Narkle, Bayles star in IBA All Stars win

Image: Cairns Basketball

Biwali Bayles was dazzling flirting with a triple double and Johny Narkle had 16 first half points to show the way as the Indigenous Basketball Australia All Stars scored the 106-88 win over Poitukohu Maori o Aotearoa in Cairns.

It was a memorable occasion at the same time last year during NAIDOC Week in Melbourne when the best Indigenous talents from Australia and New Zealand locked horns and that marked the last top-level appearance from Nate Jawai.

This time the game was taken to Far North Queensland at Cairns' Trinity Ford Stadium and there was no shortage NBL and NBL1 talent on show across the board for quite the entertaining affair even if the IBA All Stars were on top from the outset.

Fresh off signing on to a full roster spot at the Illawarra Hawks for NBL27 and starring in a first NBL1 West season at the Cockburn Cougars, Johny Narkle hit a couple of early threes on his way to 11 points in the first quarter to give the IBA All Stars the 30-15 lead by quarter-time.

Narkle added another five points in the second term while Biwali Bayles was up to eight rebounds and five assists by half-time for the Indigenous All Stars team to be leading 52-32 with 10/26 three-point shooting to 3/20 from Poitukohu Maori.

The IBA All Stars went on with the job from there with 24 points to 20 in third quarter, and 30 to 26 in the fourth to score the 18-point victory on shooting 17/41 from three-point range to 11/42.

Bankstown Bruins NBL1 East star Anthony Mundine III top scored with 20 points with 6/11 three-point shooting while Biwali Bayles starred in the back court alongside him with 14 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Narkle was on fire with 16 points in the first half on his way to 19 for the game with eight points and two assists with 5/8 shooting from downtown.

Eltham Wildcats NBL1 South emerging star Harrison Hornery also had 17 points and seven rebounds with Deonte Williams contributing 12 points, eight boards, five assists and three steals, Tamuri Wigness eight points and six assists, and TJ Diop eight points and three rebounds despite a missed dunk late.

Meanwhile for Poitukohu Maori, Tana Kopa put up 23 points with 5/12 three-point shooting as he continues keep himself in contention for an NBL opportunity having starred with the Willetton Tigers in the NBL1 West in 2025, and now having a strong NBL1 South season with Keilor Thunder.

Luca Yates was part of the Illawarra Hawks' NBL25 championship squad and had 15 points and 11 rebounds with Xanda Masters adding 14 points and six boards, and Nathaniel Salmon 13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

The women's game was played earlier as well with the IBA All Stars beating the Wahina Maori side 85-78 in what turned out a tremendous contest as well.

Geelong Venom WNBL guard Indi Bowyer delivered 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Indigenous All Stars with local Cairns Dolphins NBL1 North star Leichan Williams having 15 points and six rebounds.

Southern Districts Spartans sisters Jess (14 points, seven rebounds, seven assists) and Hayley McDowell-White (eight points, four assists, three boards) also had impressive showings with Ambah Kowcun adding 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Hana Lacey-Rameka has been playing this NBL1 season in the West at the South West Slammers and put up 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals for Wahina Maori with Kobe Tehau King-Hawea adding 12 points and four boards, and Makayla Daysh seven points and eight rebounds.

Indigenous Basketball Australia All Stars 106 – Poitukohu Maori o Aotearoa 88

Stat leaders

IBA All Stars

Anthony Mundine III – 20 PTS, 6/11 3PT
Johny Narkle – 19 PTS, 8 REB, 5/8 3PT
Harrison Hornery – 17 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST
Biwali Bayles – 14 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST
Deonte Williams – 12 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST

Poitukohu Maori o Aotearoa

Tana Kopa – 14 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST
Luca Yates – 15 PTS, 11 REB
Xanda Masters – 14 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST
Nathaniel Salmon – 13 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST
Jayden Bezzant – 7 PTS, 7 AST, 5 REB