East Spotlight | CoE hold out Sharks to open last weekend

The Centre of Excellence saw their lead vanish early in the fourth quarter but they responded well and held on in their second last game of NBL1 East season to beat the Sutherland Sharks 68-67 with Isabel Smith having 20 points and five assists.

It was the last road game of the regular season for the CoE when they took on the Sharks at Sutherland Basketball Stadium with both teams trying to break out of losing slides.

It was the Centre of Excellence leading most of the way but then a blistering start to the fourth quarter from Sutherland saw scores level and set up a big finish.

The CoE responded and then managed to hold on for the one-point victory despite some wobbles at the foul line in the dying seconds.

>> PINK ROUND ANOTHER SPECIAL MOMENT FOR DONNELLYS

>> EAST WRAP | WOMEN'S ROUND 10

The win improves the Centre of Excellence to a 14-6 record to snap their six-game losing slide with the Sharks now 6-7 on the back of three successive defeats.

It's the second last game of the regular season now for the Centre of Excellence with Isabel Smith top scoring with 20 points, five assists, three steals and two rebounds.

Olivia Olechnowcz also delivered 13 points, four rebounds and two steals, Aspen Crase 12 points and two boards, Jasmine Jones seven points, four rebounds and four assists, and Lily Mapp five points, nine boards, three assists and two blocked shots.

The Sharks battled valiantly without Lauren Nicholson with Maddy Norris delivering another 28 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals while playing all but 1:04 of the game.

Abi Curtin also had 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Emily Garland nine points, three boards and two blocks, and Ella Dent eight points, six rebounds and four assists.

Both teams were beginning their double header weekends with the Sharks needing a win to consolidate a top eight spot while the CoE were playing their last two games of the regular season.

The Centre of Excellence started well opening up a 10-point lead in the first quarter and then leading 20-14 by the end of the first quarter.

Things tightened up in the second frame with Sutherland having 23 points to the 20 from the CoE to cut the lead of the visitors to 40-37 by half-time.

The Centre of Excellence were shooting 41 per cent from the field to 34, but the Sharks got up 14 free-throw attempts to seven and Maddy Norris was leading the charge with 18 points while Isabel Smith had 18 for the CoE.

Both teams struggled to score in the third quarter with the Centre of Excellence managing 16 points on 6/18 shooting while Sutherland had just 12 on 5/11 from the field while also having another six turnovers to be up to 14 in three quarter.

That saw the CoE leading 56-49 by three quarter-time but the Sharks fired back and had scores level early in the fourth term thanks to a three-pointer from Emily Garland.

That completed a rapid fire 8-1 run in the opening two minutes from the Sharks but the CoE did responded with the next six points capped off by a bucket to Olivia Olechnowicz following a Lily Mapp offensive rebound.

The Centre of Excellence from there held on in a frantic finish to the one-point victory even with Jasmine Jones missing four free throws in the last 10 seconds.

The Sharks back up on Sunday on the road to the Hills Hornets while the Centre of Excellence play their last game of the regular season at home to the Inner West Bulls at the same time.

NBL1 EAST 2026 SEASON | ROUND 11

SUTHERLAND SHARKS 67 (Norris 28, Curtin 14, Garland 9)

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE 68 (Smith 20, Olechnowicz 13, Crase 12)