ALL National Basketball League (NBL)1 competitions were firing over the weekend, with some big numbers and entertaining games taking place around Australia.

With all five states producing some of the best basketball in years throughout the 2024 season, there was plenty to take in, whether it was overtime encounters, huge individual outings, or dominant team performances.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be delivering weekly updates on some of the most impressive scoring performances around the country across both the men’s and women’s competitions, with no shortage of notable showings.

There were some outstanding performances in the men’s division, with Warwick Senators star Michael Harris leading the way with 42 points on 10/15 shooting from behind the three-point line as his side bested the Perry Lakes Hawks. It was an outstanding sharpshooting performance, and was certainly a massive factor in the result.

Just behind him was Mike Awedunmi of the Lakeside Lightning, who posted 40 points in the win over the Eastern Suns. In the NBL1 South, Jalen Johnson had a whopping 38 points on 14/27 shooting, while Alex Starling stuffed the stat sheet with 38 points, 18 rebounds and six assists, and Randy Bell‘s 33 points rounds out the top five.

Moving over to the women’s divisions, who else but Lauren Jackson would lead the way on the scoring front? She posted a whopping 43 points to go with 22 rebounds in another starring performance for the Albury-Wodonga Bandits, continuing to show that age is just a number for a player of her calibre.

Fellow WNBL star Steph Reid was just behind her with 42 points of her own, accounting for over half of her team’s score, while Miela Goodchild poured in 40 points in her side’s win. Rounding out the top scorers were Alexandra Fowler, Penina Davidson and Eva Langton, all of whom had 35-point outings.

Men’s

1) Michael Harris (Warwick Senators) vs. Perry Lakes Hawks – 42
2) Mike Awedunmi (Lakeside Lightning) vs. Eastern Suns – 40
3) Jalen Johnson (Nunawading Spectres) vs. Diamond Valley Eagles – 38
4) Alex Starling (South Adelaide Panthers) vs. Eastern Districts – 36
5) Randy Bell (Goldfields Giants) vs. Perth Redbacks – 33

Women’s

1) Lauren Jackson (Albury-Wodonga Bandits) vs. Maitland Mustangs – 43
2) Steph Reid (Frankston Blues) vs. Hobart Chargers – 42
3) Miela Goodchild (North Gold Coast Seahawks) vs. Brisbane Capitals – 40
=4) Alexandra Fowler (Townsville Flames) vs. Darwin Salties – 35
=4) Penina Davidson (Keilor Thunder) vs. Ballarat Miners – 35
=4) Eva Langton (Norwood Flames) vs. Woodville Warriors – 35