Australia
The stretch run has started in the various divisions of NBL1, including the South division, which only has one week left in regular season. The Bendigo Braves are close to an undefeated run as Amy Atwell fired in 39 points in their first win of the weekend. Abbey Wehrung had a pair of 32 point efforts for the Ballarat Miners, but they lost both games. The duel of the weekend came on Sunday when Alice Kunek had 38 points, but it was not enough for the Nunawading Spectres, but it was not enough as Micaela Cocks had 34 points and the Frankston Blues prevailed in overtime. Anneli Maley had the best rebounding game with 22 boards for the Eltham Wildcats.
Mikaela Ruef grabbed another 27 rebounds for the Logan Thunder as they continue their chase in the North division with one weekend left. The highest scoring game came from Lexi Held in an exciting North Gold Coast Seahawks win. Steph Collins had 33 points for the Brisbane Capitals.
The top two teams in the West division met on Saturday with the Willetton Tigers pulling within a game of the Cockburn Cougars, who bounced back the next day. Natalie Chou had a pair of excellent games for the Eastern Suns, including a 34 point game that got them a winner in their second game.
The tie at the top of the standings continues to hold in the East division with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles taking it relatively easy on the last place Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Spiders. The game of the weekend saw Mikayla Pivec record a 15 point, 11 rebound, 14 assist triple-double against the Sutherland Sharks, but it was not enough because Lauren Nicholson had 39 points in the win. After missing the first game for the Inner West Bulls, the division’s power couple returned to lead them to a win on Sunday as Leilani Mitchell had 31 points and Mikaela Dombkins had 20 rebounds.
It was a double round of games in the Central division as the Sturt Sabres are on the verge of a perfect regular season. Ally Wilson had a 22 point, 14 rebound, and 10 assist triple-double for Norwood in their first game, but their loss in their second game leaves them in third place for now with one week to play.
The top scorer in this week’s Big V games was in the middle division as Jenna Mastellone had 30 points, but the Western Port Steelers lost. The top rebounder was also at that level as Emmie O’Nial grabbed 31 boards for the Warrandyte Venom.
Americas
The regular season concluded in Mexico with the playoffs set to start on Wednesday. Amid plenty of drama in Queretaro this week, Chihuahua swept them to seal the top seed. Behind them, Aguascalientes swept last place Leon, getting 33 points from Kristine Vitola in their first win. Monterrey secured homecourt advantage in the first round after their sweep of Correcaminos. Fresnillo could not improve their position, but made sure that they were at least in solid form before visiting the top seed after their sweep of Irapuato. The only split came in Veracruz and the two teams now face each other in the playoffs as Jalisco will welcome them to Guadalajara first.
With the double round-robin complete, the league in Uruguay resumed play after a break with a split of the top six teams in one group and the bottom four teams in the other group for another double round-robin. With the top teams playing each other close in the regular season, it was no surprise that there were going to be excellent games on Saturday. 33 points from Candela Foresto was not enough for 25 de Agosto in overtime as they lost to Malvin. Yale defeated Aguada and Hebraica Macabi came back to win against Defensor Sporting in the other games. The lower group game on Saturday saw Karina Acosta record 11 steals in a loss for Juventud de las Piedras.
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