East Recap | Round 3 Saturday

Image credit: @jamesodphotography

Vanessa Panousis lifted Sutherland Sharks to a first NBL1 East win of 2025 with Tahlia Tupaea doing the same for Inner West Bulls while Kouat Noi's Sharks also prevailed over Jason Cadee and Bankstown Bruins on Saturday.

EAST RECAP | ROUND 3 FRIDAY

WOMEN

Norths Bears (101) defeated Canberra Nationals (62)

The Norths Bears continued their imposing start to the season with Maddie O'Hehir starring in the 101-62 home win over the Canberra Nationals where they held their opponents to three points in the final quarter.

The Bears had opened the season with wins over the Bankstown Bruins and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles ahead of hosting the Nationals at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday afternoon.

Canberra arrived having split their opening two matches and it was an entertaining opening quarter to the contest with the Bears ending up leading 28-22 by quarter-time.

The Bears then put their foot down in the second quarter outscoring the Nationals 31 points to 11 and that saw them head into the half-time break on top 59-33.

Canberra did its best to fire back in the third quarter with 26 points to 17, but then Norths completely dominated the last 10 minutes with 25 points to three on the way to the 39-point victory to improve to 3-0 on the season.

The Bears ended up shooting 53 per cent from the field for the game and went 14/30 from three-point range with Maddie O'Hehir delivering 31 points, four assists and three rebounds while hitting half those three-pointers and going 7/10.

Ruby Perkins added 17 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals, Emma Donnelly 14 points, six boards and two steals, and Jess Bygate 12 points and seven rebounds.

Carlie McAlister (nee Smith) finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds and three assists to continue her outstanding form with Canberra while Abby Solway added 15 points, Elise Finney eight points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Mikala Williams eight points, five boards and three assists.

NORTHS BEARS 101 (O'Hehir 31, Perkins 17, Donnelly 14)

CANBERRA NATIONALS 62 (McAlister 24, Solway 15, Finney 8, Williams 8)

Central Coast Crusaders (59) lost to Sydney Comets (80)

The Sydney Comets are starting to come together impressively this season and Piper Anderson and Abi Curtin combined for 46 points in the 80-59 road win over the Central Coast Crusaders.

The Comets won their first game of the season last week against the Illawarra Hawks with the Crusaders still hunting that first win of 2025 as they were back home at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium.

It was a tight first quarter with the Comets leading 16-14 by quarter-time but the visitors then took charge in the second frame with 28 points to 14 and that saw them go into the half-time break on top 44-28.

The lead for the Comets grew to 23 points after they completed a 10-0 run in the third quarter and then it got out to 27 in the fourth frame before they secured the 21-point win to improve to 2-1 on the season.

Piper Anderson knocked down 4/9 from downtown on her way to 25 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals for Sydney with Abi Curtin delivering 21 points, 11 boards and three assists.

Alexandria Oliver also had eight points and 12 rebounds, Kelly Chasse eight points and four assists, Elle Fletcher eight points and two assists, and Alex Kayrouz pulled down 12 rebounds while dishing out five assists.

Central Coast are now 0-3 following the defeat with Mikaela Dombkins finishing with 16 points, six rebounds and two assists, Jasmine Forcadilla 11 points and five boards, and Elizajane Loader nine points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals.

CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 59 (Dombkins 16, Forcadilla 11, Wakelin-Gray 9, Loader 9)

SYDNEY COMETS 80 (Anderson 25, Curtin 21, Fletcher 8, Chasse 8, Oliver 8)

Newcastle Falcons (78) defeated Illawarra Hawks (56)

Nicole Munger produced another dominant showing and the defending champion Newcastle Falcons stayed undefeated in 2025 with the 78-56 win at home over the Illawarra Hawks.

On the back of winning last season's NBL1 East championship, Newcastle have started the 2025 season in imposing fashion coming into Saturday's match up having won over the Sydney Comets, Central Coast Crusaders and Albury-Wodonga Bandits by an average of 24.6 points.

They were back on their home floor at Newcastle Basketball Stadium to host a Hawks team having lost their first two games of 2025 by an average of 23.5 points.

That meant it was always going to be a big ask for the Hawks to take it up to the defending champions and Newcastle did take control early with a 17-point lead in the first quarter.

They were still on top 27-13 by quarter-time with the Falcons continuing to pull away with the lead getting out to 19 points in the second frame on the way to the 45-33 lead at the half-time interval.

Another 13-0 scoring run in the second half saw Newcastle's lead grow to as much as 26 points in the fourth quarter and from there they scored the 22-point win to improve to 4-0 in their title defence.

On the back of winning the last two MVP awards in the NBL1 East and then playing this past WNBL season at the UC Capitals, Nicole Munger was outstanding once more with 26 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals on 9/13 shooting.

Kate Kingham also had 21 points, five rebounds and two steals, Sophie Brennan 10 points, four assists and three boards, and Meg Jefferson seven points, six rebounds and three steals.

The Hawks are now 0-3 following their third straight defeat to open the season with Emerson McCrea finishing with 11 points and eight rebounds, Ella Dent 11 points, three steals and two boards, and Asha Phillips 10 points, three rebounds and two steals.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 78 (Munger 26, Kingham 21, Brennan 10)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 56 (McCrea 11, Dent 11, Phillips 10)

Sutherland Sharks (85) defeated Bankstown Bruins (70)

Vanessa Panousis marked her return for the Sutherland Sharks with 24 points to lead them to a season-opening 85-70 victory at home to the Bankstown Bruins.

Coming off making the grand final last year, the Sharks had lost the opening two matches of 2025 but that was while waiting for some troops to arrive and being without expectant mother Lauren Nicholson.

They were back home at Sutherland Basketball Stadium on Saturday playing host to a Bankstown team also on their hunt for a win for the first time in 2025 after three defeats.

But with Panousis into the line-up for the Sharks and with import Laci Hawthorne settling in having played in the NBL1 West previously, the home team started in impressive fashion with 25 points to 14 in the first quarter.

Bankstown was able to hit back in the second term with 23 points to 17 to cut the Sutherland lead to 42-37 at the half-time break but the Sharks were able to pick back up the momentum in the second half.

The Sharks pushed their lead out to 16 points in the third quarter and 19 in the fourth on the way to the 15-point win to open their account for 2025.

Vanessa Panousis had an immediate impact for Sutherland with 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists with 5/9 three-point shooting with Maddie Norris contributing 17 points, seven boards and seven assists.

Aliza Fabbro added 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Laci Hawthorne 12 points, three boards and two assists.

The Bruins are now 0-4 to start the season following the defeat with Jada Rice top-scoring with 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots.

Lily Austin also had 12 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals, Taleea Capulong 11 points, two boards, two assists and two steals, and Shalome George 10 points, five rebounds and two steals.

SUTHERLAND SHARKS 85 (Panousis 24, Fabbro 17, Norris 17)

BANKSTOWN BRUINS 70 (Rice 15, Austin 12, Capulong 11)

Maitland Mustangs (70) defeated Hills Hornets (58)

Shakera Reilly and Mila Wawszkowicz combined to make six three-pointers as the Maitland Mustangs scored the 70-58 win at home to the Hills Hornets.

The Hornets were fresh off taking on the Bankstown Bruins on Friday night to open Round 3 where they suffered a six-point loss after a first up win over the Sutherland Sharks.

The Mustangs were 1-1 having beaten the Illawarra Hawks and then losing to the Albury-Wodonga Bandits ahead of the Saturday match up at Maitland Federation Centre.

After Maitland opened up a six-point lead in the first quarter, the Hornets responded with a 9-0 run to be leading 18-17 by quarter-time.

The Mustangs took back over in the second quarter opening up an 11-point lead and that saw the home team head into half-time on top 42-33.

Maitland remained in control throughout the second half as well to lead by as much as 19 points and to win by 12 in the finish to improve to a 2-1 record on the season.

Shakera Reilly continued her impressive form for the Mustangs with another 20 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two assists with Mila Wawszkowicz adding 14 points and two boards.

Alexis Plater also had 11 points, three rebounds and two assists, and Kasey Neubert 10 points and eight rebounds even while shooting 4/15 from the field.

The Hornets are now 1-2 after their two defeats this weekend in the space of less than 24 hours with Lucy Corke top-scoring with 14 points, three steals and two rebounds.

Madison Hare also contributed 12 points and three rebounds, and Jade Kirisome 10 points, six boards and two assists.

MAITLAND MUSTANGS 70 (Reilly 20, Wawszkowicz 14, Plater 11)

HILLS HORNETS 58 (Corke 14, Hare 12, Kirisome 10)

Inner West Bulls (82) defeated Penrith Panthers (72)

The Penrith Panthers weren’t quite able to make it two wins in the space of 24 hours with Tahlea Tupaea lifting the Inner West Bulls to the drought breaking 82-72 victory.

The Panthers beat the Hills Hornets to open Round 3 ahead of taking on the Bulls at Sydney Uni Sports and Aquatics Centre on Saturday.

The Bulls came into the contest having lost their past 17 matches in the NBL1 East and then that drought breaking win was looking decidedly unlikely when Penrith started well to lead 24-14 by the end of the first quarter.

The Panthers still managed to lead 44-37 by half-time but then the Bulls took charge coming out of the locker room holding Penrith to nine points in the third quarter and putting up 22 themselves including scoring 14 consecutive points.

Inner West went on with the job from there with the lead getting out to 17 points in the final period before they won by 10 to snap that 17-game losing run with a first victory since beating the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders on April 14 last year.

Tahlia Tupaea starred in the win for the Bulls with 28 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals with Mizuki Wakamatsu adding 22 points and 10 assists.

Tylah Mundine also had 12 points, 10 rebounds and two assists, and Rachel Kemp nine points, seven boards and two steals.

Zoe Jackson finished with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists, Jordan Vasquez 14 points and 14 boards, and Sofia Hunt 10 points, four rebounds and two assists on hitting 3/5 from three-point range.

INNER WEST BULLS 82 (Tupaea 28, Wakamatsu 22, Mundine 12)

PENRITH PANTHERS 72 (Jackson 17, Vasquez 14, Hunt 10)

 

Albury-Wodonga Bandits (85) defeated Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (78)

It was a high-quality rollercoaster affair at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre with the Albury-Wodonga Bandits ending up beating the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 85-78.

The Bandits were back home looking to bounce back from a loss to the defending champion Newcastle Falcons while the Sea Eagles arrived having beat Penrith last Sunday having lost in heartbreaking fashion the night before to the Norths Bears.

The two teams combined for 47 points in the first quarter with Albury-Wodonga finishing it leading 26-21 and the home team added another 26 points to 22 in the second frame to go into half-time leading 52-43.

After the Bandits were up by 10 early in the third quarter, the Sea Eagles fired back going on a 13-0 scoring run to grab the lead but again by three quarter-time the Bandits had worked back on top by three.

Again in the final period the Sea Eagles were able to score seven straight points to briefly regain the lead, but Albury-Wodonga Bandits ended up having the answers when it mattered to score the seven-point win.

The Bandits are now 3-1 on the season following the win with new arrival Brynn Masikewich having an immediate impact with 28 points and 15 rebounds on shooting 9/16 from the field and 9/9 at the foul line.

Riley Lupfer also contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals with Caitie Jones added 12 points, eight assists and seven boards, and Emma Mahady 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Manly Warringah are now 2-2 on the season after the loss despite Taylor Wurtz putting up 24 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals on shooting 5/15 from behind the three-point line.

Kim Dickinson added 18 points and 11 rebounds, Alex Delaney 16 points and eight boards, and Josie Bulman 14 points and 10 rebounds.

ALBURY-WODONGA BANDITS 85 (Masikewich 28, Mahady 15, Lupfer 15)

MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 78 (Wurtz 24, Dickinson 18, Bulman 14)

MEN

Norths Bears (63) lost to Canberra Gunners (81)

The Canberra Gunners continued their unbeaten start to the NBL1 East season delivering the 81-63 road victory over the Norths Bears.

Having played in two of the last three NBL1 East grand finals and a preliminary final appearance in between, the Gunners had started the season impressively coming into the match up at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre.

The Bears were on their home floor and looking for their first win still of 2025, and they did well to stick with Canberra early on with the Gunners only leading 21-17 by quarter-time.

Canberra were able to continue to build on that advantage the rest of the evening getting out to a 13-point lead in the second stanza with it growing to as much as 16 points in the third and 20 in the fourth.

The Gunners would end up securing the 18-point victory to improve to 3-0 on the season with Will Mayfield delivering 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds with James Toohey adding 17 points, five boards and four steals, and Glenn Morison 16 points, five assists, three rebounds and two blocks.

The Bears are now 0-3 this season and have lost five straight dating back to last year with Hunter Goodrick finishing with 13 points and 13 rebounds, Matthew Wacher 12 points, four boards and three assists, and Iggy Mitchell 11 points and 13 rebounds.

NORTHS BEARS 63 (Goodrick 13, Wacher 12, Mitchell 11)

CANBERRA GUNNERS 81 (Mayfield 21, Toohey 17, Morison 16)

Central Coast Crusaders (74) lost to Sydney Comets (82)

The Sydney Comets handed the Central Coast Crusaders their first loss of 2025 with the 82-74 win on Saturday evening at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium.

The Crusaders put their perfect record on the line hosting a Comets team trying to bounce back from a last up loss to the Illawarra Hawks, and it was Central Coast who made the flying start.

The Crusaders went on a 12-0 scoring run to lead by as much as 10 points early on, but already by quarter-time and the Comets had assumed the 20-19 lead.

Sydney were still clinging to the 37-35 lead by half-time but then the Comets took control in the third quarter with 31 points to 18 on the way to leading by as much as 15 points.

While Central Coast did win the last quarter 21 points to 14, Sydney ended up scoring the eight-point victory to improve to a 2-1 record in the process.

Obi Kyei provided 21 points, five rebounds and two steals in just 20 minutes in the win for the Comets with Shareef Saipaia adding 17 points, three assists and two rebounds, Anthony Mundine III 16 points, seven boards and four assists on 4/7 three-point shooting, and Johnny Crnogorac 13 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots.

The Crusaders are now 2-1 on the season following the defeat with Ilisia Washington providing 26 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals on 5/9 shooting from beyond the three-point arc.

Garric Young added 21 points and 12 rebounds with Klairus Amir adding eight points and six boards.

CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 74 (Washington 26, Young 21, Amir 8)

SYDNEY COMETS 82 (Kyei 21, Saipaia 17, Mundine 16)

Newcastle Falcons (84) defeated Illawarra Hawks (68)

It might have been a winless team taking on an unbeaten one, but the Newcastle Falcons turned the tide by scoring the 84-68 home victory over the Illawarra Hawks.

The Falcons were at home at Newcastle Basketball Stadium still hunting their first win of the season while the Hawks had won their first two games of 2025 building on the momentum from Illawarra claiming the NBL championship days out from the season opener.

In the search of that first win for 2025, Newcastle made a flying start scoring 10 straight points in the first quarter to end up leading by 14 and still being on top 26-18 by quarter-time.

The Falcons extended that lead to 16 points in the second frame before still leading 52-40 by the half-time break, and there would be no stopping them from there with a 19-point lead in the second half and the eventual 16-point victory.

Even with the Hawks going 15/19 at the foul line to 3/5 from Newcastle, the Falcons shot at 46 per cent from the field opposed to 37 along with making 13/34 from downtown to 9/32 from Illawarra.

The Falcons are now 1-3 on the season with the win with Kobe Shannon delivering 20 points, four steals and two rebounds with Myles Cherry contributing 15 points, 11 boards, five assists and two blocked shots.

Eylijah Stephens also had 15 points, six assists and four rebounds, and Ryan Beisty 14 points, 13 boards, six assists and three steals.

The Hawks are now 2-1 following a first loss of 2025 despite Todd Blanchfield finishing with 13 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and two steals fresh off re-signing with Illawarra for the next three NBL seasons.

Matthew Mims top-scored with 18 points along with four rebounds on 4/8 three-point shooting with Christian Maran contributing 17 points and six boards, and Kobe McDowell-White nine points, six rebounds and six assists.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 84 (Shannon 20, Cherry 15, Stephens 15)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 68 (Mims 18, Maran 17, Blanchfield 13)

Sutherland Sharks (83) defeated Bankstown Bruins (66)

With Kouat Noi and Jason Cadee leading their respective teams into battle, it was the most hotly anticipated NBL1 East match up perhaps this season and it was Noi and his Sutherland Sharks beating Cadee's Bankstown Bruins 83-66.

Both players made the move from the NBL1 North to join the East in 2025 with Noi making his debut with the Sharks on Saturday night fresh off his best NBL season at the Sydney Kings while Cadee has returned to his original club having retired after 424 games in the NBL.

That set the stage for the match up at Sutherland Basketball Stadium and it was Cadee and his Bruins who got off to a flying start with 25 points to 11 in the first quarter.

The lead for Bankstown got out to as much as 18 points early in the second frame as well but then Sutherland hit back in spectacular fashion going on a 17-0 scoring run.

Bankstown still managed to be clinging to a 40-35 half-time lead, but the Sharks took charge after the break with another 25 points to 10 in the third frame, and 23 to 16 in the fourth.

That saw Sutherland secure the eventual 17-point win having earlier trailed by 18 themselves in a contest that certainly ended up delivering on the dramatic runs from either side.

The Sharks are now 3-0 on the season with the win and while Kouat Noi had a good impact with 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals, he did shoot 3/16 from long range.

Luke Jamieson ended up top-scoring with 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals with Jason Spurgin contributing 15 points, 11 boards, three assists and three blocks, Bailey MacArthur 12 points and seven rebounds, and Lochlan Hutchison 11 points, six assists, four boards and two steals.

Bankstown is now 2-2 on the season following the loss with Andre Wolford producing 21 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals on 3/12 three-point shooting.

Hayden Blankley added 13 points and eight rebounds, Charlie McBeath 10 points, six boards, four steals and three blocks, and Jason Cadee six points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals.

SUTHERLAND SHARKS 83 (Jamieson 16, Spurgin 15, Noi 14)

BANKSTOWN BRUINS 66 (Wolford 21, Blankley 13, McBeath 10)

Maitland Mustangs (88) defeated Hills Hornets (84)

In a game that could have gone either way all evening, it was an offensive rebound and putback from Luka Vea that ultimately sealed the 88-84 victory at home for the Maitland Mustangs over the Hills Hornets.

The Mustangs come into the season as defending champions and had split their opening two matches ahead of hosting at Maitland Federation Centre a Hornets team coming off a narrow loss to the Penrith Panthers on Friday to open Round 3.

The defending champs shot out of the blocks quickly with a 10-0 run in the first quarter to lead by as much as 12, but the Hornets soon settled and the Mustangs only led 29-26 after an entertaining opening period.

The scoring dried up a little in the second frame and by half-time Maitland had narrowly extended their lead to 48-43, and that was back out to nine early in the second half but Hills kept on coming.

The Hornets retook the lead on the back of an 8-0 run in the third quarter and it was all set up for a grandstand finish.

The lead continued to fluctuate right through the last quarter but down the stretch the Mustangs maintained a narrow lead and then when up two, Luka Vea grabbed the offensive board after the missed jumper from Jay Cole.

Vea then converted that o-board into the putback basket to make it a four-point lead which was the final margin with the Mustangs improving to 2-1 as a result as reigning champs.

Christian Little ended up top-scoring for Maitland with 19 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals on 7/11 shooting with Billy Parsons contributing 17 points, 11 boards and two assists.

James Hunter added 15 points and three rebounds, Mandrell Worthy 12 points, five boards and four assists, Jay Cole 11 points and five rebounds, and Luka Vea 10 points and seven boards.

The Hornets are now 0-3 to start the season with Saxon Orsini top-scoring with 23 points and three steals while Zach Hudson added 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists, Liam Moss 15 points and five boards, and Meekness Payne 14 points and two rebounds.

MAITLAND MUSTANGS 88 (Little 19, Parsons 17, Hunter 15)

HILLS HORNETS 84 (Orsini 23, Hudson 18, Moss 15)

Inner West Bulls (100) defeated Penrith Panthers (91)

The Inner West Bulls scored their first win of the season with the 100-91 victory at home to the Penrith Panthers.

The Panthers were fresh off a three-point home victory against the Hills Hornets on Friday night while the Bulls had only played one game over the first two weeks which was a six-point loss last Saturday to the Canberra Gunners.

That set up a tantalising match up at Sydney Uni Sports and Aquatics Centre, and it didn’t disappoint with the two teams combining for 53 points in the first quarter with the Bulls leading 28-25 by quarter-time.

Inner West were able to push that out to an eight-point lead by half-time and even 11 in the third quarter, and 13 in the fourth but the Panthers weren’t going away.

Penrith did get back within nine points in the last term, but no closer with the Bulls completing the job for the nine-point victory and to improve to 2-0 after their opening two matches of the season.

Maxwell Clark delivered 21 points, five steals, four rebounds and four assists in the win for Inner West while hitting 4/11 from three-point range.

Ramon Cao added 18 points, nine rebounds and two blocks, Tony Tolovae 20 points, 10 boards, three steals and two assists, Andrew Swanson 16 points and three rebounds, Nicko Timonera 10 points, four boards and four assists, and Jonni Mei-Edwards 10 points, four rebounds and two steals.

The Panthers are now 2-2 on the season having split their two Round 3 matches with Brodie Schwarzer top-scoring with 18 points and three rebounds.

Zeke Evans added 18 points and eight rebounds, Jonah Pares 14 points, eight boards and five assists, Oliver Amajoyi 12 points, six rebounds and two assists, and Ben Kearins 11 points, 10 assists, eight boards and three steals.

INNER WEST BULLS 100 (Clark 21, Tolovae 20, Cao 18)

PENRITH PANTHERS 91 (Schwarzer 18, Evans 18, Pares 14)

Albury-Wodonga Bandits (78) lost to Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (87)

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles built a commanding 25-point lead and then held out the Albury-Wodonga Bandits for the 87-78 road victory.

The Bandits were back home at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre attempting to back up last Sunday's win over the Newcastle Falcons with the Sea Eagles looking to respond to a loss to the Penrith Panthers on the same day.

It was Manly Warringah who got the better of the start with 28 points to nine in the fourth quarter with the visitors then continuing to build on that lead with it growing to 21 points in the second frame and 25 in the third.

The Sea Eagles were still leading by 23 points with 8:45 left in the game but Albury-Wodonga did mount a fightback from there including going on a 13-0 scoring run.

That did see the Bandits close back within seven points in the dying stages but Manly Warringah had built up a big enough lead to ensure they weren’t caught and ended up winning by nine to improve to 2-2 on the season.

Preston Purifoy top-scored for Manly Warringah with 23 points, eight rebounds and two assists with Matthew Eldridge contributing 18 points and 12 boards, Mason Bragg 15 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals, and Isaiah Lee 10 points, six boards, four assists and two steals.

Albury-Wodonga are now 1-3 on the season following the home loss with Ahren Freeman having a big showing made up of 29 points, eight rebounds and two steals with 11/17 shooting from the field.

Jacob Cincurak added 12 points, six rebounds, six assists and six steals.

ALBURY-WODONGA BANDITS 78 (Freeman 29, Cincurak 12, Lafaele 9)

MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 87 (Purifoy 23, Eldridge 18, Bragg 15)