AN EMPHATIC scoring effort from guard William Cranston-Lown was enough to get the Maitland Mustangs over the line against the Canberra Gunners, with the former snatching a five-point triumph at Belconnen Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.

After a slow start to the contest where they were outscored 21-10, the Mustangs turned things around in the second quarter. They finally got their offence flowing and were able to drag themselves back into the contest by halftime, and after setting themselves up for victory with a dominant third term, held on to outlast a valiant Gunners effort and emerge 75-70 winners.

The performance of Cranston-Lown was quite reflective of the team, and crucial in the result of the match as a whole. The explosive guard was able to work his way into the game, and really began to have an impact in the second quarter. His offensive production was invaluable, as he continues to establish himself as one of the premier scorers in the NBL1 Men’s East competition.

Canberra Gunners (70) def. by Maitland Mustangs (75)

William Cranston-Lown – 37 points, four rebounds, two assists, three steals

Cranston-Lown was impactful enough to be the difference in a tight contest, single-handedly sparking his side on the offensive end and putting the Mustangs on his back when they had a slow start to the match.

It was very unlikely that anyone would register more than his 37 points, in one of the most damaging scoring outings of the first couple of rounds of the 2023 season. Not many players have the capability to drop that many points in a single match, and the Mustangs reaped the rewards of his play.

In a game where Maitland only registered 75 points, Cranston-Lown registered half of the team’s entire total, which is an insane effort in a talented side.

Although his first few shots on the drive rattled out, he finally got going from the field in the second quarter, with a smooth pull up jumpshot from midrange. It was a spark that got his offensive game going, as the 22-year-old began torching the Canberra defence.

From the field, the guard shot 62 per cent from the field, nailing 13 of his 21 shots. Midrange and inside scoring were his preferred methods, but from three-point territory, Cranston-Lown was just as damaging. He went 5/6 from downtown, and was in control of scoring from just about every possible way.

He certainly looked at his best when putting the ball on the floor and firing up a shot off the dribble, and was not afraid to try and take his opponent one on one. Cranston-Lown was able to switch up the pace mid-drive, using hesitations and snatchbacks to create separation from the defender.

In one of the most eye-catching offensive performances of the season, Cranston-Lown announced himself as one of Australia’s most promising young scorers against the Gunners. At just 22 years of age, there is still plenty of basketball ahead of the guard.