Team-By-Team: Hooyah & Harden Up (Round 18, 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 New Zealand, defeated by Sydney

HOOYAH – Bryce Cotton (stop me if you’ve heard this story): You had a quiet first half with 9 points. With New Zealand looking good for a win, holding a one-point lead in the last few seconds in overtime, you hit a game-winning, walk-off three to finish with 33 points - amazing.

HARDEN UP – Defence: Needs be your number one priority. Allowing the Kings to score 106 - the third game in a row where y’all gave a ton of points (see what I did?).

Defeated by Melbourne United and Illawarra

HOOYAH – Jacob Holt: You can hold your head high even though Melbourne got hold of you. You played 19 minutes, missed one shot for the game (9/10FG) and led the team in points (23) and rebounds (8). You’re a breath of fresh air, man.

HOOYAH – Terry Taylor: I don’t know if you fully grasp the responsibility of an import in this League. You don’t have to score 30 every night, but you gotta get more than 5. You had more fouls than made field goals. C’mon man, finish this season right!

Defeated by Perth and South East Melbourne

HOOYAH – Jack McVeigh: I love the way you compete, man. Even in the face of a devastating defeat to Perth, you still compete. You single-handedly make your team worth watching. 34 points with eight made three-balls. Thanks for giving a damn.

HARDEN UP – Admiral Schofield: You played 21 minutes against Perth, and took three shots for three points. Why won’t you shoot?

Defeated Tasmania and Brisbane

HOOYAH – JaVale McGee: The Play-In door is still open. Your 23 points (9/10FG), 8 boards, and customary 2 blocks (in 22 minutes) pushed the door open a lil bit more.

HARDEN UP – Offensive rebounds: It’s a sign of effort and work rate. You allowed 15 offensive rebounds to arguably the most depleted team in NBL history. Gotta work harder, fellas.

Defeated Brisbane and Perth

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Finn Delany: After going scoreless in your last game, I knew the bounce back would be swift. 15 points,7 rebounds helped turn the game as you guys made mince meat of the Bullets.

HOOYAH – Milton Doyle: It’s too late to win Sixth Man of the Year, but you’ve been brilliant since coming off the bench. Trailing by a point with under a minute, you broke the Wildcats’ heart with your game-winning, dagger three-ball. Your clutchness can never be debated.

HARDEN UP - Chris Goulding: This one hurts me. 28 minutes of action, and your shot betrayed you (for once). You had more turnovers (4) than points (3) on 1/9 FG. (P.S. Massive congrats on your 500^th game)

Defeated by South East Melbourne and Adelaide

HOOYAH – Parker Jackson-Cartwright: “The Human Blur” … the “one-man Fast Break”, and the President of the “Lil Big Man’s Society”. The Phoenix were ready to rip and run, and you were cool with it. 26 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists were an almighty effort.

HARDEN UP – Defence: Gonna have to start referring to you as New Zealan, because there was absolutely no ‘D’ in that Phoenix game. Giving up 74 in the first half puts you on the wrong side of history.

Defeated Cairns, defeated by Melbourne

HOOYAH – Elijah Pepper: You were hotter than the surface of the sun against Cairns. You didn’t even play last quarter and still led the team in scoring with 25. You knocked down seven triples and scored 20 in the third quarter. Good Lord.

HARDEN UP– John Rillie: You were the only one wo could defend Elijah Pepper against Cairns. He had 6 triples and 20 points in the third quarter and couldn’t have been any hotter. BUT you didn’t play him a single second in the fourth quarter. You ripped us all off!

Defeated New Zealand and Cairns

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Wes Iwundu: The Houston, Texas native was hotter than Hell’s kitchen, knocking down four straight triples to start the game. You were a tone-setter on your way to 23 points.

HOOYAH – Ian Clark: You guys are scoring like your old team, the 2017 NBA Championship-winning Golden State Warriors. You, in particular, leading the team with 24 and 5 treys in just 20 minutes

HARDEN UP – Fouling: Wassup with sending the Breakers to the foul line so much? Every time I looked up, they were shooting free throws – 49 in total, that’s unbelievable! This will torpedo your title chances if you don’t cut it out.

Defeated Tasmania and Adelaide

DOUBLE HOOYAH ALERT

HOOYAH – Kendric Davis: I’ve been waiting for your first 40-piece. You unleashed your full scoring arsenal and play-making against Tasmania with 6 made treys and 8 dimes. Then backed that up with a 20-point, 14-assist game over the 36ers. My man.

HOOYAH – Torrey Craig: The last time we saw you in the League was 2017, when you were Defensive Player of the Year. Then you played more than 500 NBA games. In just your second game with the Kings, you hit your first 6 triples in a row on your way to a game high 26 and 8 boards. Welcome back!

HARDEN UP – Pass.

Defeated by Sydney and Illawarra

HOOYAH – Josh Bannan: You battled your ass off against the Kings and fought tooth and nail for yet another double-double (I’ve lost count). 18 points and 15 rebounds is incredible work.

HOOYAH – The injury Bug: What did the JackJumpers do to deserve this treatment? First ,Sean McDonald does his knee before the season, Anthony Drmic’s back kept him out for ages, Will Magnay breaks a bone in his foot, Majok Deng gets concussed, and Bryce Hamilton does his knee. Give them a break, please!

HOOYAH – Pride Round: An invitation and celebration to everyone in the LGBTQI+ community that basketball is a welcoming and safe place to be you. The Isaac Humphries and AJ Oglivy conversation was truly special and highlighted beautifully why Pride Round is here to stay.

HARDEN UP – Theme Round Chaos: It was Pride Round, right? Or was it Multicultural Round? No, wait, it was Pink Round in Sydney? … If I’m confused, I can’t imagine what the other fans are thinking. So many messages in the market at the same time, and so many different jerseys and causes being recognised. Pick one. Just one.