Comets Scorch Panthers

by noelrr
07/07/2012

The Sydney Comets have struck early against the Penrith Panthers, on Saturday night at the Alexandria Basketball Stadium, racing to a 39-22 lead in the first term before eventually winning 114-91 in Round Fourteen of the 2012 Waratah Championship League (WCL) competition. A strong first quarter performance would ultimately prove decisive for the Comets, who would withstand a strong comeback by the Panthers to record the solid 23-point win. Comets point guard Michael Seckold set the scene for his team's high-scoring win, lighting up the scoreboard from the opening whistle to lead all scorers with 18 points at the first break. The Panthers showed great character to win the second quarter 19-17 but the Comets still held a significant advantage at half time, leading 56-41. Seckold had surprisingly been kept quiet during the second term but was quickly back into the flow of the game during the third term, moving on to 27 points as the Comets won the term 29-22 to hold a 85-63 lead, as the two teams headed into 'money-time'. Former Panther Tom Dawson had been steadily accumulating both points and rebounds in the first half and moved into double figures (13 points, 7 boards) in the third term, as did Comets team-mate Blake Borgia (16). Penrith's American import Ben Ellsworth was held to single figures until late in the third term but went to the final break with 10 points and 10 boards, raising hopes of a late come-back from the Panthers. A 12-4 point-scoring burst from the Panthers, in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, raised hopes of a close finish to the game but at the halfway mark of the term, the Comets had drawn level at 15-15 (in the quarter) to keep their 22-point margin intact. Panthers shooting guard Sean Albert had a hot hand for his team late in the game but the visitors could not reduce the margin, with the Comets effectively cruising home to a 23-point win. The Panthers back up against the Bankstown Bruins at 3pm tomorrow afternoon at the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre (PVRSC) Cambridge Park. The PVRSC will be a hive of activity on the day, with the Penrith and Bankstown WCL men, Youth League Women and Youth League Men's teams sharing the venue with the Australian Sudanese community, which is staging its Annual Australian Basketball tournament - which will be in its second and final day of action. Sydney City Comets 114 (Michael Seckold 30 points, 6 assists; Blake Borgia 28 points, 7 assists; Tom Dawson 17 points, 13 boards; Stephen Whitehead 17 points; Ufojan Isbicer 10 points, 9 boards, 3 blocked shots) def Penrith Panthers 91 (Sean Albert 27 points, Louis Brandt 15, Ben Ellsworth 12 points, 11 boards; Steve Gavrilovic 10 points; Josh Morehead 9)

PHOTO: Former Panther Tom Dawson blocks Penrith's American import Ben Ellsworth in the paint - photo by Noel Rowsell

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