Recap NBL1 East | Round 3 Saturday

Lauren Jackson, Alex Delaney, Nicole Munger, Davo Hickey, Will Cranston-Lown, Myles Cherry, Ben Kearins and Chris Bryant were among the match-winning performers in Saturday night's NBL1 East.

The women's results saw the Central Coast Crusaders beat the Hills Hornets 100-66 while the Illawarra Hawks beat the Penrith Panthers 79-56, and the Newcastle Falcons downed the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders 85-59.

The Maitland Mustangs won 84-74 against the Sutherland Sharks, the Albury-Wodonga Bandits beat the Norths Bears 75-60, and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles prevailed 98-54 against the Canberra Nationals.

The men's matches then saw the Canberra Gunners beat the Sea Eagles 87-75, the Bandits defeat the Bears 88-81, the Falcons down the Spiders 81-61, the Mustangs win 85-82 against the Sharks, the Panthers beat the Hawks 95-92, and the Hornets down the Crusaders 93-83.

RECAP NBL1 EAST | ROUND 3 FRIDAY

WOMEN

Central Coast Crusaders (100) defeated Hills Hornets (66)

The Central Coast Crusaders continued their hot start to the season with their guns all delivering once more in the 100-66 home Saturday win against the Hills Hornets.

With a star-studded and experienced line-up including Leilani Mitchell fresh off winning a fourth WNBL championship, the Crusaders have started the season on fire having won the first three games coming into hosting the Hornets at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium.

The Hornets had split their opening two games but the Crusaders took control in the second quarter.

Central Coast did lead by as much as eight in the first term, but then in the second frame they took full control outscoring the Hornets 34 points to nine to complete a 15-0 scoring run.

That saw the Crusaders open up a lead as big as 32 points and to be well in control at 62-30 at the half-time interval.

The advantage for Central Coast grew to as much as 36 points in the fourth quarter as well before they won by 34 to improve to 4-0 with Hills now 1-2 following the defeat.

Central Coast got plenty of high-level performances once more with Jasmine Forcadilla delivering 24 points, eight assists and five rebounds on 3/6 three-point shooting and going 9/11 from the foul line.

Leilani Mitchell delivered another 22 points, four rebounds and four assists on 3/5 three-point shooting with Mikaela Dombkins contributing 17 points, nine boards, four assists, four steals and two blocks.

Darneka Rowe also had 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals with Nicole Hutchins adding five points, 10 boards and two assists.

Meg Jefferson top-scored for Hills with 16 points and six rebounds on 8/13 shooting while Emma Kary contributed 15 points, three boards and two assists, Lucy Corke 12 points, and Taylah Moss 11 points and six rebounds.

The Crusaders will host the Centre of Excellence on Friday at 6pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App while the Hornets are away to the Penrith Panthers.

CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 100 (Forcadilla 24, Mitchell 22, Dombkins 17)

HILLS HORNETS 66 (Jefferson 16, Kary 15, Corke 12)

Illawarra Hawks (79) defeated Penrith Panthers (56)

Asha Phillips provided a crucial 18 points off the bench and the Illawarra Hawks proved too strong for the Penrith Panthers, winning 79-56 at home on Saturday.

The Hawks were 1-1 on the season coming into the game with the winless Panthers at The Snakepit and Illawarra led by seven in the first quarter, but then took complete control in the second period.

The Hawks would outscore the Panthers 20 points to five for the period to open up a lead by as much as 20 points before going into half-time leading 42-22.

The lead for Illawarra grew to as much as 28 points in the second half and the Hawks would go on to win by 23 and improve to 2-1 on the season with the Panthers slipping to 0-4 and having now lost 11 straight dating back to 2023.

Asha Phillips was outstanding for the Hawks in 21 minutes off the bench with 18 points and two steals on 8/9 field goal shooting.

Ella Dent added 17 points, three assists and two rebounds, Georgia Ohrdorf 12 points and seven boards, Lauren Gatwood 10 points and four assists, Ruby MacDonald seven points and six rebounds, and Emilia Garcia Leon six points, 11 boards and three assists.

Tahlia Tupaea top-scored once more for Penrith with 22 points and seven rebounds with Dominika Faber contributing 10 points and Chloe Williams 10 points with two rebounds.

Illawarra is also at home to the Inner West Bulls on Sunday at 1pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Panthers host the Hills Hornets on Friday at 6pm.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 79 (Phillips 18, Dent 17, Ohrdorf 12)

PENRITH PANTHERS 56 (Tupaea 22, Williams 10, Faber 10)

 

Newcastle Falcons (85) defeated Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders (59)

Another standout performance from Nicole Munger and another commanding win to open 2024 for the Newcastle Falcons beating the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders 85-59.

The Falcons were back home at Newcastle Basketball Stadium putting their undefeated record on the line against the winless Spiders, and Newcastle made a fast start opening up a 26-10 advantage by quarter-time.

The Falcons weren’t about to take their foot off the gas either with the lead getting out to 29 points in the second stanza and they would go into the half-time break leading 51-22.

Hornsby were able to limit the damage in the second half but Newcastle still cruised to the 26-point win to improve to 4-0 on the season with the Spiders now 0-5.

Nicole Munger was again outstanding in the win for Newcastle with 22 points, 13 rebounds, six steals and four assists.

Kate Kingham added 18 points and two steals with 4/8 three-point shooting while Aarion Nichols added 13 points and 14 rebounds, Hannah Chicken 12 points, four boards and two steals, and Sophie Brennan 11 points and five rebounds.

Jessie-May Hall top-scored for Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai with 18 points and 10 rebounds with Ay'Anna Bey adding 13 points and eight boards, and Nathasa Christaline nine points and three rebounds.

The Falcons back up to play on the road to the Sydney Comets on Saturday at 3pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Spiders are away to the Maitland Mustangs on Thursday at 2:30pm for ANZAC Day.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 85 (Munger 22, Kingham 18, Nichols 13)

HORNSBY KU-RING-GAI SPIDERS 59 (Hall 18, Bey 13, Christaline 9)

Sutherland Sharks (74) lost to Maitland Mustangs (84)

The Maitland Mustangs made it three consecutive wins this season with a strong showing on the road to beat the Sutherland Sharks 84-74.

The Sharks were back home at Sutherland Basketball Stadium looking to return to the winner's list against a Mustangs team who arrived on a two-game winning streak.

It was a tight battle right throughout the first half with no more than five points separating the two teams with Maitland narrowly leading 17-16 at quarter-time and then stretching that advantage out to 41-36 at the main break.

The Mustangs then continued to build on that advantage throughout the second half with it getting out to nine points in the third period, and 12 in the fourth.

That saw Maitland claim the 10-point road win to improve to 3-1 on the season while the Sharks are 1-2.

Sydney Hunter led the charge in the win for the Mustangs with 18 points and 15 rebounds with Natsumi Kohama contributing 15 points, three assists and two boards.

Shakera Reilly, Rachel Williams and Hannah Fox then all scored 10 points apiece for Maitland with Fox also having 10 rebounds and three assists.

Vanessa Panousis had another standout performance for Sutherland with 32 points, seven rebounds and four assists with Emily Garland contributing 17 points, four boards, two assists and two blocks, and Taya Webb 12 points and five steals.

Both teams play on ANZAC Day with the Sharks away to the Illawarra Hawks at 5pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Mustangs host Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai at 2:30pm.

SUTHERLAND SHARKS 74 (Panousis 32, Garland 17, Webb 12)

MAITLAND MUSTANGS 84 (Hunter 18, Kohama 15, Fox 10, Williams 10, Reilly 10)

Albury-Wodonga Bandits (75) defeated Norths Bears (60)

Lauren Jackson was an unstoppable force with 36 points and 19 rebounds as the Albury-Wodonga Bandits remained unbeaten in 2024 downing the Norths Bears 75-60.

The Bandits were back home at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre on the back of beating the Centre of Excellence on Friday to open Round 3 up against a Bears team who arrived also with an unbeaten record.

That set up a tantalising battle between the undefeated sides and the Bears sent a real scare into the home team with a blistering start racing to a 13-point lead in the opening quarter.

Norths were still leading 27-16 by the end of one but then the Bandits turned the tide with Lauren Jackson taking over the contest. That saw Albury-Wodonga outscore the Bears 23 to 11 in the second period to go into half-time leading 39-38.

It wasn’t until the final quarter when the Bandits pulled away when they outscored Norths 19 points to seven to score 12 consecutive points and end up winning by 15.

The result means the Bandits remain unbeaten at 5-0 this season with the Bears slipping to 2-1 with a first defeat.

Lauren Jackson proved unstoppable as the night went on and she finished with 36 points, 19 rebounds and three steals on 13/23 shooting from the floor, 5/8 from three-point range and 5/5 at the foul line.

Mikayla Pivec added another 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists with Emma Mahady scoring nine points, and Ash Hannan contributing eight points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists.

Maddie O'Hehir had a big showing for the Bears with 24 points, four assists and three rebounds with Carla Pitman contributing nine points, 10 rebounds and three assists, and Emily Simons seven points, seven boards, four assists and two steals.

The Bandits are next in action next Saturday at home to the Illawarra Hawks while the Bears play the Sydney Comets on ANZAC Day at Comets Stadium at 2pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.

ALBURY-WODONGA BANDITS 75 (Jackson 36, Pivec 13, Mahady 9)

NORTHS BEARS 60 (O'Hehir 24, Pitman 9, Simons 7)

Canberra Nationals (54) lost to Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (98)

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles stamped their authority on Saturday with the 98-54 road victory over the Canberra Nationals.

Manly Warringah were the regular season champions last season before losing the Grand Final to the Norths Bears, and have come into 2024 on a mission after sitting out the opening round.

The Sea Eagles opened the season beating Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai by 33 points ahead of taking on the Nationals in Tuggeranong on Saturday with Canberra having one win from three matches so far in 2024.

Manly Warringah turned it on in the opening quarter racing out to a 17-point lead and then never looking back, even with Canberra closing the deficit to 11 by the main break.

The Sea Eagles then dominated the second half with 25 points to nine in the third period, and 32 to 15 in the last to cruise to the 44-point win to improve to 2-0 and send the Nationals to 1-3.

Alex Delaney knocked down 4/5 of her three-point attempts for Manly Warringah on her way to 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals with Josie Bulman adding 18 points and eight boards on 6/8 shooting from the floor and 6/6 at the foul line.

Bree Delaney also had 13 points, six assists and four rebounds, Brooke Flowers nine points, 16 boards and four blocked shots, Antonia Henderson eight points and four rebounds, and Zoey Miller eight points, six assists, five boards and two steals.

Lizzy Tonks finished with 13 points and six rebounds for Canberra with Callie Bourne contributing 12 points, two boards and two assists, Maddison Penn eight points and four steals, Nikki Worner seven points, Claudea Waihape-Andrews six points and eight rebounds.

Canberra will host Hornsby on Saturday at 1pm while the Sea Eagles play host the Sydney Comets at 3pm on the same afternoon.

CANBERRA NATIONALS 54 (Tonks 13, Bourne 12, Penn 8)

MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 98 (A Delaney 20, Bulman 18, B Delaney 13)

MEN

Central Coast Crusaders (83) lost to Hills Hornets (93)

Chris Bryant delivered a 39-point performance to lift the Hills Hornets to their first win of the NBL1 East season, beating the Central Coast Crusaders 93-83.

The Crusaders were back home at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium having won two of their first three games of the season ahead of hosting a Hornets team having lost their first two matches of 2024.

The Hornets made the better of the start to be leading already by 11 points at quarter-time and that lead would continue to grow throughout the evening with Bryant proving the difference between the two teams.

Hills would end up leading by 14 points in the second period, 19 in the third and 22 in the last before then holding off the late charge from the Crusaders to score the 10-point victory.

Chris Bryant was outstanding in the victory for the Hornets finishing the night with 39 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks on shooting 16/24 from the field.

Mitchell Smith also contributed 13 points and six rebounds with Ishmael Sanders adding 10 points, four boards and three assists, and Liam Moss nine points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Chan Nai top-scored for Central Coast with 22 points to go with five rebounds on shooting 4/10 from three-point territory with Robbie Heath finishing with 14 points on 3/17 shooting.

Luke Cassidy put up 13 points, five assists and five steals, James Trustum 13 points and seven rebounds, and Theus Evan Wardlow 13 points, four boards, three assists and two steals.

The Crusaders will host the Centre of Excellence on Friday at 8pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App while the Hornets are away to the Penrith Panthers.

CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 83 (Nai 22, Heath 14, Wardlow 13, Trustum 13, Cassidy 13)

HILLS HORNETS 93 (Bryant 39, Smith 13, Sanders 10)

Illawarra Hawks (92) lost to Penrith Panthers (95)

The Penrith Panthers put up a huge third quarter and then held firm down the stretch to beat the Illawarra Hawks 95-92 on the road on Saturday night.

Both the Hawks and Panthers were in the hunt of a first win of the season when they met at The Snakepit, and they produced quite the entertaining contest.

The Hawks had suffered losses by a combined 44 points to the Gunners and Bruins to open 2024, but they started well at home with an eight-point lead by quarter-time.

Illawarra pulled further away in the second quarter and put up 31 points to 21 to go into the half-time break leading 57-39.

If Penrith wanted to avoid going 0-4, it needed to respond coming out of the half and that's exactly what the Panthers did by piling on 34 points to 14 in the third quarter to assume the lead on the back of a 13-0 scoring run.

The Panthers would build that into a 10-point lead in the final stanza and then hold firm down the stretch to hold off Illawarra to score the eventual three-point victory.

Ben Kearins put up 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals for Penrith despite shooting 6/18 from the floor but going 3/6 from three-point land and 11/11 at the free-throw line.

Atien Acuel added 13 points and six rebounds for the Panthers, Ammaron McCarthy 13 points and five boards, Caleb Fetui-Fa'amoe 12 points, 10 rebounds and three steals, and Brodie Schwarzer 11 points.

Brad Ballinger produced 25 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Hawks with Philip Dopud putting up 19 points, seven blocks, six rebounds and four assists, and Ethan-James Laudato 15 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and five steals.

Riley Abercrombie added 13 points, 13 rebounds and three assists with Tristan Glenn scoring 11 points with 3/5 three-point shooting.

Illawarra is also at home to the Inner West Bulls on Sunday at 3pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Panthers host the Hills Hornets on Friday at 8pm.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 92 (Ballinger 25, Dopud 19, Laudato 15)

PENRITH PANTHERS 95 (Kearins 26, Acuel 13, McCarthy 13)

Newcastle Falcons (81) defeated Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders (61)

It was the battle of winless teams but Myles Cherry was never going to let the Newcastle Falcons drop another one at home helping to deliver the 81-61 win over the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders.

The Falcons had lost their first three games of the season and the Spiders their opening four heading into the Saturday night match up at Newcastle Basketball Stadium.

Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai managed to start well away from home leading by three at quarter-time but Newcastle then took charge in the second term with 22 points to 11 to be on top 41-33 going into the locker room at half-time.

The Falcons would remain in control the rest of the way with the lead growing to 22 points in the final period before the home team scored the 20-point win to improve to 1-3 with Hornsby now slipping to 0-5 having lost seven straight dating back to 2023.

Myles Cherry was the standout player across both teams on the night finishing with 25 points, 19 rebounds and three steals on 11/16 shooting from the field.

Kobe Shannon added 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists for Newcastle, Ryan Beisty 13 points, 11 boards, seven assists and two blocks, and Jai Smith seven points.

Aaron Redhead top-scored for Hornsby with 13 points and six rebounds with Kingsley Gyesi-Bisah adding 11 points and three boards, and Steven Hall nine points.

The Falcons back up to play on the road to the Sydney Comets on Sunday at 1pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Spiders are away to the Maitland Mustangs on Thursday at 4:30pm for ANZAC Day.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 81 (Cherry 25, Shannon 14, Beisty 13)

HORNSBY KU-RING-GAI SPIDERS 61 (Redhead 13, Gyesi-Bisah 11, Hall 9)

Sutherland Sharks (82) lost to Maitland Mustangs (85)

Billy Parsons played hero with a go-ahead three-pointer for the Maitland Mustangs to help them complete the comeback to beat the reigning champion Sutherland Sharks 85-82.

On the back of winning last year's NBL1 East championship and performing admirably at the National Finals in Perth, the Sharks have started the season with a win and a loss.

They were attempting to hit back at home at Sutherland Basketball Stadium to the Albury-Wodonga Bandits last week but the Mustangs arrived with a perfect record so far this season after three games.

That set up a fascinating match up with the lead continuing to seesaw right throughout the evening.

It was Maitland who made the first significant break when completing an 11-0 scoring run in the second quarter to open up a nine-point advantage, and that had the Mustangs leading 47-42 by half-time.

Sutherland then took charge in the third quarter scoring 13 consecutive points to open up a nine-point lead, and to still be on top 67-60 heading into the fourth.

That's where Maitland worked back into the contest but it wasn’t until Billy Parsons hit the biggest shot of the game. His three-pointer in the dying stages put the Mustangs up by two before reigning MVP Will Cranston-Lown made it a three-point margin with a free-throw.

Callum Norris did have one last attempt to force overtime for Sutherland, but it wouldn’t fall and Maitland improved to 4-0 with the win.

Will Cranston-Lown put up another 25 points, four rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks in the win for Maitland with Billy Parsons ending up with 20 points and four boards.

James Hunter also had 10 points, six rebounds and four blocks with Matthew Gray contributing nine points, 12 boards and four assists, and Christian Little five points, three assists and two rebounds.

Lochlan Hutchison produced 23 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and two blocks for Sutherland with Geoff Gerlach adding 18 points, five boards and four assists, Brian Williams 13 points and nine rebounds, Klairus Amir 12 points and six boards, and Callum Norris 12 points and two assists.

Both teams play on ANZAC Day with the Sharks away to the Illawarra Hawks at 7pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Mustangs host Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai at 4:30pm.

SUTHERLAND SHARKS 82 (Hutchison 23, Gerlach 18, Williams 13)

MAITLAND MUSTANGS 85 (Cranston-Lown 25, Parsons 20, Hunter 10)

Albury-Wodonga Bandits (88) defeated Norths Bears (81)

The Albury-Wodonga Bandits made it four wins on the trot with Davo Hickey starring once more in the 88-81 home victory against the Norths Bears.

The Bandits came into the match up at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre having just beaten the Centre of Excellence the previous night to open Round 3 ahead of hosting the 1-1 Bears.

Both teams had their turns leading throughout the first half but it was late in the second quarter where Albury-Wodonga opened up a handy gap to be on top 52-44 going into the break.

The Bandits then put their foot down in the third quarter with a 10-0 scoring run to push that lead out to 17 points, and they would hold on down the stretch despite the best efforts of the Bears to claim the seven-point win.

The victory is a fourth straight for Albury-Wodonga who improve to 4-1 with Davo Hickey starring once more on the back of what he did to close the NBL season at the Illawarra Hawks and then winning 3x3 Asia Cup gold for Australia.

Hickey finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three blocked shots.

Kevion Blaylock added 16 points and three rebounds for the Bandits, Jacob Cincurak 12 points, two assists and two steals, Lochlan Cummings 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Shawn Montague 10 points, five boards and three blocked shots.

Mandrell Worthy put up 25 points and six rebounds for the Bears despite the loss with Cooper Wilks adding 14 points, three rebounds and two assists, Nathaniel Musters 12 points and eight boards, and Eoin Fitz-Gerald 11 points and three assists.

The Bandits are next in action next Saturday at home to the Illawarra Hawks while the Bears play the Sydney Comets on ANZAC Day at Comets Stadium at 4pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.

ALBURY-WODONGA BANDITS 88 (Hickey 26, Blaylock 16, Cincurak 12)

NORTHS BEARS 81 (Worthy 25, Wilks 14, Musters 12)

Canberra Gunners (87) defeated Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (75)

The Canberra Gunners fired back from a slow start to overpower the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles for the 87-75 Saturday night victory.

Canberra was hosting Manly Warringah in Tuggeranong and it was the Sea Eagles making the fast start racing out to a 27-15 lead at quarter-time trying to make it two from two to open 2024.

The lead for Manly Warringah grew to 13 points in the second period as well but Canberra then picked up some momentum and scored nine consecutive points of their own to cut the lead of the Sea Eagles at half-time to 42-38.

The Gunners then took complete control in the third quarter outscoring the Sea Eagles 28 points to 13. The lead for the home team then grew to 17 points in the fourth term and they went on to win by 12.

The victory improves Canberra to a 3-1 record on the season with the Sea Eagles now 1-1 following the defeat.

Cameron Pender delivered 20 points, six rebounds and three assists in the win for the Gunners on the back of shooting 9/11 from the field.

Derek Emelifeonwu added 16 points and two assists with Glenn Morison contributing 15 points, six boards and three assists, Will Mayfield 14 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals, and Lachlan Smith seven points and three steals.

Matthew Eldridge put up 22 points and 10 rebounds on 8/12 shooting for Manly Warringah with Jonas Harper adding 17 points, four boards, three assists and two steals, Mitch Evans 12 points and four rebounds, and Mason Bragg 10 points, nine assists and seven boards.

Canberra will host Hornsby on Saturday at 3pm while the Sea Eagles play host the Sydney Comets at 5pm on the same afternoon.

CANBERRA GUNNERS 87 (Pender 20, Emelifeonwu 16, Morison 15)

MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 75 (Eldridge 22, Harper 17, Evans 12)