The Miners came out looking like a team possessed, playing with the ferocious defensive intensity that has seen them embarrass teams in the past.

Ballarat opened up a nine-point first quarter lead before continuing to pile on the points in the second, resulting in a 52-35 half-time score.

The Thunder used a zone defence throughout the game, hoping for the Miners to struggle with their outside shot. Ballarat welcomed the relaxed outside defence, knocking down 10-three pointers in the contest.

American import Jerry Evans Jr had one of his best games as a Miner. Wearing the number 60, Evans Jr scored 26 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and took away three steals in the contest.

Fellow american import Marqueze Coleman had an equally strong game off the bench, tallying 18 points and four steals in what was his first win in front of the Ballarat fans.

Centre Deng Acouth continued his stellar defensive form, being named game MVP by coach Brendan Joyce. The big-man finished the game with six blocks and changed countless others in the victory.

The Miners lead only ballooned in the second half, with Ballarat ultimately coming away as 94-67 winners.

They will now travel to face the Southern Sabers on Sunday afternoon.

The Ballarat Rush have secured their third consecutive win of the NBL1 women's season, blowing out the Launceston Tornadoes at home 130-96.

Ballarat started the game slowly, struggling with the floor spacing and speed of the Tornadoes and found themselves trailing 33-26 at the first break.

From then on it was a dominant showing from the Rush. Their passing, shooting and significant size advantage led a 67-53 half-time lead.

Young guard Georgia Amoore led all scorers for the Rush at half time, registering 15 points at the main break.

The second half was more of the same as Ballarat dissected the Launceston defence, ultimately leading to a huge 36-point win.

Laura Taylor led Ballarat in scoring in the contest, putting up 26-points to go along with a huge 15 rebounds. American import Chanise Jenkins was named game MVP for her performance off the bench, falling one rebound short of a triple-double (22 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds).

They will now travel to face the Southern Sabers on Sunday afternoon.

DETAILS

FINAL SCORE:

BALLARAT MINERS - 24, 28, 22, 20 (94)

NORTH WEST TASMANIA THUNDER - 15, 20, 10, 22 (67)

SCORERS: Miners - Evans Jr 26 (5 three-pointers), Coleman 18, Kuany 14 (3), Acouth 12, Short 11, Lingard 4, Fox 3, Dunmore 3 (1), Fisher 3 (1). Thunder - Bowling 25 (5), Chilcott 12 (2), Campbell 9, Beveridge 9 (3), Dent 8, Armstrong 3 (1), Jackson 1.

STATS:

REBOUNDS - Miners 44, Thunder 36

ASSISTS - Miners 16, Thunder 15

STEALS - Miners 16, Thunder 7

BLOCKS - Miners 6, Thunder 3

TURNOVERS - Miners 16, Thunder 21

FOULS - Miners 13, Thunder 16

FINAL SCORE:

BALLARAT RUSH - 26, 41, 33, 30 (130)

LAUNCESTON TORNADOES - 33, 20, 19, 22 (96)

SCORERS: Rush - Taylor 26 (4 three-pointers), Jenkins 22 (3), Hackman 19, Amoore 19 (3), Burke 18, Constable 12 (4), Cochrane 10, Collins 4 (1). Tornadoes - O'Neil 32 (1), Gardner 20 (5), Abel 16 (3), Partridge 9 (2), Brown 8 (1), Bingley 4, Simpson 3, Anis 2.

STATS:

REBOUNDS - Rush 55, Tornadoes 27

ASSISTS - Rush 31, Tornadoes 15

STEALS - Rush 11, Tornadoes 3

BLOCKS - Rush 1, Tornadoes 2

TURNOVERS - Rush 9, Tornadoes 15

FOULS - Rush 17, Tornadoes 15