Club-By-Club: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 13, NBL25) Part 1

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 by South East Melbourne 

HOOYAH – Isaac Humphries, you stood tall against the Phoenix with a big 17-point, 10-rebound double-double. Your team is gonna need a hell of a lot more of that.

HARDEN UP – Your ‘bar’ is higher than most due to your NBA experience and skill but Montrezl Harrell, you grabbed just 1 rebound heading into the 4th quarter and finished with 5 and 15 points. You’re a leader of this team but your emotions got the better of you again, and it had a devastating ripple effect. Leadership can’t take a night off.

Defeated Cairns

HOOYAH – This is my first-ever Double-Hooyah and it goes to Casey “I don’t have a time machine, I just work hard” Prather, and the “Master Chef” Keandre Cook. You guys delivered a holiday feast against Cairns with 35 and 30 respectively.

HARDEN UP – You are a warrior in the true sense of the word, Mitch Norton, but … you know how I feel about players with more fouls than points. You fouled-out in 18 minutes with 0 points and no shot attempts. HUH?

Defeated by Brisbane

HOOYAH – Rob Edwards, you were back to your scoring ways against the Bullets with 27 points and 5 rebounds.

HARDEN UP – I can see the collective effort and passion out there and I know times are tough, but 13 consecutive losses leaves me no choice but to give a collective Harden Up. In these times, you gotta find a way to win.

Defeated Perth

HOOYAH – It was a near flawless game against the Wildcats, Trey Kell III. You put them to the sword with 31 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and NO turnovers.

HARDEN UP – Those Christmas uniforms reminded me of a serviette, inside a tablecloth, inside some wrapping paper. Shout out to the designer Big Joe!

Defeated by Sydney

HOOYAH – I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Karim Lopez isn’t your average 17-year-old. The Mexican Next Star had a season high 18 points in 26 minutes - Incredible!

HARDEN UP – Import, Matt Mooney: in 29 minutes you made one more shot than me. 4 points on 1/10 FG ain’t gonna cut it.

Defeated by Illawarra

HOOYAH – Michael Harris, you are a player of the future. Averaging 1 point in 6 minutes this season, you came on and had 11 at 80% against the Hawks.

HARDEN UP – Cue the “Sweet Georgia Brown” music (aka the Harlem Globetrotters music): Giving up 120 points to the Hawks for the second time, simply means your blatant disregard for defence should be studied!

Defeated Adelaide

HOOYAH – The Grand Final MVP two-years-ago, Derrick Walton Jr was back to his best against Adelaide. You finished with a season high 28 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists; ‘Detroit’ Derrick gave us all a reminder of who you really are.

HARDEN UP – Nothin’ to see here, Merry Xmas.

Defeated New Zealand

HOOYAH – This goes to the Captain of the “I Never Lose Belief in Myself’ team, Kouat Noi. You were lights-out off the bench against the Breakers with 26 points at 71%.

HARDEN UP – Izayah Le'afa, you started the game and in 15 minutes went 0/2 FG for 0 points. You’re an important piece to this puzzle. #regroup. 

HOOYAH – The “12 Games of Christmas” campaign is a master stroke. It separates the NBL from every other league on earth. 12 consecutive days of NBL hoops - Yes please!

HARDEN UP – If you’re gonna go all in at Christmas, make every team wear a Christmassy uniform.