East Spotlight | Bandits beat Nationals despite Caitie heroics

Featured image: ruthieb.photography

Caitie Jones did all she could to keep the Canberra Nationals NBL1 East season alive with 24 second half points and nine threes on her old home floor, but it wasn’t quite enough with the Albury Wodonga Bandits prevailing 89-81.

The Bandits were back home at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre having already locked in a playoff spot with five straight wins but having a chance to still host a final too should they keep winning.

Canberra then arrived needing to win their last two games to still be a chance of breaking into the top eight setting the stage for the match up, but the Bandits dominated the first half with the Nationals struggling to be shooting 28 per cent over the first 20 minutes.

That saw Albury Wodonga leading by 24 at half-time but they then lost Last-Tear Poa to an ankle injury and Canberra came storming home with Jones putting up 24 second half points, but it wasn’t quite enough.

The Bandits held on for the eight-point win to improve to a 12-7 record while the Nationals now are out of the playoff hunt at 8-11 with the Hills Hornets beating the Penrith Panthers.

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The Nationals will be kicking themselves it took them until the second half to find their groove and they did end up attempting 10 extra shots but the Bandits got to the foul line 13 times to just the two.

Albury Wodonga are now in prime position to lock in a home final with Emily Lytle continuing her standout season with another 31 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals with 11/17 shooting from the field, 3/6 from downtown and 6/6 at the foul line.

Unique Thompson also delivered 19 points and 16 rebounds, Timeeka Coleman 16 points, nine boards and 4/8 three-point shooting, and Last-Tear Poa 10 points, four boards and two assists up until hurting her ankle early in the third quarter.

With the Hills Hornets winning at the same time, Canberra can no longer make the finals with the result with Caitie Jones scoring 26 points in a dazzling second half for 36 for the game with four rebounds, three steals and two assists on 9/19 three-point shooting.

Callie Bourne added 24 points, 11 rebounds and three assists with 4/7 shooting from downtown while Jasmyn Boutzos contributed 10 points and three boards, and Allison Day eight points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Canberra arrived at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre needing a way to remain in the finals mix with the Bandits already guaranteed of making it but having a chance to earn a home final.

Add in Caitie Jones returning to her home floor of last year and there was plenty to watch out for and it was Albury Wodonga starting the better with 27 points to 14 in the opening quarter.

That saw Emily Lytle already score eight points and Last-Tear Poa seven while the Bandits were shooting 60 per cent to just the 25 from the Nationals who did get up an extra 10 shot attempts on the back of eight offensive rebounds with Jones scoring five points on 2/9 shooting.

That lead for the Bandits blew out to 24 points in the second frame once they'd completed a 15-0 run and by half-time the home team was well in control leading 52-28 on the back of shooting 56 per cent from the field to 28 from Canberra.

The Nationals still got up an extra 11 shot attempts for the half so were creating enough opportunity to be in the contest with Jones trying to keep her team in it with 10 points on 4/13.

The game then took a turn early in the second half when the Bandits lost Poa with an ankle injury for the rest of the game and Canberra were able to build some momentum with 26 points to 18.

Of those 26 points, Jones scored 14 of them to be up to 24 by three quarter-time and the Nationals had pulled the Albury Wodonga lead back to 16 points.

Canberra kept on coming and got all the way back within five points midway through the fourth period when Callie Bourne hit a triple but Albury Wodonga responded with a bucket to Lytle and then three ball to Timeeka Coleman.

Even though Jones still hit two more three balls and Bourne another for Canberra, the Bandits had enough answers to secure the eight-point win that should see them end up with a home final.

Both teams now have just one games left in the regular season with the Bandits at home to the Central Coast Crusaders next Saturday while the Nationals are away to the Sydney Comets.

NBL1 EAST 2026 SEASON | FIRST NATIONS ROUND

ALBURY WODONGA BANDITS 89 (Lytle 31, Thompson 19, Coleman 16)

CANBERRA NATIONALS 81 (Jones 36, Bourne 24, Boutzos 10)