12
May
South Men
Trist punishes Thunder in 204-point shootout
Frankston Blues big man Daniel Trist dominated inside with 29 points on 10-from-14 shooting in Frankston’s 104-100 win against Keilor Thunder in NBL1 South Round 6 action. Photo: Trent Moore Sports Photography
Daniel Trist erupted for 29 points as Frankston outlasted Keilor in a 204-point thriller.
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Nunawading Spectres have strengthened their grip on top spot in the 2026 NBL1 South Men standings.
What the Round Told Us
- Nunawading now controls the South race
- Melbourne Tigers are becoming a genuine contender again
- Keilor’s offence is elite but defensive issues remain
- Kilsyth and Knox remain dangerous but inconsistent
- The South is rapidly becoming an offensive arms race
Game of the Round #1
Frankston Blues 104 def. Keilor Thunder 100 – Watch the Replay
Deng Dut exploded for 31 points, but Frankston Blues survived a fourth-quarter shootout to outlast Keilor Thunder in one of the most entertaining games of the NBL1 South season.
The game turned into an offensive avalanche after halftime, with both teams combining for 69 fourth-quarter points and shooting above 58% from the field overall.
Frankston repeatedly answered Keilor’s scoring bursts through Daniel Trist, who dominated inside with 29 points on 10-from-14 shooting while adding eight free throws.
Lucas Barker added 17 points and knocked down four threes, while Austin Shelley controlled tempo with 18 points and seven assists.
The Blues shot an elite 58.3% from the field and 87.1% from the free throw line, generating efficient offence throughout the game.
But Keilor kept coming.
Dut was unstoppable offensively, shooting 13-from-17 from the field and 4-from-7 from three-point range while repeatedly breaking down Frankston’s defence late in possessions.
Daniel Foster added 18 points and five assists, while Keilor shot an even better 59.6% from the field and 52.9% from three-point range.
The difference came in execution and ball security.
Frankston committed just 11 turnovers and consistently converted at the free throw line late to close the game.
The result keeps the Blues inside the top eight while reinforcing Keilor’s offensive ceiling despite the loss.
Game Snapshot
- Quarter Scores: Frankston 21-14, 25-26, 23-26, 35-34
- Largest Lead: Frankston +9
- Game Context: Offensive shootout decided late
By the Numbers
- Deng Dut: 31 pts - 13-from-17 FG - 4 made threes
- Daniel Trist: 29 pts - 71.4% FG
- Combined Score: 204 points
Game of the Round #2
Nunawading Spectres 94 def. Eltham Wildcats 77 – Watch the Replay
Nunawading Spectres delivered one of the most complete performances of the round, defeating Eltham Wildcats to move into outright top position.
Nunawading controlled the game through balanced offence, perimeter shooting and disciplined ball movement, finishing with 25 assists and only seven turnovers.
Christian D’Angelo led the scoring with 22 points and four made threes, while Owen Lobsinger dominated efficiently with 19 points and nine rebounds on 7-from-9 shooting.
Dylan Penn added 12 points and seven assists, while Benjamin Griscti contributed 14 points and seven rebounds as the Spectres consistently created high-quality offensive possessions.
Nunawading shot 49.3% from the field and 90.9% from the free throw line while limiting Eltham’s perimeter efficiency.
TJ Weeks scored 21 points for the Wildcats, while Mitchell McCarron added 14 points and eight rebounds.
But Eltham struggled offensively for long stretches, shooting just 25% from three-point range while falling behind during Nunawading’s dominant third quarter.
The Spectres have now won five straight games and look increasingly like the team to beat in the South.
Game Snapshot
- Quarter Scores: Nunawading 25-22, 18-16, 29-24, 22-15
- Largest Lead: Nunawading +19
- Game Context: Spectres controlled second half to seize top spot
By the Numbers
- Nunawading: 25 ast - 7 turnovers - 49.3% FG
- Christian D’Angelo: 22 pts - 4 made threes
- Owen Lobsinger: 19 pts - 9 reb - 77.8% FG
Other Results
Melbourne Tigers 97 def. Geelong United 90
Melbourne continued its strong recent form behind another efficient offensive performance.
Kilsyth Cobras 96 def. Dandenong Rangers 81
Kilsyth bounced back strongly to remain inside the top-six race.
Bendigo Braves 94 def. Ballarat Miners 83
Bendigo stayed above .500 with an important home win.
Ringwood Hawks 98 def. Diamond Valley Eagles 88
Ringwood secured an important offensive victory to keep pace in the middle tier.
Northern Force 101 def. Knox Raiders 94
Northern Force produced one of the surprise results of the round.
Men’s Ladder – After Round 6
- Nunawading Spectres – 8-2
- Melbourne Tigers – 7-2
- Eltham Wildcats – 7-3
- Knox Raiders – 7-3
- Kilsyth Cobras – 6-3
Watchlist – Round 7
- Nunawading vs Casey – top-of-the-table implications
- Keilor vs Kilsyth – offensive firepower matchup
- Ballarat vs Melbourne Tigers – Tigers chasing top spot
- Hobart vs Diamond Valley – important mid-table clash
Round 6 Questions
- Are Nunawading now the outright title favourites?
- Can anyone consistently contain Keilor offensively?
- Is Melbourne’s resurgence sustainable?
- Which middle-tier team breaks into contention?
- Can Eltham respond after losing control of top spot?
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