ABA 2025-26: Willcocks roars for Tigers as Raiders are dispatched but Sonics Blue maintain their winning start

Railways Tigers earned a comfortable victory over Raiders in the Albany Basketball Association men’s A-grade on Tuesday evening, but there is still no stopping ladder leaders Sonics Blue. The Tigers’ 48-27 win kept them secure in second in the table as Blue saw off Barking Owls 67-47 to be four points clear after nine rounds. In the other men’s contest, Denmark Magpies were winners over Sonics Grey. Drew Willcocks caused the most damage with 12 points for the Tigers while Beauden East and Nathan Lillicrap, with 10 apiece, also reached double figures. Thomas Phillips led the Raiders’ response with eight points while his teammates had a quiet night under the basket. The Tigers were in control from the off, and although Raiders made the most of a time-out as Marley Cox immediately nailed a three-pointer to get them level at 6-6, that was to be as close as the under-18s got. East converted four points just before half time to give the Tigers a 27-14 lead and they kept Raiders at arm’s length throughout the second spell. Blue marched on against the Owls, with Mason Tion the star of the show thanks to his personal haul of 25 points. Owls’ Evan Delbene did his best to keep pace but had to settle for 17 points, with Harrison Sedgwick on target for 12. Three-pointers from Owls’ Aiden Polette and Sedgwick got them back into the contest as they trailed only 34-30 at half-time but Blue edged further ahead after the break as Ethan Richards, David Arthur and then Tion all struck to take them to 45-33. They maintained that breathing space, even as Owls scored again from long range through Delbene and Polette, to maintain their perfect record for the season so far. Sonics Grey fielded only six players as they fell to Denmark Magpies, 58-45. Jaylen Beattie bagged 18 points and was well supported by Phillips – who grabbed 11 points to go with his eight for Raiders – but Magpies had their measure to grab their fifth win. Luke Wilson was their top scorer with 14 points with Jackson Shaw and Kye Griffiths landing 11 points apiece. In the women’s A-grade, Denmark Magpies and Barking Owls registered comfortable wins. Ladder leaders Owls took care of Railways Tigers while Magpies dispatched Sonics. Keely Berry nailed 12 points for the Owls in their 48-26 win while Dakota Bremner scored 11. Brodie Dixon’s 10 points was best for the Tigers. The Tigers were always playing catch-up as they trailed 27-16 at half-time and lost further ground straight after the break as Michaela Buck nailed three points from long range in a high-scoring start to the second period. The Magpies remain in hot pursuit of their main rivals thanks to their 43-26 win over Sonics. Danielle Carne was unstoppable for Magpies with 16 points while Kaylee Arthur was Sonics’ best with 13. While Carne was backed up by Matilda McHenry’s 12 points, Arthur was very much a lone wolf as Sonics’ next best was Shianne Arthur’s four points. Most of the Magpies work was done in the first half, as they led 23-7 at the break. Owls and Magpies each have seven wins to be well clear of Sonics in the ladder.