Darwin Salties men seal home final with victory over Pirates
The Darwin Salties women have had their post season hopes ruined while the men secured home court advantage. Read the latest Salties action.
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The Darwin Salties women have had their post-season ambitions quashed.
Attempting to force their way into the top six, the side were no match for the South West Metro Pirates who were also fighting for their place in the finals.
Apart from six minutes in the first, the Salties trailed for the game, and at no point looked like retaking the lead.
Still missing captain Ruby Porter to a head-knock and with marquee signing Courtney Woods kept to just seven points, the team struggled offensively across the board, and were on the wrong side of a brutal 52-95 scoreline.
After a solid first quarter that saw the side down just one point, 24-25, they took their foot off the gas in the second, outscored 13-23 to take a 37-48 deficit into the half.
The Pirates came out of the gates firing, putting on 10 unanswered points, blowing out the score to 37-58, forcing the Salties to take a time-out.
The break didn’t do much to stem the Pirates offensive efforts as the visitors finished the third up 48-74.
The fourth quarter was the most damning of the night.
The Salties looked lost and their spirits beaten as they allowed 21 points, scoring four of their own.
With the win, the Pirates secured their sixth-place finish and post-season berth while the Salties were left to lick their wounds after being humbled by 43 points in their most important game of the season.
“They played too well for us tonight,” coach Rod Tremlett said after the loss.
“We didn’t get any flow offensively.
“If it wasn’t a must win game, we had some players who probably wouldn’t have played due to them carrying injuries; but that’s not an excuse.
“On the defensive end, it’s been a problem for us for a while now to be honest, they shot the ball really well tonight and we couldn’t get stops.”
Understandably disappointed with his team’s loss, Tremlett said losing at home made the situation tougher to swallow.
“We’d been on our last chance for the past three weeks,” he said.
“(It’s) obviously tough to lose this way.
“We tried our best to patch things up, but it wasn’t enough.
“No real excuses; just didn’t play well enough.”
WOMEN (regular season performance)
Ladder position: 8th
Games: 17
Wins: 8
Losses: 9
Points for: 1385
Points against: 1435
Point percentage: 96.50
On the other hand, the men made sure Logan weren’t going to take their second place on the ladder, defeating the lowly Pirates 113-77.
Already with a post-season berth locked down, the men had every right to rest players and take their foot off the gas, however, they chose to play a full strength side and make a statement.
And with Wani Swaka Lo Buluk back in the mix and cult hero Nathan Jawai also back in action, the men were in cruise control for most of the night.
Off to a great start, the Salties dropped 28 points in the first and followed it up with 26 in the second.
They then compounded the hurt, dropping 32 in the third, and 27 in the fourth for good measure.
After the full time buzzer rang out, the Darwin outfit were all smiles, the right side of a 113-77 scoreline.
Makuach Maluach found his touch from behind the arc, going 7/12 in his 28 point performance, and Deba George once again proved age is no limit, putting up 20 points off the bench in a dazzling performance, hitting four from six behind the arc.
Verle Williams and Chier Maker also had good nights and local talent Jason Ramsamy got some good minutes into his legs off the bench.
MEN (regular season performance)
Ladder position: 2nd
Games: 17
Wins: 13
Losses: 4
Points for: 1776
Points against: 1573
Point percentage: 112.90
Do or die in final round for Darwin Salties
If the Darwin Salties win their final match of the season they will lock down second place and their first ever home finals match.
But first the Darwin-based outfit needs to get past the South West Metro Pirates, who despite being down in 11th are not a side anyone in the Salties will take lightly.
Coach Matt Flinn said the side was peaking at the right time of the season and were looking forward not just for the match ahead, but the playoffs that are to come.
“The pleasing thing is we still have plenty of improvement in us, but we’re really loving our basketball at the moment,” Flinn said.
“We feel we’re peaking at the right time and we’re looking forward for what’s to come, not just this weekend but trying to bring a first home final to Darwin.”
The Territory team will play in their third finals series with just three years under their belt, a record unheard of for most teams.
Flinn said it was an incredibly pleasing stat and one that meant the side could no longer be satisfied with just making finals, now they had to make an impact.
“We have to win this weekend there’s no question about that, we really have our eye on that second spot so we can have that week off and get ready for a semi-final here,” he said.
“It’s been a long three year journey setting this franchise up, I’m extremely proud in what we’ve accomplished making the playoffs three years in a row as a start-up, it’s unheard of in elite sport.
“We just want to represent the Territory and do them proud, but knowing this group we’re not going to be satisfied with a home final, we want to try to win the whole thing.”
The men’s side has weathered some disruptions with leading scorer Kout Noi out for the remainder of the year after Olympics selection.
Sean Macdonald, Verle William sand Wani Swaka Lo Buluk have also missed weeks due to commitments and injury, but in their stead other players including Deba George have stepped up.
Wani makes his return this week and knows the challenge ahead against the Pirates, who have former NBL MVP Lamar Patterson in their arsenal.
“We’re excited, it’s going to be a pretty big game, even though the record doesn’t show it they’re a good team and are going to be ready to go,” he said.
“But we’ve been good this whole year, we knew we had a talented group from the start of the season and we’ve just built from there.
“We’ve got a really good group of guys that work well together and come in and practice every day so it doesn’t matter who’s on court or not.
“On the sidelines last week was tough, but it’s basketball it happens and wasn’t the first time for me so you’ve just got to be patient and work back.”
It’s do or die for the Salties women who need a win against the side directly above them to leapfrog their way into the NBL1 North playoffs.
The women’s side started their season on par with the best in the competition, but a run of losses on the road and injuries to key personnel leaves their season on a knife’s edge.
They’re up against the South West Metro Pirates, who are currently in sixth place and will be fighting for their own survival at the Croc Pot.
The Salties will be without their captain Ruby Porter for a second week in a row, but have depth elsewhere ready to step up.
Assistant coach Matt Hunt believes the match is a unique opportunity for the side to show their stuff, knowing it’s either win or go home.
“We’ve got a really unique opportunity after having not really played our best basketball for the past month or so,” Hunt said.
“It is do or die, it’s about picking up on the small details and leaving it all out on the court like there’s nothing to lose.
“If we want to play finals we have to win and we’re going to do whatever it takes to win.”
The rare loss at home last week had hurt the side and is one they wanted to bounce back from for their home support.
It came off the back of injuries to key players such as Porter, while star recruit Courtney Woods and Sophie Johnston are only a couple of weeks back from their injury lay-offs.
“We’ve had a couple of injuries and it’s a long gruelling season, the road trips took their toll on us, but here we are and now it’s win or go home,” Hunt said.
“We’re a much better team at home, the record speaks for itself, we love to see this place packed from the get go with the crowd being like our sixth man.”
Nyah Morris is among the crop of recruits to have embraced the Top End and the Salties since coming on-board.
She backed her team to get through, noting the depth of talent the Salties have at their disposal and how well the group has gelled as a unit, particularly in front of the Darwin crowd.
“It’s a very big game for us, if everything goes right we have a very stacked team heading into the playoffs,” Morris said.
“We need to have the first hit on the court, if we get a run on them first we will be set for the game knowing we all just want to get the win.
“Our team is all one big group, we all love each other and are one big family even outside of basketball.”
“I’ve played for a few associations and Darwin is probably my favourite, the crowd is insane and what makes it more special is they get around the girls team as well.”
Darwin Salties season hopes on life-support after eighth loss
The Darwin Salties Women’s season is on life support after their Round 13 defeat has put them on the cusp of elimination.
Desperately needing a victory to keep some breathing room between themselves and the rest of the pack, the side were outplayed by a very strong Townsville Flames.
Without their captain and starter Ruby Porter following a concussion suffered during the week, the side were already on the back foot.
Stepping up in her absence, Courtney Woods took the mantle of captain and led from the front, trying to drag her teammates to victory.
Neither side were able to land any blows in the first, leaving the score a lowly 12-18 in favour of the visitors.
The second term was much of the same, both sides struggling to connect on the offensive end.
The Salties, more particularly Woods, was being contained very well, double-teamed by the Flames’ defence each and every look she got.
The women in orange to their credit also played some impressive defence leaving the score 22-30 at the half.
After allowing two early points, Townsville went on a roll, sinking the next nine, forcing Salties coach Rod Tremlett to call a time-out.
Visibly frustrated, the Salties began forcing the plays, leading to offensive turnovers and Townsville to continue their offensive onslaught.
Floundering offensively, Darwin went into the last 10 down by 17 points.
The deficit eventually blew out to 25 with a bit over six minutes on the clock, by which point Townsville took their foot off the gas and started to lock down the game, winning 68-52.
Woods finished the game as the only player in the side to surpass double digits, putting up 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a steal in 37 minutes.
Now with a record of 8-8, the side sit precariously in seventh place.
If the side has any chance of playing finals, they must defeat sixth placed South West Metro Pirates and have other results go in their favour next weekend.
Unlike the women, the men came out of the round with another victory, pushing their campaign to 12-4, retaining second place on the ladder for another week.
Up against the Heat who came into the contest dead last, the Salties took the liberty of resting three-time NBL champion Wani Swaka Lo Buluk.
The home side came out guns blazing in the first term, putting up 25 points, and restricted their opponents to 18.
The second was a bit more of a back and forth as Townsville scrambled in their defensive efforts, keeping the Salties to 22, putting up 23 of their own.
This ensuing quarter would be the best of the Salties of the night, as they started to sink their shots and found some rhythm, taking the score to 79-56.
The home side would stretch the margin to 28 points with six left, leading coach Matt Flinn to sub off his main men and give his bench crew some minutes.
Townsville would finish the period with 28, their most in the contest, but the deficit was too great, with the full-time score reading 100-82 for the Salties.
Makuach Maluach was the Salties’ standout performer of the night, stepping up in the absence of Lo Buluk.
Maluach finished with a game high 24 points, as well as nine rebounds, one assist, two steals, two blocks, and went 5/7 from three in his 33 minute spell.
Deba George was a highlight machine yet again, putting together another age-defying performance, ending the night with 15 points, three rebounds, five assists, one steal, and went 3/8 from three for a plus 30 contribution.
Sean Macdonald and Chier Maker also stood tall with 19 points a piece and Verle Williams was an energiser bunny off the bench, injecting his speed and slight of hand when on court.
The men will face up against 11th placed South West Metro Pirates in their final regular season match this Saturday.
NBL champ returns to bolster Darwin Salties home final push
The 2024 NBL most improved player Sean Macdonald is back in the Darwin Salties squad for their must win clash against the Townsville Heat.
The second placed Salties will secure their first ever home final if they win against their last placed opposition in front of their home fans at the Croc Pot.
Darwin were close-run losers to top side Mackay last time out, with the likes of Deba George and Chier Maker bringing the heat for the occasion.
The side were missing Macdonald and Kout Noi, who is now on Olympic duty, at the time, but hope with the former’s return they can make an impression.
“I’m excited to get back into things after a nice break, feeling refreshed and ready to go,” Macdonald said.
“We’ve had a good week at practice and feeling confident going into the game this weekend.”
Meanwhile, the women are in another do or die clash against the Townsville Flames, with a win here needed to keep their finals hopes alive.
Courtney Woods made a massive impact on her return to the squad against Mackay last round, and will be needed to turn it up again against a side she has plenty of knowledge of.
The women will take to the court at 6pm, with the men following from 8pm at the Ventia Darwin Basketball Stadium.
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