East Wrap | Men's Round 12

Featured image: James O'Donohue | @jamesodphotography

It was a remarkable Saturday of upsets in the NBL1 East with the Hills Hornets knocking off the Illawarra Hawks, Newcastle Falcons beating the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, and Bankstown Bruins knocking off the Norths Bears, and that was just three of the Round 12 match ups.

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>> ON THE PATH TO THE NATIONAL FINALS

SATURDAY

Hills Hornets (105) defeated Illawarra Hawks (98)

Even a combined 65 points for the Illawarra Hawks from Todd Blanchfield and Mason Peatling wasn’t enough as the Hills Hornets produced their best performance of the season to win 105-98.

The Hornets are all but out of the finals hunt already with just the five wins coming into hosting the second placed Hawks at Hills Basketball Stadium who bounced back last Sunday beating the Bankstown Bruins after a loss to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

It was Hills leading narrowly by two points at quarter-time before they went into half-time leading 49-45 but then Illawarra went on a 9-0 scoring run in the third quarter and had 30 to 24 overall to be up 75-72 by three quarter-time.

The Hornets were on a mission, though, and went on another 8-0 run in the fourth term and ended up outscoring the Hawks 32 points to 23 on the way to the huge upset seven-point victory.

Hills are now 6-10 on the season as a result with Saxon Orsini delivering 22 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals while Meekness Payne added 21 points and seven rebounds.

Josh Pain also had 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists, Pafe Momoisea 13 points, four assists, three boards and two steals, Jacob Foy 11 points, four assists, three boards and two steals, and Gum Majak 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Illawarra slips to 12-3 having lost two of their past three games with Todd Blanchfield still putting up 41 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals with 4/13 three-point shooting and 11/11 free-throw shooting despite the loss.

Mason Peatling also had 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists, Ethan Moss 14 points, six boards and four assists, Matt Mims 10 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals, and Mohamed Kone seven points, six boards, six assists and five steals.

Bankstown Bruins (89) defeated Norths Bears (88)

On a day of the top teams all having Saturdays to forget, the Norths Bears missed a chance to go a long way to securing top spot when the Bankstown Bruins shocked them with the 89-88 win.

The Bears had a chance to go further clear in top spot especially when the other results of Saturday unfolded as they arrived at Bankstown Basketball Stadium to take on a Bruins team having lost seven of their past eight.

It's going to take something remarkable for Bankstown to stay in the playoff hunt but the best they can do is win all their games from here but that looked decidedly unlikely with the Bears putting up 26 points to 11 in the first quarter.

That lead blew out to 21 points in the second term too for the league leading Bears and by half-time they were still on top 52-38.

That lead was back out to 16 to start the second half but then Bankstown made their move with 33 points to 20 in the third quarter.

Jesse Edwards landed a three ball to start the fourth period too to put them in front in a stunning turnaround but even from there the lead continued exchange hands the rest of the way.

Eventually the game's biggest shot came after Deonte Williams stole the ball from Iggy Mitchell, found Ted Wolfe who knocked down the shot with just over a minute to play to put Bankstown up three.

Mitchell did score on a putback with jut under a minute left to make it a one-point game but that would be the last score of the game including Bismark Nsiah missing two free throws for the Bruins and Lachlan Bofinger missing the attempted winner for the Bears.

Bankstown improves to 6-9 with the victory with Nsiah finishing with 16 points and seven rebounds on 5/5 5 shooting with 6/8 at the foul line.

Wolfe added 16 points, four assists, two rebounds and two blocks, Williams 15 points, six boards, six assists, three steals and two blocks, Edwards 14 points and two assists, and Zeke Evans 10 points and six rebounds.

The Bears will stay in top spot despite now being 13-3 with Bofinger still having 26 points and 13 rebounds with Fabijan Krslovic providing 17 points, 10 boards, three assists and two blocks, and Iggy Mitchell 12 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Newcastle Falcons (92) defeated Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (71)

The Newcastle Falcons started on fire with 31 points to 18 in the first quarter on the way to the 92-71 win over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in what was one of the more significant upsets of the season.

The Sea Eagles arrived at Newcastle Basketball Stadium having won four straight including knocking off the Illawarra Hawks last Saturday night while Newcastle had won their past two, but still just four games for the season.

It was a flying start from the Falcons with 31 points to 18 in the first quarter and that lead got out to 18 in the second term, and was still 48-34 by half-time.

Newcastle went on with the job from there with another 32 points to 20 in the third quarter and ended up leading by as much as 28 on the way to the 21-point victory.

That gives the Falcons three wins in-a-row to be 5-10 on the season with Mandrell Worthy top scoring with 21 points, two assists and two steals with 5/5 three-point shooting.

Cha'Vez Woods added 18 points with 6/9 shooting and 5/5 at the foul line with Trace Evans contributing 17 points and nine boards, Matur Maluach 15 points and three rebounds, and Ryan Beisty eight points, seven boards, five assists and three steals.

Manly Warringah missed a chance to move into the top two to now be 12-4 with Quinn Slazinski top scoring with 17 points and two steals with Isaiah Lee adding 14 points and two assists, Emmanel Tshimanga 10 points and three boards, and Jamie Munro nine points and five rebounds.

Maitland Mustangs (107) defeated Central Coast Crusaders (87)

The Maitland Mustangs snapped the winning run of the Central Coast Crusaders and made it four straight themselves with the 107-87 home victory.

Reyne Smith was back for the Mustangs as they played host to a Crusaders team on a six-game winning streak at Mojo Homes Centre with the home team having won three straight themselves.

Both teams were inside the top eight as a result coming into the match up with Maitland starting the better with 28 points to 19 in the opening term after falling down six in the opening minutes.

Maitland kept that momentum rolling with another 32 points to 17 in the second term to be leading 60-36 by half-time and even with a 32-point third quarter, the Crusaders could never really get close enough to strike.

Maitland pulled away again with an 11-0 run to be up by as much as 26 and win by 20 to consolidate their playoff spot at 10-6.

Will Cranston-Lown ended up with 29 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals with 12/20 shooting from the field.

Reyne Smith was back and went 4/12 from downtown for 25 points, six rebounds and two assists with Myles Cherry contributing 20 points, 12 boards and three assists, and Majak Boc nine points and two rebounds.

Central Coast couldn’t quite make it seven straight wins to be 9-8 with Matur Maker providing 18 points and 19 rebounds with Thomas Akamarmoi adding 16 points, four assists, three boards and two steals, Aaron Redhead 19 points and three rebounds, and Garric Young 13 points and four rebounds.

Sydney Comets (86) defeated Inner West Bulls (82)

The Sydney Comets snapped their four-game losing slide with the 86-82 win at home over the Inner West Bulls who missed a chance to break into the top eight.

Sydney were back home at Comets Stadium having lost their past four games but needing a win to stay in the finals mix while the Bulls could potentially have ended the round inside the top eight with a third straight victory.

The Comets found themselves down seven early but then went on a 12-0 scoring run to be on top 25-21 by quarter-time.

The home team were then clinging to the 43-39 lead by half-time and then it was just a three-point lead for the Comets at three quarter-time before Inner West found themselves back in front with four minutes to play after a put back from Malok Majak.

Akil Douglas replied for Sydney but a triple from Majak had the Bulls back up one with 2:30 to go and ultimately it was another three ball from Douglas and then free throws from Viliami Foketi, Bailey Chambers and Ahmed Barba-Bey that sealed the deal.

The Comets went on to win by four points to improve to a 7-9 record on the season to be still in the playoff mix with Barba-Bey finishing with 21 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Douglas also had 18 points and five rebounds, Obi Kyei 18 points, nine boards, seven assists and two steals, and Foketi 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

The Bulls are now 8-8 following the defeat with Majak finishing with 22 points and 12 rebounds with Louis Bleechmore adding 21 points, nine boards and three steals.

Kobe Shannon also had 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Jasper Rentoy 16 points, six boards and there assists.

Albury Wodonga Bandits (79) lost to Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders (97)

Martez Brown delivered 25 points and 15 rebounds as the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders returned to the winner's list with the 97-79 win over the Albury Wodonga Bandits.

Both teams had only combined for six wins on the season so far ahead of the match up at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre and scores were all tied at the end of the first quarter.

It was then just a one-point lead for Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai by half-time before the Spiders took control in the third frame with 29 points to 14 on the way to the eventual 18-point road victory.

The win improves the Spiders to a 5-11 record with Martez Brown ending up with 25 points and 15 rebounds on 11/17 field goal shooting.

Will Johnson returned with 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals, Alex Sidhu 14 points, nine boards, seven assists and three steals, Harry Evans 12 points, seven boards and two assists, and Jackson Smyth 11 points, five rebounds and two steals.

Albury Wodonga are now 2-14 following the loss with Kevion Blaylock finishing with 17 points, five rebounds and two steals with Christian Cook adding 15 points and seven boards, and Liam Brady 12 points, two rebounds and two steals with 3/5 three-point shooting.

Canberra Gunners (87) lost to Sutherland Sharks (100)

The Sutherland Sharks made it four straight wins beating the Canberra Gunners 100-87 who fell to a fourth consecutive defeat on a night of wild fluctuations.

Canberra were back home at Southern Cross Stadium having lost three straight with their championship defence hitting a significant hurdle while Sutherland were building some momentum with three wins in-a-row.

It was also a rematch from last year's preliminary final when Canberra won on the way to the championship while it was the second time the two teams had met over the past two weeks with the Sharks winning by three points at home back on June 14.

Canberra then managed just 12 points on 4/16 shooting in the first quarter and 12 points on 4/13 in the fourth, but in between scored 63 points with 21/36 shooting along with 8/14 from behind the arc to be leading by six at three quarter-time.

But Sutherland took over in the final term with 31 points to end up scoring the 13-point victory to make it four on the trot to improve to 9-6 while Canberra lost a fourth straight to be 10-7.

It's four consecutive wins now for Sutherland with Tyler Robertson knocking down 4/10 from behind the arc for 21 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Jason Spurgin also had 18 points, six assists and four rebounds, Lochlan Hutchison 18 points, 12 assists and three boards, Luke Jamieson 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Bailey MacArthur 14 points, three boards and three assists.

Canberra have now lost four straight as they continue to battle in the absence of the inspirational Glenn Morison despite Will Mayfield delivering another 29 points, six rebounds and two assists with 7/12 three-point shooting.

DJ Hoskins also had 16 points with 3/5 three-point shooting, Evan Wardlow 14 points and five assists, and Angus Byatt nine points, six boards, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

SUNDAY

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (92) defeated Bankstown Bruins (84)

Both teams were on opposite ends of significant upsets on Saturday night and things returned to order on Sunday with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles beating the Bankstown Bruins 92-84.

The Sea Eagles suffered a shock loss to the Newcastle Falcons the night before while the Bruins pulled off the huge upset beating the league leading Norths Bears.

That set up a fascinating Sunday battle at Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre and the Sea Eagles were determined to hit back and started with 26 points 17 in the first quarter.

Manly Warringah had another 32 points to 20 in the second period to be leading 58-37 by half-time and then that lead got out to 28 points in the 13.

Bankstown did fire back with a 13-0 run in the final period and outscored the Sea Eagles 23 to nine in the quarter but still Manly Warringah secured the eight-point win to steady at a 13-4 record.

Quinn Slazinski starred once more in the win with 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals including going 4/9 from downtown and 6/6 at the foul line.

Isaiah Lee added 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds with Oliver Hammond contributing 12 points, four assists and two boards, and Emmanuel Tshimanga 10 points and six rebounds.

Bankstown are now 6-10 having also split their weekend double with Alex Higgins-Titsha top scoring with 16 points, five rebounds and two steals with Ted Wolfe adding 15 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Bismarck Nsiah also had 11 points, six rebounds and two assists, Anthony Mundine III 10 points, two boards and two steals, and Deonte Williams nine points, four assists and two blocks.

Newcastle Falcons (84) defeated Penrith Panthers (70)

The Newcastle Falcons made it four straight wins and a double triumphant weekend with the 84-70 home victory over the Penrith Panthers with college recruit Trace Evans delivering his best performance to date.

The Falcons might still be too far back to make a playoff run but are finishing the season with some impressive momentum and came into Sunday's clash at Newcastle Basketball Stadium having won three straight including the night before also at home to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Penrith arrived in bottom place too and the Falcons took charge in the first half to lead by six points at quarter-time, by 14 at the half and then to go on with the job from there with the 14-point victory.

That's four wins in-a-row now for Newcastle as they improve to a 6-10 record with Penrith having lost nine straight to remain in bottom place at 1-14.

It's four consecutive wins now for Newcastle with Trace Evans stepping up to deliver 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals on 9/12 shooting in the best performance of his five-game career so far since coming to the NBL1 out of Seattle Pacific University.

Mandrell Worthy also provided 15 points, three rebounds and two assists with 3/6 three-point shooting while Elias Cato contributed 11 points, four rebounds and three assists, and captain Ryan Beisty 10 points, 16 boards, four assists and two blocked shots.

The Panthers have now lost nine in-a-row following the Sunday defeat on the road with Simun Krpez finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Jett Hickson added 13 points and 10 rebounds, Ben Kearins nine points, three assists and two boards, Brodie Schwarzer nine points and two rebounds, and Angus Ole nine points and three boards.