Sun
Jul 23, 2023
NBL1 East Recap | Sunday Round 18
By Chris Pike for NBL1.com.au
The last day of the NBL1 East regular season on Sunday saw Bianca Dufelmeier and Jolene Anderson fire the Canberra Nationals and Norths Bears to women's wins and they were just two of the standout performances before focus turns to the finals.
Share on Social
Related Tags
The last day of the NBL1 East regular season on Sunday saw Bianca Dufelmeier and Jolene Anderson fire the Canberra Nationals and Norths Bears to women's wins and they were just two of the standout performances before focus turns to the finals.
There were three women's games in the NBL1 East to close the season on Sunday with the Norths Bears defeating the Sydney Comets 101-80 while the Inner West Bulls beat the Penrith Panthers 57-47, and the Canberra Nationals won 104-56 against the Illawarra Hawks.
There were four men's matches starting with the Centre of Excellence defeating the Hills Hornets 77-74. The Hawks also beat the Canberra Gunners 91-78, the Bears defeated the Comets 85-71, and the Bulls downed the Panthers 93-86.
NBL1 EAST RECAP | SATURDAY ROUND 18
NBL1 EAST RECAP | FRIDAY ROUND 18
WOMEN
Dufelmeier fires Nationals to season-ending victory
The Canberra Nationals might have just fallen short of finals contention this NBL1 East season but they still ended on a high with the 104-56 victory on Sunday against the Illawarra Hawks.
The Hawks and Nationals were both playing their last games of the season on Sunday with finals out of the equation when they locked horns at The Snakepit.
It was a strong start from Canberra with 21 points to 10 in the opening quarter before the Nationals pushed that advantage out to 25 points in the second stanza before leading 43-22 at the main break.
Canberra then turned things up a notch offensively in the second half to outscore Illawarra 61 points to 34 to end up leading by as much as 50 points and going on to score the 48-point win.
The victory sees the Nationals end the season with a 10-12 record while Illawarra finishes up at 5-17 having lost the last four matches.
Bianca Dufelmeier produced a huge performance for the Hawks to close the season ending up with 30 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals on the back of shooting 8/17 from behind the three-point line.
Jasmyn Boutzos added 19 points, two assists and two steals also hitting 5/8 from downtown with Issie Bourne contributing 13 points, six boards, five assists and two steals, and Lizzy Tonks 10 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals.
Charlotte Giles put up 11 points and three rebounds for Illawarra with Maddison Delaney adding 10 points, three boards and two assists, and Teagan Edwards 10 points, six rebounds and three steals.
Bianca Dufelmeier shows off her range ?
Watch the #NBL1East Game of the Week Live & Free on @kayosports Freebies ? pic.twitter.com/NdgiZlc3yH
Anderson dominates as Bears beat Comets
The Norths Bears ensured they will enter the NBL1 East finals in impressive form with Jolene Anderson brilliant on Sunday in the 101-80 win against the also playoff bound Sydney Comets.
The Comets opened the weekend beating the Albury-Wodonga Bandits on Friday night while the Bears had a monster 67-point win over the Inner West Bulls on Saturday.
That set up their clash on the last day of the regular season at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre with the Bears working on top with 23 points to 16 in the opening quarter.
Norths were back out to a 10-point advantage in the second term but the margin was just seven at half-time with the Comets still in touch.
Safe to say Jolene Anderson is keen for finals ?
The Bears' star ???? ??? off with:
3??1?? points
1??5?? rebounds
6?? steals
5?? 3PM
3?? assists
Watch #NBL1East via https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8 or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/orwfK4BQ5K
While the Bears did lead by as much as 15 points in the third quarter, the Comets were still close enough at three quarter-time getting back within nine.
However, it was all Norths in the final stanza with 27 points to 15 to end up winning by 21 points on the back of going on a 12-0 run to gear up for the finals in winning form.
The Bears finish the season in third place with an 18-4 record and will play the sixth placed Maitland Mustangs in a quarter-final. The Comets will finish seventh at 13-9 to take on the Newcastle Falcons.
Jolene Anderson came up huge for Norths in the win with 31 points, 15 rebounds, six steals and three assists on the back of shooting 13/18 from the floor and 5/8 from three-point territory.
Maddie O'Hehir also had 25 points, five rebounds and four assists on 5/10 three-point shooting for the Bears while Emily Simons added 18 points, 12 boards, seven assists, three blocks and two steals, and Emma Donnelly 12 points and four rebounds.
There was no Shyla Heal for the Comets but they were locked into seventh spot no matter the result with Vanessa Panousis putting up 26 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Jada Crawshaw added 13 points, seven boards, four assists and three steals, Piper Anderson 12 points, three rebounds and three blocks, and Dru Toleafoa 11 points, nine boards, two assists and two blocks.
Alexandra Kayrouz let it fly ?
Watch #NBL1East via https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8 or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/RnXjNRW3ZP
Bulls finish season on winning note
Inner West and Penrith were both on the hunt for a winning finish to their NBL1 East seasons on Sunday and it was the Bulls who got their wish with the 57-47 victory against the Panthers.
With both teams out of the finals race, they were just playing for pride on Sunday to end the regular season and not a whole lot separated them over the opening three quarters.
Inner West did manage to lead by four points at quarter-time before opening up a 10-point lead in the second term, but by half-time and Penrith had got back close to cut the Bulls lead to just four points once more.
The Panthers then even grabbed the lead for a stretch during the third quarter before the Bulls managed to get back on top at 43-41 three quarter-time.
Inner West then controlled the fourth quarter with 14 points to six to claim the 10-point win and finish the regular season with a 6-16 record. The Panthers finish off at 4-18 with a seven-game losing run.
Ai Matsumoto top-scored for Inner West with 16 points, two rebounds and two steals while Jayden Thomson added 14 points, five boards, three steals and two assists.
Abby O'Flynn also had seven points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals, Jolzyne Impreso seven points, three boards and three assists, and Maja Peric seven points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Emily Matthews did all she could to give Penrith a chance at the win with 24 points and 10 rebounds with Chloe Williams contributing 10 points, three steals, two rebounds and two assists, and Tiana Petterson six points, nine boards and two steals.
Shiho Yamazaki ?????? ?? off the dribble ?
Watch #NBL1East via https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8 or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/k9iFVeywuZ
MEN
CoE beat Hornets for first win in five weeks
The Centre of Excellence withstood a flying finish from the Hills Hornets to bounce back from a second loss of the season on Saturday to score the 77-74 Sunday victory.
The Centre of Excellence were playing their first game in over a month on Saturday and lost to the Sydney Comets ahead of Sunday's clash with the Hornets at Hills Basketball Stadium.
The Hornets were fresh off a thrilling one-point win against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on Saturday as well to set up the Sunday match between two finals bound teams.
??? ?????? ?
What a finish by John Furphy??
Watch #NBL1East via https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8 or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/kAtVWzlFJc
It was the Basketball Australia team leading by a point at quarter-time before they pulled away in the second term opening up a 10-point advantage to be leading 45-35 by half-time.
The CoE team then extended that lead out to 15 points in the third term and were still up 10 in the fourth, but the Hornets produced a flying finish.
Hills got all the way back within two points when Shawn Montague hit a three-pointer with 4:45 to play but John Furphy responded soon after for the Centre of Excellence and from there they were able to hold out the Hornets to end up winning by three.
The victory means that the CoE will go into the finals in winning form from first place with a 20-2 record over the course of the season ahead of hosting the Newcastle Falcons in a quarter-final on Saturday.
The Hornets will also be there in the finals having finished sixth at 14-8 to now take on the defending champion Canberra Gunners on Saturday in the quarter finals.
John Furphy was outstanding in the win for the Centre of Excellence delivering 30 points and 10 rebounds on 9/15 shooting from the floor, 4/7 from three-point range and 8/12 at the free-throw line.
Ben Henshall added 18 points, five assists, five steals and three rebounds, James O'Donnell 14 points and eight boards, and Jacob Furphy seven points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Shawn Montague top-scored for the Hornets with 17 points and nine rebounds on 3/5 three-point shooting with Ben Kearins contributing 15 points, five boards, three assists and three steals, Lachlan Charlton 12 points, and Liam Moss 11 points and four rebounds.
James O'Donnell can ???? under the rim ?
Watch #NBL1East via https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8 or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/S1NTQZa4WM
Hawks beat Gunners to finish season on a high
The Illawarra Hawks would have been disappointed to not still be in finals contention but even without Davo Hickey were able to finish the season on a high defeating the reigning champion Canberra Gunners 91-78.
The Hawks were playing their last game of the season and were at home at The Snakepit hosting the defending champion Gunners who were locked into third position going into the finals no matter the result.
Illawarra started well to lead by as much as seven points in the first quarter and were able to go on with the job from there, including leading by as much as 13 points in the second term.
Noah Pagotto is putting on a ???? at the Snakepit ?
Watch the #NBL1East Game of the Week Live & Free on @kayosports Freebies ? pic.twitter.com/IYamWz9fCD
Canberra did briefly grab the lead in the third stanza, but it wouldn’t last with the Hawks taking back control to be up by nine in the third quarter once more, and then going on to secure the 13-point victory.
The win sees Illawarra finish the season with a 12-10 record in ninth position while Canberra will begin its championship defence from third position at 15-7. The Gunners will host the Hills Hornets in a quarter-final next Saturday.
Lucas Walker showed there's still plenty left in his legs to close another season with the former NBL 217-game veteran delivering 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Harry Morris added 18 points, six rebounds and three assists, Noah Pagotto 18 points, nine boards and two steals, Philip Dopud 16 points and five rebounds, and Tim Coenraad 12 points, 13 boards, six assists and two steals.
Cameron Pender delivered 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Canberra with Max Cooper contributing 14 points, seven boards and two assists, Lachlan Smith 13 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Glenn Morison 12 points and six boards.
Cameron Pender made it look easy ?
Watch the #NBL1East Game of the Week Live & Free on @kayosports Freebies ? pic.twitter.com/x3ViitULhe
Bears lock in home final with win over Comets
The Norths Bears confirmed themselves fourth place and a home quarter-final thanks to beating the Sydney Comets 85-71 at home on Sunday to close the regular season.
The Comets might have been out of finals contention but were attempting to end their season on a four-game winning streak when they arrived at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre on Sunday.
The Bears had lost three of their past four matches coming into the contest including falling to the Inner West Bulls on Saturday, and after a tight first quarter, it was the second term where Norths managed to put a gap between the two teams.
The Bears managed to open up a 13-point lead in the second stanza before extending that advantage to 17 points in the third and 19 in the fourth before settling on the 14-point win.
The victory sees Norths finish the regular season in fourth place with a 15-7 record to now take on the Sutherland Sharks at home in a quarter-final on Saturday. The Comets' season ends with an 11-11 record.
Lewis Holey delivered 16 points, 18 rebounds and two steals in the win for the Bears with Junior Madut top-scoring with 19 points, two boards, two assists and two steals.
Michael Yoong added 17 points and three assists, Robert Moore 17 points, two boards and two assists, and Lucas Morgan nine points and three rebounds.
Isaac Ayoubi produced 13 points, two rebounds and two assists for Sydney in the last game of the regular season with Indiana Faithfull contributing 12 points, six boards and three assists, Archer Woodhill 10 points and six rebounds, and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk nine points and seven boards.
Junior Madut got ??? ? there ?
Watch #NBL1East via https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8 or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/UfoZ5cGypp
Bulls hold out fast finishing Panthers
The Inner West Bulls were locked into a second place finish no matter the result on Sunday but that didn’t stop them finishing the regular season on a high with the 93-86 victory against the Penrith Panthers.
It was second against second bottom at Concord Recreation Centre on Sunday to close the NBL1 East regular season with The Bulls wasting no time asserting their authority.
Inner West led by six points at quarter-time and then turned it on in the second term with 33 points to 12 to lead by as much as 27, which was the lead at half-time with the 54-27 advantage.
The lead for the Bulls got out to as much as 29 points in the second half as well before the Panthers put in a big finish.
They would outscore the Bulls 59 points to 39 in the second half and even got as close as four points in the last 30 seconds with a three-pointer to Brodie Schwarzer.
However, Inner West held on for the seven-point win thanks to an answering triple from Blake Morrow to end the regular season in second spot at 18-4. The Bulls will now host the Maitland Mustangs next Saturday in a quarter-final.
Penrith ends the season with a 3-19 record having lost the last 12 matches.
Chris Bryant finished with 23 points, five rebounds and two steals for the Bulls on 8/11 shooting from the field and 6/9 at the foul line.
Tony Tolovae also came up huge with 24 points, 15 rebounds and four assists with 11/17 shooting while Blake Morrow contributed 16 points, five boards, two assists and two steals.
Brodie Schwarzer had a huge game to finish the regular season for Penrith with 35 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals with 9/15 three-point shooting.
Caleb Fetui-Fa'amoe also had 11 points, five rebounds and two assists, Jaedyn Fetui-Fa'amoe 10 points and six rebounds, and Kaylis Beaumont-Tafua nine points, five boards and five steals.
Tony Tolovae is in his ?
Watch #NBL1East via https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8 or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/F44ArpKEbt
More News
Naming Rights
Major Partners
.png){kind=logo}
.webp)
