Twin 28-point outings 'Gun' down Hawks for title

• NBL champion Todd Blanchfield denied a second championship in 2025
• Canberra Gunners Derek Emelifeonwu and Glenn Morison both scored 28 points
• Canberra beat the Hawks on the boards 49-35

Twin 28-point performances from Derek Emelifeonwu and Glenn Morison overcame NBL champion Todd Blanchfield's dominant double-double win the NBL1 East Men's Conference championship 99-91 at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre.

The Gunners pulled away in the fourth quarter after the two teams traded blows for much of the first three quarters.

Key Details

• Result: Canberra Gunners 99 def. Illawarra Hawks 91 (Watch the Replay)
• When: 16th August 2025
• Where: Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre

By the Numbers

• Glenn Morison (Canberra) starred with 28 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and four turnovers in 29 minutes.
• Todd Blanchfield (Illawarra) scored 29 points, and had 14 rebounds, two assists, one block and two turnovers in 40 minutes.

What Happened

The Canberra Gunners established an early advantage in the Championship Game, taking a 29-26 lead after the first quarter. Both teams scored 20 points apiece in the second period, allowing Canberra to maintain their three-point advantage heading into halftime with a 49-46 lead.

Canberra continued their steady performance in the third quarter, outscoring Illawarra 23-25 to extend their lead slightly. The Gunners then sealed the victory with a strong fourth quarter, outscoring the Hawks 27-20 to secure the eight-point championship win.

Derek Emelifeonwu delivered an outstanding performance for Canberra, scoring 28 points on an efficient 12-from-22 shooting from the field, including four three-pointers. His scoring prowess was particularly evident in crucial stretches during the fourth quarter, helping the Gunners maintain their lead when Illawarra threatened a comeback.

Captain Glenn Morison matched Emelifeonwu's 28 points while adding 14 rebounds in a dominant double-double performance. Morison was nearly unstoppable inside, shooting 11-from-18 from two-point range and adding six free throws. His five offensive rebounds provided crucial second-chance opportunities for the Gunners.

For Illawarra, captain Todd Blanchfield fought valiantly with a game-high 29 points and 14 rebounds while playing the entire 40 minutes. His 10-from-11 shooting from the free-throw line and five three-pointers kept the Hawks within striking distance, but it wasn't enough to overcome Canberra's balanced attack.

The rebounding battle proved decisive, with Canberra securing a 49-35 advantage on the boards, including 13 offensive rebounds that led to valuable second-chance points. The Gunners' interior dominance was reflected in their 32 points in the paint compared to Illawarra's 17.

Despite Kobe McDowell-White's 10 assists for Illawarra, the Hawks committed 11 turnovers to Canberra's seven, giving the Gunners additional scoring opportunities. Canberra also displayed superior ball movement, recording 25 assists on their 40 made field goals.