Ben Kearins drives to the hoop against Newcastle.  Photo courtesy of James O’Donohue.

THE Penrith Panthers hosted the Newcastle Falcons on Sunday at the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre (PVRSC), in Round 11 of the 2025 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 East competition, falling 98-63 in the men’s game and 85-61 in the women’s game.

The Penrith men were slightly off the pace in the opening game, trailing 22-18, 49-33 and 67-48 at the end of the first three quarters respectively, before the visitors opened the floodgates in the third term (31-15) to surge away to a 35-point victory.

Brodie Schwarzer led the Panthers with 13 points, ahead of Zeke Evans 11 and Lachlan Charlton 11.

The loss leaves the Panthers stranded at the bottom of the men’s competition ladder, with just four games (2 at home, 2 away) left in the regular season to climb out of the cellar. These games include the Sydney Comets and Norths Bears, which are both sitting in the top half of the ladder, and the Bankstown Bruins and Albury-Wodonga Bandits, which are in the bottom half of the
ladder.

Bankstown appear to be out of reach in 11th spot, so the Panthers simply must win the clash with the Bandits, their closest rival for the wooden spoon.

The Penrith women were missing import Mia Heide but were in contention through the first half of their clash with the Falcons, trailing 21-18 and 43-40 at the first two breaks in play.

Newcastle broke the game open in the third term, shutting the Panthers down to just 7 points to lead 63-47 at the final break, then maintained that momentum to grab a 24-point win.

Former Penrith junior and senior representative Meg Jefferson was one of Newcastle’s best, finishing with 16 points, 11 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks. Jordan Vasquez led the Panthers with a double-double of 23 points / 19 boards, ahead of Zoe Jackson 12 points and Sofia Hunt 10.

The Panthers have a horror campaign in the remaining four rounds, although their best chance of a win may be this Saturday night against the Sydney Comets, which are only one spot above the Panthers on the competition ladder. The Bears, Bandits and Bruins are all headed to the playoffs and all three teams should be too strong for the Panthers at the business end of the season.

Saturday night 28th June – Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Comets (men 5.30pm, women 7.30pm).