ABA 2025-26: Sonics Blue men clinch 12th win, Owls and Magpies top of pecking order in women’s competition

Sonics Blue are dominating the ladder as finals approach and they increased their advantage over their nearest rivals with a 55-35 win over Railways Tigers in the Albany Basketball Association men’s A-grade competition on Tuesday. They sit eight points clear of the Tigers with four regular rounds remaining and have yet to lose, with a 100 per cent record after 12 rounds. David Arthur was in control of the proceedings on Tuesday night, bagging 14 points as Blue grabbed the reins from the start and never let go, even during a tight first half. The Tigers battled away and never let Blue get out of sight, grabbing the last four points of the first half to trail only 20-22. However, Blue pressed the accelerator and bagged 11 of the next 16 points to move to an unassailable position. Another Blue blitz towards the end of the proceedings increased their lead and they closed out the contest with baskets from Arthur and Anton Ausburn on the buzzer. Eli Eaton grabbed 10 points to be the best under the bucket for the Tigers. Denmark Magpies got the better of Barking Owls in the battle between the third and fourth-placed teams, the Magpies now pecking at the Tigers’ tails just two points adrift. The Magpies prevailed 61-57 in a game which was nip and tuck throughout but especially in a rip-roaring final spell. The Owls battled from 52-46 down to move just a point behind at 54-53 and they stayed in touch as the clock counted down. Two three-pointers from Sam O’Toole-Gardner and then Kye Griffiths gave the Magpies an inch of breathing space as Owls could only counter with Justin Benson’s two points and a clutch of fouls as Magpies shut them down. Griffiths was the star of the show for Magpies with a personal haul of 24 points. Ryan Hick was next best on 13. Harrison Sedgwick was best for Owls with 21 points, Benson and Sam Holmes coming next on the list with 17. Albany Raiders enjoyed their second win of the campaign with a 59-52 victory over basement outfit Sonics Grey. It was the first outing of the night for O’Toole-Gardner who top-scored with 16 points for Raiders. He was well backed up by Andre De Giambattista’s 15 and Marley Cox’s 14. Thomas Phillips, with 15 points, and Cory Plug, with 12, were best on the night for Grey. The women’s A-grade is a battle between Barking Owls and Denmark Magpies, with Owls enjoying a one-point advantage at the top of the ladder after their 32-25 win over Railways Tigers. Magpies stayed close courtesy of their 36-29 win over Sonics. Rebecca Benson fired 16 points for the Owls, with the Tigers’ best effort coming from Angelina De Giambattista’s 14. A close first half saw Owls ahead by two points but Tigers pulled level after the break only to see Benson bag eight points in two minutes to put the Owls in charge. A 15-point effort from Kaylee Arthur was not enough for Sonics, who were well beaten by the Magpies. Ashlee Kerr (11 points) and Danielle Carne (10) spread the scoring load for the Magpies, who were just a point to the good at half-time but extended their advantage after the break.