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Lachlan Bofinger and Jack Giddens set the tone in Round 3 as Norths Bears and Manly Warringah stayed near the top of the 2026 NBL1 East men’s ladder.

Bofinger’s scoring helped Norths break clear after halftime against Sutherland, while Giddens shot Manly into another one-sided win as the Sea Eagles completed a two-win weekend. Across the round, margins opened quickly, with Sydney Comets and Illawarra also putting up big numbers.

Round 4 now shifts the focus to whether Norths can stay unbeaten, whether Canberra keeps pace, and whether Manly can keep building behind its current form.

What the Round Told Us

• Bofinger gave Norths a scorer when the game needed to shift
• Giddens stretched the floor — Manly’s offence opened with him
• The top group is settling — Norths, Canberra and Manly are there
• Lower teams are struggling to score enough to stay in games

Norths Bears 83 def. Sutherland Sharks 73 – Watch the Replay

Quarter Scores: 14–22, 18–19, 29–17, 22–15

Lachlan Bofinger finished with 28 points and nine rebounds, and Norths needed his scoring once the game turned in the second half.

Sutherland led 41–32 at halftime after holding Norths to 14 points in the first quarter and controlling enough of the glass through Jason Spurgin.

The game changed in the third. Norths scored 29 points in the period, Bofinger got downhill and to his spots, and the Bears finally moved in front.

Ignatius Mitchell added 20 points, Bailey Hanson had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Norths closed the last two quarters 51–32 to stay unbeaten.

Key Performers

• Lachlan Bofinger – 28 points, 9 rebounds, 11/21 FG
• Ignatius Mitchell – 20 points, 6 rebounds
• Bailey Hanson – 15 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists

Why It Matters

Norths got pushed, then answered.

• Won the second half 51–32
• Had 24 offensive rebounds
• Improved to 5–0

They can win without leading from the start.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 91 def. Penrith Panthers 49 – Watch the Replay

Quarter Scores: 27–14, 22–9, 23–10, 19–16

Jack Giddens had 22 points and hit five threes as Manly put Penrith away early and never gave the game a chance to tighten.

Manly led by 26 at halftime and kept building. Giddens spaced the floor, Emmanuel Tshimanga controlled the paint, and the Sea Eagles kept turning stops into clean looks.

There was no comeback in it. Penrith shot 28.1% from the field and 3/18 from three, while Manly finished at 50% overall and 47.8% from deep.

Tshimanga added 15 points and 14 rebounds, Quinn Slazinski had 14 points, and Isaiah Lee finished with 11 points and six assists.

Key Performers

• Jack Giddens – 22 points, 5/8 3PT
• Emmanuel Tshimanga – 15 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists
• Quinn Slazinski – 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists

Why It Matters

Manly didn’t let the weekend drift.

• Won both Round 3 games
• Shot 11/23 from three
• Held Penrith to 49 points

They’re staying attached to the top two and stacking percentage.

The Ladder After Round 3

• Norths Bears – 1st
• Canberra Gunners – 2nd
• Centre of Excellence – 3rd
• Manly Warringah Sea Eagles – 4th
• Sydney Comets – 5th

Early shape:

• Norths still unbeaten
• Canberra hasn’t slipped
• Manly, Sydney and Illawarra are in the next group

Other Results

• Manly Warringah 86 def. Inner West 67
• Sydney Comets 95 def. Penrith 56
• Illawarra Hawks 118 def. Central Coast 77
• Canberra Gunners 75 def. Maitland 73
• Hills Hornets 92 def. Albury-Wodonga 90
• Bankstown Bruins 115 def. Hornsby Ku-ring-gai 104
• Canberra Gunners 71 def. Newcastle Falcons 62

Round 4 Watchlist

Norths Bears

• Can Bofinger keep carrying the scoring load when games tighten?
• Norths stayed unbeaten, but this one took a second-half lift

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

• Can Giddens keep stretching defences the same way next week?
• Manly is getting clean offence when the floor opens around him

Round 4 Questions

• Can Norths stay unbeaten when they’re forced to chase again?
• Does Canberra keep pace at 4–0 and beyond?
• Can Manly close the gap on the top two?
• Which team from the middle group makes the next jump?