THERE was plenty of basketball taking place over the span of the weekend, with a number of leagues well underway for the 2022 season. The National Basketball League (NBL)1 East division is currently in the midst of its first season, delivering some of the best action the New South Wales region has to offer. There has been a lot to take out of the first few weeks of play, from both an individual and team standpoint.

Round 4 went ahead over the weekend, with both the Men’s and Women’s competitions hosting a combined 12 games. There have been some pretty good individual outings in the first five rounds, but we might have just seen the best. The competition’s biggest signing over the offseason was Lauren Jackson, who is arguably the greatest female basketball player Australia has ever seen. She returned home to the Albury-Wodonga Bandits, and over the weekend, produced a vintage performance. In the 17 point-win over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Jackson produced a ridiculous statline of 31 points and 24 rebounds, showing she can still outwork and outperform her opponents even in the twilight of her career.

Albury Wodonga Bandits (97) def. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (80)

First Quarter

Jackson began the game by crashing the boards, and playing unselfishly to set up her teammates. With the defence collapsing on her early in the game, she was finally able to get free for a field goal attempt, with a turn around jump shot finding the bottom of the net. An offensive rebound and putback followed, as did a number of boards as she started the game in fine fashion.

Second Quarter

Jackson really started to get going in the second term, scoring five points in the first minute of play. She was proving a towering presence in the game, and was far too good for the opposition defence. Jackson would go on runs of two or three offensive rebounds in a single possession, and while her putback attempts didn’t always fall, the effort was still creating a number of scoring opportunities. Another five-point scoring burst at the end of the term saw Jackson prove the most dominant player on the court in the first half.

Third Quarter

The third quarter saw Jackson get her three-point shot rolling, opening the term with a long range basket. While her next couple of attempts from behind the arc were wayward, her scoring didn’t slow down with a turn around jumper adding to the points tally. A quick stint on the sidelines refreshed Jackson, who came back out and scored from all over the court, whether it was from midrange, at the free throw line or behind the arc.

Fourth Quarter

With the Bandits holding a pretty comfortable lead, Jackson could have taken the foot off the gas. However, she wanted to keep rolling, continuing to crash the boards and keep the scoreboard ticking over. Her jump shots continued to fall, with the defence of the Sea Eagles not able to predict where or when she would shoot the ball. In the end, it was one of the most dominant individual games of the season, as the tall wound back the clock.