Zverev sets up Stuttgart final with his old nemesis
German star Alexander Zverev has taken out US third seed Ben Shelton with a 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (7-1) victory in the semi-finals of the Stuttgart Open to set up a showdown with his nemesis Taylor Fritz.
Zverev and Shelton tested each other in a high-quality encounter before the world No.3 played a near flawless tiebreak to clinch the match in little over two hours on Saturday and stretch his career win-loss record over the American to 3-0.
The 28-year-old banged down 15 aces, 35 winners and did not face a break point in front of his home crowd to reach his first grass-court final in eight years.
"I'm super happy to be in the final, it's my first grass-court final since 2017," Zverev said.
"It's been eight years. I actually really like playing on the surface. I'm happy to be in the final in Germany again, I'm looking forward to it."
But in the final, a bigger test awaits Zverev as he tackles Fritz, the American who's beaten him on the last four occasions they've played over the past year.
Despite the defeat, Shelton can take plenty of positives from the ATP 250 event, with the 22-year-old set to make his top 10 debut in the ATP rankings on Monday.
In the first semi-final, Fritz, ranked seventh in the world, sent down 10 aces and 23 winners, winning 86 percent of his first-serve points to knock out Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
"The clay-court season wasn't the best for me, so I came here more motivated to start the grass season off well," said Fritz after reaching his first tour-level final since November. "I'm super happy that I've been able to start it off with a final.
"I'm locked in and ready to go. Once I start winning a couple of matches on grass and start feeling good, all the other things start clicking for me."
In the other European ATP event going on in Rosmalen, Ugo Humbert, the only seed left in the draw, crashed out to Gabriel Diallo 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in the semi-final.
The Canadian advances to a final duel with Belgium's Zizou Bergs, with the p[air both seeking their maiden title.
Bergs had little trouble overcoming Daniil Medvedev's American conqueror Reilly Opelka 6-1 6-4.
German star Alexander Zverev has taken out US third seed Ben Shelton with a 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (7-1) victory in the semi-finals of the Stuttgart Open to set up a showdown with his nemesis Taylor Fritz.
Zverev and Shelton tested each other in a high-quality encounter before the world No.3 played a near flawless tiebreak to clinch the match in little over two hours on Saturday and stretch his career win-loss record over the American to 3-0.
The 28-year-old banged down 15 aces, 35 winners and did not face a break point in front of his home crowd to reach his first grass-court final in eight years.
"I'm super happy to be in the final, it's my first grass-court final since 2017," Zverev said.
"It's been eight years. I actually really like playing on the surface. I'm happy to be in the final in Germany again, I'm looking forward to it."
But in the final, a bigger test awaits Zverev as he tackles Fritz, the American who's beaten him on the last four occasions they've played over the past year.
Despite the defeat, Shelton can take plenty of positives from the ATP 250 event, with the 22-year-old set to make his top 10 debut in the ATP rankings on Monday.
In the first semi-final, Fritz, ranked seventh in the world, sent down 10 aces and 23 winners, winning 86 percent of his first-serve points to knock out Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
"The clay-court season wasn't the best for me, so I came here more motivated to start the grass season off well," said Fritz after reaching his first tour-level final since November. "I'm super happy that I've been able to start it off with a final.
"I'm locked in and ready to go. Once I start winning a couple of matches on grass and start feeling good, all the other things start clicking for me."
In the other European ATP event going on in Rosmalen, Ugo Humbert, the only seed left in the draw, crashed out to Gabriel Diallo 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in the semi-final.
The Canadian advances to a final duel with Belgium's Zizou Bergs, with the p[air both seeking their maiden title.
Bergs had little trouble overcoming Daniil Medvedev's American conqueror Reilly Opelka 6-1 6-4.
German star Alexander Zverev has taken out US third seed Ben Shelton with a 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (7-1) victory in the semi-finals of the Stuttgart Open to set up a showdown with his nemesis Taylor Fritz.
Zverev and Shelton tested each other in a high-quality encounter before the world No.3 played a near flawless tiebreak to clinch the match in little over two hours on Saturday and stretch his career win-loss record over the American to 3-0.
The 28-year-old banged down 15 aces, 35 winners and did not face a break point in front of his home crowd to reach his first grass-court final in eight years.
"I'm super happy to be in the final, it's my first grass-court final since 2017," Zverev said.
"It's been eight years. I actually really like playing on the surface. I'm happy to be in the final in Germany again, I'm looking forward to it."
But in the final, a bigger test awaits Zverev as he tackles Fritz, the American who's beaten him on the last four occasions they've played over the past year.
Despite the defeat, Shelton can take plenty of positives from the ATP 250 event, with the 22-year-old set to make his top 10 debut in the ATP rankings on Monday.
In the first semi-final, Fritz, ranked seventh in the world, sent down 10 aces and 23 winners, winning 86 percent of his first-serve points to knock out Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
"The clay-court season wasn't the best for me, so I came here more motivated to start the grass season off well," said Fritz after reaching his first tour-level final since November. "I'm super happy that I've been able to start it off with a final.
"I'm locked in and ready to go. Once I start winning a couple of matches on grass and start feeling good, all the other things start clicking for me."
In the other European ATP event going on in Rosmalen, Ugo Humbert, the only seed left in the draw, crashed out to Gabriel Diallo 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in the semi-final.
The Canadian advances to a final duel with Belgium's Zizou Bergs, with the p[air both seeking their maiden title.
Bergs had little trouble overcoming Daniil Medvedev's American conqueror Reilly Opelka 6-1 6-4.
German star Alexander Zverev has taken out US third seed Ben Shelton with a 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (7-1) victory in the semi-finals of the Stuttgart Open to set up a showdown with his nemesis Taylor Fritz.
Zverev and Shelton tested each other in a high-quality encounter before the world No.3 played a near flawless tiebreak to clinch the match in little over two hours on Saturday and stretch his career win-loss record over the American to 3-0.
The 28-year-old banged down 15 aces, 35 winners and did not face a break point in front of his home crowd to reach his first grass-court final in eight years.
"I'm super happy to be in the final, it's my first grass-court final since 2017," Zverev said.
"It's been eight years. I actually really like playing on the surface. I'm happy to be in the final in Germany again, I'm looking forward to it."
But in the final, a bigger test awaits Zverev as he tackles Fritz, the American who's beaten him on the last four occasions they've played over the past year.
Despite the defeat, Shelton can take plenty of positives from the ATP 250 event, with the 22-year-old set to make his top 10 debut in the ATP rankings on Monday.
In the first semi-final, Fritz, ranked seventh in the world, sent down 10 aces and 23 winners, winning 86 percent of his first-serve points to knock out Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
"The clay-court season wasn't the best for me, so I came here more motivated to start the grass season off well," said Fritz after reaching his first tour-level final since November. "I'm super happy that I've been able to start it off with a final.
"I'm locked in and ready to go. Once I start winning a couple of matches on grass and start feeling good, all the other things start clicking for me."
In the other European ATP event going on in Rosmalen, Ugo Humbert, the only seed left in the draw, crashed out to Gabriel Diallo 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in the semi-final.
The Canadian advances to a final duel with Belgium's Zizou Bergs, with the p[air both seeking their maiden title.
Bergs had little trouble overcoming Daniil Medvedev's American conqueror Reilly Opelka 6-1 6-4.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Aussie ‘warrior' George Kambosos Jr's career at crossroads after world-title loss to Richardson Hitchins
George Kambosos Jr's distinguished boxing career may be over following a comprehensive world-title loss in New York to classy American Richardson Hitchins. With surgical precision, the undefeated Hitchins dominated from the get-go before stopping Kambosos two minutes 33 seconds into the eighth round with a second devastating body shot at Madison Square Garden Theatre. Kambosos had been bidding to join the great Jeff Fenech as a multi-division world champion but instead copped a pounding in Sunday's much-anticipated IBF super-lightweight showdown. Having promised to put Kambosos in his place after an explosive build-up spiced with threats, bets and a cancelled face-off after the two combatants almost came to blows, Hitchins delivered on his word. 'I told his dad, 'If you love your son, you'll stop the fight'. So he was tough. He was a true competitor but I was just a better man tonight,' the New Yorker said. Hitchins beat Kambosos so comprehensively, some commentators suggested the fight should not have been allowed to go ahead. After rap-dancing his way into the ring, Hitchins showed Kambosos little respect once inside when it became patently obvious he had the Australian's measure. Enjoying a significant height and reach advantage, the so-called 'Pride of Brooklyn' kept an aggressive Kambosos at bay in the first round, then won the second after opening up a cut under the challenger's right eye. Hitchins continued to pepper Kambosos with jabs, much like in the Sydney slugger's twin defeats to Devin Haney, to win all seven rounds before gesturing to the former unified lightweight world champ's camp to throw in the towel. They didn't, leaving the referee with no choice but to stop the contest when Kambosos was left reeling in pain following a huge blow to the solar plexus. 'I watched George's fight with him and Devin Haney. I knew that Devin Haney didn't really take it inside,' Hitchins said. 'And he was headhunting a lot when I did have him hurt so I thought I'm gonna touch him with some short shots. 'And when I did touch him up with some short shots, I seen how he squinted and I smelt blood.' After stripping fellow Australian Liam Paro of his IBF belt last December in Puerto Rico, Hitchins has now placed Kambosos's career in tatters. Since capturing the IBF, WBC and WBO straps with a spectacular 2021 upset win over Teofimo Lopez at the same venue as Sunday's contest, the 32-year-old has lost four of his past six bouts. Twice shown up by pound-for-pound king Haney, then left vanquished against the legendary Ukrainian war fighter Vasyl Lomachenko before his latest defeat, Kambosos admits it is 'back to the drawing board' as he contemplates his future. 'Hey, look, look at the talent. I fought them all, man,' Kambosos said. 'You've got 'Teo' here. You got Hitchens. He's calling out Haney. He'll probably try to call out Lomachenko too, mate. 'I fought them all, man. I'm a warrior. 'They're all great fighters and I chased greatness. I really believed in myself, but just didn't have that time. 'He was a little bit too good for me tonight. Hit me with a beautiful body shot. 'I still got up at 9, 10 (count), but the ref's got to do his job. 'Who gives a f***, man. This is boxing. Fight the best, f*** the cherries.' The former Cronulla Sharks junior said he wasn't fussed about what is to come next. 'I've had two fights in, like, three months' time. Solid guys and I've been fighting the best,' Kambosos added. 'So, right now, I'm going to go coach my son's footy team. That's what I want to do and, obviously, it is what it is.'
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
'Warrior' Kambosos Jnr suffers new world title blow
George Kambosos Jnr's distinguished career may be over following a comprehensive world-title loss in New York to classy American Richardson Hitchins. With surgical precision, the undefeated Hitchins dominated from the get-go before stopping Kambosos two minutes 33 seconds into the eighth round with a second devastating body shot at Madison Square Garden had been bidding to join the great Jeff Fenech as a multi-division world champion but instead copped a pounding in Sunday's much-anticipated IBF super-lightweight showdown. Having promised to put Kambosos in his place after an explosive build-up spiced with threats, bets and a cancelled face-off after the two combatants almost came to blows, Hitchins delivered on his word. "I told his dad, 'If you love your son, you'll stop the fight'. So he was tough. He was a true competitor but I was just a better man tonight," the New Yorker said. After rap-dancing his way into the ring, Hitchins showed Kambosos little respect once inside when it became patently obvious he had the Australian's measure. Enjoying a significant height and reach advantage, the so-called "Pride of Brooklyn" kept an aggressive Kambosos at bay in the first round, then won the second after opening up a cut under the challenger's right eye. Hitchins continued to pepper Kambosos with jabs, much like in the Sydney slugger's twin defeats to Devin Haney, to win all seven rounds before gesturing to the former unified lightweight world champ's camp to throw in the towel. They didn't, leaving the referee with no choice but to stop the contest when Kambosos was left reeling in pain following a huge blow to the solar plexus. "I watched George's fight with him and Devin Haney. I knew that Devin Haney didn't really take it inside," Hitchins said. "And he was headhunting a lot when I did have him hurt so I thought I'm gonna touch him with some short shots. "And when I did touch him up with some short shots, I seen how he squinted and I smelt blood." After stripping fellow Australian Liam Paro of his IBF belt last December in Puerto Rico, Hitchins has now placed Kambosos's career in tatters. Since capturing the IBF, WBC and WBO straps with a spectacular 2021 upset win over Teofimo Lopez at the same venue as Sunday's contest, the 32-year-old has lost four of his past six bouts. Twice shown up by pound-for-pound king Haney, then left vanquished against the legendary Ukrainian war fighter Vasyl Lomachenko before his latest defeat, Kambosos admits it is "back to the drawing board" as he contemplates his future. "Hey, look, look at the talent. I fought them all, man," Kambosos said. "You've got 'Teo' here. You got Hitchens. He's calling out Haney. He'll probably try to call out Lomachenko too, mate. "I fought them all, man. I'm a warrior. "They're all great fighters and I chased greatness. I really believed in myself, but just didn't have that time. "He was a little bit too good for me tonight. Hit me with a beautiful body shot. "I still got up at 9, 10 (count), but the ref's got to do his job. "Who gives a f***, man. This is boxing. Fight the best, f*** the cherries." The former Cronulla Sharks junior said he wasn't fussed about what is to come next. "I've had two fights in, like, three months' time. Solid guys and I've been fighting the best," Kambosos added. "So, right now, I'm going to go coach my son's footy team. That's what I want to do and, obviously, it is what it is." George Kambosos Jnr's distinguished career may be over following a comprehensive world-title loss in New York to classy American Richardson Hitchins. With surgical precision, the undefeated Hitchins dominated from the get-go before stopping Kambosos two minutes 33 seconds into the eighth round with a second devastating body shot at Madison Square Garden had been bidding to join the great Jeff Fenech as a multi-division world champion but instead copped a pounding in Sunday's much-anticipated IBF super-lightweight showdown. Having promised to put Kambosos in his place after an explosive build-up spiced with threats, bets and a cancelled face-off after the two combatants almost came to blows, Hitchins delivered on his word. "I told his dad, 'If you love your son, you'll stop the fight'. So he was tough. He was a true competitor but I was just a better man tonight," the New Yorker said. After rap-dancing his way into the ring, Hitchins showed Kambosos little respect once inside when it became patently obvious he had the Australian's measure. Enjoying a significant height and reach advantage, the so-called "Pride of Brooklyn" kept an aggressive Kambosos at bay in the first round, then won the second after opening up a cut under the challenger's right eye. Hitchins continued to pepper Kambosos with jabs, much like in the Sydney slugger's twin defeats to Devin Haney, to win all seven rounds before gesturing to the former unified lightweight world champ's camp to throw in the towel. They didn't, leaving the referee with no choice but to stop the contest when Kambosos was left reeling in pain following a huge blow to the solar plexus. "I watched George's fight with him and Devin Haney. I knew that Devin Haney didn't really take it inside," Hitchins said. "And he was headhunting a lot when I did have him hurt so I thought I'm gonna touch him with some short shots. "And when I did touch him up with some short shots, I seen how he squinted and I smelt blood." After stripping fellow Australian Liam Paro of his IBF belt last December in Puerto Rico, Hitchins has now placed Kambosos's career in tatters. Since capturing the IBF, WBC and WBO straps with a spectacular 2021 upset win over Teofimo Lopez at the same venue as Sunday's contest, the 32-year-old has lost four of his past six bouts. Twice shown up by pound-for-pound king Haney, then left vanquished against the legendary Ukrainian war fighter Vasyl Lomachenko before his latest defeat, Kambosos admits it is "back to the drawing board" as he contemplates his future. "Hey, look, look at the talent. I fought them all, man," Kambosos said. "You've got 'Teo' here. You got Hitchens. He's calling out Haney. He'll probably try to call out Lomachenko too, mate. "I fought them all, man. I'm a warrior. "They're all great fighters and I chased greatness. I really believed in myself, but just didn't have that time. "He was a little bit too good for me tonight. Hit me with a beautiful body shot. "I still got up at 9, 10 (count), but the ref's got to do his job. "Who gives a f***, man. This is boxing. Fight the best, f*** the cherries." The former Cronulla Sharks junior said he wasn't fussed about what is to come next. "I've had two fights in, like, three months' time. Solid guys and I've been fighting the best," Kambosos added. "So, right now, I'm going to go coach my son's footy team. That's what I want to do and, obviously, it is what it is." George Kambosos Jnr's distinguished career may be over following a comprehensive world-title loss in New York to classy American Richardson Hitchins. With surgical precision, the undefeated Hitchins dominated from the get-go before stopping Kambosos two minutes 33 seconds into the eighth round with a second devastating body shot at Madison Square Garden had been bidding to join the great Jeff Fenech as a multi-division world champion but instead copped a pounding in Sunday's much-anticipated IBF super-lightweight showdown. Having promised to put Kambosos in his place after an explosive build-up spiced with threats, bets and a cancelled face-off after the two combatants almost came to blows, Hitchins delivered on his word. "I told his dad, 'If you love your son, you'll stop the fight'. So he was tough. He was a true competitor but I was just a better man tonight," the New Yorker said. After rap-dancing his way into the ring, Hitchins showed Kambosos little respect once inside when it became patently obvious he had the Australian's measure. Enjoying a significant height and reach advantage, the so-called "Pride of Brooklyn" kept an aggressive Kambosos at bay in the first round, then won the second after opening up a cut under the challenger's right eye. Hitchins continued to pepper Kambosos with jabs, much like in the Sydney slugger's twin defeats to Devin Haney, to win all seven rounds before gesturing to the former unified lightweight world champ's camp to throw in the towel. They didn't, leaving the referee with no choice but to stop the contest when Kambosos was left reeling in pain following a huge blow to the solar plexus. "I watched George's fight with him and Devin Haney. I knew that Devin Haney didn't really take it inside," Hitchins said. "And he was headhunting a lot when I did have him hurt so I thought I'm gonna touch him with some short shots. "And when I did touch him up with some short shots, I seen how he squinted and I smelt blood." After stripping fellow Australian Liam Paro of his IBF belt last December in Puerto Rico, Hitchins has now placed Kambosos's career in tatters. Since capturing the IBF, WBC and WBO straps with a spectacular 2021 upset win over Teofimo Lopez at the same venue as Sunday's contest, the 32-year-old has lost four of his past six bouts. Twice shown up by pound-for-pound king Haney, then left vanquished against the legendary Ukrainian war fighter Vasyl Lomachenko before his latest defeat, Kambosos admits it is "back to the drawing board" as he contemplates his future. "Hey, look, look at the talent. I fought them all, man," Kambosos said. "You've got 'Teo' here. You got Hitchens. He's calling out Haney. He'll probably try to call out Lomachenko too, mate. "I fought them all, man. I'm a warrior. "They're all great fighters and I chased greatness. I really believed in myself, but just didn't have that time. "He was a little bit too good for me tonight. Hit me with a beautiful body shot. "I still got up at 9, 10 (count), but the ref's got to do his job. "Who gives a f***, man. This is boxing. Fight the best, f*** the cherries." The former Cronulla Sharks junior said he wasn't fussed about what is to come next. "I've had two fights in, like, three months' time. Solid guys and I've been fighting the best," Kambosos added. "So, right now, I'm going to go coach my son's footy team. That's what I want to do and, obviously, it is what it is." George Kambosos Jnr's distinguished career may be over following a comprehensive world-title loss in New York to classy American Richardson Hitchins. With surgical precision, the undefeated Hitchins dominated from the get-go before stopping Kambosos two minutes 33 seconds into the eighth round with a second devastating body shot at Madison Square Garden had been bidding to join the great Jeff Fenech as a multi-division world champion but instead copped a pounding in Sunday's much-anticipated IBF super-lightweight showdown. Having promised to put Kambosos in his place after an explosive build-up spiced with threats, bets and a cancelled face-off after the two combatants almost came to blows, Hitchins delivered on his word. "I told his dad, 'If you love your son, you'll stop the fight'. So he was tough. He was a true competitor but I was just a better man tonight," the New Yorker said. After rap-dancing his way into the ring, Hitchins showed Kambosos little respect once inside when it became patently obvious he had the Australian's measure. Enjoying a significant height and reach advantage, the so-called "Pride of Brooklyn" kept an aggressive Kambosos at bay in the first round, then won the second after opening up a cut under the challenger's right eye. Hitchins continued to pepper Kambosos with jabs, much like in the Sydney slugger's twin defeats to Devin Haney, to win all seven rounds before gesturing to the former unified lightweight world champ's camp to throw in the towel. They didn't, leaving the referee with no choice but to stop the contest when Kambosos was left reeling in pain following a huge blow to the solar plexus. "I watched George's fight with him and Devin Haney. I knew that Devin Haney didn't really take it inside," Hitchins said. "And he was headhunting a lot when I did have him hurt so I thought I'm gonna touch him with some short shots. "And when I did touch him up with some short shots, I seen how he squinted and I smelt blood." After stripping fellow Australian Liam Paro of his IBF belt last December in Puerto Rico, Hitchins has now placed Kambosos's career in tatters. Since capturing the IBF, WBC and WBO straps with a spectacular 2021 upset win over Teofimo Lopez at the same venue as Sunday's contest, the 32-year-old has lost four of his past six bouts. Twice shown up by pound-for-pound king Haney, then left vanquished against the legendary Ukrainian war fighter Vasyl Lomachenko before his latest defeat, Kambosos admits it is "back to the drawing board" as he contemplates his future. "Hey, look, look at the talent. I fought them all, man," Kambosos said. "You've got 'Teo' here. You got Hitchens. He's calling out Haney. He'll probably try to call out Lomachenko too, mate. "I fought them all, man. I'm a warrior. "They're all great fighters and I chased greatness. I really believed in myself, but just didn't have that time. "He was a little bit too good for me tonight. Hit me with a beautiful body shot. "I still got up at 9, 10 (count), but the ref's got to do his job. "Who gives a f***, man. This is boxing. Fight the best, f*** the cherries." The former Cronulla Sharks junior said he wasn't fussed about what is to come next. "I've had two fights in, like, three months' time. Solid guys and I've been fighting the best," Kambosos added. "So, right now, I'm going to go coach my son's footy team. That's what I want to do and, obviously, it is what it is."
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
'We were on Venus': US imports seal last-gasp win for out-of-sorts Falcons
Jiselle Havas did it against Norths two weeks earlier. And, the United States import did it again in Canberra on Saturday night. The American guard joined the Falcons in May after a strong campaign in the British Super League and has quickly proven to be a matchwinner under pressure. The 24-year-old held her nerve to produce a two-point jump shot with two seconds left on the clock at the Australian Institute of Sport on Saturday night to seal what coach Kristy Bultitude described as "a huge" 73-71 win. The Falcons were forced to stave off a fierce fightback from the fourth-placed Centre of Excellence (CoE) after holding a 61-53 lead heading into the final quarter. Their opponents chipped away at Newcastle's lead and closed the gap before hitting the front, 69-67, with four minutes remaining. Back-to-back NBL1 East Most Valuable Player Nicole Munger did what she does best, pulling off a couple of huge late plays. Munger sunk a two-point jump shot to level the score at 69-69 with two minutes remaining then produced a defensive rebound before scoring another two-pointer with less than a minute on the clock to again tie things up, this time at 71-71. Enter Havas, after being injected into the game with 26 seconds to play. CoE's Emilija Dakic missed shots either side of Havas' effort. "[Assistant coach] Bernadette [Schmidt] said to me, 'Who do you want on?', because Meg [Jefferson] fouled out, and I said, 'Put Jiselle on', another shooter," Bultitude said. "Jiselle has done it twice for us now, hit the game-winning shot. She did it against Norths as well." Munger finished the game with a game-high 19 points. Jefferson chimed in with 14 points. Bultitude felt it was a lucky escape on an off night for the Falcons. "When you don't play your best and you can walk away with a win, you're pretty satisfied," Bultitude said. "We were on Venus ... our mental aptitude was just missing completely. I don't know what went wrong, whether it was just having two weeks off and not having a game. I was drawing plays that I haven't had to draw from round three ... it was just one of those nights. "We were very lucky we got over the line and then even luckier that Norths lost last night to Albury. It was a huge result. It means now we've sort of got that one game up on Norths. "But, I think it's just the culture of the group. They stick together. They know that things aren't going well for them and their heads may be down but they just get after it for each other." The win has defending champions Newcastle top of the points table as they eye a weekend double-header on the road against second-placed Norths and 12th-placed Penrith. The seventh-placed Falcons men went down fighting in an 86-80 to leaders CoE on Saturday night. Newcastle trailed 69-55 at three-quarter time but Ryan Beisty had them within three points of their opponents, at 83-80, when he drained a three-point jump shot with less than two minutes remaining. Elijah Stephens finished with 20 points for the Falcons, Matur Maluach scored 17 points and Myles Cherry produced 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jiselle Havas did it against Norths two weeks earlier. And, the United States import did it again in Canberra on Saturday night. The American guard joined the Falcons in May after a strong campaign in the British Super League and has quickly proven to be a matchwinner under pressure. The 24-year-old held her nerve to produce a two-point jump shot with two seconds left on the clock at the Australian Institute of Sport on Saturday night to seal what coach Kristy Bultitude described as "a huge" 73-71 win. The Falcons were forced to stave off a fierce fightback from the fourth-placed Centre of Excellence (CoE) after holding a 61-53 lead heading into the final quarter. Their opponents chipped away at Newcastle's lead and closed the gap before hitting the front, 69-67, with four minutes remaining. Back-to-back NBL1 East Most Valuable Player Nicole Munger did what she does best, pulling off a couple of huge late plays. Munger sunk a two-point jump shot to level the score at 69-69 with two minutes remaining then produced a defensive rebound before scoring another two-pointer with less than a minute on the clock to again tie things up, this time at 71-71. Enter Havas, after being injected into the game with 26 seconds to play. CoE's Emilija Dakic missed shots either side of Havas' effort. "[Assistant coach] Bernadette [Schmidt] said to me, 'Who do you want on?', because Meg [Jefferson] fouled out, and I said, 'Put Jiselle on', another shooter," Bultitude said. "Jiselle has done it twice for us now, hit the game-winning shot. She did it against Norths as well." Munger finished the game with a game-high 19 points. Jefferson chimed in with 14 points. Bultitude felt it was a lucky escape on an off night for the Falcons. "When you don't play your best and you can walk away with a win, you're pretty satisfied," Bultitude said. "We were on Venus ... our mental aptitude was just missing completely. I don't know what went wrong, whether it was just having two weeks off and not having a game. I was drawing plays that I haven't had to draw from round three ... it was just one of those nights. "We were very lucky we got over the line and then even luckier that Norths lost last night to Albury. It was a huge result. It means now we've sort of got that one game up on Norths. "But, I think it's just the culture of the group. They stick together. They know that things aren't going well for them and their heads may be down but they just get after it for each other." The win has defending champions Newcastle top of the points table as they eye a weekend double-header on the road against second-placed Norths and 12th-placed Penrith. The seventh-placed Falcons men went down fighting in an 86-80 to leaders CoE on Saturday night. Newcastle trailed 69-55 at three-quarter time but Ryan Beisty had them within three points of their opponents, at 83-80, when he drained a three-point jump shot with less than two minutes remaining. Elijah Stephens finished with 20 points for the Falcons, Matur Maluach scored 17 points and Myles Cherry produced 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jiselle Havas did it against Norths two weeks earlier. And, the United States import did it again in Canberra on Saturday night. The American guard joined the Falcons in May after a strong campaign in the British Super League and has quickly proven to be a matchwinner under pressure. The 24-year-old held her nerve to produce a two-point jump shot with two seconds left on the clock at the Australian Institute of Sport on Saturday night to seal what coach Kristy Bultitude described as "a huge" 73-71 win. The Falcons were forced to stave off a fierce fightback from the fourth-placed Centre of Excellence (CoE) after holding a 61-53 lead heading into the final quarter. Their opponents chipped away at Newcastle's lead and closed the gap before hitting the front, 69-67, with four minutes remaining. Back-to-back NBL1 East Most Valuable Player Nicole Munger did what she does best, pulling off a couple of huge late plays. Munger sunk a two-point jump shot to level the score at 69-69 with two minutes remaining then produced a defensive rebound before scoring another two-pointer with less than a minute on the clock to again tie things up, this time at 71-71. Enter Havas, after being injected into the game with 26 seconds to play. CoE's Emilija Dakic missed shots either side of Havas' effort. "[Assistant coach] Bernadette [Schmidt] said to me, 'Who do you want on?', because Meg [Jefferson] fouled out, and I said, 'Put Jiselle on', another shooter," Bultitude said. "Jiselle has done it twice for us now, hit the game-winning shot. She did it against Norths as well." Munger finished the game with a game-high 19 points. Jefferson chimed in with 14 points. Bultitude felt it was a lucky escape on an off night for the Falcons. "When you don't play your best and you can walk away with a win, you're pretty satisfied," Bultitude said. "We were on Venus ... our mental aptitude was just missing completely. I don't know what went wrong, whether it was just having two weeks off and not having a game. I was drawing plays that I haven't had to draw from round three ... it was just one of those nights. "We were very lucky we got over the line and then even luckier that Norths lost last night to Albury. It was a huge result. It means now we've sort of got that one game up on Norths. "But, I think it's just the culture of the group. They stick together. They know that things aren't going well for them and their heads may be down but they just get after it for each other." The win has defending champions Newcastle top of the points table as they eye a weekend double-header on the road against second-placed Norths and 12th-placed Penrith. The seventh-placed Falcons men went down fighting in an 86-80 to leaders CoE on Saturday night. Newcastle trailed 69-55 at three-quarter time but Ryan Beisty had them within three points of their opponents, at 83-80, when he drained a three-point jump shot with less than two minutes remaining. Elijah Stephens finished with 20 points for the Falcons, Matur Maluach scored 17 points and Myles Cherry produced 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jiselle Havas did it against Norths two weeks earlier. And, the United States import did it again in Canberra on Saturday night. The American guard joined the Falcons in May after a strong campaign in the British Super League and has quickly proven to be a matchwinner under pressure. The 24-year-old held her nerve to produce a two-point jump shot with two seconds left on the clock at the Australian Institute of Sport on Saturday night to seal what coach Kristy Bultitude described as "a huge" 73-71 win. The Falcons were forced to stave off a fierce fightback from the fourth-placed Centre of Excellence (CoE) after holding a 61-53 lead heading into the final quarter. Their opponents chipped away at Newcastle's lead and closed the gap before hitting the front, 69-67, with four minutes remaining. Back-to-back NBL1 East Most Valuable Player Nicole Munger did what she does best, pulling off a couple of huge late plays. Munger sunk a two-point jump shot to level the score at 69-69 with two minutes remaining then produced a defensive rebound before scoring another two-pointer with less than a minute on the clock to again tie things up, this time at 71-71. Enter Havas, after being injected into the game with 26 seconds to play. CoE's Emilija Dakic missed shots either side of Havas' effort. "[Assistant coach] Bernadette [Schmidt] said to me, 'Who do you want on?', because Meg [Jefferson] fouled out, and I said, 'Put Jiselle on', another shooter," Bultitude said. "Jiselle has done it twice for us now, hit the game-winning shot. She did it against Norths as well." Munger finished the game with a game-high 19 points. Jefferson chimed in with 14 points. Bultitude felt it was a lucky escape on an off night for the Falcons. "When you don't play your best and you can walk away with a win, you're pretty satisfied," Bultitude said. "We were on Venus ... our mental aptitude was just missing completely. I don't know what went wrong, whether it was just having two weeks off and not having a game. I was drawing plays that I haven't had to draw from round three ... it was just one of those nights. "We were very lucky we got over the line and then even luckier that Norths lost last night to Albury. It was a huge result. It means now we've sort of got that one game up on Norths. "But, I think it's just the culture of the group. They stick together. They know that things aren't going well for them and their heads may be down but they just get after it for each other." The win has defending champions Newcastle top of the points table as they eye a weekend double-header on the road against second-placed Norths and 12th-placed Penrith. The seventh-placed Falcons men went down fighting in an 86-80 to leaders CoE on Saturday night. Newcastle trailed 69-55 at three-quarter time but Ryan Beisty had them within three points of their opponents, at 83-80, when he drained a three-point jump shot with less than two minutes remaining. Elijah Stephens finished with 20 points for the Falcons, Matur Maluach scored 17 points and Myles Cherry produced 14 points and 11 rebounds.
