NEWCASTLE Hunters rallied from a 22-point deficit at three-quarter time to shock Norths Bears 77-75 in a "crazy" Waratah Basketball League men's championship season-opener at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday night.
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In his first game as Newcastle head coach, Rex Nottage masterminded one of the greatest comebacks in the club's history after the Hunters began the final quarter trailing 67-45.
Norths were in total control for the first three periods, leading 33-10 early in the second quarter and maintaining a comfortable advantage, mostly by double digits, until the middle of the fourth.
But the Hunters finished the game on a 20-2 run after trailing 72-57 with less than six minutes to go to over-power Norths 32-8 in the final term.
"It was a crazy night," Nottage said.
"We were over-excited early, taking quick shots and turning the ball over, then we settled in the middle of the second quarter and got back as close as nine points only to give it all away leading into the half.
"The third quarter, they really man-handled us and we struggled to get into any offensive flow, then at the start of the last quarter, we had a really strong focus on extending and pressuring the ball on defence with a stronger focus on getting ball and player movement on offence.
"We made shots, they were missing shots, and the noose tightened, then with 11 seconds to go we gained the lead and defended like mad men to close it out."
Hunters newcomer Chier Maker scored a game-high 24 points to go with seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots. Newcastle junior Myles Cherry stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in his first senior game since returning from US college Lafayette.
Cherry and Jacob Foy (17 points, seven rebounds, two steals) sparked Newcastle's winning run with back-to-back three-point shots and between them scored all but two of the team's last 20 points.
Earlier, in the women's game, a poor third quarter proved costly for Newcastle in a 77-69 loss.
The defending champs settled well to lead Norths 43-36 at half-time but the Bears enjoyed a 20-9 advantage in the third period to lead 56-52 heading into the final quarter and never relinquished their lead.
A Hannah Young three-pointer cut Newcastle's deficit to 72-69 with 1min 23sec remaining but that was their last scoring play as Norths closed the game on a 5-0 run.
Hunters captain Mikaela Dombkins topped Newcastle's scoring with 21 points on six-of-eight shooting to go with eight assists and seven rebounds.
Young, who played all 40 minutes, had 17 points, eight rebounds and two assists, and centre Lara McSpadden added 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Emily Simons scored a game-high 24 points for Norths.
Newcastle will play their first home games of the season against Manly next Saturday.
AAP reports: Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed Eric Bledsoe tested positive for COVID-19, but remains cautiously optimistic the veteran point guard will be ready for the start of the season's resumption."With the virus you're never sure," Budenholzer said.
"There are certainly things that you have to kind of clear and cover, but the opener, if it's two weeks away, then I think most medical, most things and research would say he is going to be available."
Budenholzer's comment came a day after multiple reports indicated Bledsoe said he had tested positive but was asymptomatic.
The Bucks, who have an NBA-leading 53-12 record, will face the Boston Celtics on July 31 in their first game since the pandemic-imposed hiatus began in mid-March.
Budenholzer added that the Bucks will "prepare without him and welcome him with open arms when he does come".
The 30-year-old Bledsoe is averaging 15.4 points, 5.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds.
Budenholzer declined to say whether any other players hadn't yet joined the team in Florida.
