The Greenhouse Tavern Coffs Harbour Suns remain unbeaten after 10 games on the State Basketball League following a 70 to 53 win at Sportz Central today.

The Suns started a little shakily but soon got into the rhythm of their uptempo style of play, running off a a strong defensive effort, and at the end of the first quarter held a promising 27 to 8 lead.

The visiting Newcastle Hunters clicked into their own game plan in the second and third quarter, actually outpointing the Suns in those periods, but the early lead and then an 18 to 11 point performance from the Suns in the final period, gave them another strong win.

The Suns women were under the care of former Captain, and State League Champion, Regan Kama who stepped in for regular coach Connie Woods who was out of town on other basketball commitments this weekend.

Whilst the Suns win was built on a strong team effort, with 7 of the 9 players contributing to the scoreline, it was the scoring of Ashley Buis, Laura Bamford and Jesse Reeves which caused problems for the Newcastle defence.

Suns Captain Bonnie Kuchel played her usual strong offensive and defensive game pulling down a swag of rebounds and also clicking the scoreboard over.

Kate Harland showed good control in the guard position and the Suns were very well served by future stars, Jasmine Host, Jordan Woods and Emily Malouf.

Next weekend the Suns travel to Tamworth, but their chances of winning another State League Banner to go with the 2 already hanging in the stadium will be revealed over the weekend of August 16th & 17th when they travel to Newcastle to face off against teams from the southern half of the State in a Central Venue weekend.

The front runners from the Southern Conference are Queanbeyan and Goulburn and the Suns will meet both in Newcastle and get a good insight into whether they can beat them should a semi-final showdown eventutate.

The Suns chances of grabbing the title banner have been dampened a little by the imminent departure of Jesse Reeves who has accepted a scholarship to a College in Hawaii and will leave before the finals series. Although she will be sorely missed, she goes with the best wishes of her team mates.

State League Men outclassed by Newcastle.

The Greenhouse Tavern Coffs Harbour Suns men, also had a clash with Newcastle earlier today, and as has been the result in previous clashes, the visitors were too strong.
Jerard Ajami lead from the front for the Suns with 19 points and Rex Clutario with 12 and James Beaton with 10 also contributed to the final 49 point Suns scoreline, but the strong contribution from the Newcastle bench was probalbly the difference in the their 63 point finals scoreline.

The Newcastle Hunter Men currently lead the State League while the Suns sit in fourth place so the win to the visitors was probably to be expected.

The Suns men, also have two more weeks of away basketball before the final series commence, but the Suns will need some extraordinary results in other games and for them to win all of their remaining games, if they are any chance of featuring in the finals.
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