Club-By-Club: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 12, NBL25)

Author disclaimer: To all the players, coaches and administrators, the following opinions are mine and mine alone. It’s ALWAYS business – and NEVER personal. So, if I name you, shame you, offend you or slap you on the back and put your name up in lights, just accept it for what it is and move on.

By Damon Lowery.

Defeated New Zealand 

HOOYAH – In your first professional season, Kendric Davis, you’ve been outstanding. You gave the Breakers the business with 36 points, 5 boards, 9 assists and ZERO turnovers. Shout out to Jarell Martin and his 16.

HARDEN UP – Nothing to see here, have a nice day.

Defeated South East Melbourne, defeated by Sydney

HOOYAH – Keandre Cook, you got in the kitchen and invited the Phoenix over for a nice home cooked meal. Then you force-fed them 33 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Bon Appetit.

HARDEN UP – The kitchen was closed in Sydney, Keandre Cook, when you were held to just 5 points on 2/10 FG with 4 turnovers. I’m not overreacting though, you’re still a Master Chef.

Defeated by Perth

HOOYAH – Taran Armstrong, you’re doing your NBA aspirations justice with another solid performance: 24 points including 4/4 threes, 5 rebounds and 8 assists against Perth.

HARDEN UP – (sigh) You were up at the half and allowed Perth to score 74 in the 2nd half and lost by 36! What in the seven hells did you guys do in the locker room? Is the air conditioner broken? Gotta do better.

Defeated Melbourne

HOOYAH – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Tyler Harvey – you are a pathological scorer. You simply can’t help yourself. 31 points at 48%, beware Harvey and the Hawks.

HARDEN UP – The only hiccup in that great road win against United was the play of Wani Swaka Lo Buluk. Having more fouls (4) than points (3) is never a good thing. Let’s Go Wani.

Defeated by Illawarra and South East Melbourne

HOOYAH – Allow me to introduce you to Development Player, Tom Koppens. Born on April 1, but you’re no fool. You led the team in rebounding against the Hawks with 9 and only needed 12 minutes to do it. Awesome work.

HARDEN UP – Coach Dean Vickerman took a look at the stat sheet after the game against Illawarra and would’ve immediately felt sick. Allowing 22 offensive rebounds is unacceptable. Dean said you need to toughen up, but I’m saying you need to Harden Up!

Defeated by Tasmania and Adelaide

HOOYAH – In another game that got away, the “Human Blur” Parker Jackson-Cartwright, still produced 25 points and 8 assists.

HARDEN UP – It wasn’t a great birthday for you, Sam Mennenga. Turning 23 on gameday, you came off the bench against Tassie and scored 5 with just 2 rebounds. Hopefully your cake was good.

Defeated Cairns

HOOYAH – Bryce Cotton made history – again! You’re now a habitual history maker. It’s been 33 years since anyone has scored more than 40 points in 4 consecutive games. You had 4 points in the 1st quarter and erupted for 40 in the next 3. You are an active volcano.

HARDEN UP – Defence is still the elephant in the room. Allowing 57 first-half points to bottom of the ladder Cairns is a worry. To your credit, you knuckled down in the second half to hold them to under 100. Defence is not a switch you can flick on and off.

Defeated by Brisbane, defeated Melbourne

HOOYAH – The renaissance of Nathan Sobey is in full affect. In the Throwdown against United, you had the statistician’s fingers cramping up. How’s this for a stat line: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 steals and 2 blocks! Outstanding.

HARDEN UP – So all that talk about defence was just words, huh? Brisbane exposed you piling on 116. Don’t just TALK about it – BE about it.

Defeated Brisbane

HOOYAH – 2-time champion and former league MVP, Xavier Cooks. You bounced back from your 1 rebound game with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 5 dimes.

HARDEN UP – Izayah Le’afa, you’re shooting below 30% from the field on the season, and went 0-for on Sunday against Brisbane. The next one is going in Zay.

Defeated New Zealand

HOOYAH – I never lost faith in you as the President of the “Lil Big Man” society, Jordon Crawford. You came off the bench and electrified in the 1st half scoring 22 and set the stage for a big road win.

HARDEN UP – You have more talent than you know what to do with, and it’s for that reason your 6 points on 1/6 FG must get mentioned, Will Magnay.

HOOYAH – 7 teams scored more than 100 points this round and last round. Whatever you did in the off season tinkering with the rules and refereeing has worked. The game is as good to watch as ever.

HARDEN UP – The game in New Zealand got off to a shaky start, and went from bad to worse. The game was delayed, the shot clocks were stuffed and the rings were not Tacko proof. Gotta play in the best available venues, all the time.