Recap NBL1 East | Round 2 Saturday

Lauren Jackson starred and Mikayla Pivec and Davo Hickey both delivered triple doubles for the Albury-Wodonga Bandits in Saturday's NBL1 East while Nicole Munger again dominated for the Newcastle Falcons on an eventful evening.

The Round 2 women's NBL1 East results saw the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles beat the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders 90-57 while the Norths Bears defeated the Hills Hornets 7248, the Illawarra Hawks beat the Bankstown Bruins 73-58 and the Maitland Mustangs downed the Canberra Nationals 71-68.

The Albury-Wodonga Bandits also beat the Sutherland Sharks 103-53 with the Newcastle Falcons also winning 86-66 against the Inner West Bulls with the Central Coast Crusaders beating the Sydney Comets 78-73.

The men's results then saw the Sea Eagles beat the Spiders 110-79, the Comets defeat the Crusaders 89-82, the Bears down the Hornets 72-54, the Bruins prevail 76-64 against the Hawks, the Mustangs beat the Canberra Gunners 90-69, the Bandits defeat the Sharks 107-73, and the Bulls down the Falcons 85-65.

RECAP NBL1 EAST | ROUND 1 SUNDAY

RECAP NBL1 EAST | ROUND 1 SATURDAY

WOMEN

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (90) defeated Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders (57)

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles opened their 2024 season in style at home on Saturday with the 90-57 victory against the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders.

On the back of finishing on top of the table at the end of last season and ending up losing the Grand Final to the Norths Bears, Manly Warringah didn’t play in the opening round of 2024 but were at home to the Spiders at Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday.

The Sea Eagles started strongly against a Spiders team who lost twice in the opening round with the home team opening up a 10-point lead during the first quarter.

That built to 26 points in the second period with Manly Warringah going on a 13-0 scoring run and by half-time they were on top 53-30.

The lead continued to grow in the third quarter with the Sea Eagles opening up the 34-point advantage before going on to score the 33-point win to start their season in style.

Alex Delaney delivered 18 points and 10 rebounds on 4/7 three-point shooting for Manly Warringah with Kim Hodge adding 18 points and seven boards.

Bree Delaney also had 14 points and six rebounds for the winners, Sari Mowbray 11 points and four boards, and Josie Bulman eight points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

The Spiders are showing better signs of competitiveness in 2024 and got 14 points and nine rebounds from Ay'Anna Bey while Haruna Inamura contributed 10 points and three assists, Nicola Sainsbury 10 points and six rebounds, and Keira Hudson seven points, seven boards and five assists.

The Spiders are back home to host the Inner West Bulls on Sunday at 12pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Sea Eagles next take on Canberra next Saturday on the road.

MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 90 (A Delaney 18, Hodge 18, B Delaney 14)

HORNSBY KU-RING-GAI SPIDERS 57 (Bey 14, Sainsbury 10, Inamura 10)

Norths Bears (72) defeated Hills Hornets (48)

The defending NBL1 East champion Norths Bears continued their impressive start to their title defence beating the Hills Hornets 72-48 at home on Saturday.

It was the first home game of the season for the Bears giving them the chance to raise their championship banner from 2023 at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre.

They started their season beating the Bankstown Bruins on the road last Saturday while the Hornets started off beating the Inner West Bulls to start what they will hope be a revival in 2024 after winning just four games in 2023.

In an emotional evening celebrating last year's championship triumph, the Bears came out on fire racing to a 14-point lead in the first quarter and still leading 21-13 by the end of one.

Norths controlled the rest of the contest from there leading still 35-25 by half-time with the lead growing to 25 points in the third period and 26 in the fourth quarter before they scored the eventual 24-point victory.

Emily Simons finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots for the Bears in the win while Caitlyn Martin contributed 13 points, five boards and four assists.

Lauryn Walker also put up 10 points with Maddie O'Hehir contributing 10 points and seven rebounds, and Sarah Schicher seven points, 20 boards and four assists.

Rachel McLimore top-scored for the Hornets with 13 points and two steals with Emma Kary adding 11 points and seven rebounds, and Meg Jefferson eight points, seven boards, three blocked shots and two assists.

It's the lone game for both teams in Round 2 with the Bears away to the Albury-Wodonga Bandits next Saturday at 5.30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Hornets are also away to the Central Coast Crusaders.

NORTHS BEARS 72 (Simons 18, Martin 13, O'Hehir 10, Walker 10)

HILLS HORNETS 48 (McLimore 13, Kary 11, Jefferson 8)

Bankstown Bruins (58) lost to Illawarra Hawks (73)

The Illawarra Hawks produced a terrific finish to overrun the Bankstown Bruins to score their first win of the 2024 season with the 73-58 road victory.

Both teams started the season with opening round losses to the Norths Bears and Canberra Nationals respectively setting up the Saturday Round 2 match up at Bankstown Basketball Stadium.

It was a flying start from the Hawks on the road as they raced out to a 15-point lead in the opening quarter and were still on top 20-8 by quarter-time.

The lead for Illawarra got out to 17 points in the second quarter but Bankstown did steady the rest of the first half and cut the Hawks advantage to 38-31 by the main break.

Illawarra would continue to have all the answers, though, and the visitors went back up 15 again in the final period on the way to the win by that margin to open their account for 2024.

Emilia Garcia Leon finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two assists in the win for Illawarra with Ella Dent contributing 13 points, six assists, four steals and two boards.

Lauren Calver added 13 points and three rebounds, Ruby MacDonald 10 points and six boards, and Georgia Ohrdorf eight points, six rebounds and two steals.

Violet Morrow produced 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Bankstown, Briana Maimone 11 points and six boards, and Britney Wright nine points, four rebounds and two assists.

The Bruins play host to the Penrith Panthers on Friday at 6pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Hawks will be at home also to Penrith on Saturday.

BANKSTOWN BRUINS 58 (Morrow 21, Maimone 11, Wright 9)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 73 (Garcia Leon 16, Calver 13, Dent 13)

Maitland Mustangs (71) defeated Canberra Nationals (68)

The Maitland Mustangs have held out the Canberra Nationals who got 31 points from Lizzy Tonks for the 71-68 Saturday thriller on their home floor.

The Mustangs were back at Maitland Federation Centre to play host to the Nationals with Maitland splitting their two games in the opening round with a win over the Inner West Bulls following a first up loss to the Newcastle Falcons.

Canberra started its season beating the Illawarra Hawks too setting up Saturday's Round 2 match up with the Mustangs opening up a nine-point lead in the first term, but it was back to just two by quarter-time.

Again Maitland pushed out to a nine-point lead during the second period and by half-time the home side was still on top 42-33.

Both teams only combined to score 20 points in the third quarter and while the Nationals did throw everything at the Mustangs in the final period, Maitland held firm for the three-point victory.

Sydney Hunter put up 18 points, 14 rebounds and three steals for Maitland with Rachel Williams contributing 14 points, six steals, five assists and three rebounds, Isabella Jennings 13 points and four boards, and Shakera Reilly 13 points, two rebounds and two assists.

Lizzy Tonks delivered 31 points, 12 rebounds and three steals for Canberra with Claudea Waihape-Andrews adding 13 points and seven rebounds, and Bianca Dufelmeier seven points, five boards and three assists.

Canberra backs up to play the Newcastle Falcons on Sunday at 1pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Mustangs are next in action next Saturday away to the Sutherland Sharks.

MAITLAND MUSTANGS 71 (Hunter 18, Williams 14, Reilly 13, Jennings 13)

CANBERRA NATIONALS 68 (Tonks 31, Waihape-Andrews 13, Dufelmeier 7)

Albury-Wodonga Bandits (103) defeated Sutherland Sharks (53)

Lauren Jackson dominated again, Mikayla Pivec delivered another triple-double and the Albury-Wodonga Bandits produced the emphatic 103-53 victory at home over the Sutherland Sharks.

On the back of two terrific opening round victories on the road, the Bandits were at home for the first time in 2024 on Saturday to play on Lauren Jackson Sports Centre ready to put on a show.

With Jackson playing on her own home court, the Bandits would prove unstoppable starting with 19 points to eight in the opening quarter.

Another 22 points to nine in the second term and Albury-Wodonga went into half-time leading 41-17.

The offence then started to flow for the Bandits in the second half as they piled on 62 points while limiting the Sharks to 36 to end up winning by 50 points and improve to 3-0 on the season.

Lauren Jackson was an imposing force once more for Albury-Wodonga finishing with 31 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and two blocks on 12/23 shooting from the field and 7/8 from the foul line.

Mikayla Pivec had another triple-double too for the Bandits with 19 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds while Awatea Leach contributed 20 points, five boards and four assists, and Ash Hannan 11 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots.

Elizabeth Murphy also put up 16 points, four assists and three rebounds on shooting 4/5 from behind the three-point line.

Vanessa Panousis top-scored for the Sharks with 13 points to go with seven rebounds and four assists with Manuela Piljevic contributing 10 points and four boards, and Dalen Pilitati eight points and two steals.

The Bandits remain home to the Centre of Excellence on Friday at 6pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Sharks will host the Maitland Mustangs on Saturday.

ALBURY-WODONGA BANDITS 103 (Jackson 31, Leach 20, Pivec 19)

SUTHERLAND SHARKS 53 (Panousis 13, Piljevic 10, Pilitati 8)

Inner West Bulls (66) lost to Newcastle Falcons (86)

Nicole Munger dominated once more and the Newcastle Falcons kept winning to start the 2024 season with the 86-66 road victory over the Inner West Bulls.

Newcastle opened the season beating the Maitland Mustangs last Saturday with Munger superb as they stayed on the road to take on the Bulls on Saturday at ELS Hall Park.

Inner West lost their first two matches after just six wins as well in 2023 and they again found the going tough on Saturday with the Falcons already leading by seven points at quarter-time.

The Falcons would remain in control the rest of the way going into the half-time interval leading 45-29. The lead for Newcastle continued to grow and got to as big as 27 in the second half before settling at 20 by the final buzzer.

Nicole Munger was the standout once more in the win for the Falcons with 28 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three steals including going 4/6 from three-point range.

Aarion Nichols added 13 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals with Jess Johnston contributing 12 points and four boards, Sophie Brennan 11 points, and Hannah Chicken 11 points and six rebounds.

Piath Gabriel top-scored for Inner West with 31 points and seven rebounds on 12/18 field goal shooting and 7/8 from the free-throw line.

Tylah Mundine added 14 points and 13 rebounds with Jolzyne Impreso adding six points and three boards.

The Bulls have a quick turnaround to playing away to the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders on Sunday at 12pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Falcons will also host Canberra on Sunday at 1pm.

INNER WEST BULLS 66 (Gabriel 31, Mundine 14, Impreso 6)

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 86 (Munger 28, Nichols 13, Johnston 12)

Sydney Comets (73) lost to Central Coast Crusaders (78)

It was a tight affair but ultimately the combination of Mikaela Dombkins and Leilani Mitchell proved too much as they delivered the Central Coast Crusaders the 78-73 victory on the road to the Sydney Comets.

The Crusaders opened their season with a win with Dombkins dominant and Mitchell important coming off winning a fourth WNBL championship at the Southside Flyers, and they kept that going on Saturday in a terrific contest at Comets Stadium.

In the end, Dombkins and Mitchell combined for 43 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists to be the major difference, but it was a tight and entertaining affair all evening.

Central Coast did go on a 10-0 run during the first quarter and they were still leading by seven by quarter-time, but the Comets did well to stay in touch in the second term with the Crusaders only leading 37-33 by half-time.

The Crusaders did open up a 10-point lead in the third quarter but it was back to a one-point ball game with just over a minute to play thanks to a pair of free-throws to Alexandria Oliver for the home team.

Central Coast had to respond and they did firstly thanks to a three-point play from Jasmine Forcadilla and that would catapult them to the eventual five-point win and to go 2-0 to start the NBL1 East season.

Leilani Mitchell finished the evening with 25 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Crusaders with Mikaela Dombkins contributing 18 points, 13 boards and seven assists.

Jasmine Forcadilla also contributed 14 points and eight rebounds, and Nicole Hutchins six points, 12 boards and two assists.

Davida Dale battled hard for the Comets as she adjusts to playing in the NBL1 East having previously played in the NBL1 North. She put up 22 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and three steals for Sydney.

Alexandria Oliver added 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Arisa Takamoto nine points, three assists and two rebounds.

Central Coast backs up to host the Penrith Panthers on Sunday at 2pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Comets remain at home to the Inner West Bulls on Friday.

SYDNEY COMETS 73 (Dale 22, Oliver 20, Takamoto 9)

CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 78 (Mitchell 25, Dombkins 18, Forcadilla 14)

MEN

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (110) defeated Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders (79)

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles started their NBL1 East season making a statement with the 110-79 home victory against the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders.

The Spiders had already played two games in the opening round losing to the Central Coast Crusaders and Albury-Wodonga Bandits while the Sea Eagles weren’t part of Round 1.

That meant Manly Warringah opened their campaign for 2024 on Saturday at Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre and they produced a blistering first quarter.

The Sea Eagles already opened up a 32-21 advantage by quarter-time before extending that lead out to 28 points in the second term and going into the half-time break leading 57-36.

The lead kept growing in the second half with Manly Warringah leading by as much as 35 points in the third stanza on the way to the eventual 31-point victory to open the season.

Jonas Harper finished the night with 26 points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists for the Sea Eagles with shooting 10/15 from the floor and 6/10 from three-point land.

Mason Bragg added 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Stefan Valkovic 13 points, three boards and two steals, and Aiden Pashley 10 points, six rebounds and two steals.

Aaron Redhead put up 17 points and seven rebounds for Hornsby with Kody Finch adding 16 points and five boards, and Nathaniel Chappell 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

The Spiders are back home to host the Inner West Bulls on Sunday at 2pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Sea Eagles next take on Canberra next Saturday on the road.

MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 110 (Harper 26, Bragg 25, Valkovic 13)

HORNSBY KU-RING-GAI SPIDERS 79 (Redhead 17, Finch 16, Chappell 15)

Norths Bears (72) defeated Hills Hornets (54)

The Norths Bears won their first game of the NBL1 East season beating the Hills Hornets 72-54 at home on Saturday night.

The Bears lost first up in 2024 by a solitary point on the road to the Bankstown Bruins ahead of their home opener on Saturday at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre.

Norths were up against a Hornets team who also lost in the opening round on the road to the Inner West Bulls.

The Bears started well opening up a nine-point lead by quarter-time and they would never look back with the advantage growing to 12 points in the second frame, 15 in the third and 23 in the fourth before the eventual 18-point victory.

Mandrell Worthy put in a terrific performance for the Bears to be their only player scoring in double-figures. He finished with 25 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Patrick Fraser added eight points and seven rebounds, Michael Yoong seven points and two assists, and Lewis Holey seven points and 13 rebounds.

Chris Bryant put up 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals for Hills with Saxon Orsini contributing 10 points, five boards and two assists, Jamie Munro eight points and six rebounds, and Liam Moss eight points and four boards.

It's the lone game for both teams in Round 2 with the Bears away to the Albury-Wodonga Bandits next Saturday at 7:30pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Hornets are also away to the Central Coast Crusaders.

NORTHS BEARS 72 (Worthy 25, Fraser 8, Holey 7, Yoong 7)

HILLS HORNETS 54 (Bryant 14, Orsini 10, Moss 8, Munro 8)

                    

Bankstown Bruins (76) defeated Illawarra Hawks (64)

Naaman Hightower produced his best performance in the NBL1 to lead the Bankstown Bruins to the 76-64 Saturday evening victory at home to the Illawarra Hawks.

The Bruins opened their season with a one-point win against the Norths Bears while the Hawks suffered a 32-point defeat at the hands of the Canberra Gunners.

Bankstown played host to Illawarra on Saturday at Bankstown Basketball Stadium and the home team started well to lead 21-16 by the end of the first quarter.

The Bruins stretched that lead to 41-29 by half-time with the advantage growing to as much as 23 points in the fourth term before winning by 12 and improving to 2-0 on the season after the opening two rounds.

Naaman Hightower's first experience playing down under was last season at the East Perth Eagles in the NBL1 West, but he's joined the Bruins in the NBL1 East this season and he was impressive in the win against the Hawks.

Hightower finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and three assists on 9/18 shooting from the floor.

Andre Wolford added 16 points, six rebounds, thee assists and three steals with Jonah Pares contributing 10 points and eight boards, and Thomas Buvac nine points, nine rebounds and two assists.

Riley Abercrombie put up 24 points and 11 rebounds for Illawarra with Philip Dopud delivering 16 points and three boards, and Aaron Puljic seven points, three rebounds and two assists.

The Bruins play host to the Penrith Panthers on Friday at 8pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Hawks will be at home also to Penrith on Saturday.

BANKSTOWN BRUINS 76 (Hightower 21, Wolford 16, Pares 10)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 64 (Abercrombie 24, Dopud 16, Puljic 7)

Maitland Mustangs (90) defeated Canberra Gunners (69)

The Maitland Mustangs are the first team this NBL1 East season to get to three wins after beating the Canberra Gunners 90-69 at home.

The Mustangs opened the season with two Round 1 victories against the Newcastle Falcons and Inner West Bulls while Canberra also scored a first up win at home to the Illawarra Hawks.

That set up the Saturday match up at Maitland Federation Centre and it was the Gunners on the road who took a 20-16 lead into the quarter-time break.

The Mustangs were able to turn around things in the second frame with 30 points to 19 to see them leading 46-39 by half-time.

Maitland took further control throughout the second half with the lead extending to 14 points in the third quarter, and 21 in the fourth which would prove to be the final margin as they improve to 3-0 on the season.

Will Cranston-Lown has started the season in terrific form once more with another 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists while James Hunter contributed 18 points and three boards.

Billy Parsons also had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Luka Vea 12 points and two boards, and Christian Little eight points, four rebounds and three steals.

Lachlan Smith top-scored off the bench for Canberra in 22 minutes with 15 points, three rebounds and two assists with Derek Emelifeonwu contributing 14 points, three boards and two assists, and Glenn Morison 13 points and eight rebounds.

Canberra backs up to play the Newcastle Falcons on Sunday at 3pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Mustangs are next in action next Saturday away to the Sutherland Sharks.

MAITLAND MUSTANGS 90 (Cranston-Lown 19, Hunter 18, Parsons 13)

CANBERRA GUNNERS 69 (Smith 15, Emelifeonwu 14, Morison 13)

Albury-Wodonga Bandits (107) defeated Sutherland Sharks (73)

A spectacular triple-double from Davo Hickey saw him make quite the statement in his first game at home for the Albury-Wodonga Bandits in the 107-73 win against the Sutherland Sharks.

The Bandits split their opening two games of the NBL1 East season on the road beating the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders and losing to the Sydney Comets while the Sharks won first up at home to the Penrith Panthers to begin their championship defence.

That set up Saturday's home opener for the Bandits at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre and after the Bandits raced out to an early nine-point lead, the Sharks responded to cut the margin to three by quarter-time.

But it was in the second quarter when Albury-Wodonga pulled away with 27 points to 14 to go into half-time leading 54-38.

The lead for the Bandits continued to grow through the second half getting to 27 points in the third quarter and 36 in the fourth before the home team scored the eventual 34-point victory.

Coming off his breakout NBL season at the Illawarra Hawks and then winning gold for Australia at the 3x3 Asia Cup, Davo Hickey has made a spectacular start to his first season playing with Albury-Wodonga.

He delivered a triple-double consisting of 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists.

Kevion Blaylock added 21 points, six rebounds and four assists for Albury-Wodonga, Shawn Montague 17 points and eight rebounds, Jacob Cincurak 13 points, five assists and four steals, and Samuel Webb 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Lochlan Hutchison ended up top-scoring for the defending champion Sharks with 17 points and six assists while Callum Norris contributed 14 points, and Klairus Amir 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Bandits remain home to the Centre of Excellence on Friday at 8pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Sharks will host the Maitland Mustangs on Saturday.

ALBURY-WODONGA BANDITS 107 (Blaylock 21, Hickey 21, Montague 17)

SUTHERLAND SHARKS 73 (Hutchison 17, Norris 14, Amir 11)

Inner West Bulls (85) defeated Newcastle Falcons (65)

Alex Higgins-Titsha unleashed his potential with a match-winning display as the Inner West Bulls defeated the Newcastle Falcons 85-65.

The Bulls split their double-header in the opening round of the NBL1 East season beating the Hills Hornets but losing to the Maitland Mustangs ahead of hosting the Falcons at ELS Hall Park.

Newcastle opened up its season also losing to Maitland but it was the home team starting the better with the Bulls leading the Falcons 19-12 by quarter-time.

Inner West continued to dominate proceedings from there leading 41-30 by half-time and then the Bulls' lead would get out to 31 points in the third quarter, 32 in the fourth and they would end up winning by 20.

Alex Higgins-Titsha was outstanding in the win for Inner West with 29 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks on 11/18 shooting from the floor, 3/4 from downtown and 4/4 at the free-throw line.

Ramon Cao added 14 points and eight rebounds, Nicko Timonera 10 points, three boards and two steals, Villami Foketi nine points, two rebounds and two assists, and Zachery Hudson eight points, four boards, three steals, two assists and two blocked shots.

Francis Wineera-Mulvihill top-scored for Newcastle with 22 points, four rebounds and three assists with Ryan Beisty contributing 12 points and 12 boards, and Kobe Shannon 10 points.

Jai Jimmy Smith also had five points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals.

The Bulls have a quick turnaround to playing away to the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders on Sunday at 2pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Falcons will also host Canberra on Sunday at 3.15pm.

INNER WEST BULLS 85 (Higgins-Titsha 29, Cao 14, Timonera 10)

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 65 (Wineera-Mulvihill 22, Beisty 12, Shannon 10)

Sydney Comets (89) defeated Central Coast Crusaders (82)

The Sydney Comets made it two from two to open the NBL1 East season with the hard earned 89-82 victory over the Central Coast Crusaders who got 38 points from Robbie Heath.

Both teams opened their seasons with opening round victories with the Comets beating the Albury-Wodonga Bandits while the Crusaders also prevailed against Hornsby Ku-Ring-Rai Spiders.

That set the stage for Saturday's match up at Comets Stadium with the Crusaders dominating the opening period leading by as much as 12 points thanks to 12 straight points.

Central Coast were still up 18-9 by quarter-time but it was all the Comets in the second frame with the home team putting together a 15-0 run to put up 30 points to 15 to go into the half-time break leading 39-33.

It remained a tight contest through the third quarter with Central Coast cutting the deficit to three by three quarter-time, but Sydney pulled away enough in the final period to score the seven-point win to go 2-0 to start the season.

Former Adelaide 36ers NBL forward Obi Kyei starred for the Comets with 23 points, 15 rebounds and two assists on 9/17 shooting from the field and 5/6 at the free-throw line.

Ernest Docker added 19 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for Sydney, Ben White 13 points and four rebounds, Johnny Crnogorac 11 points and nine boards, and Anthony Mundine III 10 points, four rebounds and two assists.

Robbie Heath came up huge for the Crusaders despite the loss with 38 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and two assists on 11/35 field goal shooting while going 5/17 from three-point land and 11/13 at the foul line.

Seth Chapman added 14 points and six rebounds, and Chan Nai 11 points and six boards.

Central Coast backs up to host the Penrith Panthers on Sunday at 12pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Comets remain at home to the Inner West Bulls on Friday.

SYDNEY COMETS 89 (Kyei 23, Docker 19, White 13)

CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 82 (Heath 38, Chapman 14, Nai 11)