ROUND 7 of the National Basketball League (NBL)1 East saw one of the best individual performances in Australian basketball history as another cracking weekend of action took place in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

The newest NBL1 competition has been firing throughout the 2024 season, with some big names putting up massive statlines to lead their respective sides to victory, and now seven rounds in, the race for the title is heating up.

There are stars across the men’s and women’s competition, and arguably the biggest name in Australian basketball set record numbers on the weekend.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be taking a look at the standout performances from both divisions, after some big numbers were posted over the weekend. This time, Andre Wolford and Lauren Jackson proved the most damaging, with the latter absolutely dominant on the offensive end.

Andre Wolford (Bankstown Bruins) vs. Sydney Comets

37 points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal

Wolford was a telling factor as the Bruins defeated the Comets to the tune of 16 points as the two sides locked horns at Comets Stadium on Saturday night.

Bankstown was always in control of the match, winning all four quarters and convincingly jumping out to a double-digit lead despite being on the road. The Bruins never allowed Sydney a sniff, and cruised home to a 98-82 win on the road, their sixth of the year from 10 games.

Wolford was a huge part of the team’s success, accounting for over a third of Bankstown’s score and leading from the front with his unmatched shot-making.

His 37 points was the most of anyone on the court, and broke the game open by keeping the Bruins’ offence rolling.

Wolford’s biggest strength came from his long range shooting, torching the Comets with his explosive shooting from behind the arc. He knocked down eight three-pointers on just nine attempts in a ridiculously efficient clip, looking confident in his shot every time and for very good reason.

Wolford was excellent for the Bruins, producing his best showing of the 2024 season and leading Bankstown to a crucial win as they hunt for a spot in the finals.

Lauren Jackson (Albury-Wodonga Bandits) vs. Canberra Capitals

50 points, 19 rebounds, two assists, three blocks

Jackson showed why she is considered the greatest Australian basketball player of all time with a masterclass to lead the Bandits past the Capitals by 48 points at Southern Cross Basketball Stadium, Tuggeranong on Saturday evening.

The Bandits took charge of the match from the opening tip, proving far too good for the Capitals in what was a completely one-sided affair. A whopping 38 points in the first quarter was indicative of how the game panned out, as Albury-Wodonga claimed a dominant 120-72 win on the road to further its already strong championship credentials.

Jackson was simply unstoppable for the Bandits, exploding for an enormous 50-point double-double to show that she has no signs of slowing down.

She poured in a whopping 20 points in the first quarter alone, showing that the superstar was in for a big game. Although the defence tried to double and even triple team her at times, there was no stopping Jackson.

She finished the game shooting 22/28 from the field, mixing her attempts with shots close to the basket and crafty floaters and mid-ranges to prove unpredictable to the defence.

On the glass, she was her usual dominant self with 19 rebounds for the Bandits, with six coming on the offensive end and resulting in second chance scores.

Jackson was simply superb for the Bandits once again, putting forward a strong case for an appearance at the upcoming Olympics and showing why she is still the best in the business.