'Taylor-made title': Manly experience too much for CoE

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Manly's American import Taylor Wurtz showed the Centre of Excellence in real time what it takes to win a NBL1 championship with 25-point, six rebound and four assist performance in the 89-61 schooling of Basketball Australia's development team in Penrith on August 16, 2025.

Wurtz, who turned 35 just three days ago, knocked down three threes in the first quarter. Her third three put the Sea Eagles up 24-5. CoE rallied to 26-14 at the end of the first quarter but it was always going to be tough from there.

All five Manly starters scored in double figures: Wurtz (25); Alex Delaney (18); Zoey Miller (17); captain Kimberley Dickerson (15); and Josie Bulman 11.

CoE stars Zara Russell, 18, and Sitaya Fagan, 17, are just five months older than Wurtz combined! Less than a month ago they were in Czechia leading the Australian Gems to a historic silver medal but in the title game the intensity of the past six months may have had an impact.

Russell was 2-from-17 from the field and Fagan 3-from-12 to go a combined 5-from-29. It's always going to be tough to win any game, let alone the championship, shooting 17% from the field.

Key Details

• Result: Manly Warringah 89 def. BA CoE 61
• When: August 16, 2025
• Where: Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre

By the Numbers

• Taylor Wurtz (Manly Warringah) starred with 25 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block in 32 minutes.
• Zara Russell (BA CoE) scored 11 points, and had four rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block in 38 minutes.

What Happened

The Sea Eagles established dominance from the opening tip, racing to a 26-14 lead in the first quarter behind efficient shooting and strong defensive pressure. Their momentum continued in the second period, extending the advantage to 51-24 at halftime with a balanced offensive attack led by Taylor Wurtz's perimeter shooting.

BA CoE showed signs of life in the third quarter, matching Manly's intensity with 22 points, but the Sea Eagles maintained their lead by adding 23 points of their own. Wurtz was particularly effective during this stretch, connecting on several three-pointers to maintain the comfortable margin.

The championship clash was effectively decided midway through the second quarter when Alex Delaney sparked an 11-2 run that pushed the Sea Eagles' lead beyond 20 points. Delaney finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a stellar all-around performance.

Manly's balanced attack proved overwhelming, with five players scoring in double figures. Kimberley Dickinson added 15 points and seven rebounds, while Zoey Miller contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals. The Sea Eagles shot an impressive 49.3% from the field (33-from-67) compared to BA CoE's 31.4% (22-from-70).

The difference was particularly notable from beyond the arc, where Manly connected on 11 three-pointers at 44% efficiency, with Wurtz accounting for six of those on 13 attempts. BA CoE struggled from distance, making just six three-pointers at a 26.1% clip.

Defensively, the Sea Eagles were disciplined throughout, forcing 13 turnovers while showing excellent team rebounding with a 50-36 advantage on the boards. Antonia Henderson made a significant impact off the bench with eight rebounds and three assists in just under 24 minutes of play.

For BA CoE, Sitaya Fagan showed tremendous defensive effort with six steals and two blocks to complement her nine points, while Jemyma Manyok provided interior presence with eight points, nine rebounds and three blocks off the bench. Despite these bright spots, BA CoE couldn't overcome their shooting struggles against Manly's championship-calibre defence.