Sea Eagles Crush Bears for First NBL1 Win

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles defeated the Norths Bears 72-61 on Saturday evening at Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre, securing their first win of the NBL1 North 2025 season. The Sea Eagles dominated the boards, outrebounding Norths 39-33, with their 12 offensive rebounds leading to crucial second-chance points. Mason Bragg led the home team with an impressive double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, while also dishing out 7 assists and snagging 5 steals. Preston Purifoy added a game-high 21 points including three triples, while Matthew Eldridge contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Bears struggled with ball control, committing 18 turnovers to Manly's 11. Hunter Goodrick was a bright spot for Norths with a double-double of 14 points and 14 boards, while Matthew Wacher added 12 points including three from outside. Despite connecting on 38 percent of their three-point attempts, slightly better than Manly's 34 percent, the Bears couldn't overcome their turnover issues and rebounding deficit. **MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 72 (Preston Purifoy 21, Mason Bragg 19, Stefan Valkovic 14).** **NORTHS BEARS 61 (Hunter Goodrick 14, Matthew Wacher 12, Michael Yoong 10).** #NBL1North #basketballaustralia