ALTHOUGH there were just four games of action in the National Basketball League (NBL)1 East competition across the men’s and women’s divisions, Jacob Furphy ensured there was still some noteworthy play.

Throughout the 2024 season, Furphy (no relation to NBA Draft hopeful Johnny) has been suiting up for the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence (BA CoE), a team that showcases the best emerging talent the nation has on the basketball front, and the 17-year-old was a standout in Round 10.

Furphy’s CoE took on the Canberra Gunners in a Friday night clash at Belconnen Basketball Stadium, but got off to a slow start and trailed by nine at the first change. However, the visitors bounced back in the periods that remained, outscoring Canberra in each term to storm home in the final term, winning the quarter 20-10 to claim a thrilling nine-point win.

Furphy was in the thick of the action, producing a massive double-double to lead the way and help conjure an impressive comeback victory.

Canberra Gunners (78) def. by BA CoE (85)

Jacob Furphy – 24 points, 11 rebounds, four assists

Furphy delivered one of his best performances of the season in the win over the Gunners, making a weekend with less games just as exciting.

Without his work as a scorer and on the glass, the CoE would not have been able to dig themselves out of the first quarter hole and get the job done despite the deficit.

He was the game’s equal leading scorer with 24 points, overcoming a shooting slump from behind the arc (0/5 3PT) to still seriously impact the scoreboard with consistent buckets from two-point territory, where he made 11 of his 15 attempts.

An exciting scorer off the dribble, Furphy would frequently break down his opponent to create space and could finish at the rim despite the defence. He often used the glass to bank in his layups, showing deft touch and excellent timing.

As a rebounder, he performed above his size at the shooting guard position and was relentless in chasing down the ball, particularly after a Canberra miss. Nine of his 11 boards came on the defensive end, timing his leaps to perfection and getting first hands on the ball while others jostled for possession.

It was a standout showing from Furphy, as the Tasmanian continues to make a name for himself at NBL1 level.