NBL1 Wrap (Week 5, 2025)

As the NBL off-season rolls on, a stack of NBL players are making their mark across the NBL1 conferences, lighting up box scores and keeping fans locked in. This past weekend saw plenty of familiar faces putting on a show, reminding everyone why they’re among the country’s best.

The Adelaide 36ers crew were front and centre. Sharpshooter Dejan Vasiljevic was on fire for the Forestville Eagles, torching the Central Districts Lions with a round-high 38 points before backing it up with a strong 26-point, 8-assist outing. Sixers teammate Keanu Rasmussen packed the stat sheet for the West Adelaide Bearcats, racking up 27 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 6 steals in a standout performance. Meanwhile, Ben Griscti was a force on the boards for the Sturt Sabres, dropping 29 points and hauling in 16 rebounds against the North Adelaide Rockets.

The Tasmania JackJumpers' prospects also showed plenty of promise. Archie Woodhill upped his scoring in his second game for the North West Thunder, pouring in 19 points. Brody Nunn was a steady contributor for the Knox Raiders across two games, while Lachlan Barker made his presence felt on the glass with 13 rebounds for North West. Joining them among the strong performers, West Adelaide’s Anthony Drmic hit the scoreboard with 17 points and 15 points across his two outings.

Over in the west, Perth Wildcat Elijah Pepper put on an offensive clinic for the Warwick Senators, exploding for 50 points against the Perth Redbacks. Fellow Wildcat Lat Mayen chipped in solid numbers for West Adelaide across two games, while Thomas Gerovich made valuable contributions for the Willetton Tigers. Todd Withers also stamped his authority for Warwick.

Illawarra Hawks players made some noise in NBL1 East. Todd Blanchfield delivered strong all-round performances across both games, including a 28-point, 14-rebound effort. Kobe McDowell-White was a standout playmaker, dishing out 13 assists in one game and 9 in another.

In a showdown between NBL teammates, Tyler Robertson starred for the Casey Cavaliers with a 30-point outing against Knox, while Keli Leaupepe led the charge for Knox with strong contributions at both ends of the floor.

Elsewhere, Kouat Noi stayed busy for the Sutherland Sharks, posting back-to-back games of 20 and 21 points.

Brisbane Bullet Kye Savage poured in 19 points for North West, and Cairns Taipan Dillon Stith dropped 23 points for the Kilsyth Cobras. South East Melbourne Phoenix big man Akech Aliir picked up a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Mount Gambier Pioneers, while teammate Angus Glover added consistent scoring for the Ringwood Hawks. Melbourne United’s Tom Koppens also chipped in with valuable minutes for the Sandringham Sabres.

The off-season action is heating up, and these performances are a great reminder of the depth and quality right across the NBL ranks.

Ben Griscti (Sturt Sabres) – 29 PTS, 16 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK vs North Adelaide Rockets (Apr 25) | 13 PTS, 12 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK vs Woodville Warriors (Apr 27)

Dejan Vasiljevic (Forestville Eagles) – 38 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL vs Central Districts Lions (Apr 25) | 26 PTS, 5 REB, 8 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK vs Southern Tigers (Apr 27)

Fiston Ipassou (Forestville Eagles) – 2 PTS, 1 STL vs Central Districts Lions (Apr 25) | 4 PTS, 6 REB, 1 STL vs Southern Tigers (Apr 27)

Isaac White (Rockingham Flames) – 25 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL vs Cockburn Cougars (Apr 25)

Keanu Rasmussen (West Adelaide Bearcats) – 26 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK vs Southern Tigers (Apr 25) | 27 PTS, 9 REB, 8 AST, 6 STL, 1 BLK vs Central Districts Lions (Apr 27)

Tom Kubank (South Adelaide Panthers) – 13 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK vs Eastern Mavericks (Apr 25) | 17 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST vs North Adelaide Rockets (Apr 27)

Kye Savage (North West Thunder) – 19 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST vs Geelong United (Apr 25)

Dillon Stith (Kilsyth Cobras) – 23 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL vs Sandringham Sabres (Apr 26)

Tad Dufelmeier (Knox Raiders) – 4 PTS, 2 AST, 2 STL vs Casey Cavaliers (Apr 26)

Brad Ballinger (Illawarra Hawks) – 1 REB, 1 AST vs Sutherland Sharks (Apr 25) | 9 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST vs Newcastle Falcons (Apr 26)

Kobe McDowell-White (Illawarra Hawks) – 14 PTS, 3 REB, 13 AST vs Sutherland Sharks (Apr 25) | 19 PTS, 5 REB, 9 AST, 1 STL vs Newcastle Falcons (Apr 26)

Todd Blanchfield (Illawarra Hawks) – 28 PTS, 14 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK vs Sutherland Sharks (Apr 25) | 23 PTS, 14 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL vs Newcastle Falcons (Apr 26)

Tanner Krebs (Ringwood Hawks) – 23 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST vs Sandringham Sabres (Apr 27)

Tom Koppens (Sandringham Sabres) – 10 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST vs Kilsyth Cobras (Apr 26) | 6 PTS, 1 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL vs Ringwood Hawks (Apr 27)

Not applicable.

Elijah Pepper (Warwick Senators) – 50 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL vs Perth Redbacks (Apr 26)

Lat Mayen (West Adelaide Bearcats) – 17 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 2 BLK vs Southern Tigers (Apr 25) | 16 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST vs Central Districts Lions (Apr 27)

Sunday Dech (Knox Raiders) – 22 PTS, 8 REB, 1 AST vs Casey Cavaliers (Apr 26) | 22 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 1 BLK vs Bendigo Braves (Apr 26)

Thomas Gerovich (Willetton Tigers) – 8 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 1 BLK vs Eastern Suns (Apr 25)

Todd Withers (Warwick Senators) – 14 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 2 BLK vs Perth Redbacks (Apr 26)

Akech Aliir (Mount Gambier Pioneers) – 14 PTS, 10 REB, 2 AST vs Waverley Falcons (Apr 25)

Angus Glover (Ringwood Hawks) – 14 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL vs Diamond Valley Eagles (Apr 25) | 14 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK vs Sandringham Sabres (Apr 27)

Luke Rosendale (Ballarat Miners) – 12 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST vs Eltham Wildcats (Apr 26)

Jason Spurgin (Sutherland Sharks) – 5 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST vs Illawarra Hawks (Apr 25) | 12 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL vs Norths Bears (Apr 27)

Keli Leaupepe (Knox Raiders) – 10 PTS, 12 REB vs Casey Cavaliers (Apr 26) | 16 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK vs Bendigo Braves (Apr 26)

Klairus Amir (Central Coast Crusaders) – 14 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK vs Bankstown Bruins (Apr 27)

Kouat Noi (Sutherland Sharks) – 20 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL vs Illawarra Hawks (Apr 25) | 21 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 3 STL vs Norths Bears (Apr 27)

Tyler Robertson (Casey Cavaliers) – 30 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST vs Knox Raiders (Apr 26) | 16 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST vs Diamond Valley Eagles (Apr 26)

Anthony Drmic (Hobart Chargers) - 17 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 4 STL vs Keilor Thunder | 15 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 4 STL vs Geelong United (Apr 26) | 

Archie Woodhill (North West Thunder) – 7 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL vs Geelong United (Apr 25) | 19 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK vs Keilor Thunder (Apr 26)

Brody Nunn (Knox Raiders) – 6 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST vs Casey Cavaliers (Apr 26) | 17 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL vs Bendigo Braves (Apr 26)

Lachlan Barker (North West Thunder) – 19 PTS, 13 REB, 1 AST vs Geelong United (Apr 25)

Nicholas Stoddart (Ballarat Miners) – 3 PTS, 2 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK vs Eltham Wildcats (Apr 26)