East Wrap | Men's Round 3

Featured image: @floyd.mallon

A James Toohey game winner helped keep NBL1 East champions Canberra Gunners unbeaten along with the Norths Bears while Manly Warringah Sea Eagles made it four straight, Sydney Comets three with Meekness Payne coming up huge for Hills Hornets.

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SATURDAY

Albury Wodonga Bandits (90) lost to Hills Hornets (92)

The Albury Wodonga Bandits looked on track for tehri first win of 2026 before Meekness Payne stepped for two massive three-pointers that proved to be the game clinchers as the Hills Hornets prevailed 92-90.

The Bandits were back home at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre chasing a first win of 2026 as they hosted the Hornets looking for a second win of the season.

It then turned out to be a tight contest between two desperate teams all evening with no more than nine points ever separating them.

Albury Wodonga did lead by nine in the second term but Hills hit back with an 8-0 run and scores were level at 43-43 by half-time.

The Hornets were then up four at three quarter-time before but when Christian Cook scored with 45 seconds to play, he put the Bandits on top by three.

A huge Gum Majak offensive rebound on the next possession led to Meekness Payne hitting the game tying three before Cook responded immediately with a jumper up the other end.

That had Albury Wodonga up two before Payne knocked down another triple and this time it put the Hornets in front and was enough to secure the win when the Bandits couldn’t score in response, and Shaun Stewart then hit a late free-throw and deliberately missed the second to run out the clock.

Ed Carr ended up with 20 points, nine rebounds and four steals in the win for Hills with Stewart adding 20 points, eight boards and seven assists, Payne 18 points on 4/7 three-point shooting, and Saxon Orsini 11 points and six rebounds.

The Bandits are still yet to win in four attempts in 2026 despite 24 points, 11 rebounds and five assists from Kevion Blaylock.

Christian Cook added 20 points on 8/14 shooting with Majok Majok adding 15 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks, and Lochlan Cummings nine points, four boards and three assists.

Illawarra Hawks (118) defeated Central Coast Crusaders (77)

They could very well lay claim as the best one-two punch in the entire NBL1 and Matthew Mims and Todd Blanchfield combined for another 58 points, 17 rebounds and 12 three-pointers in the Illawarra Hawks' 118-77 demolition of the Central Coast Crusaders.

Even with the Crusaders arriving at The Snakepit after two wins last weekend with the addition of Matur Maker, the Hawks couldn’t be stopped on their home floor with 69 points in the first half with Blanchfield and Mims scoring 40 of those.

The Illawarra lead eventually got out to as much as 41 by the final buzzer with 473-game championship winning NBL veteran Blanchfield finishing with 34 points, 16 rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks with 6/15 three-point shooting and going 8/8 at the charity stripe.

After being a steady contributor on last year's team that reached the Grand Final, Mims has gone to the next level in 2026. He had another 24 points and six assists with 6/11 three-point shooting while being a team-high +32 in his 30 minutes.

On top of what Blanchfield and Mims delivered for the now 3-1 Hawks, Aki Langford contributed 12 points and two assists, Jonah Flinn 11 points and four rebounds with 3/4 three-point shooting, Ethan Moss 11 points and four assists, and Mohamed Kone nine points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Central Coast are now 3-2 for the season with Luke Cassidy continuing his standout start in 2026 with another 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists with 7/7 free-throw shooting.

Thomas Akamarmoi also had 17 points and five rebounds, Matur Maker 13 points and 13 boards, and Aaron Redhead eight points and four rebounds.

Norths Bears (83) defeated Sutherland Sharks (73)

Lachlan Bofinger had another 28 points and nine rebounds with the Norths Bears continuing to impress to open the season with the 83-73 home victory against the Sutherland Sharks.

The Bears were back home at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre having won their first four games of 2026 with the Sharks arriving having split their opening two matches.

Sutherland then had the better of the start to lead by as much as 12 points in the first quarter and to still be up 22-14 by the end of one, and the Sharks were still leading 41-32 by half-time.

The Sharks did again lead by 11 early in the second half but then Norths warmed to the challenge and ended up outscoring Sutherland 51 to 30 the rest of the way to come from 12 points down to score the eventual 10-point victory.

Norths are now a perfect 5-0 to start the season with Bofinger producing another 28 points, nine rebounds and two assists on 11/21 field goal shooting.

Iggy Mitchell also had 20 points, six rebounds and two steals, Bailey Hanson 15 points, 12 boards and four assists, and Fabijan Krslovic 10 points, six rebounds, four blocks, two assists and two steals.

Sutherland are 1-2 following the road loss with Lochlan Hutchison finishing with 21 points, five rebounds and four assists on 4/11 shooting from behind the three-point arc.

Jason Spurgin had a huge performance with 21 points and 18 rebounds with Bailey MacArthur adding 13 points and five boards, and Ryan Abbott six points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Maitland Mustangs (73) lost to Canberra Gunners (75)

James Toohey only enhanced his legacy with the Canberra Gunners after keeping the defending champions undefeated in 2026 by hitting the buzzer-beating winner to give his team the 75-73 road victory against the Maitland Mustangs.

It was a battle between two of the last three NBL1 East championship winners at Mojo Homes Centre with Maitland coming into the contest trying to back up a win over the Inner West Bulls with Canberra putting their seven-game winning streak on the line.

The Gunners went on a 10-0 run in the first quarter to be up eight and they were still leading 21-17 at quarter-time before it was just the 42-38 advantage for the reigning champions by half-time.

Maitland then put up 22 points to 12 in the third quarter and they went on to build a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter, and the Mustangs were still up two with 1:30 to play when Will Cranston-Lown scored.

The home team wouldn't score again and Cameron Pender tied things up with just over a minute to play before Canberra ended up with the last possession after a Billy Parsons turnover for Maitland.

James Toohey made the most of it with the cool mid-range jumper for the walk off game winner with Canberra winning by those two points to now go 3-0 on the season and having won eight straight games in the NBL1 East going back through 2025's run to the championship.

Will Mayfield top-scored for Canberra with 22 points, nine rebounds and three steals while Toohey had 13 points and four boards, Evan Wardlow 12 points and two rebounds, Glenn Morison 10 points and nine boards, and Cameron Pender eight points, seven rebounds and two steals.

Maitland are now 1-3 with the heartbreaking loss with Parsons finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks with Myles Cherry adding 19 points and 11 boards, Will Cranston-Lown 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Reyne Smith 10 points and four boards.

Sydney Comets (95) defeated Penrith Panthers (56)

The Sydney Comets continue to build early season momentum and made it three straight wins by beating the Penrith Panthers 95-56 at home on Saturday.

The Comets were decimated and didn’t have the finals series they hoped last year but are hoping to improve on that in 2026 and on the back of winning their past two matches, hosted the Panthers at Comets Stadium.

Penrith arrived on a 12-game losing streak going back to last year with the Comets coming out strongly to already be leading 25-18 at quarter-time.

The Comets then completed a 16-0 scoring run into the second quarter and ended up leading by as much as 33 and were on top 59-26 going into the half-time interval.

Sydney also had 25 points to 15 in the third quarter and led by as much 46 before ending up securing the 39-point win to improve to a 3-1 record.

Ahmed Barba-Bey top-scored in the win for the Comets with 20 points and nine rebounds on 8/12 shooting from the field and 3/3 from behind the three-point arc.

Akil Douglas added 19 points, five assists and four rebounds, Obi Kyei 16 points, six boards, four assists and four steals, Goc Malual eight points, nine rebounds and two blocks, and Keeto Browne eight points, three assists and three steals.

Penrith are now 0-3 having lost 13 in-a-row with Jett Hickson top-scoring with 14 points, five rebounds and three steals with Ben Kearins adding 12 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (86) defeated Inner West Bulls (67)

Quinn Slazinski and Isaiah Lee combined for 40 points as the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles made it three straight wins with the 86-67 home victory against the Inner West Bulls.

The Sea Eagles were back home at Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre coming off a double win weekend hosting a Bulls team trying to bounce back from last week's loss to the Maitland Mustangs.

It was the Bulls clinging to a one-point lead by quarter-time but heading into half-time and Manly Warringah had worked on top with 23 points to 11 in that second term to lead 38-27 on the back of scoring 12 straight points.

The Sea Eagles remained in control through the second half with another 48 points to 40 on the way to the 19-point victory as they make it three on the trot to improve to 3-1.

New import Slazinski has made an immediate impact playing in the NBL1 for the first time and even on shooting 5/18 from the field, he went 8/12 at the foul line for another 20 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Lee also finished with 20 points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds while Jack Giddens contributed 12 points, five boards, three assists, three blocks and two steals, Oliver Hammond 12 points and four assists, and Emmanuel Tshimanga 11 points, 20 rebounds and two blocked shots.

The Bulls are now 2-2 following the loss with Malok Majak top-scoring with 17 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

Kwabena Brefo also had 10 points, six rebounds and three steals, Jasper Rentoy eight points and four assists, Kobe Shannon eight points, six boards and two assists, and Maxwell Clark five points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.

SUNDAY

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (91) defeated Penrith Panthers (49)

Jack Giddens had 22 points and five three-pointers to help keep the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles' winning run going with the 91-49 home win against the Penrith Panthers.

The Sea Eagles arrived back at Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre having won three straight with the Panthers still on the hunt for a first win of 2026.

It was a hot start from Manly Warringah with 27 points to 14 in the first quarter with that lead growing to 29 in the second term and they were on top 49-23 at the half-time break.

That lead blew out to 42 points in favour of the Sea Eagles in the third quarter and 45 in the fourth on the way to the eventual 42-point win that is a fourth straight as they improve to 4-1.

Giddens delivered 22 points, three rebounds and two steals in the win for Manly Warringah with 5/8 shooting from behind the three-point arc.

Emmanuel Tshimanga also had 15 points, 14 rebounds and three assists, Quinn Slazinski 14 points, six boards and three assists, Isaiah Lee 11 points, six assists and four rebounds, and Eromon Uadiale eight points, five boards, four blocks, three assists and two steals.

The Panthers are now 0-4 on the season and have lost 14 straight going back to last year with Jett Hickson having nine points, three rebounds, three blocks and two steals, Simun Krpez eight points, two boards and two steals, and Brodie Schwarzer eight points and two rebounds.

Newcastle Falcons (62) lost to Canberra Gunners (71)

The Canberra Gunners backed up their stunning Saturday night win by outworking the Newcastle Falcons on Sunday to make it nine straight after prevailing 71-62.

The Gunners won on the buzzer on Saturday night against the Albury Wodonga Bandits thanks to the game winner from James Toohey ahead of remaining on the road against the Falcons.

Newcastle were still hunting a first win of 2026 but it was going to be tough when Canberra scored 14 straight points in the first quarter to lead by 11.

The Gunners were still up 23-14 by quarter-time but the Falcons worked back into the game and even hit the lead briefly late in the third quarter.

But Canberra took over once more in the final period with 14 points to seven to secure the nine-point win and make it nine straight and to be 4-0 in 2026 as defending champions.

Darnell Hoskins delivered 24 points and four rebounds in the win for Canberra on 8/10 free-throw shooting with Will Mayfield adding 13 points, seven boards and three assists, Evan Wardlow 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and Cameron Pender 10 points and 16 boards.

Newcastle are now 0-4 with Ryan Beisty finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, Lewis Mason 10 points, seven boards and three assists, and Jude Jennings seven points and eight rebounds.

Bankstown Bruins (115) defeated Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders (104)

It was a Sunday afternoon shootout and Jason Cadee scored 31 points with seven three balls as the Bankstown Bruins got back to winning with the 115-104 victory over the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders.

Both teams came into the contest at Bankstown Basketball Stadium needing the win with the Bruins having lost their past two after a first up win over the Albury Wodonga Bandits while the Spiders were yet to taste that winning feeling in 2026.

It turned into quite the high-scoring spectacle but that suited the Bruins with the firepower they have. They scored 33 points in the first quarter and then another 63 in the second half to score the 11-point victory and improve to 2-2 with Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai now 0-4.

Jason Cadee enjoyed the Sunday afternoon atmosphere to put up 31 points and 13 assists to show he still is more than capable on the floor even having moved onto the next phase of his life including stepping behind the microphone.

He ended up shooting 9/12 from the field, 7/10 from downtown and 6/7 at the foul line.

Tederick Wolfe also had 23 points and five rebounds for the Bruins, Elijah Kamu 21 points, nine boards and three assists, Zeke Evans 16 points and seven rebounds, Anthony Mundine III 12 points and three assists, and Alex Higgins-Titsha 12 points and five rebounds.

Jackson Smyth had a breakout performance for Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai with 31 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals with 5/12 shooting from downtown while Daniel Titus ended up with 25 points, eight boards, four assists and two blocks.

Martez Brown added 14 points and seven rebounds, and Daniel Garrett 10 points and four assists.