St George Men’s White team faced one of their toughest tests of the season, hosting reigning champions and league favourites Tamworth Thunderbolts last Saturday night at Hurstville Stadium.
Coming off a strong win the week prior, the young and energetic Saints squad entered the game full of belief and passion, determined to test themselves against the competition’s benchmark. Tamworth, who came into the clash with just one loss all season, arrived prepared — led by their experienced import and point guard who made an immediate impact.
The Thunderbolts jumped out to an early lead, with the Saints struggling to contain Tamworth’s offensive weapons in the opening period. By the end of the first quarter, St George trailed 29–14.
However, the second quarter saw a shift in momentum. Energised by their home crowd and lifted by cohesive team play, the Saints began to find their rhythm on both ends of the floor. Their belief grew, and by halftime they had cut the deficit to just 11 points.
Tamworth’s experience ultimately showed in the second half, as their imports and core group maintained composure and control to extend the lead. Despite the 83–64 final scoreline, the Saints had clearly made the Thunderbolts earn their victory — and showed enough to prove they can match it with the best in the league.
Head Coach George Aliferis reflected positively on the performance: “There were some real positives in the game. At halftime, we believed we had every opportunity to create an upset. I was pleased we held Tamworth to 83 points. With a better shooting percentage and more aggressive rebounding, we would have had a real chance. I’m proud of how the team is sticking together in what has been a close and tough competition.”
Key performers:
- Jayden Tanevski (Sponsored by The Athlete Lab) – 27 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
- Yianni Trikilis (Sponsored by JAS Transport) – 17 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
The Saints return to Hurstville Stadium this Saturday at 6:30pm to take on Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders, before hitting the road Sunday to face Wagga Wagga Heat.
Saints make a statement in local derby
St George Youth League RED (15-1) took on 2nd place Sutherland Sharks (13-1) in a top-of-the-table clash at home in what was the only regular season meeting between the two teams. With finals around the corner and local pride on the line, this highly anticipated derby didn’t disappoint.
From tip-off, the Saints set the tone — with trademark defensive intensity leading the way. A blistering 17–2 start forced an early timeout from the stunned Sharks, but the Saints continued to apply pressure across the court. Relentless on-ball defence and high-effort team plays saw YLM Red take a 31–19 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter was more of the same, with the Saints pushing the tempo and increasing their lead. By halftime, they had held Sutherland to just 29.7% FG shooting (11-37) and went into the break up 55–34.
The Sharks came out in the third looking to mount a comeback, cutting the deficit to 14 early in the quarter. But the Saints responded with poise and intensity, re-establishing control through aggressive defence and transition play, stretching the margin back out to 75–53 heading into the fourth.
YLM Red sealed the game with a dominant early run in the final quarter, pushing the lead to 84–55. While the Sharks managed a late push, the result was never in doubt as the Saints closed out a commanding 89–73 win — their 13th straight victory.
Key contributors:
- Dylan Akosah – 18 PTS, 6 REB, 3 STL
- James Wang – 14 PTS, 5 AST, 1 STL
- Maper Maker – 10 PTS, 13 REB, 3 AST, 1 BLK
- Jaxon Frintzilas – 10 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL
