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre on March 29. The Tigers held a narrow halftime lead before tightening defensively in the third and extending the margin decisively in the final period.

George Blagojevic led Melbourne with 29 points and 13 rebounds on 13-from-18 shooting, while Joshua Sykes added 16 points on a perfect 7-from-7 from the field. Tom Wilson contributed 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Jack Purchase added 11 points and six assists.

Collin Moore led Mt Gambier with 19 points, while Scott Telfer also added 19 points. Elijah Saifaleupolu contributed 19 points, and Ngor Manyang recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Top Performers
Melbourne Tigers: George Blagojevic – 29 points, 13 rebounds
Mt Gambier Pioneers: Collin Moore – 19 points

By the Numbers

• Melbourne: FG 42-from-78 (53.9%) │ 3PT 6-from-29 (20.7%) │ FT 8-of-14 (57.1%) │ Rebounds 48 │ Assists 26 │ Turnovers 13
• Mt Gambier: FG 27-from-66 (40.9%) │ 3PT 7-from-30 (23.3%) │ FT 16-of-21 (76.2%) │ Rebounds 28 │ Assists 11 │ Turnovers 13

Waverley Falcons 65, Sandringham Sabres 86 (Final)

Waverley Basketball Centre – March 29, 2026

Halftime: Sandringham 42–36

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: Waverley 17–20, 19–22, 14–29, 15–15
• Sandringham broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring Waverley 29–14.
• Waverley shot just 28.0% from the field and 19.4% from three (6-from-31).
• Sandringham controlled the glass 57–51, including 15 rebounds from Dane Pineau.

Sandringham Sabres used a dominant third quarter and rebounding edge to defeat Waverley Falcons 86–65 at Waverley Basketball Centre on March 29. After a competitive first half, Sandringham’s defensive pressure and interior control created separation, with the Sabres maintaining that margin through the fourth.

Malith Machar led Sandringham with 20 points, while Kyle Adnam added 18 points and shot 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. Elliott Brown contributed 12 points, and Kyle Bowen recorded 10 points and 13 rebounds. Dane Pineau anchored the interior with six points and 15 rebounds.

Miles Gibson led Waverley with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Gabe Hadley added 12 points and eight rebounds. Matthew McCarthy contributed 10 points and five rebounds.

Top Performers
Waverley Falcons: Miles Gibson – 17 points, eight rebounds
Sandringham Sabres: Malith Machar – 20 points

By the Numbers

• Waverley: FG 23-from-82 (28.0%) │ 3PT 6-from-31 (19.4%) │ FT 13-of-20 (65.0%) │ Rebounds 51 │ Assists 9 │ Turnovers 15
• Sandringham: FG 31-from-75 (41.3%) │ 3PT 6-from-25 (24.0%) │ FT 18-of-25 (72.0%) │ Rebounds 57 │ Assists 15 │ Turnovers 14

Hobart Chargers 87, Frankston Blues 84 (Final)

Hutchins School – March 28, 2026

Halftime: Frankston 46–48

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: Hobart 24–16, 24–30, 24–24, 15–14
• Hobart closed the game in a tight fourth, winning the final quarter 15–14.
• Hobart made 12-from-31 from three, creating the scoring difference.
• Frankston controlled the glass 43–37 but couldn’t convert late possessions.

Hobart Chargers edged Frankston Blues 87–84 at Hutchins School on March 28, holding composure late in a back-and-forth contest. After Frankston took a narrow halftime lead, the teams traded evenly through the third before Hobart’s perimeter shot-making and execution in the final minutes secured the win.

Luke Rosendale led Hobart with 32 points and six three-pointers, while Jacob Richards added 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Joe Chilcott contributed 11 points off the bench.

Austin Shelley led Frankston with 20 points, while Corey Hastings added 14. Lucas Barker and Tom Garrett each scored 10 as Frankston placed four players in double figures.

Top Performers

Hobart Chargers: Luke Rosendale – 32 points, seven rebounds
Frankston Blues: Austin Shelley – 20 points

By the Numbers

• Hobart: FG 27-from-63 (42.9%) │ 3PT 12-from-31 (38.7%) │ FT 21-of-29 (72.4%) │ Rebounds 37 │ Assists 15 │ Turnovers 12
• Frankston: FG 34-from-77 (44.2%) │ 3PT 8-from-29 (27.6%) │ FT 8-of-10 (80.0%) │ Rebounds 43 │ Assists 16 │ Turnovers 14