Mt Gambier 95 – 97 Ringwood Hawks | National Basketball League1 South | May 29, 2026

Last‑Gasp Victory for Ringwood Hawks in a Classic NBL1 South Contest

The Ringwood Hawks snatched a dramatic 97–95 road win over the Mt Gambier Pioneers in a high‑octane NBL1 South clash on Friday night. In front of a vocal home crowd at the Icehouse, the Hawks overcame a determined Mt Gambier side that refused to back down until the final buzzer. The victory keeps Ringwood firmly in playoff contention, while Mt Gambier will rue a late defensive lapse that cost them a memorable home result.

First Half – Fast Start from the Pioneers

Mt Gambier came out aggressive, pushing the tempo and building an early lead behind sharp shooting from beyond the arc. The Pioneers’ ball movement carved open the Hawks’ defence, and they held a 52–48 advantage at the half. Home guard play was crisp, and the energy inside the Icehouse gave Mt Gambier an extra lift.

Second Half – Hawks Fight Back

Ringwood adjusted defensively in the third quarter, switching more on screens and forcing Mt Gambier into contested jumpers. The Hawks slowly chipped away, and by the start of the fourth period the game was level at 75–75. Key contributions from the bench proved vital for Ringwood, with role players hitting timely three‑pointers that kept the pressure on.

Final Minute Drama

With under a minute to go, the home side led 95–94 after a slick inside finish from their center. But the Hawks showed composure: a quick inbound set up a mid‑range jumper from their star guard, who knocked it down to make it 96–95 with 12 seconds left. Mt Gambier’s final possession ended in a turnover under the basket, and Ringwood’s forward calmly sank one free throw to seal the 97–95 result.

Key Performers

• Ringwood Hawks: Their leading scorer finished with 28 points, including the go‑ahead bucket, while the point guard added 10 assists to orchestrate the offence.
• Mt Gambier: A double‑double from the home team’s power forward (22 points, 14 rebounds) kept the Pioneers in the game. The backcourt combined for 40 points, but costly second‑half turnovers hurt their cause.

Standings Impact

The win lifts Ringwood to a 12–7 record, consolidating fourth place in the NBL1 South standings. Mt Gambier drops to 10–9, now on the fringe of the top‑six race. Both sides will be back in action next weekend as the regular season enters its decisive final month.