Transcript
Speaker: Welcome back everyone to another episode of East Got Game, where we give you the X's, the O's and the insights of MBL One East. Thanks for joining us tonight live on YouTube and Facebook.
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Speaker: On this week's episode, we'll be covering our East Scott Game Game of the Week between Hills Hornets and the Inner West Bulls in the women's competition. and the headlines from the round.
Speaker: Unfortunately, this week we won't have an interview with a very special guest, um but that's probably something we can explain about later. ah But first, let's do a check-in, Lockie. How are you doing? It looks like another exciting weekend in the East.
Speaker: Oh, Lordy, wasn't it just? It was a mammoth week, and I was lucky enough to call Lauren Nicholson dropping 48 points in a must-win game against Aubrey Wodonga, which was very nice after calling Matty Norris' 50-piece last week. So, yes, it's a very, very exciting weekend across the board, but that was a ah that was a personal highlight.
Speaker: All your favorite players, especially your favorite Sharks players, just putting on an absolute show in the last two weeks for you. Ah, yeah. What can I say? i'm thankful i'm I'm thankful for every moment that I get to call Sharks games, especially when they do things like that.
Speaker: And did you get to catch any of the men's competition over the weekend? ah Well, of course, I i called the Sharks-Aubrey-Wodonga match, which was...
Speaker: Crazy. I mean, that Aubrey Wodonga team, they are they're better than their record suggests. That's for sure and certain. I think in the last couple of weeks, they've got the chance to ah to upset the apple cart a little bit. I don't know how many games they actually have left against teams that can make the playoffs. But I think they've got Hornsby and they've got Comets.
Speaker: So Comets, if Comets don't have Bawali and Devo, they'll have to be... ah on on their best form to make sure this Aubrey-Wodonga team doesn't trip them up.
Speaker: But to be fair to the Sydney Comets men's team, when we reviewed their one of their games early in the season against the Crusaders, they didn't have Bawali or Devo and they looked pretty good.
Speaker: So I'm confident they can get that job done against Aubrey Wodonga. um i have to say as well, I don't know if there's a nicer way of of saying this, but you know the Comets men have a similar roster from last season to this season, but are performing much more to their ability and their potential.
Speaker: Last year, I felt like that they were dramatically underperforming and there's been a new head coach in the realm. And I wonder if that has something to do with it. Possibly. it Also, you know, another year under their belts with a very similar roster and players like Anthony Mundine III growing in experience.
Speaker: You know, things might just be culminating very well at the right time. for the comments you know they've they've had their uh they've had their trials and tribulations and now they're they've uh got it all got it all humming along in the right direction well let's get into the headlines from the round uh locky what's the main headlines that you can find from the men's competition after round 13.
Speaker: I think the thing that everybody, when you look at the ladder, will see first is that there are four teams tied for six at nine and eight.
Speaker: And the Sharks are 10 and eight having played the extra game. The top four is set. Oh, the teams are set. The order isn't set. But the teams are set. ah Nine and eight, four what separate teams. So Manly Warringah, North, Central Coast, and Newcastle, and Bankstown, all sitting at nine and eight.
Speaker: Norths play Central Coast next week, and i think Central Coast also still have to play Bankstown in these final couple of weeks. Meanwhile, that Sutherland team has to play Illawarra this coming week, which down in Illawarra,
Speaker: Not going to be easy for them to get to stay ahead of the pack. So it is massive. um I believe there's still in excess of 90 different tiebreakers, whether it's between two teams, three teams, four teams, five teams that can decide who gets into the top eight. ninety 90.
Speaker: That's outrageous. That is outrageous. For a comparison, in the women's, it's about 30.
Speaker: which is still a lot, but it's not 90. Yeah. 90 is just unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. And like you said, so the Sharky's are playing the Hawkeys away, ah that they're currently in fifth position.
Speaker: But they're 10 and 8. So Bankstown play the Gunners as well. So that's not going to be easy one. Manly playing Inner West Bulls and North versus Central Coast.
Speaker: Manly versus Inner West Bulls, given that Inner West Bulls are 14th on the ladder, had a bit of an up and down season on paper. Yeah.
Speaker: This looks like a very good win, like a clutch win for Manly. But this is a good opportunity for a team like the Inno West Bulls just to cause some chaos in the ladder placings and beat them.
Speaker: Isn't it just? And I mean, especially like that Bankstown team, they're coming into form. Like you wouldn't want to if you're one of those other teams, you can't be like, oh yeah, Bankstown, they'll lose to Canberra. Bankstown, they're hitting their straps at the right time. Actually, Andre Walford came down to Sutherland because ah Port Macquarie were playing Waratah League.
Speaker: on the sunday morning before nbl one man actually he actually said he he saw my instagram post about uh port mccrow being touted he dropped everything and came to the stadium but i was talking to him and he was saying they are they're they're hitting form at the right time and everything feels really good at bankstown so you know they are just got to get in and they can really make some waves
Speaker: Yep, and even though there's a few different competitions on at the moment, there's a couple of fever competitions ah and things like, and there was the NBL kind of exchange competition where you saw Spurgeon out for at least one round.
Speaker: None of that's happening that's going to affect that Bankstown or that Canberra roster. No, no, everyone's high. I think the only person who's been away for, um the only time player that I can ah no one on that Bankstown or can between the only extra player I can think that's been out is um gotch Malawal has been out for comments because he's been representing Australia so yeah um no no excuses
Speaker: No, no excuses. No excuses. So yes, we are very, very excited to see how that's going to play out. Which one or two, or like how many, which one of those 90 possible outcomes is actually going to come to fruition.
Speaker: So it is top eight going through this season. do you want to place a punt on who the sixth, seventh and eighth team is going to be? Yeah.
Speaker: I think Bankstown will take one of the spots.
Speaker: And then o i think i think Manly Warringo will take one. And then though i yeah and then i think it comes down to that Central Coast-North game this weekend.
Speaker: um If one of them you know gets up and can get the split there, that might be enough to put them over the top. Well, Central Coast, to be fair, they're rolling as well. Like you were saying about Bankstown Bruins, the Central Coast have started to fire at all cylinders at the right time of their season after two weeks ago, knocking off are Sutherland Sharks at home.
Speaker: ah If they just continue to bring that heat, especially on the defensive end, I think they can snatch this win against North. They definitely got to make sure ah that they're focusing on some for and against points.
Speaker: Has Hunter Goodrick been playing ah the last couple rounds? i Yes. He was injured there for a little bit.
Speaker: Yeah. So he um I'm sure I saw his name in there. Narrow, yes. He had 21 and 11 on 8 of 12 shooting in that narrow loss to Illawarra on the weekend. And Austin Patterson had 22. So despite the fact they lost, I mean, taking Illawarra to 103, 101 is certainly you can take positives out of that.
Speaker: I also wouldn't rule out Newcastle yet. They play Maitland, Central Coast and Hills. So not an easy run home, but not one of the tougher ones either. And they're 8 and 9.
Speaker: Yeah, that all they're all very gettable games for them as well, very g gettable games. So, yeah, eight and nine in tenth position, just waiting for the right time to swoop in and snatch that eighth spot. And what about the women's competition? What's happening in the women's competition after round 13?
Speaker: Well, I mean, you can't go past Riley Look for setting an NBL1 scoring record with 55. And Sammy Mack was telling me that – ah She was on 44 and he was going to pull her. And I think you think he said it was Matt Gray was saying, the record's close. Go get the record. And, ah you know, they were up by so much. It was like Savvy said, he's going to give a short run. And she she entered the room she went from 49 to 51, driving, getting the layup. And then she actually had a four-point play to get the record.
Speaker: So she hit the three and got the free throw to go from 51 55.
Speaker: Wow. So not just breaking the record, but breaking the record in style with a rare four point play. What an absolute legend. And I know that Sammy Mack would have been very upset with himself.
Speaker: Had he pulled Riley off early without knowing that she was on track for the record. I reckon he would have been livid with himself. So like a great assist from Matt Gray, letting coach know to keep her in. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. it's um Yeah, so 55. I mean, you have to take the opportunity. You never know when everything's going to fall into place like that again.
Speaker: So very happy to see Riley get that. And then and then Lauren Nicholson backing up the next day with 48 against Aubrey Wodonga to keep Sutherland's shred of a hope alive.
Speaker: They've still got to watch every single other result to see if their hopes stay alive. But... ah go down to Illawarra this weekend. That's a gettable one. And then then they just have to... I'm glad you're so confident, Squint.
Speaker: and Yeah, they'll be right. And then make sure they beat Inner West by at least eight to get the split. And then hope everything else falls their way.
Speaker: Yeah, and when you say everything falls their way, what's an example of something that needs to fall their way? Is it essentially people above them in the ladder dropping games that they should win? Well, yeah, so Bankstown play Canberra and they're both already on nine wins. So one of them has to go to 10. Inner West are on eight already and they've got four games left where the Sharks only have two.
Speaker: So Inner West, even if Sutherland beat them, they still need – Southerland still need to have Inner West lose another two. And I think they play Central Coast on the last day of the season, which Inner West would be thinking they should win.
Speaker: So it's definitely not in their hands, especially Canberra also play a lot of – I think they play – they play Bankstown, um which is obviously, as I mentioned, they play Hills, but then they play Maitland. So one of them has to win a game.
Speaker: So – You know, there's a lot of game, there's just a lot of match-ups that conspire against the Sharks and that someone has to win each time.
Speaker: Yeah, very interesting that Inner West ah have't have only played the 16 games compared to everyone else that have done 17 to 18. Yeah, so they all have, in round 14, they'll have Hornsby at home and then Manly away.
Speaker: then they'll have Sutherland away and Illawarra. Illawarra, not central coast. ye so Yeah. So yeah. Sutherland are banking on, you know, inner West either losing to Hornsby or Illawarra or both.
Speaker: Yeah. Goodness me. So, um Sharky's might need to call in some favors from some of the other clubs like that are low on the ladder, like your Central Coasters. They're playing North next, so that's not gonna probably make much of a difference in their stakes.
Speaker: ah But what about Bankstown? We were really rooting for both Bankstown teams this season. um particularly then when Bankstown Bruins added Shiloh Hill to their mix to make this dream run home to the to make finals.
Speaker: They are in six with the 9-8 win-loss record with Canberra next round, like you said. However, they have been suffered a massive blow.
Speaker: yeah that i mean that's just horrible news shyla heel going down i think slipped on slipped on the court at bankstown and um yeah last i saw was her insta story with a a knee in a brace asking for tv series recommendations which is never never a good sign unfortunately No, and did she slip on a decal? Is it decal gate like in the and NBL or was it just a wet spot?
Speaker: I haven't watched yet, but i someone said a wet spot. But I don't – yeah, but I'll have to go back and actually watch. And I was actually – was doing some research onto how much – Bankstown have improved the year from before Jada Rice got here, then when they had Jada, then when Juju arrived, and then with all three of them. And um like that their offensive rating went up from average 105 112, almost just with the addition
Speaker: to already having rice and jujuw there um And they were like, not just the raw offensive numbers, but how much they were putting over teams compared to what those teams usually give up.
Speaker: Teams giving up 1.2, so 20% more points to Bankstown than they usually would ah when all three of them are playing. So... um Yeah, massive, massive change there. And um yeah, best wishes to Shiloh. And hopefully Bankstown can ride this out and still make a good push towards finals.
Speaker: Yeah, they were playing some pretty good basketball before Shiloh arrived, like you said. So I'm sure that they'll... have the confidence to keep going, um all or nothing. ah So yeah, but wishing them the best of luck, best luck to Shiloh. Nothing confirmed on her injury.
Speaker: Like Lachie mentioned, just basing it off what she's posted on social on her social media. ah But Bankstown have Canberra next round. Then they finish the regular season with a home game at manly against Manly and then an away game at the Central Coast. So if if someone from your Sharkies have any friends within Manly or Central Coast, that can perhaps ah inspire them to get a win to better their chances. But I don't see that happening.
Speaker: uh no i don't think bankstown are the team where uh thinking you're going to slip up in this uh this uh whole whole schmozzle that is the uh lower end of the top eight and think i think uh i think bankstown will be uh getting a final spot somehow But can we also just take a second to celebrate on behalf of the Manly Warringah Seagulls women?
Speaker: They're on top of the table for, I think, the first time this season. And in the last couple of seasons, they've always been up top four. They've always been between that second and third, rarely the fourth spot, always second and third. And now they're at the top. They are on fire. They are flying 13 wins in a row.
Speaker: I think that's what someone said. Yeah, so they were 2-2 to start the season. They had a very tough start to the season, like in terms of their schedule. Yeah, so fifteen and two they got the splits.
Speaker: um So they've got really got one loss up their sleeve if they do slip up in one of these last three games. But things looking very, very good for the Manly Warringah Seagulls and still with the return of Alex Delaney to come.
Speaker: Yeah, that's right. Looks like she's had a great vacay to celebrate her milestone birthday, which I was very envious of slash inspired for the time that I can do a European vacay for my next milestone birthday. It looked sensational and hope she had a really great time.
Speaker: And her gals have been doing it while very well while she's been been away. They've played fantastic. And... They have the Inner West Bulls in round 14 at home.
Speaker: Then they've got Bankstown away, as we mentioned, and then they finish the regular season with a game at home against the Centre of Excellence. That game against the Centre of Excellence is the 19th of July. And I have a feeling it may still conflict that date with the FIBA Women's U19 World Cup.
Speaker: Let me just have a quick check. Because that that tournament actually starts on the weekend. Yes. So the FIBA Women's u nineteen a Basketball World Cup is going to be held in Chechia this year.
Speaker: We've just finished the Men's World Cup and our emus came sixth, I think, fifth or sixth. ah which was Six, which was still a really good result because that was a very talented bunch of guys at that competition. Very talented.
Speaker: ah So, yeah, the U19 Women's Basketball World Cup starts this weekend on the 12th of July and goes until the 20th of July.
Speaker: You can watch all of the games live or the replay on the FIBA YouTube channel. ah So that game will actually... clash with Manly Warringah's last game of the season against COE at home.
Speaker: There are a couple of people in this GEMS team at the World Cup at the moment that still play for COE, and there's a big one that's going to be missing in that COE game.
Speaker: um um Hopefully you're picking up what I'm putting down. Fagan? Fagan. Yeah. Very big omission.
Speaker: Yes. That was the thing. When you say Manly COE, I went like this because it's like, but what do you make of that game? You know, you think first versus fifth, ooh, that's a tight one. But what do you make of the COE team? who Who might show up?
Speaker: o yeah Yeah, so on the official tournament website, they've got like ah they had like a roster tracker, but the team has been officially announced online.
Speaker: And you can also, ah Ruby Perkins is also going to be missing for North, as is their head coach, Renee Gallup. um So they they've already gone over to Portugal for two weeks to have training camp before they head to Czechia for the World Cup.
Speaker: yeah you You calling games, Squint? I will be calling some games, Lockie, yes. I'm very, very fortunate to have the first Aussie game against Marley on the like opening game of the tournament, first Aussie game, and I'm very, very fortunate to be commentating that one on YouTube. So if you do happen to watch, please keep your comments.
Speaker: on the kinder end of the spectrum because there were some doozies last week when I was calling some of those men's games. but I mean, honestly, they should just turn the comments off on YouTube on live streams because well I was watching the Under-21 Handball World Championships and it was just some guy, some guys asking for like tips to bet on, on the Under-21 Handball World Championships.
Speaker: It's like, get out of here. Well, if it's not, if it's not um gamblers, most of the people in the live YouTube chat are people who are gambling on the game. And then in between there's some other gross people that need to be moderated and kicked out.
Speaker: But unfortunately, part of our role as a FIBA YouTube commentator is to interact with the chat. So, yeah yes, ah which is unfortunate.
Speaker: But, ah yes, so it also in that squad that will be missing for COE is Zara Russell. Oh, big, big outs. That's also a big out. But a good opportunity for some of the new scholarship holders to step up in that big game against Manly. So ah all is not lost.
Speaker: And also FIBA Asia Cup Women's Division B starts on July 13th where Daylin Pilatardi and the Cook Islands will be there.
Speaker: Oh, yeah. Yeah. Tell us a little bit more about her. So Daylon Pilatardi is the Sutherland backup point guard. ah She's actually injured at the moment, she's still traveling over with the team. I think if anything, her basketball IQ will be like having an extra assistant coach on the bench.
Speaker: One of three triplets playing... part of the roster. And yes, so I had, so I had my Cook Islands flag out, which i displayed at the Sutherland game on Saturday. So yes, 18 tournament to play for the right to ah move up to Div A at the next tournament.
Speaker: Yes, that's correct. That is correct. That's something that they've brought in only very recently. ah But I really like that part of the tournament because the last Asia Cup that was held, I think in 2023 and was in Sydney, made it really, really exciting.
Speaker: between Chinese Taipei and Lebanon because essentially the winner of that game was either promoted or relegated and Lebanon got it in the end. So I think for the first time perhaps ever Chinese Taipei are now, and and I shouldn't say ever, but certainly the first time in a long time Chinese Taipei are now in Group B.
Speaker: uh or division b i should say and they're in division b with iran tahiti the cook islands kazakhstan thailand india and mongolia mongolia have just come off a great 3x3 world cup that has the absolute giant slayers so it'd be great to see what they can bring to the asia cup but yeah so asia cup um Division A is also going to be on very, very soon.
Speaker: um I don't think we've got any East players, though, representing in that tournament.
Speaker: ah but they're all that there's a lot of but But there's a lot of FIBA women's tournaments on at the same time coming up in July.
Speaker: And yes, they'll all be on YouTube. Yes, they will. Yeah. And the only other, speaking of fever, I think the only other the headline I'd like to slot into this segment today, ah we did plan to have an interview with CJ Moran from the Illawarra Hawks today.
Speaker: um he was very keen and we were very keen to speak to him, but got the last minute call up. to go represent Team Syria at a FIBA competition.
Speaker: And he said, I've just got the last-minute call-up. I've got to go. I've got to postpone the interview. we're like, you get on your way, buddy. yeah i think i think that's going to be far more important than being a guest on Eat a Scott Game. But he is keen to have a chat to us when he comes back, so that would be great. Yeah.
Speaker: But we wish him also the best of luck. He has played for Syria ah before at a FIBA tournament, the previous Asia Cup. So it was great he could get a call up again. And I'd love to learn a little bit more about how that all came about.
Speaker: And we wished him luck. And we said, just go protect that rim like you do in the NBL 1 East. And he said, that's what he's going to do Well, I think the if he plays like he plays in NBL 1 East, he's going to do very well.
Speaker: He's going to be he's he's go to be okay. but um I'm keen to see. I know that, yeah, maybe we'll talk to it more when we catch up with him, but I'm very keen to see if he's going to get on an NBL roster of the DP. Yeah.
Speaker: Yes. um Nonetheless, that probably wraps up the headlines of the round and it's time to get into our Is Got Game, Game of the Week, which was between the Hills Hornets and the Inner West Bulls Women.
Speaker: Lockie, this game was okay.
Speaker: To be honest, I've watched a lot of games of basketball in the last week. You did say that. Yeah, so perhaps my barometer of quality of games is has been altered.
Speaker: ah But this game, it was fine. ah It's not a game I'm going to be rushing back to rewatch though. No, it was, well, I described it, I ah mentioned it, I said it was the form team of the comp, or one of the form teams of the comp in Hills against a team that's scrapping its way to finals.
Speaker: um And the form team won out in the end. um
Speaker: Yeah, it was, it was...
Speaker: It could have been, yeah. i think I think both teams would look back, particularly Inner West would look back on that game and say they've got plenty to ah improve, especially as Inner West, you know, if they want to do more than just make finals, I wouldn't want to come up against a Bankstown or a Canberra in week one um or even whoever finishes fifth out of that log jam at the top five um in week one and have to, you know, put in that kind of performance because you'll be going home as sick quickly as you were there.
Speaker: But, yeah, it was it was was okay. We had Robbie and Andre on the call, which was cool.
Speaker: Yeah, it was good to hear them again, actually. um i could tell Robbie is always very well prepared for his calls as well, so I have to give credit for to him for that.
Speaker: um Just another top note about this game. It was really hard to analyse the parts of the second quarter. God, they lost the pan can. Oh, my gosh. Someone was getting very creative with those camera angles. I think what happened was they lost the pan camera and then were trying to do pan and zoom with the one camera.
Speaker: Mm-hmm. But they... didn't have, obviously, because it was zoomed in to start with, they didn't have the it zoomed all the way out. So, for yeah, for about four or five minutes, I was ah was kind of seasick after watching that.
Speaker: I was seasick too. i was seasick too. I was getting ready to, like, buffer through that part of the game because it was really off-putting. It really was. But um yeah, I think with about five and a half minutes left in the second, they, um yeah, they sorted it out.
Speaker: So yeah, that was, that was not good, but I mean, they sorted it out in the end and from then on, it was, it was pretty good. mean, it was good to have the KO game as our game of the week. Yeah, yeah, I think so as well, yeah.
Speaker: um But the plus side of having that very extreme focus in the second quarter, I've got to give props to Tyler Mundine. Loved her hairstyle. It was a beautiful ponytail, lovely crimp.
Speaker: I think she styled her baby hairs and if she looked great for someone playing... full minutes in a semi-professional sporting game, ah but also gave us a chance to have a better look at the Indigenous jerseys because it was Indigenous round ah ah ahead of NAIDOC week this week. So that was a plus of that ah very focused camera view as well.
Speaker: But, yeah, it did make me seasick. Yeah. ah So let's get stuck into it just before we wrap up to watch the Matildas game very tip are kicking off very soon.
Speaker: What were your overall impressions from the first half? From the first half? um Well,
Speaker: I say the first half, but it was probably throughout the game. Inner West, defense and turnovers. First two things they had to improve. um Those are a whole game thing. And I think anyone who watched even a small part of this game will notice that straight away.
Speaker: um First, off I didn't like how often Christina Moore was bringing the ball up because I felt it was at the expense of Talia Tupaya being able to be aggressive as a first option.
Speaker: And I know Hills have brought in some players in recent times like Kennedy Johnson who can really defend well. but it almost felt like they were deferring to that matchup not occurring and giving it to Christina Moore to get things done.
Speaker: um And I just thought it didn't have to be too prior on the ball, but I would prefer Moore not to have it first up. I know she had 34 and nine, um but I just think it restricts what the offense is going to do. It almost tells Hills what's going to happen first.
Speaker: if Christina Moore is bringing the ball up, in that she's either going to back someone down or go ISO. And because she's not a point guard, she can pass the ball, but she's not a point guard.
Speaker: Yeah. And I think as well, just from a personnel rotations point of view, sometimes like when your best player between Tapia and Moore, then having to bring the ball up and then pass it around and then just to get it back.
Speaker: Um, Yeah, it's just, it's just kind of adds to the fatigue. It adds its limits. Like you said, scoring opportunities for them to get out and run in the lanes, try and get something in transition, get something on the trail, weak side pass, the catch, just something else other than when they bring in the basketball up. ah Yeah, that was a, that's a really good point. But speaking of turnovers, as you mentioned, they did have 23 turnovers, the inner West Bulls to the Hills Hornets, only 10.
Speaker: So, yeah, I think that was definitely an error an area that they needed to work on. and It was interesting because one of their first players of the game was Talia and Christina running a pick and roll straight up the middle.
Speaker: And Christina had that, think it was floated from just inside the free throw line. And i was like, all right, well, Talia and Christina are going to be doing a lot together today. And it didn't really didn't really pan out that way. And in actual fact, they didn't run a whole lot of sets throughout the game at all.
Speaker: No, they really didn't. They really didn't. I think they just kind of relied on motion, relied on ah but most of the time it was Mundine, Tupaya and Moore on the floor and the other two were kind of just there to be extra passers and facilitators. There wasn't even, like you said, not a lot of sets being run other than a couple of pick and rolls between the to pyre and more not a lot of screening action it was just kind of like pass it around see who's open or rely on to pyre or more to create their own scoring opportunities yeah and i mean in comparison to hills who once they i mean can we just talk about hills baseline out of bounds play
Speaker: ah Robbie's favourite on the call. love that. that the Well, on the the one that noticed was Kurosame just comes out, cuts, and just completely blocks off both defenders and Ella Gale just waltzes straight up the keyway for the pass.
Speaker: It's beautiful. See, this is as good as that is for Hills. Like, props to them for the execution as well. But... but That kind of, for me, was one of the frustrating points as well because they ran the same baseline out of bounds three or four times in a row. Yeah.
Speaker: They got scores two or three times in a row. And the one time another time could have been a score, but then it was just a misplaced pass it was fumbled out. Like, come on, defense.
Speaker: yeah like Yeah. the back screen, it was a basically, like you said, it was an up screen for Elagal to roll off to the basket. Yeah. The first time they ran that, the could be there was such poor communication on defense about, hey, a screen's coming.
Speaker: Hey, are we going to stay or switch? And then we just don't do anything and Ella Gale gets the layup. And then they did it like another four times. Yeah. that was the The first time I was like, it's awesome. The second time was oh, they did it again. and they buy But yeah, like you said, by the third or fourth time, you're like, if Ella Gale is at the top of the arc,
Speaker: for a baseline out of bounds, just anticipate that it's coming. I'd rather you anticipate it's coming and get burned on some other play than get burned on that they play for the third or fourth time.
Speaker: Like, it was it was the two sides of the coin of, like, good job by Hills to keep running it until it stopped working. But also, inner west, come on, guys. Like, it's the same play.
Speaker: Make your defensive adjustments quicker than that. This is supposed to be semi-pro. Yeah. Yeah, it is. um i mean, Hills, I...
Speaker: they, they work to their strengths pretty well. Like they don't have a true post up threat and they don't try to, you know, they don't try to send someone like Gail in there to try and back someone down because yes, she gets in the paint. Cause she's a very good rebounder, not because she's going in and, you know, backing people down. I thought they, they did that well.
Speaker: Um, And I mean, now that I've got, I mean, I was so impressed with Liz Smith when she played against Sutherland and not just for going 31 minutes without missing a basket.
Speaker: And now that they've got um Kennedy Johnson into the starting lineup, they just, it's it's almost it's like Sutherland almost with Lauren Nicholson. It's like, what if this had happened three weeks earlier or four weeks earlier?
Speaker: Where could this team be?
Speaker: Yeah, I feel really bad for Hills because they are much they were much more organised. They have a much more better intention in what they're doing. Like Jade Kurosome is such a great leader for that team as well. She's G-ing everyone up. She's sitting playing and setting an example for everyone to follow.
Speaker: And I think she's a great role model for some of the youngsters like your Sienna Clarks and your Ella Gales, who also had really great games on the by the score sheet.
Speaker: Yeah. But, yeah, I just feel for them because they have such good intention and I wonder, like, I feel like they should have their season again. Yes. Yeah. And, I mean, yeah it's like the period from, you know, Cherie's in there and then you've got you got to try and figure it out. You know, losing a player of Cherie Kalea's,
Speaker: quality in literally the first game of the season. It's probably the yeah it's the absolute worst time for it to happen. you know At least if it happened in preseason, you can probably make some adjustments. But so many players are accounted for by the time you get to the season.
Speaker: Finding someone to replace play a player of that quality is just tough.
Speaker: yeah Yeah, it's really, really tough, really tough. So their bad luck unfortunately started early for the season for Hills. But, yeah, I just kind of wish that they could have a little bit time again, just a little bit.
Speaker: And um um I'm pretty sure they'll at least retain a lot of those players from this season. Hopefully they can have Kurosame back as well so they can build for next season and hopefully have a bit more success that they deserve because they obviously put a ah lot more effort into it.
Speaker: Yeah, definitely. And like, I mean, they could bring back Smith and Johnson because on my whole second quarter is like pick and roll Smith and someone Smith and Gale. And then it's um Smith and Johnson and Gale in that double screen with four minutes to play.
Speaker: um in the second quarter. You know, every Griffin running, Hannah Griffin running a pick and roll with Johnson. They just absolutely dominated. and And every time it was one of their imports, either as, you know, the ball handler or the roller.
Speaker: And you can show their kind of team concepts and commitment to playing team basketball is reflected in this game in their assist count. They had 25 assists as a team.
Speaker: Elizabeth Smith had eight, Kurosame had five, and Nikki Warner had four. um And their shooting percentage wasn't too bad, 41.46%, including 40% from the three-point line. so they were making some pretty sound decisions too.
Speaker: i just think on the defensive end, Hills also could have showed a bit more improvement. Like Kurosame was always up and in. Nikki Warner was wearing Christina more like a glove in ah in parts of it.
Speaker: um But, yeah, I just think that... If they were able to develop that a little bit more with the rest of the roster and increase a bit more defensive intensity, ah yeah, they would have been a bit more successful in the season. And i like it it was good in moments.
Speaker: um It's just a matter of carrying that throughout the entire game. but There were times where Sienna Clark was giving Christina more all she could handle. But then, you things just fall apart a little bit in times. And, you
Speaker: They, you know, they could have inner West, you know, further behind with how many turnovers and soft turnovers inner West were giving away.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. That's a bit of a bummer. Yeah. ah So some of the stats, though, from the first half, just looking at the analysis stats, um,
Speaker: ah this Hills improved on their three-point percentage in that second quarter. Inner West i don't didn't make a three-point shot in that second quarter, but they got six second-chance points.
Speaker: And it was that second quarter that gave Hills the the edge because they won the second quarter twenty two to thirteen after losing the first quarter nineteen or twenty six Then they went on to win. Hills went on to win the third quarter twenty eight to 21 and able to they then they led the fourth quarter for the whole time were able to hold on to it so that's a really gutsy win for hills and those those stats like the two point compared to how many three pointers they shoot when their two point percentage is so high in a west and when they've got someone who can be so dominant inside is really really interesting to me um
Speaker: And then you've got T-Rex, sorry, Talia Tupaya, who can get into the into the paint as well, so well. um So, like, didn't make a three all second quarter.
Speaker: um And they said they definitely were taking them. o Yeah, they were eight from 33 for the game. So that's 24.24%.
Speaker: did Did you get a sense that maybe they were just settling for the free three because nothing else was was available? But yes, but I also feel that sometimes things weren't available because, as we said earlier, they weren't running a lot all the time.
Speaker: So, i I mean, there definitely were times when they were they were settling. um There were couple of times when Christina had some transition three attempts, which, I mean, that's not that's not the worst thing in the world, but there definitely were times were settling, and I just would like to see them go to some players' some strengths more often.
Speaker: Because you've got Christina Moore and Tali Tupaya and three imports, two of whom start. I mean, should have quality there. And now any other, so let's talk about the second half now. Did you find any particular differences from each team comparing the first and second half? Or did you find that it was more of the same, same? i I felt like it, the things I talked about at the start that I said, the turnovers and the defense, I think the turnovers from inner West got a bit sloppier, but I will say that,
Speaker: This third quarter was where we saw O'Shea come into her own really well and demonstrate that she maybe could have been more of an option earlier in the game and that in future she can certainly are you know take on a bigger scoring load because there was a real microcosm of what she can do. She had straight-up three and then... ah And then ah post move on Hannah Griffin. She got the mismatch in the paint on Hannah Griffin in the very next possession and just spun by her and laid it home. So she can certainly score in a variety of ways. I think she finished with 15 points.
Speaker: Yeah, 15 points, five of nine shooting, hit two of two from three point range. So, you know, they were eight of 33 for a team, but she was two of two. so Yeah, another what if.
Speaker: Yeah, she's certainly been a very good addition for them. And, you know, on a day where Christina Moore had 34, but Talia Tupaya only had 14. And Talia only shooting, you know, only had the same amount of field goal attempts as Tyler Mundine, which is ah kind of interesting for someone who can create her own shot, get to the rack, hit a three ball, and is.
Speaker: yeah known as an absolute superstar in this league from you know her previous seasons.
Speaker: yeah that's right yeah only 12 shots for the game is actually really surprising for talia to pyre um but yeah it's interesting i wonder if o'shea will return to inner west next season or she'll get picked up by another nbl1 club if she chooses to return to nbl1 at all given that she was able to showcase what she can really do just in that quarter alone um But I think the biggest issue is how how long the season runs in Asia that she's playing in beforehand.
Speaker: think she was playing in the Taiwanese League, which runs fairly late. So just makes it difficult to get players here when their season runs run so late. And that, I mean, that might have to, in future seasons, be, maybe we talked about it before, ah it might have to be a recruiting strategy. you can't You can't recruit players who are going to be big parts from these leagues who where you could be losing them until May, but then you come back to the discussion about should the season start later. like
Speaker: Like North does. Well, North only started later because there's less teams. True. yeah but But still, it did mean that everyone was there, or just about everyone was there for the start.
Speaker: I would say just about everyone. yeah um Probably more than compared to the East, for sure, in in the men and women's competition.
Speaker: But yeah, North is... um starts later because there's there's fewer teams now. And then this year for the finals they'll only take a top six and not a top eight. So it's three weeks instead of four.
Speaker: Yeah. Yes. And then there's, you know, some longer road trips. Like they play Friday night games and things like that. So I think they also try and squash in everything quite but quickly as well.
Speaker: ah But, yeah. So any other notes from the second half? Yeah. I actually did write fair but why write a fair whack of notes on the fourth quarter, actually.
Speaker: um ah Because, like, Inner West had a chance to get... they i Not just get back into it. They were down 72-69 in an attempt at a three. So they had the shot to tie the game at some point.
Speaker: um But um they were down... Yeah, after Tyler Mundine hit a three, it seventy two sixty nine They had the ball under their own attacking basket, and the pass out to the um top of the arc was just half a meter short and dropped straight in a Hill's player's hand.
Speaker: They get the defensive stop. They come back down again. and then a cheap tip away on the entry feed and it's stolen so they had two chances in the space of 30 seconds in a west to tie this game or get within one point um gave it away and then kira so i may and clark hit threes and bang it's back out to 78 71 as quickly as it
Speaker: and if you you know if you If you get stopped, that's one thing, but to two times in a row give up turnovers on your chance to tie the game, you're just straight up shooting yourself in the foot.
Speaker: ah was And it was the style of the turnover as well. um I thought this was a part of the game where... um where how you mentioned that Hills weren't always quite there on defense um because I think their D-trans let them down a couple of times in the fourth quarter, if we're being entirely honest, as they were trying to extend that seven-point lead out further.
Speaker: i And that um kind of let... um
Speaker: I kind of let Inner West back into the game. But again, just bad decisions from Inner West late on. Christina Moore fires it into the corner. think Wakumatsu was in the corner. And Talia Tupai is there like, I'm wide open right next to you.
Speaker: Give me the ball. Yeah. And and yeah, Christina. And she knew it. As soon as she threw the pass, she had her head in her hand. She knew it what she did was wrong. And I mean, she'll learn from that. But yeah, it's just the kind of plays that you can't afford when you try to claw back.
Speaker: a two or three possession deficit late in the game. um But then... And then... Hills just capitalizing on defensive breakdowns again and pushed it out.
Speaker: And once Kennedy Johnson stuck with that bobble ball with about two and a bit minutes to play, it was game. I think that got it to 89-78. I think i think a couple of InterWest players thought it was going to be a kick's ball because it did hit a lot of feet on the way through. Kennedy Johnson was dribbling through.
Speaker: and hit her foot. It hit someone else's foot, but it was all called just unintentional part of the play. And Lane just opened up for and At that time, yeah, 89-78 was game. But yeah, in a way, they had their chances to bring this back after letting it get out and just couldn't capitalise when the opportunities arose.
Speaker: Yeah, and look, when you speak about the lead changes, the big threes that were made throughout the game, either end, particularly in the second half and some of the turnovers, it, on the surface, was an exciting game because there was still a lot happening. There was still a lot to be entertained by, you know, like like you know easy cuts to the basket on the baseline inbound, big threes being made.
Speaker: it on the surface was an entertaining game and you're like okay to watch it but then when you start to analyze the game as to why was that three open why was that curl cut to the basket so open for ella gail then like oh wish i could could unsee it so it's almost one of those it's almost like a reality show where you're like i'm just gonna take this for entertainment value and not read too much into it because it will make me angry Yeah. You know when they say like, oh it's a game for the purists? This was not a game for the purists.
Speaker: No. This was a game to go and watch with your besties, have a couple of beers from the bar and some chicken nuggets from the best canteen in NBL One East and just have a good time. There was that kind of game. che cheer ah Cheer on the made baskets and get hype.
Speaker: Get home, yeah. And be very thankful for the fact that you got to watch Sienna Clark drop 17 points because as of the game against Sutherland a few weeks ago, she's my new favourite player.
Speaker: To go with the 50 other favourite players I have, yeah you got a long list you got a long list i do but yes sienna clark had 17 points uh five rebounds four assists two steals uh shooting at 75 overall and uh kennedy johnson top scored for hills with 20 points and eight rebounds then ella gale massive double-double with 18 and 12 in just 22 minutes and 30 seconds of play. So she's hustling.
Speaker: And she took a knock. She got tangled up with Calavitas in the, ah I think it was in the third quarter and they both hobbled off. And so I dare say she would have ah played a few more minutes if she wasn't setting a spell to recover from that contact. Yeah.
Speaker: And Kurosame ended the game with 16.63 rebounds, five assists for Hills. And as you mentioned, Christina Moore for Inner West with 34, nine and two.
Speaker: and then O'Shea with 15, four, two and two. ah So that that is the wrap up of that game, Lockie. ah i think we'll be quite strategic with the games that we review in the next couple weeks, given the desperation and the tension and the importance of a lot of these games. So I think we'll be, we'll feasting in the next two rounds.
Speaker: Yes. Well, ah definitely. i mean, there's so many games that matter so much. I mean, on the men's side, North's crew, Bankstown, Canberra, Maitland, Newcastle, Illawarra, Sutherland, ah four matches right there that all have big implications for teams on both sides. So um yeah, but,
Speaker: I mean, you do have, I mean, for all the critique we've had of teams, I think you've got to shout out Christina Moore, because she was still cooking. I mean, 34 of nine. She was 13 of 23 from the field, four of 11 from three-point range. I mean, she she scored in so many different ways. that That banker from just outside the low block was absolutely ridiculous. And the one over Johnson, I think was over Johnson it was.
Speaker: So, yeah, lots to work on, but they've still got they've still got an informed Christina Moore. And Talia Tupai did have 14 and 13 in the end. So she did rack up 13 rebounds.
Speaker: So Hills have in the next round, in round 14, Hills play the Sydney Comets away. Then they play Canberra Nationals at home. And to finish the regular season, they play Newcastle Falcons away.
Speaker: ah So, yeah, that's going to be a decent way to end the season. Not bad ending a season in Newcastle because I imagine everyone's going to go out afterwards. Yeah. and Everyone can get a amongst it out in Newcastle.
Speaker: ah But just before we wrap up, just a reminder that the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup tips off on Saturday the 12th of July. Australia will be playing Mali in the opening game of the tournament at 7.15 Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Speaker: And then on Sunday 13th of July, they play Brazil 10 p.m. at ten pm australian eastern and standard time and we'll also have the fever women's asia cup in china where your opals will be playing that tournament tips off on sunday the 13th and the opals are playing gilas filipinas for the opening round at 6 30 p.m australian eastern standard time on the sunday uh july 13. gilas Yes. Big fan.
Speaker: Big fan. That's going to be a really great game to open the Asia Cup. Should be very fun. And be nice to Squinn in the comments of the live stream. Yes, please do. Otherwise, you'll get booted anyway.
Speaker: Love it. up But otherwise, ah apologies again for not having an episode last week. I did get my schedule mixed up. I was i had to leave to go and do a FIBA game that I thought was on the next day.
Speaker: so apologies there wasn't an episode last week. But some of the other news that we shared last week was that Wally Bales is off to Summer League with the Knicks and Dave O'Hickey is off to Summer League for the Chicago Bulls.
Speaker: Chicago Bulls. So he's gone from one black, red, and white team in the Hawks in the NBL to the NBA equivalent.
Speaker: There we go. But that is all for this week. Thanks again for tuning in online live via Facebook and YouTube. ah Remember, you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel at Eastcock Game.
Speaker: And you can continue to find our episodes on your preferred streaming platforms. Otherwise, Lockie, what do we really need to remind our listeners about? Don't sleep on the East.
