AN EXCELLENT two-way performance from Che Brogan was instrumental in getting the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence past the Norths Bears in the NBL1 East Men’s over the weekend.

Despite being full of players still finding their feet at professional level, the CoE have dominated the 2025 season to date, claiming seven wins from eight games coming into the weekend and sitting atop the standings. The Bears would need to bring their best after breaking even from their first eight games, and not looking quite as strong as their opponent here.

It was an emphatic performance to start the match from the CoE, starting the game in ideal fashion to take a double-digit lead into the first change. The youngsters won all four quarters and never looked like surrendering their lead, cruising home to a 23-point win at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre and claiming their eighth win of the season.

Brogan was excellent on both sides of the ball in the win for the CoE, showing just how difficult he can be when he looks ultra aggressive when he has possession.

Norths Bears (62) def. by BA CoE (85)

Che Brogan – 26 points, seven rebounds, six assists, five steals

Brogan was the standout for the CoE in their win over the Bears, posting excellent numbers on both ends of the floor, and was a key factor in the team gaining early ascendancy over Norths, despite being in enemy territory.

Brogan found Jacob Furphy open on the perimeter for the first score of the game, helping the CoE get out to a strong start. He was clearly looking to push the tempo and play fast, which resulted in several scoring opportunities in the paint after storming downhill. It was perfectly demonstrated by Brogan stealing the ball from the opposition, before being fouled in transition, where he converted both shots at the charity stripe.

He was involved in just about everything in the first quarter, even chiming in for a three-pointer to stretch the CoE’s lead out further. At the end of the term, he already had 11 points, four assists and three steals to his name, and was clearly the dominant force on the floor.

Brogan started the second quarter in exactly the same manner, poking the ball free from the opposition’s grasp and scoring in transition to keep his team well and truly on top. After spending much of the term on the bench, he returned to the fold late in the period to get involved with his passing, as the defence looked to keep him out of the paint wherever possible, which opened up his teammates in halfcourt sets.

He was fouled on a three-point attempt with just three seconds on the clock for the first half, and when he converted all three attempts at the free throw line, it put the CoE in a commanding position with a 14-point buffer.

It took Brogan a while to get going out of half time, missing three-pointers, free throws and turning the ball over in the opening minutes of the third term. However, he got himself involved in characteristic fashion, stealing the ball and scoring in the open court in an excellent fast break play. A pair of layups late in the quarter saw Brogan play to his strengths and find the bottom of the net with relentless pressure on the rim, and keep his side’s momentum rolling.

He finished the game with 26 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals to his name on 7/16 shooting from the field and 11/13 shooting from the charity stripe in a marvellous two-way performance that showed how dangerous Brogan can be at the peak of his powers.