The Bankstown Bruins managed to hold their nerves, defeating the Penrith Panthers in a tight thriller, 104-93, which went into overtime at Bankstown Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.
The Bruins began the game quickly with Alexandra-Higgins Titsha slotting the first shot with a two-point layup, followed up by shooting a three-point shot to give the Bruins a solid start. However, a turnover led to the Panthers getting their first score with Brodie Scharavzer sinking a three-point shot.
The first quarter saw a tight tussle between the two teams, with the Bruins preventing the Panthers from scoring with their defence pressing well. Both teams displayed high pressure, forcing turnovers in the first quarter with Deonte Williams dunking a two-point shot. Panthers player Angus Ole managed to shoot a two-point shot, just beating the buzzer by a few seconds.
The second quarter saw the Panthers show more aggression and apply more pressure to the Bruins. Zeke Evans sank a three-point jump shot, extending the margin, with Panthers player Jesse Weinstein shooting a three-point shot only seconds later. Quick end-to-end basketball was on full display.
Panthers player Simun Krpez scored a free throw shot to level the score late in the second half, but a turnover from the Panthers gifted the Bruins the lead back, with Edwards slotting a two-point layup. Ole levelled the score again for the Panthers and extended the score by converting free throw shots.
However, Anthony Mundine levelled the score again by shooting a two-point layup, with Angus Lake scoring a three-point shot and Williams dunking a two-point shot seconds before halftime.
Bruins began the third quarter well and extended their lead over the Panthers with Bismark Nsiah scoring a two-point layup. But the Panthers stepped up their defensive pressure, forcing the Bruins to miss shots and shutting down the offensive flow they had earlier in the game.
Schwarzer scored a three-point shot, helping the Panthers tighten the Bruins lead. The Bruins made many costly mistakes allowing the Panthers to claw back and snatch the lead back.
Panthers began the the fourth quarter by Joshua Kalwy shooting a three point jump shot, extending their lead over the Bruins.
The Panthers pressure kept forcing the Bruins to stumble and make mistakes but both temas were displaying defensive pressure.
Edwards slotted a three-point jump shot, tightening the Panthers’ lead, with Tederick Wolfe slamming a two-point dunk off the back of a Panthers’ costly turnover, which gave the Bruins the lead on the edge of full time. Williams missed a three-point shot, forcing the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Bruins looked more switched on and scored first, with the visitors committing turnovers. At the end, the Bruins were more composed under pressure, securing a victory.
The Bruins’ next game is on Saturday, July 11, when they face Hills Hornets at Bankstown Basketball Stadium.
