Latest news with #XavierCooks
The Advertiser
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Boomers thump Tall Blacks to clinch Trans-Tasman series
The Boomers have clinched the inaugural Trans-Tasman Throwdown with an emphatic 92-67 win over New Zealand at a sold-out UniSC Arena. Australia's defence was all over the Tall Blacks early on the Sunshine Coast on Friday night, before the Boomers finished with a flurry on offence, scoring 15 of the last 16 points. Sydney Kings captain Xavier Cooks (16 points, eight rebounds) stepped up impressively after he was well held in Wednesday's series opener in Adelaide. Perth Wildcat Elijah Pepper (12 points, five boards) and Illawarra Hawks' championship-winning veteran Todd Blanchfield (11, six) provided punch off the bench. "That's the way Boomers culture is built," Australia captain Mitch Norton said. "It's not just one guy. We've got a number of guys who can step up and our depth is endless, really. It's really cool to be part of." Reserve Taylor Britt (19 points) and Melbourne United veteran Shea Ili (18) were the standouts for the visitors. The Boomers held the tourists to 21 per cent shooting from the field in the first term to open up an 18-10 quarter-time lead. The second stanza was more free flowing, but still on the terms of the hosts, who got on a roll late with a pair of Blanchfield three-pointers to hold sway 42-28 at half-time. The home side's advantage was out to 18 points before Britt went on a tear for the Tall Blacks, single-handedly outscoring Australia 9-0 in less than two minutes to slice the margin to single digits. The gap was down to six points on a pair of Ili free throws early in the fourth period, before Norton, Cooks and Pepper revived the Aussies, who sprinted to the finish line. The Boomers, who won the opening stoush in Adelaide by 12 points, hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the first bilateral series between the rivals since 2015. The third and final game will be in Hamilton in NZ on Sunday. The Boomers have clinched the inaugural Trans-Tasman Throwdown with an emphatic 92-67 win over New Zealand at a sold-out UniSC Arena. Australia's defence was all over the Tall Blacks early on the Sunshine Coast on Friday night, before the Boomers finished with a flurry on offence, scoring 15 of the last 16 points. Sydney Kings captain Xavier Cooks (16 points, eight rebounds) stepped up impressively after he was well held in Wednesday's series opener in Adelaide. Perth Wildcat Elijah Pepper (12 points, five boards) and Illawarra Hawks' championship-winning veteran Todd Blanchfield (11, six) provided punch off the bench. "That's the way Boomers culture is built," Australia captain Mitch Norton said. "It's not just one guy. We've got a number of guys who can step up and our depth is endless, really. It's really cool to be part of." Reserve Taylor Britt (19 points) and Melbourne United veteran Shea Ili (18) were the standouts for the visitors. The Boomers held the tourists to 21 per cent shooting from the field in the first term to open up an 18-10 quarter-time lead. The second stanza was more free flowing, but still on the terms of the hosts, who got on a roll late with a pair of Blanchfield three-pointers to hold sway 42-28 at half-time. The home side's advantage was out to 18 points before Britt went on a tear for the Tall Blacks, single-handedly outscoring Australia 9-0 in less than two minutes to slice the margin to single digits. The gap was down to six points on a pair of Ili free throws early in the fourth period, before Norton, Cooks and Pepper revived the Aussies, who sprinted to the finish line. The Boomers, who won the opening stoush in Adelaide by 12 points, hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the first bilateral series between the rivals since 2015. The third and final game will be in Hamilton in NZ on Sunday. The Boomers have clinched the inaugural Trans-Tasman Throwdown with an emphatic 92-67 win over New Zealand at a sold-out UniSC Arena. Australia's defence was all over the Tall Blacks early on the Sunshine Coast on Friday night, before the Boomers finished with a flurry on offence, scoring 15 of the last 16 points. Sydney Kings captain Xavier Cooks (16 points, eight rebounds) stepped up impressively after he was well held in Wednesday's series opener in Adelaide. Perth Wildcat Elijah Pepper (12 points, five boards) and Illawarra Hawks' championship-winning veteran Todd Blanchfield (11, six) provided punch off the bench. "That's the way Boomers culture is built," Australia captain Mitch Norton said. "It's not just one guy. We've got a number of guys who can step up and our depth is endless, really. It's really cool to be part of." Reserve Taylor Britt (19 points) and Melbourne United veteran Shea Ili (18) were the standouts for the visitors. The Boomers held the tourists to 21 per cent shooting from the field in the first term to open up an 18-10 quarter-time lead. The second stanza was more free flowing, but still on the terms of the hosts, who got on a roll late with a pair of Blanchfield three-pointers to hold sway 42-28 at half-time. The home side's advantage was out to 18 points before Britt went on a tear for the Tall Blacks, single-handedly outscoring Australia 9-0 in less than two minutes to slice the margin to single digits. The gap was down to six points on a pair of Ili free throws early in the fourth period, before Norton, Cooks and Pepper revived the Aussies, who sprinted to the finish line. The Boomers, who won the opening stoush in Adelaide by 12 points, hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the first bilateral series between the rivals since 2015. The third and final game will be in Hamilton in NZ on Sunday.
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Basketball: Boomers v NZ, Trans-Tasman Challenge game 2 news and results
The Boomers flexed considerable muscle against the Tall Blacks to snare a Trans-Tasman Throwdown series win in stunning fashion on Friday night. Before a sell out crowd at UniSC Arena, the green and gold tamed the Kiwi's 92-67 in a wire-to-wire victory which saw Xavier Cooks (16pts) lead his Aussie's to ascendancy. Angus Glover (10pts), Cooks, Todd Blanchfeild (11pts) and Elijah Pepper (11pts) reached double figures in the 25-point trumping built on swarming defence. 'That (wide contributions) is the way Boomers culture is built,' captain Mitch Norton told Nine. 'It's not just one guy. We got a number of guys to step up, and our depth is endless.' The Kiwi's had returned from an 18-point deficit in the third quarter to be within six midway through the fourth, before taking their foot of the gas and giving in to a superb closing by the hosts. The Boomers went out with a bang scoring 32-17 in the fourth to add the finishing touches. Australia reeled in 47 rebounds to New Zealand's 34, dished out nine more assists, five more blocks and seven more steals. BRITT'S BRILLIANCE INSPIRES BLACKS' COMEBACK A startling third-quarter explosion by spark-plug guard Taylor Britt brought life back into the Tall Blacks after they trailed by as many as 18 and were staring down the barrel of a 20-point blowout loss. A mid-range magician from the Canterbury Rams, Britt brought his best when it mattered to pull the Kiwi's within 10 points, trailing 50-60 entering the fourth. He had 16 points with 2:30 left in the third and a timely three approaching the break put the exclamation mark on his wizardry. The two-year BNZ Breakers signing also drew a charge on Xavier Cooks to keep momentum in favour of the visitors. Entering the fourth, he had 19 points, three rebounds and three assists in less than 15 minutes of action. Nine of his points came from beyond the arc where he did not miss. It led to the Kiwi's coming within seven points when trailing 66-59 with 7:20 left but that was as close as they came. A stunning 5-0 scoring spurt by the Boomers quickly quelled the comeback attempt with a Norton three and Wessel's layup launching the hosts ahead 73-61 with six minutes left. BRICKIN' BLACKS Earlier, the bruising Boomers launched a staunch defensive shut down of their foes from across the ditch to lead 18-10 entering the second quarter and promptly assert their dominance. The Tall Blacks shot just 3-14 from the field in the first with the hosts' suffocating defence creating four blocked shots - two of which were produced by 19-year-old forward sensation Austin Rapp. Rapp's raucous four-minute stint off the bench saw him hold down the fort nicely after Blanchfeild, Wessels (4 pts, 4 rbs) and Cooks (5pts, 4rbs) had come out firing to set the tone. Buckets were few and far between for the Kiwis, and the Boomers' stifling defence turned into offence as they scored a quick seven points to open the second quarter and take a commanding 26-12 lead. It was never surrendered. STARK CONTRAST The Boomers trailed by five points at halftime of Wednesday's series opener and showed plenty of intent to lead comfortably, 42-28, entering the second half of Friday's Coast skirmish. That 19-point swing said plenty about the active hands, aggressiveness, rebounding urgency and unselfishness of the Aussies in a comprehensive, but not complete, opening half. The Boomers had 10 assists to the Kiwi's five, five blocks to nil and 13 made free shows compared to just four, emphasising the hosts' eagerness to attack the cup. The effectiveness of 33-year-old Blanchfeild (2-4 threes, 3rbs), who continues to age like fine wine, interior presence of centre Wessels (5pts, 5 rbs, 2 blocks) and peppering dribble-moves offered by Elijah Pepper were highlights in a first half performance which put a down payment on clinching the series. Boomers 92 (X. Cooks 16pts, 8 rbs, 3asts, 1blk) def Tall Blacks 67 (T. Britt 19pts, 5rbs, 3asts).
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Drug saga 'one of the biggest mistakes' of Cooks' life
Xavier Cooks says taking a banned substance during the NBL season was one of the biggest mistakes of his life after he received a one-month ban from Sport Integrity Australia. The former NBA forward returned an "adverse finding" from a drug test on the eve of the NBL post-season in February, forcing him to watch from the sidelines as Adelaide ended his Sydney Kings' season in sudden death. It has since been revealed Cooks took a non-performance enhancing substance, with his period of ineligibility concluding on March 7. Sport Integrity Australia declined to comment on the matter when contacted by AAP. The 29-year-old Boomers representative is free to resume playing but has not yet confirmed whether he will sign elsewhere for the NBL off-season. Cooks took to social media on Monday to apologise over the saga, which cast a pall over a strong season back in the NBL from a stint with the Washington Wizards. "I respect the decision that was handed down and have spent the past few months reflecting on my actions and the impact it has had," he wrote on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Xavier Cooks (@xaviercooks) "I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life. It was a lapse in judgement that has affected a lot of people I care deeply about. "I apologise to my family, my Sydney Kings teammates, the club, sponsors, fans and everyone who has ever supported me. I'm so sorry that I let you all down. "I am committed to becoming a positive role model in a our community and I hope I can regain your trust." Cooks finished the first season of his three-year Kings deal with selection in the All-NBL Second Team but could not inspire Sydney to a deep play-offs run on Brian Goorjian's return to the club. The Kings have already confirmed roster changes with Izayah Le'afa's second-year option declined and Alex Toohey set to pursue his NBA dream. Signing a genuine big man appears a priority after American import Cam Oliver endured a forgettable season back in the NBL. The NBL's free agency period begins on April 4.
Associated Press
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Xavier Cooks suspended for potential doping violation ahead of Sydney Kings' NBL post-season
SYDNEY (AP) — Sydney Kings forward Xavier Cooks has been suspended for a possible doping violation ahead of the post-season in Australia's National Basketball League. Basketball Australia announced Tuesday that Cooks, a former NBL MVP who played 10 games for the Washington Wizards before being waived by the NBA team in 2023, was suspended immediately following notification of an adverse analytical finding under the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy. The announcement was made two days before the Kings take on Adelaide. Cooks, 29, played in Japan's B League before rejoining the Kings this season, where he has averaged 15.4 points and 8.7 rebounds. Basketball Australia said there'd be no further comment from Cooks, the NBL or the Kings. ___
