By BACT Media Unit – 13 July 2022

After Saturday’s undefeated day for the Academy sides, it was the Canberra Gunners and Canberra Nationals turn to maintain the winning weekend of basketball at Belconnen Stadium, as they took on the Inner West Bulls in Coles Express NBL1 East action. With their Saturday games against Maitland Mustangs postponed due to floods in the Hunter region and surrounds, both teams were bursting out of their skins with energy to put on a good show for their home fans.

The Canberra Gunners started off proceedings against the Inner West Bulls, who were looking to get back to their early season winning ways.

Canberra got off to a hot start on both ends of the floor, restricting the Bulls to just 13 points in the first quarter while piling on 33 points of their own. The rest of the game was close with both teams trading baskets back and forth, but the Bulls were never able to recover from the 20-point hole they dug for themselves to start the game. The Gunners secured a comprehensive 106-85 victory to extend their winning streak to three.

James Toohey (22 pts/7 rebs) was on fire from the three-point line, splashing in six triples from ten attempts in a super-efficient display of shooting. Will Mayfield stuffed the stat sheet as usual, leading all scorers with 25 points while adding five rebounds, six assists and two steals. Rounding out the double-digit scorers was Glenn Morison, with the big man tallying 17 points and 7 rebounds.

For the Bulls, Chier Maker scored 21 points with four three-pointers and Alexander Higgins-Titsha (20 pts/8 rebs) nearly double-doubled. Poor shooting cost the Inner West side in this one, as no one else stepped up and made a difference.

The win pushes the Canberra Gunners to first on the Coles Express NBL1 East ladder. This weekend the Gunners have a double header at home, up against the Bankstown Bruins on Saturday and a top of the table clash against the Newcastle Falcons. These will be unmissable so come on down to Belconnen Basketball Stadium to catch all the action.

The Canberra Nationals closed out the weekend of basketball. Although down a few players, the home team would have been confident coming into this one against a Bulls side who haven’t managed a win yet this season.

14 first quarter points for Abby Solway helped the Nationals jump out to a 17-point lead at quarter time and they never looked back. The lead grew to 28 at half time and an impressive defensive third quarter, where Canberra only conceded six points, effectively finished the game off. The Nationals reached triple figures to win 101-54.

Abby Solway ended with 30 points to lead all scorers for the match. Chloe Tugliach was a menace defensively, swiping seven steals to go along with 20 points for the game. Canberra had six separate players with three point makes, and everyone stepped up in a big way to help secure the victory.

The Canberra Nationals take on fourth placed Newcastle Falcons at home this Sunday with a chance to extend their unbeaten streak to three. This will be a test of the Nationals recent form, and will play a major factor in the way in which Canberra close out the 2022 Coles Express NBL1 East season.