Team-By-Team: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 13, NBL26)

By Damon Lowery.

Author’s note – “HOOYAH” is the battle cry of the Navy Seals and is given out to celebrate great efforts & achievements.

A “HARDEN UP” is given out when a performance has not been at the expected level.

This is STRICTLY about basketball – it is NEVER personal.

Defeated by Sydney, defeated Illawarra

HOOYAH – Fitness: In a league where it’s common to see players play little over half a game and getting subbed in and out every 4 minutes, it was awesome to watch you play the entire game, including overtime. A total of 45 minutes with the Kings chasing you around all night, you gotta be the fittest player in the league.

HARDEN UP – Troy Brown Jr: What’s going on my man? You were brought in to provide some extra firepower and you’re not firing. Against the Hawks you got 14 minutes of action and delivered 2 points and 2 boards. You’re infinitely better than that, it’s time to get serious.

Defeated by South East Melbourne

HOOYAH – Jacob Holt. Another solid game. I’m a fan of your uncompromising ways, 10 points and 6 rebounds in just 13 minutes tells me you’re gonna have a long career in this league.

HARDEN UP – Turnovers: 28 turnovers in a 40 minute game?! Are you guys serious? That’s a turnover every 64 seconds. Go to your rooms and think about what you just did.

Defeated New Zealand, defeated by Sydney

HOOYAH – Jack McVeigh. Congrats on the birth of your son, fatherhood looks good on you, congrats on your 200^th game, and congrats on your career night, 47 points on 16/21 shooting including 6 made triples and 8 rebounds on the side. I haven’t seen a ‘Jack’ this charismatic since Jack Sparrow in The Pirates of the Carribean.

HARDEN UP – Andrew Andrews. First you foul out late in the New Zealand game, then out of frustration you throw the ball against the backboard and get a technical foul. Then in the next game against the Kings, you’re ‘jaw jackin’ with the refs complaining about a no-call and get another technical. You gotta cut that out.

Defeated by Melbourne United and Adelaide

HOOYAH – Wani Swaka Lo Buluk. You came out against Adelaide and meant business from the jump. You played with a level of scoring aggression that I love to see and the team needs, it resulted in your career-high 19 points. More of that please.

HARDEN UP – Mason Peatling. ZERO points. I’m a simple man with simple rules: If you’re a starter you must score at least 1 point. Mason Peatling my man, against Melbourne United you were on the floor for 19 minutes and you failed to put the ball in the bucket. This isn’t your first time doing that this season, please, please make it your last.

Defeated Illawarra

HOOYAH – Tyson Walker. You were without your gunslinger Chris Goulding (illness), reigning back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Shea Ili did his hammie early in the second half, and Milton Doyle was scoreless for the first 3 quarters. You showed what you what you were made of once again and put the team on your back, with 21 points, 10 dimes and 3 steals to guarantee victory against the Hawks.

HARDEN UP – Shea Ili’s hamstring. That’s the 3^rd time this season you’ve forced Shea to miss games. Please get strong and stay strong, I need to see Shea in the Playoffs.

Defeated by Cairns

HOOYAH – Sam Mennenga. You turned in another dominant performance and finished with my first ever ‘Double Kobe Bryant’ – that’s 24 points 8 rebounds, and you threw in 5 assists. There should be an All-NBL Team selection waiting for you at the end of the season.

HARDEN UP – Rob Baker. Your best games of the season has been when you got on the glass and rebounded well. 2 rebounds in 21 minutes wouldn’t be bad if you were my size (5’10) but you’re 6’10, Cmon Man.

Defeated by South East Melbourne, defeated Tasmania

HARDEN UP– Kristian Doolittle: After scoring only 5 points in your last 2 games, I thought the offensive explosion was coming, but it didn’t. I’m in state of shock that you only scored 4 points (1/7 field goal) in 37 minutes of action against South East Melbourne.

HOOYAH – Kristian Doolittle, You Hardened Up immediately with a beautiful bounce back game against the JackJumpers with 30 points and 6 boards for a much needed road win. Glad to have you back.

Defeated Perth and Brisbane

HOOYAH – John Brown III: That 33 minutes of court time should be shown to every junior basketball player in the country. RELENTLESS is the closest word I can come up with to describe your game against Perth. Not only did you completely and utterly defend Kristian Doolittle right out of the game, but you made the technical free throw to cut the deficit to 1 point with 11 seconds to go, then you hit your patented midrange jumper to call game.

HARDEN UP – Pass.

Defeated Adelaide and Cairns

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Kendric Davis. You were running on fumes against Adelaide playing your 3^rd game in five days, the game looked like it was getting away from you guys down 16 points. You played the full 40 minutes, dug deep and poured in 27 points, chased down 6 rebounds, and dropped 7 dimes. That was special my man.

HOOYAH – (cue the DMX music) Xavier Cooks: I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, you’re an international and domestic mismatch. You gave the 36ers the business, they could only watch as you notched up a season-high 27 points and threw in 8 boards on the side. ‘X’ is go give it to ya!

HARDEN UP – Kouat Noi: You’re the reigning Sixth Man of the Year because you’re a bucket getter of the highest order. So you can understand why I fell off my couch when the game finished and you didn’t get 1 bucket, 0/5 field goal for NO POINTS. We both know that won’t ever happen again.

Defeated by Perth

HOOYAH – Bryce Hamilton: You normally score from a variety of ways, but this time you showed off your three-ball, going 7/10 from downtown to finish with 25 points, 5 boards, and 4 dimes.

HARDEN UP – Will Magnay: The team needs more than 6 points and 6 rebounds out of you, but you only played 16 minutes due to foul trouble. You gotta protect yourself my man.

HOOYAH – Open Air Games. South East Melbourne hosted their annual Open Air Game on Saturday against Brisbane and it was nothing short of spectacular. In front of a sellout crowd at John Cain Arena, the Phoenix produced a magical evening for all, both on and off the court. Witnessing an Open Air Game is an event that all sports fans should experience. Lucky for all of them, United host their own Open Air Game on Tuesday night against Tasmania. Don't miss out for a second time!

HARDEN UP – Christmas jerseys. We know both the Sydney Kings and Illawarra Hawks have specially designed Christmas jerseys for their annual December 25 showdown but all 10 teams should wear festive uniforms during the NBL's 12 Days of Christmas. From channeling your inner Christmas tree like Tasmania did during the 2023-24 season, to the ugly Christmas sweater design incorporated by many teams, there's so much festive fun teams can have with these jerseys. Let's make it happen for next year!