Round 1: Championship Men
In one of the best games of the weekend, Sutherland Sharks fell to the Penrith Panthers, 82-83. Penrith jumped out to an early lead and led by 18 at the half, only to see their advantage erased at full time. Last year’s Sharks MVP Lochlan Hutchison led the way for his team with 23 points, 6 steals and currently leads the Championship Men division with eight assists. The Panthers countered with two twenty point scorers of their own; Sean Weekes posted a double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Villiami Foketi poured in 22 of his own shooting 50% from three-point line.
Jack Lopez and Mark Franco of the Bankstown Bruins were the two high-scorers of their Championship Men side, going for 29 and 28 respectively. Despite their efforts, their team lost by 13 to the Canberra Gunners, 92-79. Five Gunners scored double figures in a balanced team attack, led by Daniel Joyce’s efficient 24 points (63% shooting). Canberra’s players shared the ball much more effectively, tallying 21 assists compared to Bankstown’s seven.
The Central Coast Crusaders conquered Sydney Comets, 87-60. The Crusaders squad featured two twenty point scorers in Callum Jenkins and Mitchell Rueter. Rueter dropped 22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and hit four three-pointers, while Jenkins contributed 21 points and eight rebounds shooting 58% from the field.
Round 1: Championship Women
Sutherland’s Shyla Heal and Madeleine Norris combined for 50 points, the most of any duo during the weekend. The Sutherland Sharks beat Penrith Panthers, 82-72. Sutherland made the most of their opportunities at the line, shooting 93% on 14 free throws compared to Penrith’s 59% of 27 attempts. Two Panthers countered with over 20 points, Sara Matthews had 22 and Meg Jefferson secured a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles erupted, defeating the Maitland Mustangs, 87-48. Elles Van Der Mass paced the Sea Eagles with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists while Kimberly Hodge added a team high of 22 points as well as seven rebounds. The Manly defense caused havoc, creating 17 steals and seven blocks.
The Newcastle Hunters defeated the North Bears, 75-48. Jaimee Seebohm fueled the Hunters with 7 points, 8 rebounds, and a division-leading 8 assists. The Hunters out-maneuvered the Bears in major statistical categories, leading total rebounds 44-31 and total assists 19-9. WNBL Champion and Newcastle Forward Hannah Young led her team in scoring with 17 points. FIBA Under-15 Oceania Championship Gold Medalist and NSW Country Representative Chyra Evans made her Championship Women’s debut for the Newcastle Hunters at just 15 years old.
Round 1: Division 1 Men
Bankstown had another division-leading scorer on the weekend, with Svetomir Gavrilovic dropping 35 points with 8 three-pointers. Teammate Andre Boykin also added 20 of his own points helping lead the Bruins to victory over Canberra Gunners Academy, 74-62.
In their inaugural game in the Division 1 competition, the Orange Eagles prevailed over the Dubbo Rams, 79-58. Mitch Selwood led the way with 16 points, and five Eagles accomplished double figures.
Round 1: Division 1 Women
The Queanbeyan Yowies edged out Shoalhaven Tigers, 74-73, on Saturday afternoon. Queanbeyan’s Molly Mcphee spearheaded a steady attack by scoring 21 points, while three of her teammates had over 10 points. Maddison Blewitt and Georgia Joseph of Shoalhaven had 17 and 19 points, respectively.
In the other game of the round, the Wagga Wagga Blaze beat the Goulburn Bears, 55-46.
Round 1: Division 1 Youth Men
The Shoalhaven Tigers defeated the Newcastle Hunters in the young team’s first game in Division One, following last year’s Division Two championship. Riley O’Shannessy carried his teams scoring load with 18 points, rivaled by Jakob Dorricott of Newcastle’s 25.
The Sydney Comets beat the Central Coast Crusaders, prevailing, 89-67. Comets’ William Johnston and Askam Reed Nottage combined for 52 points and 13 baskets from three-point range.
Round 1: Division 1 Youth Women
Coming off of her selection to the Australian Indigenous Basketball Team, Rebekkah Dallinger of the Norths Bears dropped a division high 24 points in a one-point loss to the Newcastle Hunters, 70-69. Newcastle spread the ball with a balanced attack, led by Emily Crampton’s 13 and Kate Kingham’s 12 points.
In the other two games of the round, the winning teams coincidentally beat their opponents by a margin of 16; Maitland Mustangs v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, 73-57 & Sutherland Sharks v Penrith Panthers, 68-52.
Round 1: Division 2 Youth Men
The St George Saints put up the high score of the weekend, beating the Maitland Mustangs, 100-72. Every Saint scored and six had over double figures.
The Hornsby Spiders Green topped the Hills Hornets, 81-44. Spiders’ Thomas Gillis had a division leading 26 points, followed by teammates Raymond Takchi with 12 and Maxwell Thurkette who scored 10 points with 100% shooting.
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- Championship Men (the acronym is CM)
- Championship Women (the acronym is CW)
- Division 1 Men (the acronym is D1M)
- Division 1 Women (the acronym is D1W)
- Division 1 Youth Men (the acronym is D1YM)
- Division 1 Youth Women (the acronym is D1YW)
- Division 2 Youth Men (the acronym is D2YM)
Written by Daniel Zaborsky