NBL One Round 12 (Regular Season): Bankstown B. lose their first game against Excellence

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most surprising game was the first loss of Bankstown Bruins (3-1) in Canberra on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by fourteenth ranked Excellence (1-1) 89-82. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Bankstown Bruins. BA CoE made 20-of-24 free shots (83.3 percent) during the game. Worth to mention a great performance of New Zealand center Julius Halaifonua (214-2006) who helped to win the game recording 23 points and 6 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and point guard James ODonnell (180-2005) who added 13 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Naaman Hightower (201-1994, college: Sonoma St.) with 27 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Excellence left bottom position moving up to sixth place, which they share with 5 other teams. Bankstown B. at the other side keeps the fourth position with one game lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Third ranked Bulls blasted bottom-ranked Hawks (0-4) in Wollongong 140-71. Hawks is still unable to win any game. The winners were led by Ramon Cao who scored that evening 32 points and 7 rebounds and Jacob Ohmer supported him with 34 points (!!!) and 4 steals. Even 10 points and 5 assists by guard Ethan-James Laudato (185-2000, college: Southwest) did not help to save the game for Illawarra H. 2. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Bulls have a solid four-game winning streak. Inner WB (5-1) keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Rockingham F. Illawarra H. 2 at the other side still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Southern T. and Lakeside L.. Inner WB will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Illawarra H. 2 will play at home against Sutherland (#11) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Bottom-ranked Diamond Valley Eagles (0-5) is still winless. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their fifth consecutive match to eighteenth ranked Tigers (2-4) 89-79 on Sunday evening. The best player for the winners was Tom Wilson who scored 19 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. Tigers' coach used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. At the other side the best for losing team was Jock Perry who recorded a double-double by scoring 21 points and 20 rebounds. Melbourne T. moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Perth R. Loser Diamond Valley Eagles still closes the standings with five games lost. They share the position with N.Adelaide R. and Hornsby S.. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 12: Newcastle F. lost to Sydney C. on the opponent's court 69-77. Keilor T. managed to outperform NW Tasmania in a home game 105-96. Nunawading S. managed to beat Bendigo on the road 81-78. Ringwood was defeated by Hobart C. on its own court 74-84.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 24 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists by Kyle Zunic of Keilor T..

Group East

Sydney C. - Newcastle F. 77-69

Very expected game in Alexandria where 12th ranked Falcons (1-4) were defeated by sixth ranked Sydney City Comets (3-1) 77-69 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was Obiri Kyei who had a double-double by scoring 23 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Biwali Bayles (185-2002, college: Hawaii) chipped in 18 points and 8 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Myles Cherry (203-1998, college: Lafayette) who recorded 8 points and 16 rebounds and naturalized British forward Ryan Beisty (200-1995, college: Regis Univ.) added 14 points and 8 rebounds respectively. Sydney C. moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Falcons dropped to the eighth position with four games lost. They share it with 5 other teams. Sydney C. will meet at home Norths B. (#10) in the next round where they are favorite. Newcastle F. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Newcastle F.: R.Beisty 14+8reb+1ast, M.Francis 14+6reb+3ast, K.Shannon 12+2reb+1ast, G.Jaidyn 8+6reb+3ast, M.Cherry 8+16reb+3ast, A.Clinton 5+2reb
Sydney C.: K.Obiri 23+12reb+2ast, B.Bayles 18+8reb+2ast, E.Docker 14+4reb, W.Matthew 7+6reb+3ast, B.White 5+3reb+1ast, J.Crnogorac 4+3reb

BA CoE - Bankstown B. 89-82

The most surprising game was the first loss of Bankstown Bruins (3-1) in Canberra on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by fourteenth ranked Excellence (1-1) 89-82. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Bankstown Bruins. BA CoE made 20-of-24 free shots (83.3 percent) during the game. Worth to mention a great performance of New Zealand center Julius Halaifonua (214-2006) who helped to win the game recording 23 points and 6 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and point guard James ODonnell (180-2005) who added 13 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. Four Excellence players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American forward Naaman Hightower (201-1994, college: Sonoma St.) with 27 points and 5 rebounds and guard Hayden Blankley (198-2000, college: WTA&M) scored 20 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Excellence left bottom position moving up to sixth place, which they share with 5 other teams. Bankstown B. at the other side keeps the fourth position with one game lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Bankstown B.: N.Hightower 27+5reb+3ast, H.Blankley 20+7reb+2ast, A.Wolford 19+5reb+2ast, M.Charlie 5+6reb+3ast, P.Jonah 4+1reb+2ast, S.Joshua 4+3reb
BA CoE: H.Julius 23+6reb, F.Jacob 15+1reb+2ast, O.James 13+7reb+1ast, K.Yuto 12+4reb+1ast, N.Ajak 6+1reb+1ast, S.Kye 5+3reb+1ast

Illawarra H. 2 - Inner WB 71-140

Third ranked Bulls blasted bottom-ranked Hawks (0-4) in Wollongong 140-71. Hawks is still unable to win any game. Inner WB dominated down low during the game scoring 66 of its points in the paint compared to Hawks's 36. Inner WB forced 29 Illawarra H. 2 turnovers. They shot the lights out from three nailing 17 long-distance shots on high 58.6 percentage. Inner WB players were unselfish on offense dishing 30 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Illawarra H. 2's players. The winners were led by Ramon Cao who scored that evening 32 points and 7 rebounds and Jacob Ohmer supported him with 34 points (!!!) and 4 steals. Four Bulls players scored in double figures. Even 10 points and 5 assists by guard Ethan-James Laudato (185-2000, college: Southwest) did not help to save the game for Illawarra H. 2. Philip Dopud (-2002) added 9 points and 5 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Bulls have a solid four-game winning streak. Inner WB (5-1) keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Rockingham F. Illawarra H. 2 at the other side still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Southern T. and Lakeside L.. Inner WB will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Illawarra H. 2 will play at home against Sutherland (#11) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Illawarra H. 2: B.Bradley 11+4reb+1ast, R.William 11+5reb, E.Laudato 10+3reb+5ast, D.Philip 9+5reb+3ast, R.Abercrombie 8+5reb+1ast, P.Aaron 5+1reb+2ast
Inner WB: O.Jacob 34+3reb+2ast, C.Ramon 32+7reb+3ast, Z.Hudson 22+4reb+7ast, H.Alex 15+6reb+2ast, T.Nicko 9+2reb+4ast, T.Tolovae 9+1reb+4ast

Group South

Keilor T. - NW Tasmania 105-96

The game between closely ranked teams ended with fifteenth ranked Thunder's (3-3) home victory over 16th ranked NW Tasmania Thunder (1-4) 105-96 on Sunday. Keilor T. made 16-of-19 free shots (84.2 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was the former international guard Kyle Zunic (188-1999, college: Winthrop) who scored 24 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. American forward Trevor Lakes (203-1999, college: S.Indiana, agency: VM Hoops Agency) chipped in 30 points and 8 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Sekou Sylla (198-2000, college: Towson) who recorded a double-double by scoring 25 points and 20 rebounds and his fellow American import guard Seth Swalve (180-1997, college: UAH) added 19 points and 4 assists respectively. Five Keilor T. and four NW Tasmania players scored in double figures. NW Tasmania Thunder's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Keilor T. moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Warwick S. NW Tasmania lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth position with four games lost. They share it with 5 other teams. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
NW Tasmania: S.Sylla 25+20reb+1ast, S.Swalve 19+4ast, A.Jake 13+8reb, B.Woolley 10+3reb+2ast, T.Armstrong 8+5reb+3ast, W.Archer 7+5reb
Keilor T.: T.Lakes 30+8reb, K.Zunic 24+6reb+8ast, J.Gibbs 21+4reb+4ast, K.Kuany 14+2reb+4ast, J.Beasley 10+7reb, D.Cooper 2+6reb+1ast

Bendigo B. - Nunawading S. 78-81

There was a minor upset when higher ranked Bendigo Braves (3-2) were edged at home by eleventh ranked Spectres (3-2) 81-78 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was American guard Trendon Hankerson (188-2000, college: Akron) who scored 18 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. The other American import guard Jalen Johnson (198-1997, college: Mercer) chipped in a double-double by scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American swingman Andrew Robinson (201-1996, college: Coppin St.) who recorded 14 points and 8 rebounds and center Billy Smythe (-2002) added 10 points and 10 rebounds respectively. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Nunawading S. moved-up to sixth place, which they share with 4 other teams including defeated Bendigo. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Bendigo B.: O.Lachlan 18+1reb+1ast, A.Robinson 14+8reb+2ast, K.Bar 13+8reb, R.Mackenzie 12+2reb+3ast, S.Billy 10+10reb+2ast, I.Murphy 6+5reb
Nunawading S.: T.Hankerson 18+7reb+6ast, J.Johnson 15+11reb+1ast, D.Christian 13+8reb+3ast, J.Gandolfo 13+4reb+2ast, B.Ellis 10+9reb+1ast, T.Nicolas 8+5reb

Diamond V.E. - Melbourne T. 79-89

Bottom-ranked Diamond Valley Eagles (0-5) is still winless. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their fifth consecutive match to eighteenth ranked Tigers (2-4) 89-79 on Sunday evening. Melbourne T. looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international guard Tom Wilson (195-1997, college: SMU) who scored 19 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. Forward Jack Purchase (203-1995, college: Hawaii) chipped in 19 points. Four Tigers players scored in double figures. Tigers' coach used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. At the other side the best for losing team was center Jock Perry (216-1997, college: UC Riverside) who recorded a double-double by scoring 21 points and 20 rebounds and guard Erik Kafritsas (195-2002) added 15 points respectively. Melbourne T. moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Perth R. Loser Diamond Valley Eagles still closes the standings with five games lost. They share the position with N.Adelaide R. and Hornsby S.. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Diamond V.E.: J.Perry 21+20reb+1ast, K.Erik 15+1reb+2ast, N.Todd 10+4reb, M.Jay 7+3reb, Z.Tavitian 7+1reb, B.Allen 6+2ast
Melbourne T.: J.Purchase 19+3reb+3ast, T.Wilson 19+6reb+9ast, W.Jack 13+2reb, M.Gaze 12+4reb+2ast, M.Wearne 11+3reb+2ast, C.Barker 7+11reb

Ringwood H. - Hobart C. 74-84

There was a surprise result in Heathmont where ninth ranked Chargers (3-2) beat higher ranked Ringwood Hawks (4-3) 84-74 on Sunday. Hobart C. looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The best player for the winners was Vionte Daniels who scored 27 points and 7 assists. Forward Jacob Richards (200-2001) chipped in 24 points and 8 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Jonathan Lawton (188-1996, college: FSC, agency: IceBasket) who recorded 20 points and 6 assists and his fellow American import center Braelen Bridges (210-1999, college: Georgia) added 14 points and 6 rebounds respectively. Four Ringwood players scored in double figures. Hobart C. moved-up to sixth place, which they share with 4 other teams. Loser Ringwood Hawks keeps the fourth position with three games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Ringwood H.: J.Lawton 20+3reb+6ast, B.Bridges 14+6reb+1ast, M.Roberts 14+2reb+2ast, S.Harry 13+4reb+1ast, N.Nai 5+8reb+2ast, C.Thomas 3+4reb+1ast
Hobart C.: D.Vionte 27+4reb+7ast, R.Jacob 24+8reb+3ast, O.Angerstein 17+16reb+1ast, Z.White 9+2reb+1ast, J.Chilcott 5+7reb+12ast, S.Jordan 2+3reb