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Episode 7: Into the Hornets nest with Robbie Clayton
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We're back from the Easter break ready for a rowdy Round 5 of the NBL1 East competition for 2023. Many teams faced a double-header weekend which proved to be a turning point for some teams more than others.
This episode covers the Sutherland Sharks vs. Albury-Wodonga Lady Bandits, Maitland Mustangs vs. Newcastle Falcons men's game and the GOTW between Hills Hornets and Penrith Panthers.
We also enter the Hornets nest with our very special guest, Robbie Clayton. Robbie is a long-time basketball fan who commentates for the Hills Hornets and co-hosts the epic podcast, Throwback Hoops.
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Transcript
Introduction to East Got Game Podcast
00:00:13
Speaker
Hey everyone and welcome back to another episode of East Got Game, an unofficial podcast showcasing the NBL One East competition for 2023. 2023? Yeah, I said that right. My name is Jacinta Govind. I'm from the Central Coast Crusaders. Joining me, as always, is Loki France from the Sutherland Sharks. How are you, Loki?
00:00:36
Speaker
I'm an excellent squint. It's been a big week at NBL One. That's for sure. And can't wait to go through it all.
NBL One East Weekend Recap & Guest Introduction
00:00:42
Speaker
Yes, it certainly has been a big NBL One East weekend with pretty much everyone playing double headers, including games on Friday night, which doesn't usually happen our way in New South Wales. And it's been such a big weekend that we had to call on some extra help. And it's our pleasure to introduce Robbie Clayton, who you may know from the Throwback Hoops podcast that he hosts with his best friend Woody.
00:01:05
Speaker
Shout out to Woody, bigger Sydney Kings fan going around. But Robbie Clayton is also a commentator for the Hills Hornets. Welcome Robbie. Thanks Gwyn, pleasure to be here guys. Yeah, Locky's right as well. Certainly a lot of games, a lot of action to talk about. So yeah, pleasure to be on you.
00:01:23
Speaker
Awesome. Good to have two talking heads and experts with us today because yeah, we've got a little bit to get through, but what we're going to do as always is have our quick game recap.
Women's Competition Round 6 Highlights
00:01:36
Speaker
You know, our results recap, we'll cover a couple of games, including the game of the week, which was luckily enough between Hills and Penrose. And then Robbie will probably get stuck into a little bit of a deeper dive about the Hills Hornets for this season.
00:01:50
Speaker
before we roll on into our all-star five for round six. So, Lachie, I'm going to throw it to you first. Give me a quick recap of the results for the women's competition for round six.
00:02:03
Speaker
All right, deep breath, which I think 13 games this week. Of course, no COE this weekend with under 18s nationals on. So we kicked it off with Inner West getting over the top of Hornsby for their first win of the season. Someone's O had to go.
00:02:22
Speaker
and it was in a West getting their first win over Hornsby 71 41. And in our game of the week, we had Penrith getting over the top of Hills 86 59, but, uh, injury scare for the Panthers in that one. We'll get to that later. Manly getting over Norse in the spit bridge stouch. No Zoe Miller, no worries. Getting up 73 70 and a nail biter. Although
00:02:46
Speaker
In the local derby between Comets and Sutherland, it was Comets introducing Shyla Hill, getting an 87-57 win over a shark. So I'd still missing Lauren Nicholson and also missing Callie Hovada in that one. Moving to Saturday, it was North's 93-36 over Penrith as that injured player remained out. Bankstown picking up win over Canberra, 71-61 as then you import Violet Morrow stole the show.
00:03:18
Speaker
Squins team, the Central Coast Crusaders getting the 76-61 win over Hills, and Illawarra with an 85-60 victory over Hornsby. A bit of an upset in the Hunter Valley Derby. Maitland knocking off Newcastle, 70-61, so a bit of a boil over there.
00:03:40
Speaker
Sutherland not playing very friendly host to an Aubrey team that traveled up 80 to 61 in that one as Callie Horvato returned. Manly getting a 74-50 win over Inner West to wrap up a perfect weekend for them. And then Aubrey a second loss of the weekend as they fell to Bankstown 65-62 in a nail biter. And Vanessa Penousas lit it up in the last game of the week as Comets knocked off Central Coast 84-67.
00:04:11
Speaker
So, a massive week of games, 13 in all, and it leaves Comets standing alone atop the table at 6-0, closely followed by Centre of Excellence, who had a week off and Manly sitting at 5-1.
00:04:27
Speaker
Yeah, interesting with that ladder standing as well, because like you said, Comets are 6 and 0 at the top, and they'll play third place manly for the first time in the next round. So, pretty much looking forward to that. I think I said this was round 6, but it's only round 5, isn't it? It is, because yes, we have Easter off. Of course. Easter off on Easter.
00:04:51
Speaker
Yes, and there were a couple of other conferences that ended up having a couple of Thursday night and I think I saw a Good Friday game in one of the conferences too. Yeah, it's all going on around the country at the moment.
Men's Competition Round 5 Highlights
00:05:05
Speaker
Yep, so Robbie, we're going to throw to you, take us through the results for the men's competition for round five.
00:05:12
Speaker
For sure, well yeah, also 13 games in the men. So quite enjoyed the Friday night thing actually. It almost felt like I was compensating and the weekend hadn't started, which was good for once. So yeah, we had four games on Friday night. You know, West probably in a surprisingly close game, 75 to 67 over Hornsby. The Hills Hornets got their first win of the season over Winless Penrith, 107 to 67. North's had a good win against Manly, 78 to 55.
00:05:39
Speaker
Sutherland won an absolute thriller there pretty much on the buzzer, 87-86 over the Sydney Comets. Big win for the North Bears over Penrith, 113-62. An equally big win by Canberra in their one game of the weekend over Bankstown, 100-58. Hills got up 75-72 against Quinn's Central Coast Crusaders. It was Illawarra, 83 beating Hornsby, 75.
00:06:06
Speaker
Maitland with a big win there over Newcastle 82-69. Somewhat of a surprise given the form this year but probably not so much when you know how good Maitland are.
00:06:15
Speaker
Then completing the Saturday night games, Sutherland with a big 111-91 win over Aubrey, Inner West with a big win over Manly 102-69. Then we just had the two games on Sunday with Aubrey beating Bankstown 95-81 and the Sydney Comets beating Central Coast 96-72. Yeah, very well, very nicely done there Robbie. Were there any surprises in some of those results from this round?
00:06:47
Speaker
I mean look, especially being a hills guy, it was probably big that they got that win against Central Coast. They were probably favourites against Penrith, but I'd say Central Coast might have been favourites in that one. Maybe the closeness of that Friday night game with Inner West over Hornsby, just Inner West getting up by eight points, that was perhaps a little bit of a surprise there. And yeah, like I said, with the way Newcastle had been playing this year,
00:07:08
Speaker
probably if I was making tips I might have tipped him to get up over Maitland but Maitland just pretty much dominated that game which we'll talk a little bit about later there so certainly a lot of interesting games some big wins obviously for Sutherland there over Aubrey in the comments there so they've certainly moved their way up the ladder there but yeah certainly an interesting round that's for sure
00:07:27
Speaker
Yeah, I think perhaps a weekend for the likes of Hornsby and Hills starting to turn a corner a little bit. Hornsby were also seen to challenge the Illawarra Hawks quite a lot as well over the weekend. The Hawks boasting, you know, lots of NBL previous and ex-NBL players and emerging, but they were missing a couple of players as well, the Illawarra Hawks. I think one was out to injury from what I've been told. And I was wondering where Noah Pagotto was, because he wasn't on the roster.
00:07:57
Speaker
And hold on I've pulled I found it on Twitter of his whereabouts doing a deep dive
00:08:04
Speaker
Yeah, it just happened to come to me. I was really, really lucky where I was like, where is this kid? I'm going to look it up on Twitter. And here we are. He says he's playing at the Prep Hoops Circuit this weekend in Chicago. He'll be suiting up for Team Brooke now. I don't know. I'm not too sure what that means, but I'm guessing that might be his coach's name as part of this Hoops Circuit group. Anyway, basically, he's not here. He's in Chicago. Having a great time. Do you have an excuse by the sounds? Yeah, I wouldn't mind.
00:08:33
Speaker
Yeah, so perhaps it's one of those, I'll have to look a little bit more into what this prep poop circuit is, but I'm guessing it's a tour of America to try and showcase some Aussie talent to get college scholarships or something like that. So best of luck to Noah if he's listening.
00:08:50
Speaker
but he was obviously missed in the weekend, but good job wrapping that up for us Robbie.
Sutherland Sharks vs. Aubrey Wodonga Bandits
00:08:57
Speaker
So the couple of games that we wanted to focus on this week, first of all was the Sutherland Sharks and Aubrey Wodonga Bandits in the women's comp, so we haven't spoken a lot about the Bandits yet on eScott Games, so I thought this would be a prime opportunity to showcase them a little bit more, especially because you are there
00:09:17
Speaker
Right, uh, front row, locky. Well, not front row. You're kind of in the back row, commentating a Sutherland, aren't you? Yes, definitely. As far up the back as possible on our beautiful commentary desk. Shout out to Easyboards Kingsgrove for that one.
00:09:32
Speaker
Uh, yeah, so grand final rematch, but, uh, definitely not the same two lineups that are played in that grand final. A lot of change. Uh, I think was it last year in the NBA one East women's all-star five, there were two Sutherland players and three Aubrey players and not one of those five was on the floor.
00:09:52
Speaker
for the game on, uh, on Saturday with, uh, penuses now at comets, Lauren Nicholson, not suiting up and are you Marta unique Thompson and Lauren Jackson, not with the bandits, but, uh, I think, uh, when you look at what Emma Mahade and Ashley Hannon have been doing, it's been fairly seamless or a seamless as it could be transition, but, uh, Sutherland for a team that,
00:10:21
Speaker
seems intent on giving up offensive rebounds this season. They didn't do it for once. They only gave up 12 O-boards, which I think went a very, very long way to getting the win because that has been their Achilles heel all season for both the men's and women's teams. Jeremy Jones
00:10:46
Speaker
every week because I'm there four hours before the game and he gets there about two and a half and he comes after me and he says, it's always, we didn't get defensive rebounds last week. Well, this week they did, but it was really, it was set up in the first quarter by Matty Norris.
00:11:05
Speaker
who just did what we all know Maddie Norris can do and just shot three after three after three. I think she hit her first three in a row. She had 20 points at halftime, which was on I think five of seven from three and a perfect five of five at the stripe. And three of those free throws came when she was foul shooting a three.
00:11:28
Speaker
So the Sharks, they jumped out to a 23-8 lead after a quarter and it was 44-24 at halftime. And the way the Sharks were playing, it looked as though they would go on with it. But I'm not sure if it was complacency or just overconfidence, maybe a combination of the two.
00:11:56
Speaker
Mattie's shooting fell away a bit. I mean, her numbers in the first half were pretty unsustainable, but she missed a few in a row. I started taking some shots that weren't quite there and they really let Aubrey Wodonga back into it after.
00:12:11
Speaker
Aubrey let that lead get out. It got back to seven at one point by the end of the third quarter. And that coincided with Ash Hannon coming back. She had some early foul trouble, coincided with her coming back. She only ended up playing 23 minutes because of some of those fouls. But Hannon, Brody Page Theodore did her thing getting 14 and nine.
00:12:33
Speaker
And Elizabeth Murphy was good. It could have been a whole lot worse at halftime if not for Elizabeth Murphy either side of the first quarter break. She racked up a few points just to keep the game from getting out of hand earlier than it did.
00:12:51
Speaker
But in the end, the start of the fourth quarter went back to normal service resuming for Sutherland. They racked up. I think they wanted a 10-2 run to start the fourth quarter. And at that point, it was pretty much queuing the rack time. Just too big a deficit for Aubrey Woodonga to come back from. But in the end, if you take out that first quarter, it was
00:13:15
Speaker
you know, a fairly back and forth game, you know, marginally went out four more points at the end to what it was after 10 minutes of play. Yeah, because so so as you mentioned, Sutherland winning the first quarter 23 to eight, they also won the fourth quarter 20 to eight, but bandits came back in a big way in the third winning that quarter 29 16. So what was it that the bandits implemented in that third quarter to score to score the 29 points?
00:13:46
Speaker
Well, as I said, they had Hannon, you know, come back from a bit of foul trouble. And they just took advantage of like Sutherland would come up and just shoot a shot that wasn't there, like just, you know, a transition three. And they just, it got really quick in parts. And we know Brody Page Theodore loves that. She had 14 and nine in the end. Yeah, it's just,
00:14:14
Speaker
I, when Hannan was off court, I would've liked to see Maharti in the, you know, down low a bit more, but, uh, yeah, Sutherland, yeah, they just, it was more, yeah, I'd say Aubrey, I don't know if they rattled them, but Sutherland, they certainly took what Sutherland gave them. Sutherland let them have plenty. And I think once this, once Maddie Norris' shooting dried up a bit,
00:14:44
Speaker
Sutherland, you know, they were almost expecting that option to be there from Maddie. And it wasn't. And Emily Garland didn't get it all her own way, like she has in some previous games with Hannon there and Mahadi in places. But yeah, I just don't...
00:15:11
Speaker
Yeah, just all we were doing just, yeah, that first quarter just, um, yeah, they just left themselves too much to do. But yeah, subtle in need to, uh, they need to stick with the process, which is the, I think why they came out in the fourth quarter. Well, again, because Jeremy Jones had a full two minutes to sit them down and say, what was that? What are we doing?
00:15:36
Speaker
let's get back to what got us the big lead in the first place. And they came out a lot more, a lot more structured. Yeah. So making sure that they don't deviate from that game plan that's working for them, you know, obviously in the first half, but just looking at some of the analysis as well for Aubrey Wodonga Bandits in that third quarter, they had 16 points in the paint of that 29 points and they shot the best percentage they shot all game, which was 71%. So yeah, massive quarter from them.
00:16:06
Speaker
But yeah, sounds like, as you said, Sutherland perhaps just deviating from the game plan in that third, Aubrey Wodonga able to exploit that and take some advantage and make a real game of it. But then the Sharks came back and just shut it down in that fourth quarter. Interesting for, like you said, grand final rematch as the team names on paper, but certainly not the same rosters. So it'd be interesting to see how we go.
00:16:34
Speaker
if they play each other again later in the season.
Maitland vs. Newcastle Analysis
00:16:36
Speaker
They do actually play each other the final weekend of the regular season.
00:16:40
Speaker
Oh, okay. So those teams have got quite a bit of time in between now and then to make some adjustments. And again, we might see a whole nother nother roster depending on who's there on the day in terms of injuries, wedding, baby showers, who knows. Under 18s Nationals, Jade Crook wasn't there for Aubrey Wodonga because she was playing for New South Wales country. Um, as I said, Lauren Nicholson and just a couple of, um, players like
00:17:06
Speaker
It would have been nice to have had me or Bruce there maybe to throw in for a few minutes here and there to spell. Liv White and Lauren Calvert, but she was playing Youth League because they were out at Springwood for Youth League, so couldn't really pull double duty. Yep, can't be in two places at once ever. Certainly can't.
00:17:26
Speaker
But Robbie, you were tasked with having a look at one of the Hunter Valley garage matches, which was Maitland hosting Newcastle over the weekend in the men's round. Tell me what you saw.
00:17:39
Speaker
Yeah, well look certainly two of the better teams in the NBA won those men's I believe these two. Newcastle came into the game on a three game winning streak and really were playing good basketball there. But yeah, in the end it was Maitland with the big 82 to 69 win there. So Maitland was sort of struggling a little bit earlier, but they've seemed to have come good again now. They've won a couple in a row.
00:18:00
Speaker
Look, they let it every quarter in this game. And was it a pretty even spread between sort of their big three and Cranston Lown, Matthew Gray and Big James Hunter there. So, yeah, as I said at the start, I was if I had to tip, I was maybe thinking Newcastle might have won this just with the form that they were in. But I think the big key for me there was just being able to shut down Big Miles Cherry there and that one, he'd been really dominating and he had a pretty poor game in that one. And sort of was really below his averages there pretty much.
00:18:29
Speaker
a non-factor you'd say there. In fact, Newcastle just had the two guys in double figures there. So Ryan Deasty had his normal beast, he said of a game that he does there with 17 and 17. That's kind of become the norm with him there. But yeah, apart from Anthony Gaines with 13 there, no one else really sort of managed to give Maitland any problems there at all. So yeah, I think it's obviously going to hold Maitland in pretty good stead there and get their confidence back to where it was there.
00:18:55
Speaker
A few interesting stats there, and I don't know whether you guys noticed the free throw percentages in this game. Absolutely woeful. So, Maitland were 11 of 22 for the game. Newcastle were 9 of 23. So, I'm not great with maths, but I know 9 of 23 is definitely below 50%. And that included 1 of 7 from Cherry. So, they were perhaps doing a little bit of a hack at Cherry in that game there.
00:19:17
Speaker
I'm yeah look by things are pretty similar in the land and i might move to three and three and the falcons and drop to three and two so i can certainly see these things being you know i'm awesome at the end of the season there but obviously maitland winning this one in pretty pretty good fashion there so for the mustangs there i mentioned kranz to land having a great season led the way with twenty point some
00:19:38
Speaker
Matthew Gray is someone I've always been impressed with when I get to see him play. He had a big 16 and 9. James Hunter with 15, 6 and 4 blocks there. So obviously that trio pretty much dominated the big three for Newcastle there. So yeah, good game in all. And yeah, Maitland are certainly getting back to that form that we expected.
00:19:56
Speaker
Yeah, I think they have some unfinished business from, you know, they had the championship in their hands last year against the Canberra Gunners in the MBL one East final, and it just slipped away, you know, in the fourth quarter. So I think they've certainly got some unfinished business on the league as a whole. Really interesting, mate, the free throws, call it out for what it is, because free throws is always going to be the bane of my existence.
00:20:21
Speaker
Everyone probably knows that about me by now, but the Falcons shot at 39%. I mean, that's a great percentage if you're shooting from the three-point line, which they did, because if you round up their three-point percentage, which is 38.46, you round that up. Can you round that up?
00:20:38
Speaker
Yeah, I'm going to round it up to 39%. Yeah, they're shooting the same percentage from the arc as they are the free throw line, which yeah, that's like, not good. I also noticed that a bit of foul trouble for both of these teams. So Newcastle, Miles Cherry on four, Goodwin, Beasty, and Mathur all on three as well. But yeah, that looks like
00:21:04
Speaker
Oh, that's a percent. Yeah, 22 times at the free throw line and 23 times for Maitland and Newcastle respectively.
Balancing Sports: Jack Edwards' Absence
00:21:14
Speaker
So lots of fouls going on. The likes of Matt Gray also on four. Jay Cole for Maitland on three. You know, what's really interesting though about Maitland, they're obviously having some seasoned success, but they're still without Jack Edwards.
00:21:30
Speaker
I'm not too sure of you guys. I noticed Jack Edwards has still been absent, but yeah. Word on the street. Thankfully to my friends down at Central Coast Crusaders who were putting in the work over the Easter long weekend. Um, so that Jack's having a lot of success with touch football at the moment. It looks like he's in some Australian squads for touch footy. Very talented athlete. Like you guys know this guy's insanely quick. I remember the first time I saw him play in youth league and I was like, how can
00:21:59
Speaker
anyone actually physically guard this guy. So yeah, it doesn't surprise me that he's excelling in other sports other than basketball, so power to him. But yeah, no Jack Edwards and the Stangers live to ride another day.
00:22:14
Speaker
Well said. It's funny you mentioned free throws and 39% because all we were doing, the women actually shot 38% from free throw. Eight of 21 and yeah, they had, they actually had a couple of the Southern one players in foul trouble. Callie Hovada fouled out and Jordi Dewhurst had four, thanks to the speed of, you know,
00:22:37
Speaker
Brodie Page Theodore and Casey I don't know, players of that ilk. But then Mahadi just, you know, being generally, you know, better than anyone. But yeah, so free throws.
00:22:52
Speaker
I feel like that's a league wide issue though. Yes. That unboxing out, I'm probably going to say this most episodes. I know that I probably touch on it a lot when I commentate, but look, until it changes, I'm going to make a point of it because it needs to seriously needs to improve.
00:23:09
Speaker
Good pick up there, Locky, with the Aubrey-Wedonga band, it's late. Lady Band, it's free throws. Eight from 21, as you said. Compare that to Sutherland's 11 from 13 at a healthy 85%. And then they lose by 19. So, you know, things like that make a massive difference.
00:23:28
Speaker
Um, but rolling on right along now to the game of the week, which was Hills versus Penrith on the Friday night. Uh, so Lockie, did you happen to catch the women's game between Hills and Penrith? Uh, I saw a bit here and there. Um, that's it's, I saw the game and I also saw Talia Tupiah limping off, uh, which I think Robbie had a better view of that than I did being, being at the stadium.
00:23:58
Speaker
But yeah, Talia was, yeah, 17 points in 23 minutes. She was, you know, doing really good work. And Meg Jefferson, well, we saw her during the week at 3X3 just having her away with people in the paint. And from what I saw, the bits and pieces I saw, she looked to be doing much the same on Friday night as well, finishing with 18 points in just 21 minutes of action. But she did pick up 4,000 in the process.
00:24:26
Speaker
She's at best down low, isn't she? I mean, she picked up two really quick fouls in that game and sort of sat out and then, you know, came back and picked up the third one pretty early in the second quarter there. But yeah, she kind of found her way a little bit in the second half and sort of started to pick up those numbers. But yeah, you're right. Lucky that injury to Talia, to Pi was
00:24:43
Speaker
was pretty sad to see actually you know she was playing really well in the game and quite a pretty innocuous kind of injury she sort of went down you could tell straight away she was in a lot of pain um i sort of managed to go over at the end of the game and have a look and she was still on the you know lying on the floor there with the the hills physio um jade and pakasha actually as a physio now and stopped playing for the hills team there he was sort of checking her out and yeah all reports were that she'd torn her calf there so you know obviously not sure how long that means she'll be out but i'd say it could be quite a while
00:25:12
Speaker
that's a big loss to Penrith actually you know they were sort of playing pretty good basketball certainly a lot better than the men's team are and yeah i think a lot falls on the on the hands of um you know meek jefferson in that game but i guess just some other other notes that i had for that one there um you know look we talked about game of the week their swim unfortunately both of these um hills penrith games are absolute blowouts there so um 27 point win for the penrith women there so they lead every quarter as well um
00:25:37
Speaker
Look, I thought they got some pretty good service from Chloe Williams. She came on with 14, two rebounds and five assists. Another player I was also really impressed with didn't know a lot about her was Dominika Faber. She came off the bench and had 12 points in 15 minutes, including three big three pointers. So she was one to sort of watch out for. They made a big impact off the bench there.
00:25:59
Speaker
Yeah, it was a bit of a long night for Hills to be honest. I was probably expecting a closer game than what it was. Tarramani was the only player in double figures for the Hornets with 14.6 rebounds and hit 4-3. So she certainly did her sort of role there. Their second best player was one that I know you're a fan of their swing because I heard you talk in the game against Hills and that's veteran Wendy Strong there. So yeah, she was really handy. Came in and had nine points and five rebounds in 12 minutes and
00:26:25
Speaker
played some really good physical defense down low and sort of made life a little bit tougher for Jefferson there. So it's a good science for the veteran Wendy Strong, but yeah, it was certainly Penrith's night in that one. I know that Lockie's also a big fan of Wendy Strong because she's been a part of this league for
00:26:43
Speaker
Well, I went on when she came back, I went on the Warrata League website and the stats only go back to 2003 and she was averaging 14 points a game back then. So I imagine that that wasn't her first season. Yeah, no, she's been like, I feel like, hopefully, I wonder if she'd ever been interested in coming on a Scott game, because I'd love to do a deep dive into her history of playing semi-professional basketball in New South Wales, because as long as I've known,
00:27:12
Speaker
she's been playing. And so it was so great to see her back to play this year, because she didn't play last year. But yeah, she's like a serious rebounder. She's still super strong. Yeah, I think like you said, Robbie, she would have been a great contender to challenge Meg Jefferson underneath because I mean, like you said, Lockie, Meg was just having a way with everything and that 3x3 Australian Uni Championship we saw earlier in the week. It's a case of like, she's a classic
00:27:42
Speaker
five men, a great center, great touch under the basket, great footwork, very hard to guard in that respect. And her pick and roll play with Talia Tupaya rivals that, well, I shouldn't say rival, but kind of reminds me of the great pick and roll we saw in the recent WMBL season between Sammy Whitcomb and Lauren Schurf. And
00:28:02
Speaker
I don't think that's an exaggeration, considering both of their skills and both of their execution with a great pick and roll. So it's a real shame that Tupac is out injured. So hopefully she'll be okay. But what you mentioned, Robbie, that Meg was picking up a couple of fouls early. Was that a matter of unfortunate circumstance or being a little bit out of position? What did you see?
00:28:25
Speaker
Yeah I think she got the first one which was a pretty sort of normal foul then she picked up another second one when she wasn't very pleased with that one you could tell and I think they left her on for a few minutes and decided no this is like too early to sort of keep her on with two fouls so she was off for quite a while I mean she ended up playing 21 minutes for the game there but yeah probably would have been a little bit more ugly for the Hornets if she sort of managed to play a normal amount of minutes
00:28:46
Speaker
I think, guys, we should also call out the free throws in this game, too, because it was opposite than the last game I was talking about. So, um, he always ended up 15 of 17 in this game. Pretty impressive. And Penrith was 17 of 21. So. And if we're talking about veterans with Wendy Strong, well, Francis Spadina was on a, uh, WMBL roster in the late nineties.
00:29:12
Speaker
I was impressed with that locking cause I was looking at the team roster before the game. I'm like, I can't believe it. Penrith have got two people older than me. So, I mean, I'm not giving away too much when I'm born in 1978 there. I'm like, wow, there's one thing. Yeah. Faber's born in 78 and the other veteran who I'm just blanking on and maybe a positive. Who is it? Um, was born I think around that time as well. So I could, maybe I've got that one wrong, but yeah, certainly with Brooke, Brooke McInnes is on there. Yeah, that's right. Yeah. But either way, it made me feel good actually to see two people in the seventies playing there. So yeah.
Hills Hornets vs. Penrith Men's Game Overview
00:29:40
Speaker
Yeah. Brooke McGinnis also on a WMBL roster in her prime too. So, I mean, we're pretty lucky to have, um, such a wide skill set and experience in our league this year, particularly in the women's competition. Now the likes of, you know, Olympian, former Olympian, Alicia Potos back on court. Um, Shyla Hill is back now playing for the Sydney Comets. Vanessa Penussis and Liz Nicholson stayed around. Um, yeah, we're pretty blessed. Pretty blessed, I think.
00:30:08
Speaker
And then you had your Hills Hornets host, Penrith again, like we said, game of the week for round five on the Friday night. Hills men getting up by 40. Robbie, you were there. You would have been pretty excited to see this firsthand.
00:30:24
Speaker
Yeah, I've got to say I was excited to become pretty close to some of the boys on that team over the last couple of years. And you kind of feel their pain when they lose these games. So seeing him lose those first few home games and not really being in it, it was good to see him get this win. So yeah, 40 point win in the end there. So huge effort there from Hills.
00:30:43
Speaker
the men there. So yeah, 107 to 67. They also won all four quarters. And look, it was a big game for him. Obviously both teams came in windless there. So you certainly didn't want to fall to that zero five record. The big one for me was former Sydney Kings development player, Ben Kieran. He was massive in this game. So I think the first play of the game, he had a block shot and then he went on just to dominate it both ends. So he ended up with 30 points, six rebounds,
00:31:10
Speaker
three assists and five steals. And he did all that on 13 of 20 shootings. So I thought he really set the tone early. And obviously another one, probably a bit of an underrated player still. I think his poor brothers and he was just off fire in that game. I know you saw a bit of that one swing. So 23 points. He was eight of 10 shooting. I think maybe at halftime, he was six of six from the field, including five of five, three pointers.
00:31:33
Speaker
Every three that he hit was from the same spot. He was kind of that trailer sort of, you know, three from the top of the key there. They eventually sort of, you know, caught up with it and sort of actually played a little bit of D on him near the end. But, yeah, and they also had some good service from Marvin Fidel off the bench there with 13 points and five rebounds. Yeah, it was interesting because Liam Moss was pretty down in that game. At one stage, I think at three-quarter time, he had zero points and four fouls. And we mentioned that on the call there. But, you know, he found his way a little bit in the fourth and ended up with 10 points.
00:32:03
Speaker
Of course, they didn't have import Sean Montague in that game as well. So it was interesting in that game. He warmed up and looked a little bit tentative with his ankle there. And then I asked one of the coaches and they said, look, his ankle is a bit crook. He's also had a little bit of a bug as well. Then at one point in the second quarter, we saw him take off his warm up shirt. We're like, oh, here we go. But it's like he wanted to play, but they decided just to rest in there. So that was probably a good luxury to have given they were playing the next day.
00:32:29
Speaker
up at Central Coast there. So, look, in terms of the Penrith men's team, yeah, I think they're really going to be struggling this year. I mean, they've had some massive losses this year. I mean, some big losses there. So, look, I feel like they're a hard-working team. Just seem to lack a little bit of skill in that, perhaps that go-to player and offense there. So, big difference in this game was three-point deficit there. So, the Hornets were 15-30 for the game.
00:32:54
Speaker
Pendereth are just two of 15. So if you had those difference, 13 made threes, that's 39 points and they won by 40. So I thought that was pretty interesting. One player that did stand out was the high-flying Kaley Beaumont to Fuer there, who had a couple of really big dunks in that game. But yeah, I think they are going to struggle a little bit, that Pendereth men's team this year. But yeah, happy for the Hills guys. It was nice to see that smile on their face after the game, which they haven't had a lot of the last few weeks. And it obviously set them up to that big victory on Saturday night.
00:33:23
Speaker
It's funny just how it went down with Ben Kieran as a former Penrith player and went to Hills because Penrith didn't have a team in MBL1, basically. That's the effect of even just having one season out of the top flight. We've seen it with clubs throughout the years. We saw when Illawarra didn't have a women's team, how long it's taken them to get back competitive.
00:33:49
Speaker
Just, yeah, I mean, Comet's women are obviously in a great position, but it just shows how hard it can be to come back. Just having that one. Lucky Charlton's another one for the Hornets as well. He's a Penrith junior there and he actually missed the game, actually had a bit of a workplace injury last week and hurt his wrist. So he was gutted to be missing a game. He said, you know, they've all got to be missing and have to be this one there. And he's been pretty handy this year as well.
00:34:11
Speaker
No, you're right. These teams miss out and you go to another spot in the location and you settle in there and you stay there. Well, it took Cabrera what three clubs to find his home at the Sharks, right? We're very happy to have Mr. Cabrera.
00:34:30
Speaker
And I don't mean that as a read, I just mean that as an observation. I know that he's played for other clubs before, but I'm glad that he's sticking with the Sharks, because he does look very comfortable and happy at the Sharks. But really interesting, like great observation, Robbie, about Pernos, three point percentage and attempts, two from 15, as you mentioned. I also noticed that when they played against the Crusaders a couple of weeks ago, that their three point percentage is
00:34:56
Speaker
not their strengths, they definitely are a team that like to run and they run quick and sometimes a little bit chaotically. But when you get caught up when you're the other team getting caught up in their style of play, which I also noticed with the Hills women, when you're the other team getting caught up in their style of play, that's when you're gonna, you start to lose whether you're the most skilled team or the the team pick to win, you get caught up in that. It's game over for you. But I think with
00:35:23
Speaker
Yeah and good shout out to Beaumont as well because again against Crusaders he only had a few minutes towards the end of the game but he came on and lit it up and hit like three threes and took it to the rack and put Penrith you know a little bit back into the game so be interested to see if he gets some more minutes as the season continues
00:35:44
Speaker
But to be fair, Penrith have always had quite a strong Youth League men's program. And understandably, very young team, very raw first time in NBL one and playing at this standard and going from the Youth League competition for men and women jumping up to NBL one, it's a big jump. It's not just a matter of you're the right age, now you'll be fine. It's still a big jump. It's like you have to start from the bottom again and and work your way up into
00:36:11
Speaker
rotations and minutes and things like that. So I reckon, you know, if this core group sticks together, if they're a core group that have played Youth League men a lot, they'll stick together. They've got a great coach in Jared Moore. I think give them a few years. I reckon they'll certainly won't be bottom of the table. Lockie, did you have anything to add for that men's game before we move on?
00:36:36
Speaker
Um, no, I think that's just about covered it. If we're going to start talking about Hills, then I've got plenty of questions for Robbie or a couple anyway. Excellent. Fire away. Fire away. I think that's a great segue. Um.
00:36:53
Speaker
Well, if we start, if we're going to take a look at Hills, Hills women, um, obviously no Erica Pitman, no Paris Raditas anymore. Um, bit of a transitional period at the point guard spot for Hills this season.
00:37:08
Speaker
Yeah, definitely so. And I think the Rosses certainly got younger. There were sort of big losses there in Raditas and Pittman, two of the veterans on the team. Love the way Paris Raditas plays defense as well. She just, you know, create havoc up the top of Tarimani last year. So, yeah, I think you're right. They definitely loaded up with a lot, it's a lot younger team. Obviously, you've got Wendy Strong there, so it's kind of balanced out that average age there. But, you know, you're seeing some younger players coming in there.
00:37:33
Speaker
You know, talking about the point guard there, young Brittany Soules kind of shown something there. She comes in and doesn't look out of place there. She's got a nice looking shot on her there. You know, a little bit sort of undersized there, you know, against some of these bigger, especially some of the bigger body, Penderith women's plays last week. But yeah, I think it is a bit of a transition at point guard there and probably something they need to work on there. Look, I mentioned that younger talent there. I think there's some, some young promising plays there. We've seen young Ella Liassu there.
00:38:01
Speaker
17 years of age, she's huge. I'm probably 6'4 on a good day, and I always like to, when you see some of these taller players go up some sort of thing, she's 17, she's definitely taller than me, and she's probably got a bit to work on in her game there, but yeah, some real good signs with her, because I think they probably are lacking a little bit in the size department of the Hornets team.
00:38:23
Speaker
Yeah, what else you got for me? I've got a few more notes, but happy to... Well, you wrote straight into Ella, which is the next player I was going to ask about. I'd be glad that she's someone I've been keeping. I'd be anyone with even half an eye on...
00:38:37
Speaker
the New South Wales women's program has been keeping an eye on Ella over the last couple of years. Got a very, very good temperament. You never sort of see her, you know, show any emotion or anything else like that. She just sort of goes out there, does a roll and then comes off there. But I think they probably need to get her a little bit more involved on the offensive end there. I think especially with these bigger players, you know, you feed them a little bit on the offensive end and then they're probably going to be a little bit more motivated down the defensive end or on the boards there. So perhaps that's something they need to do with her. But yeah, certainly good to have, you know,
00:39:06
Speaker
a player of that sort of size and that talent at that age, I guess. The other one I was going to mention as well, guys, is the return of Taylor Cotties. She sat out last season with, I'm probably still on Lucky's notes again there, but sat out last season, you know, the birth of a child there. She's been a really good addition coming back in there, you know, they've been bringing her in off the bench and really like the way she plays. She's just fearless driving to the basket.
00:39:28
Speaker
good defender, I can hit the open three as well so she has been a big addition. I honestly just think that MDL won these women's compasses to improve more this year so that's why I can possibly see Hills going down a little bit there.
00:39:44
Speaker
you know, last year they finished 8th out of the 12 teams at the time with an 8 and 12 record. I know you're probably going to ask me for a prediction with them squealing. Look, I feel bad even saying that sort of thing, but I think, you know, honestly, probably that 12th to 14th spot is probably a realistic position where they might sort of sit now. And look, you can see it as well. They're one of those few teams. It doesn't have any WMDL players. They certainly don't have any imports. They don't have the import like the Hills and Men's team have got.
00:40:10
Speaker
They are up against it. You know, I mentioned the first three games I've called this year, there's been Penusas and the Kolmanger and Tapaya there. So they don't have that sort of next level play that they can put on their back and sort of fire them home there. And obviously a new coach this year as well, Rob Merrick's taken over. You know, he's been a big part of the Youth League Men's Championship team there.
00:40:29
Speaker
replacing Darren Marshall so I was a little bit sad that mean Darren Marshall go way back actually used to play with him in the in the 90s there he was a great player back in the day was an amazing three-point shooter there so I think they're probably just adjusting to Rob's style there and everything like that
00:40:45
Speaker
Yeah, that's probably just a few little takes on the Hornets women there.
Evaluating Hills Women's Team
00:40:49
Speaker
I think I just wanted to ask a bit more about Taran Mani. So another player that Lockie and I got to see last week at the 3x3 Australian Uni Nationals that was in Sydney. And we made the comment, Lockie, about how well she can guard anyone from one to five. But when I saw her play on the Central Coast on the weekend,
00:41:11
Speaker
I wonder if she's being played in the wrong position or if she's perhaps not, whether the offense isn't run in a way that's going to get her more touches or more scoring opportunities, considering she's probably the strongest scorer in the team. What do you think, Robbie?
00:41:28
Speaker
Yeah, it's probably a good course when she's certainly been getting a three pointers up these last few games there and it's been pretty accurate in both those games on the weekend. But look, I really like the way Taran plays there. I dub her the steel queen last year. I mean, she just picks people's pockets all the time. You regularly see on a game, she'll just steal it from someone and just, you know, have an uncontested, you know, fast break by herself and score. But I think with the way they treat her on defense there, they pretty much put her on that best player on the other team playing at one to four positions. She obviously wouldn't be on the, on the five there,
00:41:57
Speaker
she'll guard pretty much any one of those three players I've mentioned you know in you know Panousa's manga and and Tapaya she was certainly the the first starting matchup on those three players there so yeah I think she's obviously got a lot bigger role this year you know we mentioned with Rudidas and
00:42:12
Speaker
and Erica Pitman moving on so she's kind of stepped up to I'd say probably her and yet singer are probably the two important ones there and on yet singer as well she started a little bit down so far this season had a decent a better game anyway against Central Coast but just her field goal percentage has been really low this year I think she was in the 20s last time I sort of looked there but so I'm expecting that she will sort of improve on that a little bit and I think she's an important player as well her and Cassie Petney there you know
00:42:38
Speaker
mentoring people like, you know, Liasu Asu and some of those younger players on the team. But yeah, Taramani, I mean, some really good games last weekend and certainly expecting a lot more and expecting that to continue for the rest of the year. Yeah, and a quick note from me about yet Zenga and Pentney, I feel like they're also other players.
00:42:58
Speaker
uh that need to have more offense run for them so they can get more touches and more scoring opportunities um pentney especially because she can be really handy under the basket but uh even if you use yet sangha as a bit more of a facilitator like she was really good in the first half against the crusaders and then just faded away in the second but i feel like she probably didn't get as many touches which i find really odd you know you go to the well until the well runs dry essentially so you got to stick to what's working but
00:43:26
Speaker
Lockie, I'm sure you've got some comments to make about the likes of Marnie, Ytsenga and Pentney. Well, I think you're 100% right, Squin, although as Robbie said, if Ytsenga's field goal percentage is down, that does make it a little bit tougher. But you mentioned Pentney working under the basket.
00:43:50
Speaker
We touched on it before, this league is not massive height wise. Even when we get import bigs, they're not proper big bigs. I really feel like that is definitely one area where hills could probably find
00:44:08
Speaker
find some success is going to work in that area. He touched on Taylor Cotties. I mean, it's great to see her back. I was actually smiling because I actually played soccer with Taylor's brother. So that is my connection to Taylor Cotties.
00:44:26
Speaker
And she doesn't look like she's missed much of a beat, to be entirely honest with you. You know, coming back from giving birth, she still looks like, you know, she takes off like a stabbed rat every opportunity she gets. Um, I think it's like, like you said, they've, the Hills rust has probably stood still slightly and others have gone forward, but I still think there's, there's enough there as a core to, um, go forward in the future. And if they can get the right players, the right touches in the right spot, there's still reason to be optimistic.
00:44:54
Speaker
it's one of those teams as well you could potentially just add one sort of go-to player whether it's an import or whether they can recruit recruit someone else and obviously takes a lot of pressure off some of these girls we mentioned and could move them up I mean look the only game they've won this year is against Inner West that first round when I believe Inner West were without Dompkins and Leilani Mitchell as well so they probably got lucky in that game there and
00:45:14
Speaker
on a bit of a losing streak now. Look, I hope I'm wrong with that prediction, you know, with 12th to 14th there, but I think I've just been realistic, you know, just with the way this NBL1A women's has improved this year. I mean, you look at some of the teams above them there. I mean, you know, Bankstown weren't in the comp last year. They've sort of started to play pretty good. Penrith, the new teams, you know, pretty decent. We'll see how they go with that. And even in the West, obviously, you know, they've struggled so much last year, but they'll be a lot better this year as well. So.
00:45:40
Speaker
Yeah, I hope I'm sort of wrong with that one, but I think it's going to be a little bit up against it for them this year. And you mentioned that one go-to player, like we've seen Bankstown, you know, from no import to one import to two imports. And look how they went this way, 2-0 against teams that should be challenging for finals.
00:46:02
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. That's why I like the E so much. It's still so unpredictable. Even when you're having a third place playing against 11th place, it doesn't mean it's going to be a blowout. It could be just as close as a third place playing fourth place. So yeah, it's always going to be entertaining and exciting.
Analyzing Hills Men's Team Performance
00:46:20
Speaker
But speaking of imports, Robbie, now the Hillsmen have
00:46:23
Speaker
Sean Montague as their import for this season and you mentioned earlier he didn't suit up against Penrose, which I found surprising A because of the margin and B because he didn't suit up. He did suit up against the Crusaders though the next day and it seems like that resting him a little bit longer worked in their favour.
00:46:45
Speaker
Yeah, look, I think he's still settling in and adjusting to the leg, to be honest with him. He's playing professionally, I believe, in Poland last year. Every game I've called him this year, he's gone into early foul trouble, so I think he's just adjusting a little bit to the way the game's called over here, but there's no doubt some talent with him there. I heard you mentioning the coverage there. He doesn't really look for that three-point shot. You're probably right. He's sort of taken from the corner if he's open, but he's always just looking to drive or pass him in a three-point line, then cut to the hoop and try and get the ball back.
00:47:14
Speaker
Look, it was a big coop for the Hornets to get an import there. You know, everyone was really excited to have him in there. I've got to say as well, really nice guy, really sort of softly spoken guy. Sometimes not what you'd expect from, you know, the American import coming in, he's not sort of loud and brash and that. And he seems to have settled in really well.
00:47:30
Speaker
every time I'm out there with my daughter who's sort of playing out there, he's doing coaching clinics and everything else like that. So he's settling in really well. But yeah, I think he just needs to adjust a little bit more to it. But I like the signs he's got there. And yeah, this guy's just a walking bucket on the fast break if he gets that chance there. I mean, he's one of the more fun players to watch in the warmups. I've got to say he's got unbelievable hops on him.
00:47:53
Speaker
Yeah, I was a bit worried that he was going to jump too high. I've made jokes already about Markell Beasley from the Sutherland Sharks putting a hole in the roof with his hops.
00:48:04
Speaker
Then in come Sean Montague and I was like, okay, listen, mate, you're either going to put a hole in the roof or you're going to put a hole in the ground when you land. So let's just try and avoid some injury because we still want to get you to play, but his hops are outstanding. My first look at him, the pre-season against Panerith, I think someone took a three pointer from the top of the key. He basically ran in from behind him and did this massive dunk tip in pretty much as soon as he'd come on the court and the whole stadium just erupted there. So you're looking forward to more of that from him.
00:48:32
Speaker
Yes, yeah, I'll certainly keep an eye on him. Hopefully his ankle injury isn't too bad. I wasn't too sure what injury he did have when I text you on the game day against the Crusaders, but he did come off later in the game with, it looked like he tweaked an ankle. I don't know if it's the same ankle that he was recovering from, but he certainly looked like he was in a bit of pain. He did an ice at those, so I wasn't too sure if he wanted to go back on the court.
00:48:59
Speaker
And I don't think he ended up going on again after he tweaked it. But yeah, really interesting. He looks so uncomfortable from the three point line.
00:49:08
Speaker
Like he was so hesitant, it was almost like he didn't want the ball in his hands, but he shot one from two, so you just back yourself mate. But the Hills guys, like now that I've seen them in the flesh, I was really surprised that they haven't won more games. They have some seriously skilled players on their roster. You've already mentioned the likes of Brotherson, Kieran's, Liam Moss was really great for them.
00:49:33
Speaker
Who was the other one I quite liked? Fidel. Fidel was pretty good as well. Great on D. He played half the game. He did little bits and pieces, but still in a way that he was like, didn't make too many mistakes. So I think that's always a good thing as well. But yeah, so what do you think has been missing for the other four rounds for Hills to not get another win under their belt?
00:50:00
Speaker
Look, I think they had a pretty tough start schedule wise to the season, to be honest. You know, they had the comets there, they had Newcastle come into town who were playing really well.
00:50:09
Speaker
had in the West, that first round again, it was probably a little bit closer than what the final margin suggested there. So yeah, look, I think probably just a little bit schedule wise, I guess. So, you know, look at a little bit on the men's team there. So they were eighth last year out of the 12 teams with a 10 and 12 record. So they were near that 50% mark. They finished the season strongly winning three of their last five. So I mean, look, they've come back with a pretty similar roster, obviously, with the addition of Sean Montague. They lost veteran David Heyman.
00:50:38
Speaker
And Jake Bricasch, who is an important player, you mentioned that, you know, the three X three before, he's obviously a great player in that sort of format there. I believe he's taking a bit of a gap here just to work on his physiotherapy business that he's got there. So we may see him back next year. He's been out at all the games there. So I think he kind of can't stay away as well at the moment. So
00:50:57
Speaker
Look, I've added a few youth league players as well. Monroe Wilson and Mitch Smith have all come in. That's good to sort of see some of those guys get some minutes there. But I think you're right with that course when, you know, it's Moss Brothers and Kieran and Fidel all coming back there. I mentioned before as well, Marvin Fidel seems to be that really unheralded player for me.
00:51:17
Speaker
comes on plays great defense really you know safe with the ball very good shooter probably doesn't you know shoot it as much as he potentially you know could um i'm not sure what your thoughts were on big camel green there but i'm liking that his development there he's coming coming along looking pretty good um a couple of weeks ago he was really undersized against uh miles cherry there i think cherry probably had a good 30 kilos on him so he sort of beat him up a little bit down low there but
00:51:42
Speaker
No, I can see him sort of moving up there and a big shout out to coach Reese Potter as well. He was coaching the under 18 championship. Really good coach there. And I believe you saw Richard Howard doing the job there. Sometimes we know him as Santa. Other times we know him as Richard Howard. But he was making a few jokes with Reese, I think, after taking over and going 2-0 in those two games on the weekends.
00:52:04
Speaker
Yeah, I think Montague is probably the big one. If they can get him 100% healthy and sort of define that role for him there, I definitely think I can start moving up there. I probably predict they might finish between about 7th and 9th potentially this year. Certainly I think they need to get above that 50% record and that would be a successful season, I guess.
00:52:24
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. Defining Montague's role a bit more because there were times where you kind of forgot he was there because the core players and the likes of Moss and Kieran's and Brotherson were already doing so much and being the engine.
00:52:38
Speaker
both ends of the court you kind of forgot oh actually they've still got Montague to add to this but how do you add him where do you add him when uh so it's about finding that balance and making sure that everyone's skill set complement each other i did like green i think green certainly got a lot of potential so it'd be interesting to see how he develops as his career continues in the mbl1 east um
00:53:00
Speaker
But yeah, I think hopefully the likes of Patrick Tyrrell as well starts to get some more minutes. I know he's probably young, another one lock-in I saw at the 3x3. I don't think he played in that Central Coast game. We didn't. No. That was surprising, yeah. Yeah, I was surprised too, actually, because he's still got some size. Yeah, he's a big human. Yeah, yeah.
00:53:22
Speaker
And we don't have a lot of big humans under the basket at the moment. So he at least for the sake of size, just to be disruptive and just to be a rim protector would have been handy for a couple of minutes. But Lockie, have you had much of a chance to scope out the Hills men's team?
00:53:37
Speaker
I haven't this season. You know, we haven't played them yet here at Sutherland and it's been a very busy time for me. But as you said, it is a much, much the same roster as last year and very, very excited by Kieran's putting up the performance he had against Penrith on the weekend. And you mentioned Marv Fidel. I know, I've noticed that.
00:54:02
Speaker
Of course, just only chance I really get to see teams up close is when they come to Sutherland, but he does look like someone who's really, just someone who is happy to do his job and just get things done. And you might not always notice him, but he's going to give you something. I mean, he played 25 minutes in the end against Penrith and probably
00:54:28
Speaker
Uh, you know, six turnovers, but yeah, you still put up 13 and five. He's a great, he's a great guy as well. I'm sure you guys have probably have your favourites, you know, when you're commentating, you start to get those little favourites there. So he's certainly one of my favourites there. Look, you mentioned Kieran's before as well, Lockie. He, um, he came into the Hornets team probably about halfway through the season last year. I believe he was doing, um, training with the police force down in Golden there. So.
00:54:51
Speaker
He never kind of really found his feet coming into that season last year, but he looks a completely different player this year. He looks like he's really enjoying his basketball as well, which is good. But yeah, he's, he's very impressive. Got a very unorthodox game, I reckon as well. Funny sort of shape and size. So he's probably taller than you think, you know, he's kind of that nuggety sort of build there and a bit unorthodox, but yeah, you can certainly make things happen. Yeah, I totally agree. Yeah. What were you going to say, Lockie?
00:55:16
Speaker
I was just saying, that's an interesting note that he was actually busy with, you know, police force training. Cause I was really up for him coming to Hills last season. You know, I was like, Oh, great. That Ben, you know, still found a spot in new NBA one with Pinterest, not having a team when he was playing. I was like, something up with him because obviously I didn't know the backstory at the time, but, uh, you know, it sounds like he's now got a proper preseason under his belt and you know, you can get on a roll. It could be really good for him.
00:55:45
Speaker
Yeah, and I'm glad he used that word unorthodox, Robbie. That's exactly what I thought when I watched the game on the weekend. He walks on his toes as well. I noticed he's quite a toe walker, toe runner. He has got that stocky size, especially for a guard, but he's still super quick in full court and off the first step. But he's really, really good for someone of his size.
00:56:08
Speaker
making space with that fadeaway jump shot. That's obviously what must have been one of his go-tos going up and that's certainly like one of his best traits. But yeah, really, really good that he's back. And just quickly, Robbie, your comment made about Santa going two and zero when Reese Potter has been unavailable. You're not the only one that has made that observation this season all last. I don't know if there's something in that.
00:56:34
Speaker
But yeah, no, I think Santa's done a really, really good job this week. The boys just look really well organized and they look like they were buying into the game plan and very, very rarely deviated from that game plan when they played against the Crusaders. So might be something in that. Santa might be getting a more frequent call up. Who knows?
00:56:53
Speaker
But just as we're wrapping up, thank you both of you for your sound observations. It was great to have a deep dive into Hills, who is probably a club that we haven't featured very much yet on eScott game. You know, despite our infancy, this is only our sixth episode. But also, Robbie, also like that you're the best guy to get get into talk us about the Hills Hornets because you are you're there every weekend. But here's the fun part.
00:57:22
Speaker
I'm going to throw to you both for our All-Star 5 for round 5 of MBL 1A's 2023. Now it was probably a pretty decent round to judge All-Star 5's given how many teams were playing double headers and also with no COE. So Lachie, give me your women's All-Star 5. All right, here we go. So of course with so many double headers,
00:57:48
Speaker
One performance, not enough to cut it. I don't care if you put up 61 game. If you didn't bring it in both games, not making the All-Star Five. You're out. So, we did have a lot of players who put up, you know, one good game or one really good game and one decent game. So, like Sarah Matthews had that big 27 and 16 against Hills. Matty Norris dropping 30. Jada Crosshore, 26 against Sutherland.
00:58:13
Speaker
A couple of near triple doubles, Ella Dent, 11, 12, and nine against Hornsby, and Fliss Henderson, 10, nine, and 12 assists against Inner West. And, uh, Taron Marnie putting up a couple of, uh, putting up 20 points in, uh, both games, I think. Oh no, sorry, 20 in one game, 14 in the other.
00:58:31
Speaker
and Tyler Mundine 25 and 11 against Illawarra, but we'll have all the top stat leaders up on the Instagram page. So no one misses out. But to the All-Star Five, kicking it off with a pair of Comets players. So Vanessa Penoosa's first name on the team sheet with her 21 points, four rebounds and seven assists in the win over Sutherland and 40 points, four rebounds, four assists getting the win over Central Coast, 84-67.
00:59:00
Speaker
just absolutely lighting it up. Someone got her. I think people are and she still can't be stopped. And she still can't be stopped. Um, ably supported by someone who also can't be stopped, Shyla Hill. 17 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists in the win over Sutherland and followed it up with 24 points, seven rebounds, nine assists and two steals in the win over Central Coast as Comets maintain their spot atop the table.
00:59:28
Speaker
Emily Simons from North. So fortunately, North are knocked off by Manley in a close one, 73-70, but M put up 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals, and then followed it up with another 23 points and seven rebounds, this time with one assist and five steals against Penrith in their big 57 point win. And we've been talking about some veterans. Well, here's another one, Michaela Domkins for Inner West, 16 points,
00:59:56
Speaker
25 rebounds and 7 assists in the win over Hornsby. And 19 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists in a loss in a 74-50 loss to Manly Warringa. And finally, Bankstown, Violet Morrow, Eastern Washington University, welcome to the league.
01:00:16
Speaker
30 points, 12 rebounds and 4 steals in the win over Canberra and 21 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in a 65-62 win over Aubrey Wodonga and one I should have also mentioned in the honorable mentions, Brittany Wright the other Bankstown import had 22 points and 8 rebounds against Canberra so very well chosen imports for the Bruins this season.
01:00:40
Speaker
Yeah, whoever's doing their scouting and recruiting has done a really, really good job. So props to them for that. Yeah, what a great spread. Great shout out to our friends, Emily Simons and Michaela Dompkins. Michaela Dompkins having to resort to the ice bath, understandably, after putting up such massive performances on the weekend. Leilani Mitchell putting that on her Instagram story.
01:01:07
Speaker
So look, nothing secret revealed there if it's out for the public to see, but can feel your pain from here, Michaela. And we just love everything that you do. So keep going after those buckets. Now, Robbie, I'm very interested to hear who you got for your All-Star Five. First of all, welcome to your first All-Star Five for eScott Games. So hopefully you'll be back to give us some more. So what have you got for us for round five?
01:01:34
Speaker
Well, firstly, it was tough with those 13 games. I think Locky's right. I was trying to get more players that have played the double, but I did end up with two people, actually one guy on my fire that only played the one game. So a few honorable mentions from me. I mentioned Ryan Beasty had 17 and 17 and a loss against Maitland. James Hunter in the same game with six and four blocks.
01:01:57
Speaker
Alex Higgins-Titcher had two really big games there. He was in consideration. Lewis Holley from North with double doubles in both games, including a staggering 38 rebounds in the two wins there. So he was probably the most unlucky not to make the team. Glenn Morrison, I know you've got the nickname for him, Squin. What's that one again? Oh, so that was, I think that nickname's actually coined by someone in Canberra. So I've stolen that from their commentary team, but he's the Brindabella Beacon.
01:02:24
Speaker
And that's right. We had 25 and 14 versus Bankstown, probably a bit more, more of a standard game for him. And lastly, the Sharks pair there and Mark L. Beasley, obviously lucky with a sign. A lot of those are 26 and 10 and that game winner against the comments and Lachlan Hutchinson with.
01:02:39
Speaker
39 points across the two big wins there. So they are the honourable mentions, but in terms of the All-Star Five, I had to put Junium to do it in there, right? 50 points versus Penrith there. So not much more I can say about him. He also backed it up. We had 24 in the first game against Manly as well. So yeah, looking forward to call his game in a few weeks. That's going to be very exciting there.
01:03:01
Speaker
had to put Ben Kieran's in in that other guard spot there. I thought he was just instrumental in those two Hornets victories there. Certainly the game I called there with the 36, three and five steals. So certainly making his first appearance for the year.
01:03:16
Speaker
Got a little bit creative there. I put Will Davo Hickey at the three, which is probably not his position there, but I had to put him in there there. He had 31, eight, six, and five steals there. So I couldn't leave Davo Hickey out of the team. The other forward spot, really impressed by Michael Golding from North. So he triple doubled versus Penrith with 11, 12, and 10. He also got 13, five, four, and four steals against Manly. So really stuffing the stat sheet there.
01:03:43
Speaker
and yeah mounting out the team we had Christopher Bryant from Inner West there so he averaged 23 and 9 for the round in those two wins for Inner West there so yeah it was really difficult task doing that so apologies if I've missed anyone there but it was certainly a fun exercise anyway.
01:03:58
Speaker
Yeah, no, you've done beautifully, Robbie. That's a really, really great, I think, round up for the round. And shout out to Mark Golding, who's gotten the first triple double of MBL1 East 2023. I did have to fact check that with Locky late last night, so thank you for confirming. I didn't confirm, I said I don't think anyone's got one.
01:04:19
Speaker
between the two of us having to like go through the stats most week to prep for the show. I think we could be pretty confident like if someone's going to get a triple double would remember. And also shout out to Chris Bryant from Inner West Bulls making his first appearance in the All-Star Five and I think Junior Madute maybe? Yeah.
01:04:37
Speaker
I have to check. I've got it written down somewhere. I did go off script a little bit. We missed the news and gossip segment of our show, which we will probably finish with now, given the timeframe.
NSW Teams in 3x3 Uni Nationals
01:04:52
Speaker
Did either of you have any injury updates, news, gossip, some tea to spill? Let me have it. I don't. I don't, to be honest with you. So I'll have to leave that for lucky there and see what he's got for us.
01:05:04
Speaker
I don't have any tea to spill, but I do want to shout some people out. Sure. I want to shout out the all New South Wales final four for the 3x3 Uni Nationals women competition.
01:05:19
Speaker
That's an excellent shout out. Are you able to remember the teams and the players? No, but I wrote them down. So, so yes, three X three big hustle uni nationals were this weekend and the final four. All new South Wales teams and the vast majority, uh, NBL one East players. So in force, we had UTS with Annabelle Bowden, Dayla Walker, Piper Anderson and Sari Mowbray.
01:05:46
Speaker
Bronze medal went to Macquarie University with Erica Pittman, Nicole Hutchins, Hill's own Taron Marnie and Grace Beavers.
01:05:54
Speaker
silver medal in a massive boilover after they knocked off Monash in the quarterfinals, University of Wollongong with Mia Bruce and Illawarra trio Ella Dent, Maddie Delaney and Mel Kirby and the gold medal, they couldn't be stopped, the University of Sydney, Alexandra Kaerus, Holly Wills, Karla Pittman and Meg Jefferson. Whilst in the men's, Yousid also got the win with Mikey Jung, Maddie Wachar
01:06:22
Speaker
Mitch Smith and Josh Payne. So plenty of MBL one East representation and those gold and silver medalists will be heading to New Zealand for Oceania Championships.
01:06:32
Speaker
Yeah, some really great talent. It's so good when we can see it on the 3x3 stage because, you know, everyone's accountable on O&D in 3x3. And, but it also gives them an opportunity to show off their skill set a little bit. I was super impressed with Alex K. Roos, and I was talking to Lauren Curtin, the assistant coach of the Comets, yesterday briefly, and she made a comment about how much Alex has just worked on a game and improved so much in the last 18 months. And
01:07:01
Speaker
It's good to see her hard work is coming to fruition. But in terms of news and gossip from me, it's all a little bit doom and gloom. So maybe I'll just leave it. I think there's just some suspected injuries waiting to hear if Talia Tupai is going to be okay.
01:07:17
Speaker
We noticed Zoe Miller was absent this round, so hopefully she's okay. But we did mention that COE didn't have any games on account of under 18th Nationals, but it also looks like some of the graduations have started to happen because Ben Henschel from the men's program, who we spoke about not too long ago, lots of times in our Eastcott Game episodes, has already signed to where, Robbie? Where is he signed?
01:07:42
Speaker
Mighty Perth Wildcats. I was very, very excited to read that today. Yeah, that's great. Great pickup. Huge pickup. And it sounds like John really, from what I have seen and read and heard, is focusing on harnessing on that local talent. So it sounds like you're very happy with that signing, Robbie. And for those who don't know, Robbie, one half of Throwback Hoops podcast, big Perth Wildcats fan. And Atlanta Hawks, correct?
01:08:08
Speaker
Very correct. Yep. I actually had other COE news. Alex Condon committed to Florida. Yes. Yes. Very good pickup locky. He did commit to Florida. That's very exciting for him. And you know what I find a little bit funny with that story is that the AFL have gone on a limb and said, Oh, but, but if he, uh, if his NBA dreams don't come true, he said he's going to sign to Collingwood and we're like,
01:08:33
Speaker
Let's just settle down here, guys. The kid just committed to Florida. He ain't going anywhere. Keep your mitts off our basketball players. But that's it for another week of Eastcott Game. Locky and Robbie, you have been absolute standouts today. Thank you for joining and putting in all of your hard work covering our content.
01:08:54
Speaker
Uh, we'll be back, I suppose, after round six. Um, I'm not, yeah, round six plus Illawar and Sutherland both play Indonesia this week. So make sure you catch those games as well. Just in the men's. Just in the men's. That's right. Illawar and Sutherland both play the Indonesian national team. Very, very good pick up blocky. That is going to be great. Uh, is, do you know if it's available on KO freebies?
01:09:20
Speaker
I think it might be on the MBO1 website. Yeah. If all else fails, it'll be on the MBO1 website. We can catch all of the games. But otherwise, lads, thank you very much again. And thank you to all of our listeners and followers on Instagram. Yeah, hopefully we'll see you again next week.