NBL1 East Recap | Friday Round 18

Shyla Heal and Vanessa Panousis combined for 56 points as the Sydney Comets overcame the Albury-Wodonga Bandits with the 101-95 overtime NBL1 East Friday night win to deny the reigning champs a chance to secure a finals spot.

The last two top eight positions in the NBL1 East women's competition remain up for grabs heading into the weekend between the Bandits, Bankstown Bruins and Canberra Nationals on the back of the Sydney Comets beating Albury-Wodonga by six at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre.

NBL1 EAST RECAP | SUNDAY ROUND 17

NBL1 EAST RECAP | SATURDAY ROUND 17

NBL1 EAST RECAP | FRIDAY ROUND 17

WOMEN

Heal, Panousis fire Comets to overtime win

The one-two punch of Shyla Heal and Vanessa Panousis for the Sydney Comets proved too much for the Albury-Wodonga Bandits as they led their team to the 101-95 Friday night overtime win.

The Comets had already secured a finals position in the NBL1 East coming into the last round of the regular season but the Bandits do need to win one of their remaining two matches to secure their spot.

That set the stage for the Friday night contest at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre and by quarter-time, the two teams couldn’t be separated with scores 25-25.

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The Bandits were able to open up an eight-point lead during the second quarter but Sydney fired back to score 13 consecutive points to lead by as much as nine themselves, and then to still be up 47-43 by the main break.

The game of dramatic runs continued with Sydney back out to a seven-point lead in the third stanza but then Albury-Wodonga scoring 14 consecutive points to have a seven-point lead themselves.

The Comets were still on top 68-63 by three quarter-time but the game was always set for a grandstand finish.

Jada Crawshaw scored to put Sydney back out to a seven-point lead early in the fourth period but Albury-Wodonga responded by scoring the next nine points capped off by a three-point play from Mikayla Pivec.

That had the Bandits back in front with six minutes to play but then Shyla Heal knocked down a huge three to return the Comets to the advantage.

The big shots continued with Emma Mahady hitting one for the Bandits before Sarah Mellington converted a three-point play to stretch the home team's lead out to seven with four minutes to play.

The Comets wouldn’t go away and Vanessa Panousis hit three consecutive shots for Sydney to keep the margin at one before Heal scored on a turnover to put the Comets back in front.

In the end, it was a three-point lead to the Comets with Albury-Wodonga having one last possession and it was Mahady who grabbed the offensive rebound after missing her first attempt to get another lock at the three.

This time she knocked it down to force the game into overtime with scores tied 91-91.

The Comets then scored the first four points of extra time and Heal knocked down the dagger three with just over a minute to play to secure the five-point win for Sydney.

The win improves the Comets to a 13-8 record with a game to finish on Sunday against the Norths Bears. The Bandits now need to win against the Maitland Mustangs at home on Saturday to guarantee their finals position as defending champions.

Shyla Heal ended the night with 30 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Comets while knocking down 5/12 from three-point territory with Vanessa Panousis adding 26 points, three boards and three assists.

Piper Anderson also had 16 points with 3/5 three-point shooting for Sydney with Dru Toleafoa adding 14 points, six rebounds and two steals, and Jada Crawshaw 13 points, 17 boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks.

Malury Bates finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks and three assists for Albury-Wodonga with Emma Mahady ending up with 19 points, seven boards and six assists while knocking down 5/12 from three-point range.

Mikayla Pivec delivered 18 points, nine assists and six rebounds, Ashlee Hannan 15 points, 16 boards, three assists and two steals, and Sarah Mellington nine points.

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The Comets' star balled out with:

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