Off Season Update – 4 June 2024

Image: Taylor Earnshaw Photography

There were a number of Brisbane Bullets athletes on court in both the NBL1 and overseas at the weekend.

On Friday night, Sam McDaniel stuffed the stat sheet as his Brisbane Capitals, defeating Cairns 110-97. McDaniel got it done on both ends of the floor, finishing with 34 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals, while shooting 62% from the field. 

The win is the Capitals fifth in a row, putting them in fourth place on the NBL1 North ladder just over halfway through the competition.

For Cairns, recently signed Bullets Development Player Josh Kunen had 11 points and four rebounds in the loss to the Capitals.

On Saturday night Southern District Spartans, Mitch Norton and Tyrell Harrison continued their strong run of form, leading their team to a comprehensive 92-65 victory over Cairns. It was the Spartans fourth win in a row, placing them in the top six of the competition.

Norton led all scorers with 27 points, four rebounds and four assists at 64.7% from the field. Fellow Bullets team-mate Harrison dominated inside, finishing with an efficient 22 points (10/11 FG), 15 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

Isaac White had 25 points and four points as the Mackay Meteors suffered their first loss of the season, defeated 113-95 by the Darwin Salties.

Next weekend in the NBL1 North, Sam McDaniel and Brisbane Capitals will face off against Norton, Harrison and Southern Districts on Saturday 8 June.

Isaac White and Mackay have a triple header starting with Ipswich on Friday 7 June, followed by South–West Metro and Logan. While Kunen and Cairns host Rockhampton on Sunday 9 June.

In the NBL1 East, Kye Savage had another solid outing with 15 points, five rebounds an two assists as the Centre of Excellence (CoE), defeated Penrith 96-70 solidifying third spot on the ladder. As the NSW wide league has a bye for the long weekend, the two Canberra based sides will go head to head in the only game of the weekend. CoE will face the Gunners in a double header on Thursday 6 June and Friday 7 June.

In France Deng Adel and Boulazac have qualified for the French Pro B Championship Series defeating Vichy 86-82 in the third game of the Semi’s. Adel contributed seven points, five rebounds and three assists. Next up Boulazac face La Rochelle in a best of three Championship Series.

In NZ, the Wellington Saints, featuring Tohi Smith-Milner were narrowly defeated by a red-hot Auckland Tuatara outfit. Despite the loss, Smith- Milner impressed with 28 points, nine rebounds. The Saints have a quick turnaround, facing the Manawatu Jets on Wednesday 5 June.