East Spotlight | Experienced Falcons overpower CoE

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The Centre of Excellence returned to NBL1 East action with the first 12 points on Anzac Day but the experience of the Newcastle Falcons ended up shining through as they overpowered them in the finish for the home 71-65 win.

The CoE won their first two games of the season against the Penrith Panthers and Bankstown Bruins but hadn’t played since March 29 ahead of taking on the Falcons on Anzac Day at Newcastle Basketball Stadium.

The Centre of Excellence wasted no time getting rolling with a 12-0 run to start the game and they were still up by 14 in the third term, and by six in the fourth.

However, the experience of Newcastle came to the fore down the stretch with Nicole Munger having another huge performance with a near triple-double with Meg Jefferson providing that crucial scoring punch too.

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Newcastle improves to a 4-1 record on the season as a result of the come from behind Anzac Day win at home with the Centre of Excellence now 2-1 after a first game in almost a month.

Meg Jefferson delivered 21 points, seven rebounds and four steals in the win for Newcastle while Nicole Munger only narrowly missed another triple-double with 19 points, 11 boards, nine assists and two steals.

Kate Kingham also had 14 points, six rebounds and six assists, Rose Bond 11 points and four boards, and Isabelle Burns six points and five rebounds.

Given the CoE led by double-figures for a lot of the game, there was still a lot to like despite the first loss of the season with Isabel Smith ending up with 23 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots.

Olivia Olechnowicz also had 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals, Zara Russell six points and six assists, Jemyma Manyok six points and six rebounds, and Reece Anticevic six points and three boards.

The Centre of Excellence were playing a first game since March 29 and started strongly with 17 points to eight in the first quarter including going on a 12-0 run to start the contest, and to by as much as 13.

That was on the back of holding Newcastle to shooting just 3/18 from the field.

The Falcons worked back into the contest in the second term with 19 points on 8/17 shooting but the CoE added another 20 points with Isabelle Smith having 10 points and nine rebounds already by half-time for her team to be leading 37-27 by the break.

The Falcons locked town the CoE in the third quarter, though, holding them to just the 11 points on 17 per cent shooting inside the arc. Newcastle scored 22 points themselves including going on a 12-0 run to be clinging to the 49-48 lead by three quarter-time.

That had the game on the line heading into the last quarter and it was Newcastle's experience that came to the fore and they ended up again coming back from six points down to go on a 14-0 run to secure the six-point victory to improve to 4-1 on the season.

The Centre of Excellence back up to play again on the road on Sunday against the Maitland Mustangs while the Falcons are away to the Sutherland Sharks next Saturday.

NBL1 EAST 2026 SEASON | ANZAC ROUND

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 71 (Jefferson 21, Munger 19, Kingham 14)

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE 65 (Smith 23, Olechnowicz 17, Russell 6, Manyok 6, Anticevic 6)