East Recap | Round 15 Sunday

Image credit: Greg Francis (@DiscoveryOne_Photography)

Nicole Munger had 41 and 13 to ensure the defending champion Newcastle Falcons enter NBL1 East playoffs in impressive form while the Bankstown Bruins men led by Jason Cadee and Jaylin Galloway go into finals on a six-game winning streak.

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EAST RECAP | ROUND 15 SATURDAY

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Central Coast Crusaders (70) lost to Bankstown Bruins (86)

Mercifully the season is over for the Central Coast Crusaders with the Bankstown Bruins making sure they enter the finals in winning form with the 86-70 road victory.

It was the last game of a season to forget for the Crusaders with them at home at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium playing host to a finals bound Bruins team who were looking to bounce back from a Friday night loss to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Central Coast had lost their past 12 matches coming into the contest but the Crusaders started well on their home floor with 22 points to 20 in the first quarter.

Bankstown were then only narrowly leading 36-35 by half-time before the Bruins did work on term in the third frame with 24 points to 13 on the way to building a 12-point advantage.

Bankstown then pushed out to an 18-point lead in the last quarter before securing the 16-point win that sees them finish the regular season with an 11-9 record ahead of an elimination final with the Maitland Mustangs.

Juliunn Redmond continued her standout form for the Bruins with 25 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals with Sienna Tutani contributing 16 points, nine boards and three assists.

Kalia Proctor added 15 points, three rebounds and three assists with 3/5 three-point shooting, Jane Dunlop 14 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals, and Jada Rice seven points, 11 boards and two blocked shots.

Central Coast's season finishes four games clear with the wooden spoon with a 1-19 record with Jasmine Forcadilla delivering 31 points, five assists and four steals.

Mikaela Dombkins contributed nine points with 3/5 three-point shooting, Leilani Mitchell nine points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals, and Halle Njoroge six points and four boards.

CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 70 (Forcadilla 31, Dombkins 9, Mitchell 9)

BANKSTOWN BRUINS 86 (Redmond 25, Tutani 16, Proctor 15)

Newcastle Falcons (88) defeated Hills Hornets (68)

Reigning MVP Nicole Munger delivered another 41 points and 13 rebounds as the Newcastle Falcons warmed up for their championship defence with the 88-68 home win against the Hills Hornets.

The Falcons were finishing the regular season at home at Newcastle Basketball Stadium fresh off a 29-point win on Saturday over the Central Coast Crusaders while the Hornets were also coming off a win last Sunday against the Canberra Nationals.

Newcastle was locked into finishing in third position no matter the result with Hills also out of finals contention, and it was the Falcons who made the better of the start with 26 points to 15 in the opening quarter.

That lead got out to 17 points in the second quarter too for the Falcons before they went into the half-time break leading 46-31.

That lead continued to grow throughout the second half for Newcastle as well with the defending champions out to a 20-point lead in the third term, and 25 in the fourth on the way to the eventual 20-point victory.

The Falcons now finish the regular season in third position with a 17-3 record having won their past four matches ahead of a qualifying final match up away to the Norths Bears in a clash of the last two NBL1 East champions.

Reigning MVP Nicole Munger was in ominous form ahead of the finals for Newcastle with 41 points, 13 rebounds and four assists with 13/24 shooting from the field, 4/9 from downtown and 11/11 at the foul line.

Meg Jefferson added 16 points, 12 rebounds and two steals, Claudea Waihape-Andrews 13 points, six boards and four steals, and Sophie Brennan seven points, five rebounds and two assists.

The season is now over for the Hornets with them finishing with a 7-13 record with Elizabeth Smith finishing with 17 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals.

Jade Kirisome also had 13 points, three rebounds and two assists, Kennedy Johnson 11 points, five boards, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 88 (Munger 41, Jefferson 16, Waihape-Andrews 13)

HILLS HORNETS 68 (Smith 17, Kirisome 13, Johnson 11)

Centre of Excellence (48) lost to Maitland Mustangs (49)

The scoring was sure hard to come by including a five-point quarter for the Centre of Excellence and a four-point term for Maitland, but the Mustangs still managed to prevail 49-48 with both teams now turning attention to the playoffs.

The Centre of Excellence returned to action for the first time in a month on Saturday with a loss to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles while still without Emilija Dakic, Sitaya Fagan and Zara Russell all at the Under-19 World Cup with the Australian Emus.

The Mustangs then arrived at the Australian Institute on Sport on Sunday coming off beating the Canberra Nationals on Saturday, but there was no signs of what a grind of a 40 minutes was ahead for both teams.

It was 12 points apiece in the first quarter with the Mustangs shooting 5/20 from the field and the CoE going 6/18 before it was Maitland delivering 24 points to five in the second term.

The Mustangs shot 11/16 in that second term while the Centre of Excellence on managed to shoot 2/19 for those five points with the lead for Maitland getting out to 19 points on the back of an 18-0 scoring run.

Maitland went into half-time leading 38-17 and then the lead for the Mustangs grew to as much as 24 points in the third period, but that's when the Centre of Excellence mounted their fightback.

The CoE went on a 13-0 scoring run either side of three quarter-time and then they kept on coming to eventually draw within a solitary point with a minute to play when Zara Funnell scored going to the basket.

That would prove to be the last score of the game, though, with Maitland ending up holding out for the one-point win despite scoring just four points with 1/13 shooting the entire last quarter.

By the end of the game, the two teams who are bound for the finals combined for just 97 points while shooting 30 per cent from the field each on the exact same 21/69 figures along with remarkably identically going 2/19 from three-point territory.

Maitland finishes the season with a 10-10 record to end up in seventh position ahead of taking on the Bankstown Bruins in an elimination final on Saturday.

Kasey Neubert top-scored for the Mustangs with 16 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks with Sydney Hunter adding 15 points, nine boards, three steals and two assists.

The Centre of Excellence end their season in fifth position with a 12-8 record and they will also be in an elimination final against the Canberra Nationals this coming Saturday.

Jemyma Manyok top-scored for the CoE with 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots with Olivia Olechnowicz contributing nine points, seven boards and two steals, Zara Funnell eight points, four rebounds and three assists, Isabel Smith eight points and seven boards, and Aspen Crase eight points and 10 rebounds.

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE 48 (Manyok 10, Olechnowicz 9, Crase 8, Smith 8, Funnell 8)

MAITLAND MUSTANGS 49 (Neubert 16, Hunter 15, Reilly 7)

Sydney Comets (83) lost to Albury-Wodonga Bandits (92)

The dynamic back court of Riley Lupfer and Caitie Jones combined for another 47 points and nine three-pointers as the Albury-Wodonga Bandits geared up for the finals with the 92-83 road win over the Sydney Comets.

Coming into the match up at Comets Stadium and Sydney were all but out of the playoff race after losing to the Norths Bears by 34 points back on Friday night.

Albury-Wodonga came into the match up locked into a fourth place finish no matter the result but were looking to keep their winning form going, and the Bandits produced 34 points in the first quarter with shooting 13/19 from the field with 6/9 from downtown.

That saw Albury-Wodonga lead by seven points at quarter-time but the Comets worked back into the contest in the second term to cut that Bandits lead to 49-47 at the half-time interval.

It was then just a one-point lead for the Bandits by three quarter-time, but the visitors then pulled away again in the final stanza with 24 points to 16 with 9/18 shooting as the CoE went juts 6/18 in the last 10 minutes.

The win sees Albury-Wodonga finish the regular season with a 15-5 record having won seven of the last eight game to be in fourth place and to have a crack at the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in a qualifying final to open the playoffs.

The back court duo with the Bandits of Caitie Jones and Riley Lupfer could very well take them a long way this post-season.

Jones finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals with Lupfer adding 24 points, eight assists, six boards and four steals.

Brynn Masikewich added 18 points, 12 rebounds and three assists, Emma Mahady 16 points, four assists, three steals and two boards, and Sarah Mellington six points, six rebounds and three assists.

The Comets' season is now over with an 8-12 record having lost four of the last five games with Piper Anderson finishing with 26 points, five assists and three rebounds with 3/16 from three-point range.

Abi Curtin added 22 points and 13 rebounds, Mikayla Pirini 16 points, three boards and three steals with 4/7 three-point shooting, and Alexandra Kayrouz eight points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.

SYDNEY COMETS 83 (Anderson 26, Curtin 22, Pirini 16)

ALBURY-WODONGA BANDITS 92 (Lupfer 24, Jones 23, Masikewich 18)

MEN

Central Coast Crusaders (83) lost to Bankstown Bruins (102)

The Bankstown Bruins fell just one game short of a top four finish but they will enter the playoffs in winning form after Sunday's 102-83 win against the Central Coast Crusaders.

The Crusaders were back home at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium but it would be their last game of 2025 given their past two losses that saw them fall out of playoff contention.

Bankstown did arrive having won their past five matches including beating the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at home back on Friday night but they weren’t going to be able to finish higher than fifth position even with a Sunday victory.

Bankstown made a good start with 31 points to 24 in the opening quarter before then putting up another 24 points to 13 in the second term to head into half-time leading 55-36 thanks to shooting 19/40 from the field and 10/11 from the foul line up against 16/43 and 1/1.

Both teams then scored 47 points apiece in the second half which saw the Bruins complete the deal on the 19-point victory to finish the season with six consecutive victories with a 12-8 record.

That will see Bankstown now play host to the Sutherland Sharks in a mouth watering elimination final battle this Saturday night.

Jason Cadee is now gearing up to lead the Bruins into the playoffs after his 424-game NBL career by producing 24 points, 12 assists and three steals with 5/13 three-point shooting.

Dominique Keyes added 17 points and 14 rebounds for Bankstown, Gum Majak 14 points and seven boards, Jaylin Galloway 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals, Jesse Edwards eight points on 2/2 three-point shooting, and Andre Wolford seven points, four rebounds and two assists.

The Crusaders see their season finish with a 9-11 record with Garric Young finishing with 30 points, 13 rebounds and two assists with 13/20 field goal shooting.

Luke Cassidy also had 17 points, three rebounds and three assists for Central Coast with Ilisia Washington contributing 12 points, eight boards and three assists.

CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 83 (Young 30, Cassidy 17, Washington 12)

BANKSTOWN BRUINS 102 (Cadee 24, Keyes 17, Majak 14, Galloway 14)

Newcastle Falcons (58) lost to Hills Hornets (90)

With both teams out of the playoff race coming into the contest and they were just playing for pride on the last day of the regular season and it was the Hills Hornets coming away victorious 90-58 against the Newcastle Falcons.

While the Falcons had a chance of joining the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Sutherland Sharks on 11 wins for the season, they wouldn’t be able to break into the top eight thanks to losing the series split against those two teams.

So that meant Newcastle wouldn’t be able to make the playoffs for a second straight season while the Hornets arrived at Newcastle Basketball Stadium having lost to the Canberra Gunners last Sunday.

Newcastle did start well at home on Sunday afternoon with 25 points to 18 in the fourth quarter but Hills worked on top in the second term with 28 points to 19 to go into half-time narrowly leading 46-44.

The Hornets then totally dominated the second half which included them scoring 24 points in the third frame while remarkably holding Newcastle to two points while missing all 14 shot attempts and the points coming at the free-throw line.

It was another 20 points to 12 in the fourth quarter for Hills as they secured the 32-point victory to end up finishing the regular season with an 8-12 record.

Meekness Payne produced 22 points, 11 rebounds and two steals in the win for the Hornets on 4/8 three-point shooting with Liam Moss contributing 22 points, five boards and four assists also with 4/8 shooting from behind the three-point arc.

Pafe Momoisea added 20 points and three assists, Deng Gak 10 points, nine rebounds and two steals, and Jacob Foy seven points.

Newcastle finishes the season in ninth position with a 10-10 record with Matur Maluach finishing with 14 points and four rebounds with Kobe Shannon adding nine points and four boards, Myles Cherry eight points and six rebounds, and Eylijah Stephens seven points and five boards.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 58 (Maluach 14, Shannon 9, Cherry 8)

HILLS HORNETS 90 (Moss 22, Payne 22, Momoisea 20)

Centre of Excellence (92) defeated Maitland Mustangs (62)

The Centre of Excellence ensured they will enter the playoffs on a winning note after beating the defending champion Maitland Mustangs 92-62.

The Centre of Excellence were back in action for the first time in a month in a loss to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on Saturday as they backed up against the Mustangs at the Australian Institute of Sport.

The game on Sunday afternoon was the last for Maitland as defending champions with their title defence never really ever getting off the ground and they had lost four straight heading into the clash with the CoE.

The Centre of Excellence started well with 20 points to 13 in the first quarter before the rising stars kept the momentum going pushing out to a 12-point advantage and to be leading 45-33 by the half-time break.

It was then a monster third quarter from the CoE with 30 points to 10 thanks to shooting 11/20 from the field opposed to 2/15 to open up a 33-point lead.

That advantage got out to 35 points in the final quarter before they secured the 30-point win to make sure they head into the playoffs in winning form.

The Centre of Excellence now finish the regular season with a 15-5 record in third position to now be taking on the Canberra Gunners this coming Saturday in a qualifying final.

Rio Bruton top-scored in the win for the CoE with 18 points and three rebounds with 4/5 three-point shooting while Jai Faale contributed 16 points, four boards and four assists.

Alex Dickeson also had 15 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and three steals with Ajak Nyuon contributing 11 points and three boards, James Merwe 10 points and 10 rebounds, Nash Walker nine points and an assist, and Mading Kuany nine points and three rebounds on 3/3 three-point shooting.

The championship defence of the Mustangs is now over with them finishing the season with a 7-13 record after losing the last five matches.

It wasn’t the season the Mustangs were hoping for off the high of the championship but Billy Parsons finished their last game with 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

James Beavis added 13 points and two rebounds, Mandrell Worthy 10 points and four boards, and Christian Little six points, six assists, three steals and two rebounds.

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE 92 (Bruton 18, Faale 16, Dickeson 15)

MAITLAND MUSTANGS 62 (Parsons 21, Beavis 13, Worthy 10)

Sydney Comets (75) lost to Albury-Wodonga Bandits (80)

The Albury-Wodonga Bandits finished their season on a winning note with the 80-75 Sunday afternoon victory against the Sydney Comets.

Both teams came into the Sunday match up at Comets Stadium in losing form with the Comets having lost their previous three matches while the Bandits had also lost six of their last seven.

Sydney were still guaranteed of a top four finish despite their form dropping away and not surprisingly in the absence of dynamic duo Biwali Bayles and Davo Hickey.

It was a strong start from Albury-Wodonga with 20 points to 13 in the first quarter before they were still on top 39-34 by the half-time break.

The Bandits managed to push back out to an 11-point lead during the third quarter and then held on for the eventual five-point win to finish their frustrating season on a winning note.

Albury-Wodonga ended up shooting 41 per cent from field to 36 from the Comets while going 18/26 to 12/17 at the foul line.

Sydney did have 13 extra shot attempts with the Bandits coughing up 20 turnovers, but the visitors made up for it to score the win that sees them finish their season with a 5-15 record.

Matthew Gray ended up with 22 points and eight rebounds with 5/9 three-point shooting with Ahren Freeman contributing 19 points, 17 board and two assists.

Francis Wineera-Mulvihill added 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, Jacob Cincurak seven points, seven assists and three boards, and Simon Lafaele six points and three rebounds.

The Comets do still finish in fourth position with a 13-7 record despite losing their last four matches and they begin their playoff campaign with a qualifying final match up with the Illawarra Hawks.

Obi Kyei finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and seven steals for the Comets with Anthony Mundine III contributing 21 points, five boards and three assists, and Viliami Foketi 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

SYDNEY COMETS 75 (Kyei 23, Mundine III 21, Foketi 15)

ALBURY-WODONGA BANDITS 80 (Gray 22, Freeman 19, Wineera-Mulvihill 13)