In a rematch of round 1, American imports Aaron Wyatt for Woodville and Eastern’s Curtis Scipio spearheaded each of their teams attack.

The Mavericks played their best quarter of the season to start the game, they were transitioning well and moving freely in attack to open up opportunities for themselves and teammates. Eastern opened the scoring with a 6 point run, both guards Daniel Lean and Scipio scoring early points along with Stuart Breheny.

Woodville’s Aaron Wyatt began his 33 point game with a three pointer and teammate Steve Pilkington got involved early too.

Baskets to Nicholas Heim and Haydn Barns kept the score ticking and Scipio faked left before stepping back and nailing a three pointer to give the Mavericks an 8 point lead.

Wyatt continued to make his way into the key, converting multiple 3 point plays as the Mavs gave up light fouls and in the last minute of the term Eastern saw their hard earned lead diminished by consecutive baskets from beyond the arc by Wyatt and Warrior sharpshooter, Darren Ng.

Eastern looked like a completely different team in the second quarter as Woodville ran over them 28-15. Stuart Breheny scored the first basket to maintain a 6 point lead, but Luke Stanbridge, Ryan Clark and Wyatt went on a scoring spree for Woodville, turning that difference around half way through the term. The Mavericks slowed the tide in the latter half with a three from Lean and multiple baskets to Barns and Breheny, but found themselves down 38-47 at the half.

Eastern came back hard in the third, led again by Scipio, who was quiet in the second, with 12 points. He was a threat inside and out, kissing the ball off the glass on strong drives and then slotting 2 three pointers when the defence stepped back. Stuart Breheny was consistent, applying pressure with the basket that leapfrogged the Mavericks past Woodville with under 2 minutes to go. Darren Ng made his hardest shot of the night when he scored from down town with a defender right in his face, and pushed the margin back to 4 when he scored the last basket on the buzzer.

Barns slotted 7 last quarter points, with Lean and Scipio adding 4 more each but it was not enough as Woodville transitioned and Ng lit up in the final term scoring 14 points including 3 from beyond the arc. Wyatt posted 8 more including a thundering dunk that had him hanging from the ring as the Woodville supporters sensed victory. The final siren saw Eastern Mavericks 81 (Scipio 25, Barns 17, Lean 15, St Breheny 14) defeated by Woodville Warriors 94 (Wyatt 33, Ng 24, Pilkington 11).

This Saturday the Eastern Mavericks travel to Mars Stadium to challenge the Norwood Flames, The Women will tackle the undefeated Lady Flames at 6:30pm with the men to follow at 8:15.