ABA 2023-24: Barking Owls click for season-high score, Denmark’s paint presence proved pivotal in men’s comp

Barking Owls were at their destructive best while Denmark’s presence in the paint proved pivotal as both secured victories in the Albany Basketball Association men’s A-grade competition on Tuesday night. The Owls bounced back from last week’s defeat to ladder-leading Sonics and were electrifying in offence, scoring the competition’s season-high total to smash Griffins Crusaders 90-38. The second half was played at a fast pace with the Owls seemingly scoring with almost every possession and were faultless on their counterattacks as they put up 54 points in the final 20 minutes. Evan Delbene shot the lights out with 20 second-half points on his way to a game-high 32, including six threes. James Watters (24) crashed the keyway scoring 16 points in the final 20 minutes while Gabriel Kent Ang was at his physical best with 15 points and two triples. Tristan Mackenzie (11) was a dead eye from beyond the arc hitting three triples as Owls’ other key contributor. The match was an arm wrestle for the first seven minutes before the Owls went on a 17-2 run to blow the game apart and take a commanding 36-17 points half-time lead. Crusaders’ Jack Gleeson played a lone hand for his side scoring 19 points, including five from beyond the arc. Denmark’s strength under the basket proved the difference in their 54-30 win over Albany Raiders with 20 points coming from within the perimeter. Luke Wilson and Jackson Shaw went to work inside the paint, each scoring 13 points while Kye Griffiths’ 11 points and Elijah Thorn’s 10 were the other key contributors. Max Grimes (11) led the way for a determined Raiders under-18 development side that remained competitive throughout. Sonics remain undefeated in the men’s A-grade after defeating a spirited Ambassadors side 64-52 with Kayden Collins hitting a game-high 21 points. His brilliant night featured three triples while Mark Elentorio converted two from long range on his way to 15 points. Zac Beeck was the only double-digit scorer for Ambassadors with 12 points. The final game was a blowout as North Albany Kangaroos made light work of Railways Tigers, cruising to a 73-32 triumph. Drew Willcocks was instrumental with 19 points while Beauden East (18) was deadly from beyond the arc with three triples. Ben De Klerk shot 15 points and Calum Dixon was their other main avenue to the hoop with 12 points, all coming from three-pointers. Kobi Doust-Pamplin scored 10 points for the Tigers in their disappointing showing.