Jett Hickson in action this season. File photo, courtesy of Rex Bergas.
THE Penrith Panthers senior men’s basketball team staged the greatest form reversal to date in this year’s Mitsubishi NBL1 East basketball competition, defeating the Sydney Comets 68-67 on Sunday afternoon at Minto Indoor Sports Stadium in Round Five action.
The two teams met only two weeks ago, with the Comets enjoying a runaway 95-56 win over a Panthers team struggling to break an extensive losing streak stretching back to the 2025 season.
Simun Krpez led the Panthers on Sunday with 21 points, ahead of Brodie Schwarzer 13, Jack Ticic 12 points / 9 boards and Jett Hickson 8 points / 12 boards.
“I couldn’t be prouder with this young team stepping up and competing the way we are,” said Panthers head coach Matt Porter. “After last weeks loss in the last 20 seconds by 3 points against the national champions, then to back it up this week and get the win shows that we can match it with the best in this elite league.
“Despite all the drama with training availability due to not being able to use our local stadium, the boys have stuck together and pushed the drama out of their heads.
“We have a few major injuries, with main players out, but the young guys have stepped up and are more than holding their own. It was a great team win today, after coming back from a 40-point loss to the same team two weeks ago. We are very happy with the way they (team) stuck together this week and are excited to continue to build. It would be awesome to be able to get our home games back in the Penrith LGA, back with the Penrith community, and be able to get the NBL1 team back involved with the Penrith juniors.”
There was little joy for the Panthers women’s team, which fell 73-60 to the Comets in the opening game of the afternoon. Hannah Griffin led the Panthers with 29 points.
Both Penrith teams are back at the Minto Indoor Sports Stadium this Saturday night, facing the Hornsby Ku-ring-Gai Spiders, with the women’s game commencing at 5pm and the men’s game at 7pm.
The Panthers and Spiders women are currently ranked 14th and 6th respectively on the competition ladder, whilst the Panthers men are 13th and the Spiders 16th in the men’s rankings.
