Jonah Pares and Mia Heide (below) in action for the Panthers on Saturday night.  Photos courtesy of James O’Donohue

THE Penrith Panthers have endured a disappointing weekend of action at the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre, in Round 10 of the 2025 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 East basketball competition.

Two narrow losses to the visiting Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders on Saturday night would have left the Penrith teams bitterly disappointed, as wins in both games were tantalisingly within reach.

Hornsby were led by 17-year-old sensation Jessie May Hall, who lit up from the second quarter to score 25 points in the game and lead her team to a 68-63 victory.

Jordan Vasquez led the Panthers with 16 points / 16 boards, ahead of Jolzyne Impreso with 15 points and Mia Heide 11.

In the men’s game, Penrith led 28-23 in the first term but relinquished that advantage to rail 46-44 at half time. Hornsby continued to lead until late in the fourth quarter, when a 9-0 run from the Panthers saw the home team surge back into the lead, only to watch the Spiders sink crucial baskets at the death to edge home 91-89.

Lachlan Charlton and Ben Kearins led the Panthers with 13 points apiece, ahead of Josh Kalwy and Oliver Amajoyi with 12 apiece, Jonah Pares 10 and Zeke Evans 12 boards.

The action resumed at the PVRSC on Sunday, with the Panthers hosting the Canberra Nationals in the women’s game and the Gunners in the men’s game.

Both women’s teams had lost their games on Saturday night and a win was vital for both team’s playoff ambitions.

Canberra got off to a flying start, leading 27-12 in the first quarter, only for Penrith to dominate the second term to draw level at 35-35 at the long break.

Canberra dominated again in the third term to lead 59-40, then held off a final surge from the Panthers to record a 76-65 win. Mia Heide led the Panthers with 17 points / 15 boards, ahead of Jordan Vasquez 16 points / 11 boards and Jolzyne Impreso 9 points.

The Canberra men were grand finalists in 2024 and have been impressive over recent weeks as they chase a playoff berth again this season.

It was a classic top of the ladder versus the cellar dwellers, as the Gunners swamped the Panthers 21-13, 45-28 and 75-45 in the first three quarters respectively, then kept that margin intact in the final term for a 96-64 win.

Zeke Evans and Jack McWilliams led the Panthers with 13 apiece, ahead of Jonah Pares 12 and Lachlan Charlton 10.

Both Penrith teams are back in action this Sunday, hosting the highly-placed Newcastle Falcons (women 11am, men 1pm).