East Spotlight | Cassidy the hero in Maker's Crusaders debut

Featured image: @MB Photomedia Sports & Events

Matur Maker made an immediate impact in his NBL1 East debut and he was part of a memorable come from behind win with Luke Cassidy the Central Coast Crusaders hero as they beat the Sydney Comets 85-83.

The Crusaders had won two of their first three games of the NBL1 East season before adding in Maker as of Sunday as they played host to the Comets at Guzman y Gomez Stadium.

Sydney arrived having won the first two games of their season as well and then the Comets built a 16-point lead during the second quarter.

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The Crusaders then put up 20 points to 10 in the third quarter but still it was a thrilling finish and in the end it was Cassidy scoring Central Coast's last six points including two free throws right before the buzzer when he was fouled on the drive that delivered the two-point victory.

Matur Maker made an immediate impact with the Crusaders as he plays in Australia for the first time since the 2024 NBL1 North season with the Rockhampton Rockets, and prior to that with the Sydney Kings in NBL22.

He has played in New Zealand and Saudi Arabia since then with the former NBA big man producing 23 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes first up for Central Coast.

On top of being the last minute hero with his team's last six points, Cassidy finished with 17 points and five assists for the Crusaders with Aaron Redhead adding 18 points and seven rebounds, and Jamal Shoaib 11 points, six boards, three assists and two steals.

The Crusaders also had to do it without Garric Young throughout the second half with him ruled out of the rest of the game after a head knock having already had seven points, three rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes.

Akil Douglas top-scored for the Comets with 21 points with four rebounds and two assists but only two of those points came after half-time when he didn't attempt a three-point shot after being 3/6 at the half.

Ahmed Barba-Bey also had 20 points, four rebounds and two assists with 4/8 three-point shooting, Obi Kyei 17 points, seven boards and four steals, Goc Malual nine points, six rebounds and two steals, and Chol Adup eight points and six boards.

Both teams came out ready to put a show on Sunday afternoon and combined for 59 points in the first quarter with the Comets leading 33-26 by the end of one on the back of going on an 11-0 scoring run.

The scoring might have dried up a little in the second period but the tension only rose after the Comets blew out to a 16-point advantage only for Central Coast to respond with Matur Maker showing the way in his first appearance with 14 points in the opening half.

Sydney were still leading by half-time 52-43 largely thanks to 19 points with 3/6 three-point shooting from Akil Douglas.

The Comets were back up 12 early in the third quarter but the Crusaders responded with 11 straight points and then with 20 points to 10 in the quarter overall including nine more from Maker, it was the home team leading 63-62 by three quarter-time.

It always felt like a game that was going to go down to the death and that's exactly what happened with Luke Cassidy tying scores up with just over a minute to play for the Crusaders.

Douglas then scored his only points of the second half in response with 45 seconds on the clock to give the Comets the 83-81 lead.

They wouldn’t score again and up the other end, Cassidy made two free throws to tie scores up before the Crusaders got the stop on the Comets with 3.5 seconds left on the clock.

The ball was in Cassidy's hands and he was fouled on the drive and was sent to the line with the chance to play the hero for Central Coast.

He delivered by knocking down both at the stripe to score his team's last six points as they secured the memorable two-point victory.

The Crusaders are back on the road on Saturday against the Illawarra Hawks while the Comets will play host to the Penrith Panthers on the same evening.

NBL1 EAST 2026 SEASON | ROUND 2

CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 85 (Maker 23, Redhead 18, Cassidy 17)

SYDNEY COMETS 83 (Douglas 21, Barba-Bey 20, Kyei 17)