NSW Round 1 Beyond the Scoreboard
A 37-point opening statement, a 17-point, 16-rebound performance and valuable contributions that went well beyond scoring.
The NSW circuit opened on Saturday with four games and plenty for players to take into their next training session. The points caught the eye, while rebounding, passing and defensive contributions supplied some of the round’s strongest stories.
Keogh opens with 37, Commandos share the contributions
Noah Keogh delivered the opening round’s highest scoring total, finishing with 37 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Rhinos.
He made three of his six three-point attempts and eight of his 10 free throws, combining his scoring with playmaking and defensive contributions.
The Commandos claimed the 87–70 win with several players making their mark. Isaiah Toledo scored 21 points, including six three-pointers from 10 attempts, and added four steals.
Nico Palacio contributed 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Jacob Kimball added 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals, with one turnover.
Caleb Day showed another way to help an offence, recording four assists without a turnover alongside his five points.
Keogh supplied the round’s biggest scoring performance, while the Commandos had contributions coming from across their lineup.
Kisona-Pupuke makes the boards count
Lamaia Kisona-Pupuke put together one of the opening round’s standout performances: 17 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks in the Pirates’ 70–65 win over the Fury.
Nine of those rebounds came at the offensive end. In a five-point game, recovering that many missed shots is a contribution worth examining closely.
Eoin Isa’ako led the Pirates’ scoring with 22 points, adding five rebounds and two assists.
Liam Naylor’s seven points were only part of his afternoon. He also collected seven rebounds, six assists and five steals, contributing through possession, playmaking and defence.
The Pirates trailed 35–30 at halftime before winning the second half 40–30. They finished with a 42–21 rebounding advantage.
Kingston Tutani led the Fury with 18 points, three assists and two steals, while Peace Hagenimana added seven points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
The Pirates’ opening win offered a clear reminder to look closely at the rebounds and defensive plays around the leading scorer.
Surwald fills the stat sheet
Ashton Surwald contributed in every major category as the Racers defeated the Gorillas 77–68.
His 12 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, five steals and one block made for one of the round’s most complete stat lines. Ten of his rebounds were defensive, helping secure possession after opposition misses.
Morgan Bundy led the Racers with 22 points and added eight rebounds, two steals and one block. Levi Berbari contributed 11 points, five assists and four steals.
The teams were level at 43–43 at halftime before the Racers took the second half 34–25.
For the Gorillas, Lochy Nolan scored 20 points, including four three-pointers from six attempts. Lewis Massih added 15 points, seven rebounds and four steals.
Zac Denham collected 11 rebounds despite finishing without a point—another example of why the scoring column alone cannot describe a player’s contribution.
Wilton creates, Inkster secures possession
The Jokers opened with a 72–60 win over the Jets, with valuable contributions coming through passing and rebounding.
Kyan Wilton finished with nine assists, alongside four points and two rebounds. Max Inkster added eight points and 13 rebounds, including 10 defensive boards.
Will Parker led the scoring with 19 points, adding seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Jayden Janto contributed 16 points, four assists and three steals.
For the Jets, Connor Russell recorded 15 points and nine rebounds, including five offensive boards, without a turnover. Kobe Manu added 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
Robbie Coffey also contributed beyond his five points with four assists and four steals.
Wilton’s passing and Inkster’s rebounding are useful reminders that creating a basket and securing possession can be valuable contributions even when someone else finishes the play.
Build on more than your points total
The opening round gives every player a starting point for improvement.
Choose one contribution to build on and one area to sharpen. That might mean pursuing defensive rebounds, recognising an open teammate earlier or making better decisions under pressure.
Pair the box score with the footage. Look for the positioning, timing and decisions behind the numbers—and the contributions that do not have their own column, such as a good screen, a box-out or a defensive rotation.
There are plenty of ways to help your team. Round 1 gave us examples across all four games.
Round 1 results
| Winning team | Score | Opposition |
|---|---|---|
| Racers | 77–68 | Gorillas |
| Pirates | 70–65 | Fury |
| Jokers | 72–60 | Jets |
| Commandos | 87–70 | Rhinos |