East Wrap | Men's First Nations Round

Featured image: Rob Sheeley/@robshots

Jason Spurgin had 39 points and 16 rebounds over two Sutherland Sharks wins, Matt Mims had 48 points and 14 assists over two Illawarra Hawks victories after a fascinating First Nations Round in the NBL1 East.

>> EAST SPOTLIGHT | SPURGIN SHINES AS SHARKS KEEP WINNING

>> EAST SPOTLIGHT | BEARS LOCK DOWN GUNNERS IN Q4

>> EAST WRAP | MEN'S ROUND 12

>> ON THE PATH TO THE NATIONAL FINALS

SATURDAY

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (63) lost to Sutherland Sharks (88)

The Sutherland Sharks continued to build their impressive momentum with another statement win beating the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 88-63.

The Sea Eagles were still sitting third coming into the match up at Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre but the Sharks arrived having won four straight and were looking to keep that form going.

It was Sutherland already leading 27-22 by the end of the first quarter before another 27 points to 13 in the second frame to see them go into half-time on top 54-35.

The Sharks then went on with the job from there to complete the 25-point road win to make it five on the trot to improve to an 11-6 record to be the hottest team in the league heading towards finals.

It was a strong all-round showing from Sutherland with Tyler Robertson top scoring with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists with Sydney Kings NBL teammate Jason Spurgin adding 13 points, nine boards, four assists and two steals.

Lochlan Hutchison added 14 points, three rebounds and three assists, Luke Jamieson 11 points and six boards, Ryan Abbott nine points and two rebounds, and Bailey MacArthur eight points, two boards and two assists.

Manly Warringah are now 13-5 having lost two of their past three with Quinn Slazinski top scoring once more with 18 points, three rebounds and two assists with 11/11 free-throw shooting.

Stefan Valkovic added 10 points and four rebounds, Jack Giddens 10 points, five rebounds and two steals, and Isaiah Lee nine points, six boards, four assists and three steals.

Hills Hornets (82) defeated Maitland Mustangs (72)

Meekness Payne had 26 points and 11 rebounds and the Hills Hornets made it back-to-back wins ending the winning run of the Maitland Mustangs in the process with the 82-72 victory.

The Hornets were back home at Hills Basketball Stadium fresh off beating the Illawarra Hawks in their best performance of the season while the Mustangs had won four straight but were once again without Reyne Smith who was on Australian Boomes duties in Perth.

While it was a close game all evening the Hornets did lead virtually the whole way including by a point at quarter-time, by four at half-time and at seven at three quarter-time before turning that into the 10-point victory.

The win is two in-a-row for Hills who improve to a 7-10 record with Payne delivering 26 points and 11 rebounds with 5/8 three-point shooting.

Saxon Orsini also had 21 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals also going 5/8 from downtown with Ned Carr adding 11 points, six rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals.

Josh Pain added eight points and three rebounds, and Gum Majak five points, six boards and two assists.

The Mustangs are now 10-7 following the loss with Will Cranston-Lown producing 20 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals with Myles Cherry contributing 20 points, 16 boards and three assists.

Daniel Millburn also had 12 points and two assists, and Billy Parsons 11 points, 10 rebounds and two steals.

Inner West Bulls (79) lost to Newcastle Falcons (92)

The Newcastle Falcons continued their hot form to close the season making it five straight wins beating the Inner West Bulls 92-79 with Matur Maluach hitting four three-pointers off the bench.

The Bulls were back home at Sydney Uni Sports and Aquatics Centre having slipped outside of the top eight while the Falcons were just about out of the playoff hunt barring a miracle despite having won their past four.

The Falcons kept that roll going from the outset with 18 points to 11 in the first quarter away from home before adding 26 to 24 in the second to lead by as much as 24 and going into half-time on top 44-35.

Newcastle were back out by 18 throughout the second half and ended up winning by 13 to make it five consecutive wins to improve to a 7-10 record to stay alive if they can keep winning and other results fall their way.

Matur Maluach top scored off the bench for the Falcons with 17 points and three rebounds with 4/7 shooting from behind the three-point line.

Elias Cato also had 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, Mandrell Worthy 13 points, four boards, four steals and two assists, Trace Evans 11 points and seven rebounds, and Ryan Beisty 11 points, 15 boards, two assists, two steals and two blocks.

The Bulls are now 8-9 having lost four of the past six to remain outside the top eight with Kobe Shannon putting up 25 points with 5/8 three-point shooting.

Cooper Wilks added 15 points on 6/9 shooting with Henry Makeny contributing 15 points, five rebounds and two assists, Malok Majak nine points and nine boards, and Josh Morgan seven points and eight rebounds.

Central Coast Crusaders (89) lost to Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders (99)

Martez Brown, Daniel Titus and Jackson Smyth all hit at least 20 points to lead the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Spiders to the 99-89 win over the Central Coast Crusaders.

The Crusaders were still clinging to eighth position coming into the match up at Guzman y Gomez Stadium with the Spiders arriving fresh off beating the Albury Wodonga Bandits despite no longer having Davo Hickey in the line-up.

Central Coast could have gone a long way to secure a playoff spot with the win but the Spiders started the better with 30 points to 23 in the first quarter and then they were still leading 51-43 by half-time.

The Crusaders turned things around in the third quarter with 29 points to 18 to open up a five-point lead early in the fourth term only for Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai to go on a 10-0 run and to end up securing the 10-point victory.

It's back-to-back wins now for the Spiders to be 5-12 with Martez Brown finishing with 21 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks with 10/19 field goal shooting.

Jackson Smyth also had 20 points and two rebounds, Daniel Titus 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks, and Alex Sidhu 11 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Central Coast have now lost two straight to be 9-9 with Garric Young producing another 25 points and 14 rebounds with Matur Maker adding 21 points and 24 boards, and Thomas Akamarmoi 15 points, four assists, four steals and three rebounds.

Haidyn Gunderson also had eight points and four rebounds, Dylan Tea eight points, five boards and two blocks, and Luke Cassidy seven points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Illawarra Hawks (93) defeated Albury Wodonga Bandits (73)

The Illawarra Hawks consolidated their hold on a top two spot hitting back from last week's loss to beat the Albury Wodonga Bandits 93-73 with Matt Mims and Todd Blanchfield combining for 44 points.

The Hawks were back home in Wollongong coming off that defeat to the Hills Hornets while the Bandits had again lost their past two but have won two of their last five after starting the season 0-10.

Illawarra started strongly with 23 points to 16 in the first quarter before 31 to 16 in the second to head into half-time with the 54-32 advantage.

The Hawks maintained that advantage throughout the second half on the way to the 20-point win to improve to a 13-3 record in second place with Mims top scoring with 25 points and seven assists.

Blanchfield added 19 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals, Mohamed Kone 20 points, six boards, three steals and two assists, and Mason Peatling 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists.

The Bandits have now lost three in-a-row to be 2-15 with Kevion Blaylock finishing with 20 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Lochlan Cummings also had 12 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals, Sam Webb nine points and three boards, and Christian Cook eight points, six assists and three rebounds.

Bankstown Bruins (104) defeated Penrith Panthers (93)

Alex Higgins-Titsha and Deonte Williams combined for 46 points, 19 rebounds and 12 assists for the Bankstown Bruins to get back to winning beating the Penrith Panthers 104-93 overtime.

The Bruins had lost eight of the past 10 games coming into the match up at Bankstown Basketball Stadium against a Panthers team having lost nine in-a-row themselves.

The Bruins started strongly with 20 points to 12 in the opening term and were still leading 40-37 by half-time before the Panthers got on a roll with 28 to 17 in the third period.

Penrith turned that into a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter before Bankstown hit back with nine straight points and eventually it was an offensive rebound and put back from Alex Higgins-Titsha to levelled scores up once more to get the game to overtime.

And once the game got to extra time, Bankstown took over for good with 16 points to five on the way to winning by those 11 points to improve to a 7-10 record.

Higgins-Titsha finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two assists with Deonte Williams adding 22 points, 10 assists, seven boards and three steals.

Anthony Mundine III added 14 points and three rebounds, Ted Wolfe 11 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals, and Bismark Nsiah 10 points, five boards, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Penrith are now 1-15 with 10 straight defeats with Simun Krpez delivering 26 points, six rebounds and two blocks with Brodie Schwarzer adding 14 points, Jett Hickson 12 points and four steals, Ben Kearins 10 points and four assists, and Angus Ole 10 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists.

Canberra Gunners (70) lost to Norths Bears (81)

The Canberra Gunners were right on track to avoid a fifth straight loss as reigning champs until a five-point fourth quarter with the Norths Bears retaining top spot winning 81-70 having welcomed in Hunter Goodrick.

The Bears arrived at Southern Cross Stadium still in top spot despite last week's loss to the Bankstown Bruins with the Gunners back home having lost their past four to just be clinging to a place inside the top eight.

The Gunners then led for the large majority of the opening three quarters including by six points at quarter-time, by five at half-time and four at three quarter-time, but from there it was all the Bears.

Norths had 20 points to five in the fourth quarter with the Gunners only shooting 2/18 in the final 10 minutes for the Bears to win by 11 to stay in top spot at 14-3 while Canberra are now 10-8 with the five consecutive defeats.

Norths retained top spot with the win Melbourne United NBL big man Fabijan Krslovic starring with 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists with 7/7 free-throw shooting.

Iggy Mitchell added 16 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals with 3/5 three-point shooting with Bailey Hanson contributing 14 points and three boards, and Lachlan Bofinger 13 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

Hunter Goodrick was also into the line-up for the first time this season on the back of winning an NBL championship with the Sydney Kings. He played 10 points and 13 rebounds in 22 minutes.

Canberra are now in real jeopardy of missing the finals as reigning champs despite DJ Hoskins top scoring with 25 points with two assists.

Will Mayfield added 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, James Toohey seven points, Will Rice seven points and three boards, and Ed Bigg-Wither six points and four rebounds.

SUNDAY

Penrith Panthers (98) defeated Albury Wodonga Bandits (91)

The Penrith Panthers made it a second win for the season beating the Albury Wodonga Bandits 98-91.

The Panthers were back home at Minto Indoor Sports Centre having lost 10 in-a-row including on Saturday to the Bankstown Bruins while the Bandits arrived having lost their past three and the previous night to the Illawarra Hawks.

Penrith got off to a flying start to lead by 15 points in the first quarter on the back of putting 40 points on the board having not scored more than 84 points in a game so far in 2026.

The Panthers turned that into a 63-53 lead by half-time and then were back out to a 19-point edge in the second half before ending up winning by seven to snap the 10-game losing streak to improve to a 2-14 record.

Jett Hickson finished with 21 points and six assists for Penrith with Angus Ole adding 21 points and nine boards, Simun Krpez 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, Jonah Pares 15 points, five boards and five assists, and Jack Ticic 14 points and five rebounds.

The Bandits are now 2-16 having lost twice again this weekend with Kevion Blaylock putting up 36 points with eight rebounds on 16/26 field goal shooting.

Christian Cook added 22 points, eight assists and four rebounds, and Sam Webb nine points, five boards, three steals and two assists.

Inner West Bulls 69() lost to Sutherland Sharks (97)

With Sydney Kings NBL pair Jason Spurgin and Tyler Robertson combining for another 42 points, the Sutherland Sharks made it six straight wins to continue to surge beating the Inner West Bulls 97-69.

The Sharks arrived at Concord Recreational Centre having won their past five matches including on Saturday against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles while the Bulls were at home and trying to arrest a two-game sliding including on Saturday to the Newcastle Falcons.

Sutherland continue to make a charge towards the top four as well while Inner West are trying to stay in top eight contention, but the Sharks got on top early and never looked back.

The Sharks were already leading by 15 points in the first quarter before that got out to 23 in the second period, 30 in the third and 33 in the fourth.

Sutherland went on to win by 28 and make it six wins on the trot to improve to an 11-6 record with the Bulls now slipping to 8-10 with losing the past three matches.

Spurgin had all 26 of his points to three quarter-time and only played 25 minutes while also having seven rebounds with 11/15 field goal shooting.

Harrison Raynor added 16 points, four rebounds and four assists with 3/6 three-point shooting, Tyler Robertson 16 points, six assists and five boards, Ryan Abbott nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks, and Lochlan Hutchison seven points, seven assists, five boards and four steals.

Inner West continued to slide out of the playoff hunt with Jasper Rentoy top scoring with 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals with Kobe Shannon adding 13 points and five boards, Acuel Deng nine points and two rebounds, and Louis Bleechmore nine points and three steals.

Illawarra Hawks (102) defeated Sydney Comets (79)

The Illawarra Hawks made it a double win weekend with the 102-79 home win over the Sydney Comets with Matt Mims knocking down six three-pointers for another 23 points and seven assists.

The Hawks were back home at The Snakepit fresh off Saturday night's win over the Albury Wodonga Bandits ahead of hosting the Comets who were making their lone appearance of the weekend having beaten the Inner West Bulls last week.

Illawarra started strongly with 27 points to 16 before another 33 to 19 in the second frame on the way to leading 60-35 by half-time.

The Hawks retained control through the second half on the way to the 23-point victory to make it a double win weekend to steady themselves in second position with a 14-3 record.

Mims finished with 23 points, seven assists and five rebounds for Illawarra with 6/8 three-point shooting while Mason Peatling contributed 20 points, 13 boards and three steals.

Mohamed Kone also had 14 points, 10 assists and four rebounds, Todd Blanchfield 14 points, 11 boards and three assists, and Jonah Flinn 13 points, three rebounds and two steals.

Sydney are now 7-10 having lost five of the past six with Bailey Chambers producing 21 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals with 5/6 three-point shooting.

Obi Kyei also had 14 points, 11 rebound, four steals and three assists, Ahmed Barba-Bey 131 points, nine boards and four assists, and Viliami Foketi 10 points and three rebounds.