Club-By-Club: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 8, 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 Illawarra

HOOYAH – DJ Vasiljevic and Montrezl Harrell were good, but Kendric Davis was scintillating! You gave it to the Hawks every which-a-way with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists and a couple of steals.

HARDEN UP – I’m all for halftime entertainment but do you really need to throw a full-blown concert at half time? Ya’ll had a live band in the house and yeah, they were great but damn! My ears are still ringing.

Defeated by Melbourne

HOOYAH – I challenged Casey Prather to step up, and you did just that with 21 points and 8 rebounds against Melbourne. That’s Wassup my man!

HARDEN UP – For a team that preaches defence, yours sucked! It had more holes in it than swiss cheese. You allowed Melbourne to score 120, who are you gonna beat with that kind of effort?

Defeated by South East Melbourne

HOOYAH – Looking for a place to call home, Jackson Makoi has found it in Far North QLD. You filled up the stat sheet with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals. I’m keeping my eye on you and like what I’m seeing.

HARDEN UP – So we found out Rob Edwards walked into the refs rooms and gave them a nice old spray after the game last week. Rob, cmon man, what did you think was going to happen when the ‘Basketball Police’ found out? It resulted in a one game suspension. With your team hit hardest by injuries, you let them down when they needed you most. You need to make it right this week against NZ.

Defeated by Adelaide

HOOYAH – After missing two games with a back injury, Trey Kell III jumped straight back into the fire without a dreaded “minutes restriction”. You played 28 minutes and had 18 points in a solid display.

HARDEN UP – To all you Hawks: Your foul discipline needs serious work - you’re hacking! You put Adelaide to the line 30 times! You’re lucky they missed 10 because the loss would’ve been greater.

Defeated Brisbane & Perth

HOOYAH – You went into the half against Perth with just 10 points. But Chris ‘The Gladiator’ Goulding came out of the half and turned John Cain Arena into the Colosseum. You went BERZERK in the 3rd with 25 points, and finished just shy of 50 in a display for the ages! ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? Shout out to Rob Loe for his career-high 30.

HARDEN UP – Against Brisbane, Marcus Lee spent more time on the bus going to the game than on the court. Fouling out in 11 minutes is not good, but fouling out with 1 rebound is REALLY not good!

Defeated by Tasmania

HOOYAH – The littlest dude in NZ and MVP favourite contributed to over half your total points while being worn like a glove by Jordon Crawford and Craig Sword. Parker Jackson-Cartwright had 15 points and 9 assists; is he driving the team bus too? Help him out!

HARDEN UP – What the hell happened in the 3rd? You guys could only score 3 points?! Did Tassie send a hypnotist to your change rooms at halftime and convince you guys you were all bricklayers?

Defeated Tasmania, defeated by Melbourne

HOOYAH – Another grown man game from Kristian Doolittle. We should call you ‘Doo-it-all’ after you gave the JackJumpers a business-like 18 points, 11 rebounds and a couple of dimes.

HARDEN UP – You know how I feel about ‘donuts’ Dylan Windler. You are a ‘Sniper’ when you’re at your best, but you weren’t sniping on Thursday against Tasmania going 0-for in 17 minutes. But I still believe in you.

Defeated by Sydney, defeated Cairns

HOOYAH – Angus ‘Danny’ Glover was outstanding against Cairns with a career-high 22 (4 treys). Most impressive part is you were playing a lot of point guard.

HARDEN UP – Against the Kings, Matt Hurt hurt his chances of an MVP win with a horrid night. In 31 minutes he scored 6 on 3/16 FG including 0/8 from downtown. You did well to shake it off against Cairns with 15.

Defeated South East Melbourne

HOOYAH – We know you’re not 100%, but that didn’t stop Jaylen Adams from giving the Phoenix 20 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks. Can’t wait to see you back fully fit.

HARDEN UP – After back-to-back double-doubles, Cam Oliver started and didn’t score in 10 minutes against the Phoenix. I dare say that hasn’t happened to you since Primary School. I’m flabbergasted.

Defeated by Perth, defeated New Zealand

HOOYAH – I’ve been yelling from the roof tops that you need 20+ shots every game in these dark times. Against Perth, Milton Doyle, you went 11/21 FG and had 30 points (6 treys). Thank you and keep shooting!

HARDEN UP – I’m on record saying Craig Sword is not the reason the Jackies are having the season from hell. I’m also on record saying I don’t like ‘donuts’. Against Perth you took 1 shot in 11 minutes and you missed it. You sharpened your sword against New Zealand with 18 points and got the dub.

HOOYAH – Indigenous Round was a first class experience, with the wonderful stories and the breathtaking artwork on all the jerseys. It gives everyone an opportunity to learn more about and appreciate the history, and outstanding contributions of our First Nations Peoples.

HARDEN UP - You have too many themed rounds and when they overlap, it’s ridiculous! Yesterday during Indigenous Round, the 36ers instead celebrated Remembrance Day and neither they or Illawarra wore their Indigenous Round jerseys! And while I’m at it: if you’re gonna do it, do it properly and make every team have an away and home Indigenous jersey. Melbourne didn’t wear one against Brisbane and Perth didn’t wear theirs against Melbourne.

... AND WHILE I’M AT IT, HERE’S ONE FOR BASKETBALL AUSTRALIA

HARDEN UP – I’m gonna keep highlighting this until I’m blue in the face: your tribunal/investigation process stinks to high heaven! So let me get this straight: Rob Edwards abused the refs after the game against Melbourne on October 27. Six days later, while he’s STILL under an exhaustive investigation, he plays against Brisbane on November 2, puts up 27 points and nearly wins the game for Cairns (they only lost by 4). Then, after a staggering 10 days, you finally suspend him and he doesn’t play against the Phoenix on November 10. This is crazy, make it make sense.