Surfers Drown Bears: Sydney Ignites in Fourth Quarter for Dominant 113-95 Victory
Suzuki Leads Sydney Surge; Surfers Pull Away with Explosive Second Half
By Jonathan Hayes
SYDNEY — The Sydney Surfers orchestrated a masterful second-half performance, outscoring the Berlin Bears 62-38 after halftime to secure a commanding 113-95 victory and solidify their position in the Pro League standings. A pivotal scoring run in the third quarter, fueled by sharp shooting and relentless offense, proved too much for the home team to overcome.
The game remained a tightly contested affair through the first half, with both teams exchanging blows. Berlin, led by Anya Petrova’s efficient scoring, managed to keep pace. However, the tide began to turn late in the second quarter as Sydney’s Noah Suzuki found his rhythm. His 24 points, including several crucial buckets, ignited the Surfers’ offense.
The third quarter saw Sydney unleash a barrage of three-pointers, spearheaded by Suzuki and Rafe Mortensen (16 points, 6 rebounds). While Berlin’s Kai Petersen (13 points) and Anya Petrova (14 points) tried to answer, Sydney’s ball movement, evident in their 29 assists to just 12 turnovers, created open looks and demoralized the Bears’ defense. Brennan Cole added a vital 15 points and 3 assists off the bench for the Surfers, including a key three-pointer that extended their lead into double digits.
“We just stuck to our game plan,” said Surfers guard Omar Al-Hassan, who chipped in 14 points and 3 assists. “We knew if we played our defense and trusted each other on offense, we could pull away. That third quarter was huge for us.”
Berlin struggled to find consistent scoring, particularly from the free-throw line where they shot a dismal 42.3%. Despite strong rebounding efforts, they couldn’t generate enough stops to counter Sydney’s offensive firepower.
“We made some good adjustments at halftime, and our shooters just found the bottom of the net,” commented Sydney Head Coach, Isabella Rossi. “Our depth really showed tonight, and I’m proud of how the team responded.”
Key Notes:
- Sydney Surfers shot an impressive 45.7% from three-point range.
- Noah Suzuki led all scorers with 24 points.
- Berlin Bears struggled at the free-throw line, making just 11 of their 26 attempts.
- Sydney Surfers assisted on 29 made baskets compared to Berlin’s 25.