NBL1 East Recap: Round 18 - Sunday August 14

Six games of NBL1 East this Sunday, with a couple of contests going right down to the wire.

Check out the results below.

WOMEN 

Central Coast Crusaders (67) def by Inner West Bulls (71)

Only four points separated these two teams come to the final buzzer, with the Bulls able to take home the win. 

Four Central Coast players hit double figures, led by Jonalyn Wittwer who had 16 points. 

But Lashayla Wright Pond was the game’s standout, with 24 points and 15 rebounds, both game highs. 

CENTRAL COAST 67 (Wittwer 16, Miller 14, Kelly 13) 

INNER WEST 71 (Wright Pond 24, Stirton 13, Frieson 12)

Newcastle Falcons (61) def by Sutherland Sharks (64)

In a game that came down to the very final possession, the Sharks were able to hold on for a three-point win, despite a 16-10 final quarter. 

Lauren Nicholson was huge for the victors, with 27 points, seven assists, and four rebounds. 

Newcastle’s Nicole Munger had 20 points and 14 rebounds herself, but the Falcons weren’t able to get it done. 

NEWCASTLE 61 (Munger 20, Kingham 14, Relf 9)

SUTHERLAND 64 (Nicholson 27, White 12, Norris 11)

Maitland Mustangs (73) def by Illawarra Hawks (98) 

An impressive win from Illawarra here, as they take down Maitland by 25 points. 

Mikaela Dombkins led the Mustangs, with a 20-point 16-rebound double-double. 

But it was Rebecca Abel who was the game’s star, with 26 points including eight threes.

MAITLAND 73 (Dombkins 20, Griffin 18, Fox 16) 

ILLAWARRA 98 (Abel 26, Phillips 20, Dent 19)

MEN 

Sutherland Sharks (61) def by Newcastle Falcons (87) 

This was a game that was top and tailed by some dominant play from the Newcastle Falcons, outscoring Sutherland 22-9 in the first quarter, and 26-11 in the fourth. 

Only two players hit double digits for the Sharks, Jordan Mitchell with 18 points and Geoffrey Gerlach with 14. 

For Newcastle, Myles Cherry and Ryan Beisty filled the stat sheet, combining for 35 points, 35 rebounds, 14 assists, seven steals, and four blocks. 

SUTHERLAND 61 (Mitchell 18, Gerlach 14, Achampong 8)

NEWCASTLE 87 (Cherry 21, Beisty 14, Smith 13) 

Central Coast Crusaders (83) def by Inner West Bulls (91)

In what was a relatively back and forth game, the Inner West Bulls were able to hold on for victory as they won by eight points. 

Aaron Redhead was the Crusaders top scorer, with 20 points and nine rebounds to go along with one block and one steal. 

But Inner West’s starters put in work, Chier Maker and Kaylan Bayer with 24 and 22 points respectively. 

CENTRAL COAST 83 (Redhead 20, Robilliard 16, Cracknell 13)

INNER WEST 91 (Maker 24, Bayer 22, Slapikas 10)

Illawarra Hawks (81) def by Maitland Mustangs (106) 

A big win for the Mustangs here, as they take down Illawarra by 25 points. 

Despite the loss, Kiwi Gardner had another huge game, with 43 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals. 

But Maitland were too good, with three starters scoring at least 16 points, James Hunter leading with 24. 

ILLAWARRA 81 (Gardner 43, Morris 12, Chrystal-Foy and Giles 7)

MAITLAND 106 (Hunter 24, Gray 21, Millburn 16)

Feature image via Paul Barkley | LookPro Photography