Round Eight of the NBL1 East presents one of the biggest tests of the season for the Centre of Excellence (CoE), with both teams set for crucial clashes against fellow contenders over the weekend.
CoE 70 – 60 Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai (MEN)
The CoE men held strong in a 70 – 60 belter versus Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai at the AIS to extend their winning streak to seven.
Luke Paul had his highest tally individual score of the season with 19. Jai Fa’ale scored 16 points and Ajak Nyuon led rebounds with ten.
CoE’s men continue to benefit from an arsenal of damaging weapons on offense. The rotation of the ball in damaging positions, between Alex Dickeson, Paul, Fa’ale and others stretched the Spiders beyond their means at times.
Althought CoE led for the majority. The game was in limbo in third with the visitors holding the momentum.
It was Australian Boomer, Davo Hickey as the architect of the comeback for the Spiders. The Asia Cup champion found rhythm bringing the ball up and sparring with the young CoE defense.
In the end, the boys in the green and gold had the final answer, closing out the battle with discipline in the fourth quarter.
The CoE men hold 1st placed on the standings at 11-1.
CoE 79 - 90 Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai (WOMEN)
The Spiders had an answer at every turn defeating the CoE women 79 – 90 in an AIS home leg on Sunday.
Isabel Smith led scorers for the CoE with 24 and captain Zara Russell had 15. Lily Mapp put in a monstrous effort to balance the rebound game and led all players with 13.
The absence of Jemyma Manyok’s rebounding power of was noticeable with Hornsby’s US import Ay'Anna Bey and Ruby Perkins accumulating second chance points from the boards. Foot Locker National Champs star Jessie-May Hall dropped 27 points at 11-19 in FGM.
There’s some tweaks ahead for Mel Downer and the CoE women with the second loss of the weekend sliding the team to 5th on the standings at 8-4.
CoE 87 – 61 Norths Bears (MEN)
The BA CoE men responded well after the women's loss earlier in the evening, putting together a composed and convincing 87 – 61 road victory over the Norths Bears at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre.
Ajak Nyuon was outstanding, finishing with 25 points and 11 rebounds on a remarkable 67% from the field — a dominant display that set the tone for the entire contest. Jai Fa'ale was equally influential with 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists while converting six of seven at the line. Captain Alex Dickeson chipped in with 17 points and nine rebounds and led all players with five steals, while Jongkuch Mach was a defensive standout off the bench with three blocks in limited minutes.
Norths kept things close in the first half, trailing just 39 – 33 at the break after the 'Tuters held a narrow 16 – 15 edge through the first quarter. The third term was where the CoE began to pull clear, holding the Bears to just 12 points and pushing out to a 56 – 45 lead heading into the final period. A dominant 31 – 16 final quarter settled the contest emphatically, with the CoE's depth and conditioning telling in the closing stages.
Norths Bears 92 – 66 CoE (WOMEN)
The CoE women couldn't find their rhythm on the road, going down 92 – 66 to a sharp Norths Bears side at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre in Round 8.
Isabel Smith was the standout for the 'Tuters, finishing with 22 points on 50% shooting and a perfect four-from-four from the line to go with five rebounds. Olivia Olechnowicz was efficient with the ball in hand, converting 13 points on 71% from the field including three from deep, while Reece Anticevic provided energy off the bench with 12 points on 60% shooting.
Norths set the tone early, bursting out to a 25 – 9 first quarter lead and never relinquishing their grip on the game. Jaz Shelley was the difference maker, controlling the contest with 32 points and 10 assists in a dominant personal performance. The CoE fought back in the second term — outscoring the Bears 28 – 18 to show some genuine fight — but Norths responded in kind after the break, pushing their advantage back out and closing the game strongly.
The CoE will begin with a road trip to North Sydney on Saturday before returning home on Sunday to host Hornsby Ku-ring-gai.
Fresh off a dominant Round Seven campaign that saw the CoE go a perfect four from four with every game decided by double digits, the upcoming weekend shapes as a test to compete with the competition’s best.
Norths Bears are the benchmark in the competition, with their women atop the NBL1 East ladder and the men not trailing far behind in second.
But the CoE are building a strong case of their own as genuine contenders, with both programs currently holding third place on the standings, with the men able to jump to first place by the end of the weekend.
The challenge will be particularly demanding for the CoE women, facing two opponents firmly in finals contention.
| Norths Bears v Centre of Excellence (W) | ||
| 23 May | North Sydney Indoor Sports Stadium | 5:00 pm AEST |
| Norths Bears v Centre of Excellence (M) | ||
| 23 May | North Sydney Indoor Sports Stadium | 7:00 pm AEST |
| Centre of Excellence v Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Spiders (W) | ||
| 24 May | Australian Institute of Sport | 1:00 pm AEST |
| Centre of Excellence v Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Spiders (M) | ||
| 24 May | Australian Institute of Sport | 3:00 pm AEST |
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View the remaining fixtures of the NBL1 East season here.
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