Hoops Capital off-season wrap (July 7)
Hoops Capital’s stars definitely came to play during the latest round of NBL1 action, which saw the competition celebrate Indigenous Round as part of NAIDOC Week.
In particular, a number of Sydney Flames shone for their respective teams, including Lauren Nicholson in just her second game back on the court since the arrival of her son Ari.
Flame #133 totalled an incredible 48 points (including four triples), seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals as Sutherland edged Albury 95-86.
Her Sharks travel to Illawarra next Saturday.
Not to be outdone was Flame #223 Carla Pitman, who produced a triple-double (32 points (including six triples), 14 rebounds and 11 assists) with six steals as Norths smashed Hornsby 103-59.
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She backed it up with six points, three boards, two dimes and two steals as the Bears outlasted Illawarra 82-64.
Norths teammate Caitlyn Martin added 23 points and 15 dimes across the pair of wins too.
The Bears, who are without coach Renae Garlepp due to her under 19s World Cup commitments with the Australian Gems, host Central Coast next round.
Elsewhere in NBL1 East, Piper Anderson had 18 points, three boards, two steals, two blocks and one assist in Sydney’s 102-66 defeat to Canberra.
Her Comets will look to rebound against Hornsby in round 14.
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To the Kings and Jaylin Galloway (24 points, five boards, three steals, two assists and two blocks) starred as Bankstown kept their finals push alive by downing Penrith 88-62.
Next up for the surging Bruins is Canberra on Saturday.
While Sutherland, coached by Shaun Roger and featuring Jason Spurgin and Kouat Noi, split their round 13 matches with Newcastle (lost 87-77) and Albury (won 97-90).
Across the two games, Spurgin totalled 28 points, 19 rebounds, seven dimes, two steals and two blocks, while Noi contributed 22 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block.
The Sharks travel to Wollongong to face the Hawks next weekend.
Shifting north and Makuach Maluach’s Mackay Meteors split their road trip games against Townsville (98-92 win) and Cairns (93-90 loss).
Across the two fixtures, King #243 had 44 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal.
Next up for Mackay is Logan on Friday night.
On Logan, Flames’ Mikhaela Cann tallied 13 points, 10 boards, three dimes and one steal as her Thunder edged Sunshine Coast 76-71.
Her Thunder host Mackay next round.
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Moving to NBL1 South and Flame #200 Keely Froling had herself a game as Launceston defeated Mount Gambier 72-60.
In the triumph, the Australian Opal put up 26 points, 17 boards, three dimes and one block.
Next up, the Tornadoes play road games against Sandringham and Eltham.
Agnes Emma-Nnopu was also in the weekend’s winner’s circle, as her Knox thumped Nunawading 86-40, thanks to seven points, 13 boards, two assists, and one block from the Flames recruit.
The Raiders, who are second with a 16-3 record, play Ringwood and Keilor in round 14.
In that Knox vs Nunawading fixture, Shaneice Swain featured for the latter and put up 14 points, five boards, two steals, two blocks and one dime.
Swain also had seven points, five rebounds, two rebounds and two steals against Waverley.
Swain’s Spectres travel to Mount Gambier next weekend.
Newly signed Flame Lara McSpadden had six points, 10 boards and one dime in Diamond Valley’s 76-63 loss to Keilor.
McSpadden’s Eagles next face Melbourne and Hobart.
To the Kings and Keli Leaupepe’s 12 points, seven boards, three assists, and one steal helped Knox edge Nunawading 83-82.
The Raiders, who sit in first with a 15-4 record, next face Ringwood and Keilor.
Stay up to date with all of Hoops Capital’s off-season news here.