NBL1 East Recap | Sunday Pink Round

Lauren Nicholson was again outstanding leading the Sutherland Sharks to a Sunday victory in the NBL1 East while the Centre of Excellence men got the victory on the back of brilliant showings from Ben Henshall and Alex Toohey.

The lone action in the NBL1 East on Sunday took place at the AIS Basketball and Netball Centre with the Sutherland Sharks beating the Centre of Excellence 99-66 in the women's clash before the CoE won 121-99 in the men's contest.

NBL1 EAST RECAP | SATURDAY PINK ROUND

WOMEN

Nicholson sparks Sharks to win over Centre of Excellence

The Sutherland Sharks handed the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence just a second loss of the NBL1 East season on Sunday with the 99-66 victory in Canberra.

The Centre of Excellence team were playing their lone game of the weekend at home at the AIS Basketball and Netball Centre, but they weren’t able to make it four consecutive wins.

The CoE had won their past three matches over the Bandits, Mustangs and Crusaders since their lone loss of the season against the Norths Bears, but the Sharks were also playing their only game of the weekend and were out for consecutive wins.

Sutherland had opened up an eight-point lead during the opening period and stretched that to 11 in the second before going into the half-time break leading 51-41.

The Sharks then dominated further through the second half outscoring the Centre of Excellence 48 points to 25 to end up winning by 33 points and improve to a 7-4 record on the season. The CoE are now 8-2 with the defeat.

Fresh off a championship in the WNBL with the Townsville Fire and being the NBL1 East Best Defensive Player in 2022, Lauren Nicholson again led the charge for the big win on Sunday for the Sharks.

The superstar guard delivered 31 points, six rebounds, six assists and six steals while shooting 12/20 from the field and a perfect 5/5 at the free-throw line.

She had plenty of help too with Madeleine Norris putting up 27 points and 11 rebounds while knocking down 5/14 of her three-point attempts. Aliza Fabbro added 20 points, five boards and two assists, and Olivia White four points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block.

It was a tough afternoon for the Centre of Excellence despite Isla Juffermans finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds, Jess Petrie 12 points, eight boards and three assists, Jayda Clark 10 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Sienna Harvey eight points and four assists.

MEN

Henshall, Toohey star in big CoE win over Sharks

The one-two punch of Ben Henshall and Alex Toohey combined for 50 points and were too much for the Sutherland Sharks on Sunday with the Centre of Excellence scoring the 121-99 victory.

Both teams were playing their lone games of Round 9 in the NBL1 East with the Centre of Excellence looking to keep their winning run going and Sutherland attempting to also extend their streak to four wins.

Alex Toohey throws down the fast-break JAM ?

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It was an exciting performance from the Basketball Australia's young guns who were playing their first game since beating the Maitland Mustangs last Saturday.

The CoE team put up 28 points against the Sharks to 21 in the opening quarter before continuing to stretch the lead throughout the afternoon.

They would end up leading 59-42 at half-time and then also outscored Sutherland 62 points to 57 in the second half on the way to the 22-point win.

There was plenty to like for the Centre of Excellence as they shot 54.7 per cent from the field as a team while nailing 12/31 from three-point land, and pulling down 42 rebounds to 34.

Ben Henshall had a tremendous showing for the CoE ending up with 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals while knocking down 5/7 from long-range.

Alex Toohey added 25 points, six rebounds and two assists on 11/16 shooting overall while Julius Halaifonua put up 14 points, Kye Savage 10 and Jensen Bradtke 10 to go with seven rebounds and five assists.

Despite the loss, Lochlan Hutchinson delivered 24 points, nine assists, four rebounds and three steals for Sutherland while Marquel Beasley added 16 points and four boards, Adrian Cabrera 14 points and three rebounds, Geoff Gerlach 11 points and six boards, and Callum Norris 11 points.

Dragos Lungu reverse slam ?

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