East Spotlight | Nicholson and Sharks just stay alive

Featured image: Rob Sheeley/@robshots

The Sutherland Sharks shook off scoring just seven points in the third quarter to beat the Penrith Panthers 74-60 with Lauren Nicholson's 24 points to remain some sort of outside shot of reaching the NBL1 East finals should they hand the Norths Bears a first defeat.

The Sharks came into the last round needing to win both their games and then needing a whole lot else to fall their way to be any chance of breaking into the top eight, but they started strongly to be 25 points up at half-time over the Panthers at Sutherland Basketball Stadium.

Then despite a seven-point third quarter, Sutherland still secured the 14-point victory to improve to a 9-10 record with the three straight wins.

That means the Sharks now need to beat the undefeated Norths Bears on Saturday and hope that the teams above them lose if they are to replace one of them inside the top eight and take part in finals after missing also in 2025.

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The Sharks finished the game shooting 36 per cent from the field to just 27 from the Panthers with Sutherland collecting 17 offensive rebounds to 12 to get the first of two wins needed in the last round to be any chance of sneaking into the top eight.

Lauren Nicholson had 18 points to half-time for the Sharks and finished with 24 to go with six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Maddy Norris also had 18 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists with Courtney West contributing 10 points, five boards and three steals, and Ella Dent 10 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

The Panthers now have one last chance to avoid ending the season on a six-game losing run with Sofia Hunt finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Chloe Williams also had 14 points, eight boards and two assists with 4/9 shooting from the outside with Tatiana Beaumont adding 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists, and Chanel Bastin six points, four boards and three assists.

Sutherland were back home for a rare Friday night game and knew they needed to win twice this weekend and for a lot else to fall their way to sneak into the top eight, and they had opened up a seven-point lead already by the end of the first quarter.

The Sharks then totally dominated the second quarter with 27 point going their way while holding Penrith to just the nine and by half-time they were on top 49-24.

Sutherland went into half-time shooting 46 per cent from the field to the 24 from Penrith with Lauren Nicholson up to 18 points and Maddy Norris 10.

The Panthers breathed some life back into the contest in the third quarter outscoring the Sharks 23 points to seven on the back of shooting 8/15 themselves including 4/6 from the outside and holding Sutherland to making just 1/16.

The lead for the Sharks was back to just 11 points by three quarter-time as a result but they were able to push back out to a 21-point lead and then score the 14-point win to keep their slim finals hopes just alive.

The Sharks are suddenly not totally out of finals contention but the only way to make it is to hand the Norths Bears their first loss of 2026 on Saturday in the last game for both of the regular season.

The Panthers will finish their season still on the road to the Illawarra Hawks on Sunday.

NBL1 EAST 2026 SEASON | ROUND 15

SUTHERLAND SHARKS 74 (Nicholson 24, Norris 18, West 10, Dent 10)

PENRITH PANTHERS 60 (Hunt 19, Williams 14, Beaumont 14)