East Wrap | Men's Round 7

Featured image: @rexbergas_ | rex bergas

Malok Majak, Matt Mims, Mandrell Worthy, Quinn Slazinski, Will Mayfield, Jason Spurgin and Lachlan Bofinger were among those to deliver match-winning displays in Round 7 of the NBL1 East.

>> EAST SPOTLIGHT | COE MAKE IT FIVE STRAIGHT MEN'S WINS

>> EAST SPOTLIGHT | MAJAK STARS AGAIN IN INNER WEST WIN

SATURDAY

Hills Hornets (69) lost to Centre of Excellence (88)

The Centre of Excellence delivered a dominant first half performance on the way to the 88-69 road win over the Hills Hornets.

The CoE arrived at Hills Basketball Stadium hunting a fourth straight win while the Hornets were looking to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Centre of Excellence started strongly with 21 points to 12 before then taking control further with 32 to 14 in the second term on the way to the 53-26 half-time advantage.

The Hornets did manage to outscore the CoE in the second half 43 points to 35 but that only cut the final margin to 19 in the finish.

The CoE improves to 8-1 with the win with Jai Faale producing another 18 points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals.

Alex Dickeson added 15 points, 13 rebounds and four assists, Will Hamilton 13 points and five boards, Jongkuch Mach 12 points, five rebounds and two blocks, and Ajak Nyuon eight points, seven boards and two blocked shots.

The Hornets are now 3-6 with the fourth consecutive defeat with Meekness Payne finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Ned Carr added 11 points, five blocks and four rebounds, Shaun Stewart nine points, four assists, three boards and two steals, and Liam Moss 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders (84) lost to Inner West Bulls (91)

The Inner West Bulls held out the fast-finishing Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders with Malok Majak continuing his hot form with another 27 points and 10 rebounds in the 91-84 road victory.

The Spiders were back home at The Brickpit still hunting a first home win with Illawarra Hawks NBL25 championship hero Davo Hickey in the line-up as they welcomed a Bulls team trying to bounce back from a 21-point loss to the Illawarra Hawks.

Majak already had 15 points to half-time for the Bulls as they led by as much as 14 in the second quarter, 16 in the third and 17 in the fourth, but then the Spiders made an inspired run and were back within three late thanks to a four-point play from Nathaniel Chappell.

The Bulls were able to ice the win at the foul line from there, though, to improve to a 5-4 record while the Spiders are now 1-8 and having gone 1-2 since adding Hickey ahead of last weekend.

Malok Majak continued his outstanding form for Inner West by delivering another 27 points with 10 rebounds on 6/10 three-point shooting and playing all but 2:22 of the game.

Max Clark had a hot start with 11 points to half-time and 16 for the game while Kobe Shannon contributed 15 points and three steals, Cooper Wilks 15 points and four assists, and Jasper Rentoy seven points and three assists.

After having seven turnovers in each of his first two games for Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai last weekend, Hickey was under much greater control this time around with just the two of his team's 18 for the game.

He finished with 21 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals with Chappell top scoring with 25 points and six boards with 5/5 three-point shooting including that four-point play late that gave the Spiders a sniff.

Daniel Titus had 13 of his 14 points in the first half with four rebounds while Martez Brown finished with 12 points and 11 boards, and Raymond Takchi seven points, three assists and two rebounds.

Norths Bears (107) defeated Central Coast Crusaders (90)

Five Norths Bears players scored in double figures with Lachlan Bofinger leading the way with 27 points on just three missed shots in the 107-90 win over the Central Coast Crusaders.

The Bears were back home at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre having lost just once so far in 2026 with the Crusaders arriving attempting to arrest a five-game losing slide.

Norths made an emphatic start with 30 points to 19 in the first quarter but the Crusaders were up for the fight and cut the deficit to five by half-time and then scores were all level by three quarter-time.

That set up a big finish but it was all the Bears in the final 10 minutes with a 10-0 scoring run on the way to putting up 30 points to 13 to end up scoring the 17-point victory.

The win is a fourth straight for Norths as they improve to 10-1 with Lachlan Bofinger delivering 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists with 11/14 field goal shooting.

Fabijan Krslovic added 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks, Iggy Mitchell 14 points, seven boards and three assists, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk 14 points and four assists, and Robbie Moore 13 points two rebounds and two assists.

Central Coast are now 3-7 with six straight defeats with Haidyn Gunderson providing 24 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals with 4/8 from behind the arc.

Aaron Redhead added 19 points and eight rebounds, Jamal Shoaib 19 points, four boards, two assists and two steals, Luke Cassidy 10 points and nine assists, and Thomas Akamarmoi nine points and six assists.

Penrith Panthers (84) lost to Illawarra Hawks (94)

Matt Mims continued his hot form with another 26 points and six three-pointers to lead the Illawarra Hawks to the 94-84 road win against the Penrith Panthers.

The Hawks arrived at Minto Indoor Sports Centre having won their past five matches with the Panthers having just one win on the board so far in 2026.

It was a fast start away from home for Illawarra with 29 points to 18 in the first quarter and the Hawks from there went into the half-time break leading 56-44.

Penrith did well to stay in the contest from there but Illawarra did enough to secure the eventual 10-point victory to improve to an 8-1 record with six wins in-a-row.

Mims had another standout showing in the win for the Hawks with 26 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals with 6/11 three-point shooting.

Mohamed Kone added 17 points, six assists, six steals and four rebounds, Todd Blanchfield 15 points, 13 boards and four assists, Mason Peatling 13 points and four rebounds, and Ethan Moss six points, five boards and four assists.

Penrith are now 1-7 on the season with Angus Ole top scoring with 16 points with five rebounds and two assists with Simon Krpez adding 15 points, 13 boards, three assists and two steals, and Ben Kearins 15 points and six assists.

Jett Hickson also had 14 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and three blocks, and Jesse Weinstein 14 points, four assists and three boards.

Newcastle Falcons (81) defeated Maitland Mustangs (73)

The Newcastle Falcons produced a massive third quarter to put them on the way to the 81-73 home win against the Maitland Mustangs with Mandrell Worthy delivering 24 points.

The Mustangs had won their past two games when they arrived at Newcastle Basketball Stadium with the Falcons having lost their last two.

It was Maitland who made the better of the start with 26 points to 19 in the first quarter but Newcastle stayed in touch and it was just a 42-38 lead for the Mustangs by half-time.

Newcastle then took control in the third quarter with 30 points to 16 and that set the Falcons on the path to the eventual eight-point victory as they improved to a 2-7 record.

Worthy finished with 24 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals while Ryan Beisty added 15 points, 12 boards, five assists and two blocks with 3/6 from behind the three-point arc.

Elias Cato also had 15 points and nine rebound, Jaidyn Goodwin nine points, three assists and two steals, and Matur Maluach six points, five rebounds and two steals.

The Mustangs are now 4-5 following the defeat with Will Cranston-Lown producing 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals.

Billy Parsons added 15 points and 15 rebounds, Daniel Millburn 13 points and three boards, and Isaac Testoni seven points on 3/5 shooting.

Sydney Comets (61) lost to Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (68)

On a tough offensive night for both teams it was Quinn Slazinski the difference with 23 points and four three-pointers as the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles beat the Sydney Comets 68-61.

 

The Sea Eagles arrived at Comets Stadium fresh off their second loss of the season while the Comets were at home and looking to make it back-to-back wins.

Manly Warringah got out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter before still leading 23-17 by quarter-time before the two teams only combined for 16 points in the second frame.

That saw the Sea Eagles still leading 30-26 by half-time and then with 23 points to 18 in the fourth quarter they were able to complete the deal on the hard fought seven-point victory.

The win improves Manly Warringah to an 8-2 record with Quinn Slazinski delivering another 23 points and four rebounds with 4/8 three-point shooting.

Eromon Uadiale added 13 points and 15 rebounds, Oliver Hammond 11 points, four boards and three assists, Stefan Valkovic eight points and five rebounds, and Isaiah Lee eight points, five boards, four assists and four steals.

Sydney are now 5-5 following the loss with Akil Douglas finishing with 22 points and eight rebounds with Goc Malual contributing 16 points and six boards, and Ahmed Barba-Bey 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Canberra Gunners (96) defeated Bankstown Bruins (92)

The defending champion Canberra Gunners came from behind to stay undefeated in their title defence with the 96-92 win against the Bankstown Bruins.

The reigning champions were back in Tuggeranong having won their first seven matches in 2026 ahead of hosting a Bankstown team trying to snap a three-game losing slide.

It was the Bruins on top by two at quarter-time before Canberra put up 19 points to 13 in the second frame to hold the narrow 42-38 half-time edge.

Bankstown worked back on top with 29 points to 23 in the third period and the Bruins managed to open up a six-point advantage, but Canberra responded with 31 points to 25 in the final term to stay undefeated.

The Gunners won by four to improve to 8-0 on the season and to win 13 straight in the NBL1 East dating back to last year with Will Mayfield delivering 19 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals.

Glenn Morison added 16 points, six rebounds and six assists, DJ Hoskins 16 points with 4/8 three-point shooting, Cameron Pender 14 points and seven rebounds, and Will Rice seven points and two steals.

Bankstown have now lost four straight at 4-6 with Zeke Evans producing 18 points and 10 rebounds, Ted Wolfe 15 points, six boards and five assists, Anthony Mundine III 15 points and six assists with 5/9 three-point shooting, Alex Higgins-Titsha 15 points and 11 boards, and Deonte Williams 13 points and four assists.

Albury Wodonga Bandits (94) lost to Sutherland Sharks (111)

On the back of 26 points and nine rebounds from Jason Spurgin, the Sutherland Sharks were too good on the road to the Albury Wodonga Bandits with the 111-94 victory.

The Sharks arrived at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre coming off a win against the Bankstown Bruins with the Bandits still hunting a first win of 2026.

Sutherland made the flying start away from home with 31 points to 17 in the first quarter before then opening up a 20-point advantage before still leading 60-44 at half-time.

It was another 30 points to 26 in the third term for the Sharks as their lead got out to 25 points and they went on to score the 17-point victory from there to improve to a 3-4 record.

Jason Spurgin had a big night for Sutherland with 26 points, nine rebounds and two assists with Bailey MacArthur adding 18 points, three boards, two assists and two steals.

Luke Jamieson also had 11 points and eight rebounds, Lochlan Hutchison 11 points, six assists and five steals, Harry Raynor 10 points and two assists, Adrian Cabrera nine points, five rebounds and two steals, and Ryan Abbott nine points and two boards.

Albury Wodonga have now lost all nine matches of 2026 with Lochlan Cummings producing 27 points, nine assists and three rebounds on 5/14 shooting from behind the arc.

Kevion Blaylock added 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks, Christian Cook 20 points and three boards, and Mateo Hanley nine points and two rebounds.

SUNDAY

Penrith Panthers (72) lost to Centre of Excellence (91)

Jai Faale and Alex Dickeson combined for 35 points as the Centre of Excellence continued their winning ways on Sunday with the 91-72 win despite 28 points and seven triples for the Penrith Panthers from Brodie Schwarzer.

Both teams arrived at Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium having played on Saturday with the Panthers losing by just 10 points to the on-fire Illawarra Hawks while the CoE started their road double beating the Hills Hornets by 19.

Penrith started well with five threes in the first quarter to be leading by six but the longer the game went the CoE worked their way on top to be leading by five at half-time, by 13 at three quarter-time and to end up securing the 19-point victory.

The win is a fifth in-a-row for the Centre of Excellence as they improve to a 9-1 record with the major difference in the game being their 32 free-throw attempts to 14, and 16 offensive rebounds to five.

Once again the strength in the win for the Centre of Excellence was their depth of contributors with Jai Faale top scoring with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists.

Alex Dickeson also had another 17 points, six rebounds and four assists, Antonio Browne 13 points and five assists, Curtis Evic nine points and six rebounds, Luke Paul nine points, three boards and three assists, and Isaac Riddle eight points and six rebounds.

Brodie Schwarzer produced an impressive performance for Penrith despite the loss with 28 points, two assists and two steals with 7/9 three-point shooting.

Simun Krpez also had 12 points, two rebounds and two steals, Jack Ticic nine points and five boards, Angue Ole nine points, six rebounds and three assists, and Jett Hickson nine points, four boards and four assists.