East Spotlight | Bears beat Sea Eagles to go to 18-0

Featured image: Aaron Camua | @aaron.camua

It was the most anticipated match of the NBL1 East season and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles were on track to hand the Norths Bears a first loss of 2026 until the home team dominated the fourth quarter to prevail 77-66.

It was a rare Friday night match up in the NBL1 East and it was fitting the top two teams went at it for the first time in 2026 at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre.

The Cave played host to the massive contest which could very well decide the regular season championship in a rematch of the 2023 Grand Final.

It was the defending champions on top for a lot of the evening too with the Sea Eagles leading by a point at quarter-time, by seven at half-time and still by a point at three quarter-time.

But Norths then took control in the last 10 minutes holding Manly Warringah to just five points on 1/18 shooting which was a three-pointer from Alex Delaney to secure the eventual 11-point win.

The result improves the Bears to the perfect 18-0 record with the Sea Eagles now slipping to 17-2 but remaining clear in second position all the same.

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The Bears got the win to lock away top spot and stay undefeated with the difference coming at the foul line where they went 19/23 to the 9/11 from the Sea Eagles while Manly Warringah had 12 turnovers to just five from Norths.

The Bears improve to an 18-0 record with the win MVP favourite Jaz Shelley producing 27 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Caitlyn Martin was a standout defensively once more while finishing with 14 points and three rebounds with Talya Brugler adding 18 points, eight boards, four assists and two blocks, and Emma Donnell 10 points and five rebounds.

It's a second loss of the season for the defending champions with Bree Delaney top scoring with 12 points on 4/6 shooting from the field along with 3/4 from the foul line in just 17 minutes.

Sari Mowbray added 11 points, 15 rebounds and two assists, Alex Delaney 11 points and six boards, Jayda Jansen 11 points two rebounds and two assists, Kim Dickinson seven points, six boards and there assists, and Josie Radan eight points and six rebounds.

Top spot went on the line between the local rivals in the Friday night match up and it was Manly Warringah with the better of the start to lead by 10 early before still clinging to the 17-16 advantage by quarter-time.

The Sea Eagles then added another 24 points to 18 in the second term on the way to leading 41-34 by half-time with Bree Delaney having 10 points and Jaz Shelley 10 for the Bears.

Manly Warringah were shooting 46 per cent from the field to the 33 from Norths who made just 1/11 from three-point territory but the home team were getting up more shot attempts on the back of nine offensive rebounds to six, and forcing the Sea Eagles into eight turnovers.

The Bears were able to work their way on top in the third quarter and ended up outscoring the Sea Eagles 26 points to 20 with Shelley scoring eight of those points while Talya Brugler was up 14 as well by three quarter-time.

Norths shot 8/15 for the quarter and 8/8 at the foul line and despite Sari Mowbray having eight points and two rebounds in the quarter, the lead for Manly Warringah was back to just 61-60.

It was then all the Bears in the final period and while they didn’t exactly light it up themselves offensively with 17 points on 5/16 shooting, the Sea Eagles went completely ice cold.

The reigning champs managed only five points on 1/18 shooting from the floor and going 2/2 at the free-throw with the Bears overpowering them for the 11-point victory.

The Bears back up on the road on Saturday against the Inner West Bulls while the Sea Eagles now finish their regular season also against the Bulls on the road next Saturday.

NBL1 EAST 2026 SEASON | FIRST NATIONS ROUND

NORTHS BEARS 77 (Shelley 27, Brugler 18, Martin 14)

MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 66 (B Delaney 12, Mowbray 11, A Delaney 11, Jansen 11)