Dunedin club basketball commenced its first weekend back with surprising underdog wins throughout.

City Rise Bombers exploded out of the gates after their two-week break to demolish last year’s champion Magic with an outstanding performance, winning 96-77.

The short-handed Magic side started off strong as its key players Matt Dukes, James Scobie and Brent Cheshire found the three-point line early in the first quarter.

It finished the first quarter with 15 of its 19 points being from the three ball.

Bombers had an equally- strong first quarter though, playing heavily through James Collins, who performed incredibly inside with no match from the Magic side, and Bombers finished the quarter leading 26-19.

The second quarter was dominated by inside defence by the Bombers side, restricting the talented Magic side to eight points for the quarter.

Bombers again pushed heavily through Collins, who dominated down low against the Magic defence and extended his side’s lead to 44-27.

Magic came back firing in the third and attempted to claw back at the Bombers side, but struggled to correct its second-quarter mishap.

It was also unable to shut down Collins on the offensive boards, and struggled to find any footing, having gone into the third behind by 23 points.

Bombers could not be stopped in the fourth.

As Collins tired, Fraser Beck showed his skill and produced an amazing 16 points in the last quarter.

That finished off the resilient Magic, leading to a big Bombers win over the defending champion.

That has blown the competition right open, giving everyone a shot at the top spot.

In other games, Lions took down the Varsity side in a tough battle in which Tai Flavell and Joseph McAuley showed their class, pushing their side to a 67-62 win.

St Kilda Saints took on Andy Bay Falcons in the second clash of the day. Andy Bay could not stick with James Ross and his St Kilda side as they were run off the court,St Kilda securing the win 103-88.

On Thursday the St Kilda Saints ran way from Varsity in the second half to win 78-58.

 - HARRY THORP

B Grade Results

Varsity Storm 61 def 60 South Pacific Kings

Andy Bay Falcons Red 99 def 45 St Kilda Raiders

Varsity Comets 79 def 59 South Pacific Kavanagh

St Kilda Tropics 84 def 65 Andy Bay Falcons Blue

Magic Vipers 68 def 57 Andy Bay Falcons White

‘A’ Reserve Grade Results

St Kilda Dragons 83 def 67 Andy Bay Falcons 2

Andy Bay Falcons 3 68 def 66 Magic Muddogs

Varsity Thunder 88 def 58 Varsity Blue

‘A’ Grade Results

City Rise Bombers A 96 def 77 Magic A

St Kilda Saints 103 def 88 Andy Bay Falcons 1

Magic Lions 67 def 62 Varsity Starters