Off-Season Player Wrap: Standout Performance from Foxwell for Eltham 

Cover Image: Travis Palmieri

See below for how our Phoenix-rostered players are faring locally and internationally.

Owen Foxwell – Eltham Wildcats (NBL1 South)
30PTS, 3ASTS, 5REBS, 4STL vs Ballarat Miners
21PTS, 6ASTS, 11REBS, 2STLS, 1BLK vs Knox Raiders 

Owen Foxwell was on a mission for the Eltham Wildcats over the weekend. In back-to-back games, Foxwell was the main event according to the stat sheet.

Foxwell’s side fell short against the Ballarat Miners, a side which featured Luke Rosendale and assistant coach Luke Brennan, but the Eltham guard was prolific with a game-high 30 points and four steals.

Bouncing back on Sunday, the Wildcats had a much-needed win over ex-Phoenix players Austin Rapp and Anzac Rissetto's Knox Raiders, 95-86. Foxwell recorded his first double-double for the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Nathan Sobey – Ipswich Force (NBL1 North)
20PTS, 6ASTS, 5REBS, 3STLS, 1BLK vs North Gold Coast Seahawks

In a down-to-the-wire battle, Nathan Sobey took on new teammate Matt Kenyon's side, North Gold Coast Seahawks, ending in Ipswich getting the chocolates 91-87.

Sobey continued his high-scoring form, recording 20 points and working defensively with three steals.

(Sobey and Kenyon went head-to-head in the NBL1 North. Photo Credit: Megan Low)

Matt Kenyon – North Gold Coast Seahawks (NBL1 North)
10PTS, 6ASTS, 12REBS, 1STLS vs Sunshine Coast Phoenix
10PTS, 1AST, 17REBS, 1STL vs Ipswich Force 

The Seahawks finished the weekend 1-1 after two tough battles. Starting on Friday night, Kenyon's side had an all-mighty fightback in the final quarter. Down by nine points, they scored 29-16 and stole the win from Sunshine, 90-86.

Kenyon backed up Friday's performance and sadly fell short to Nathan Sobey's side, 87-91. Across the weekend, Kenyon picked up his fifth and sixth double-doubles.

Ben Ayre – Wellington Saints (NZNBL)
33PTS, 2ASTS, 2REB, 1STL vs Nelson Giants 

The Wellington Saints suffered an upset loss against the Nelson Giants, falling 96-105 and losing their top position on the ladder, falling to third.

Ayre stood out in the game despite the loss, named the Saints MVP after scoring a game-high 33 points.

Angus Glover – Eltham Wildcats (NBL1 South)
24PTS, 2ASTS, 5REBS vs Knox Raiders

Angus Glover returned to the Wildcats in their second game for the weekend after missing the last two. He didn’t miss a beat, contributing 24 points and building on a burgeoning highlight reel in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. 

Mitch Creek – Xinjiang Flying Tigers (CBA)
5PTS vs Zhejiang Chouzhou

Xinjiang have advanced to the grand final after a 3-1 semi-final campaign against Chouzhou.

Mitch Creek didn't suit up for game three of the series but returned for the pivotal match, where he scored five points in three minutes of court time. Creek's side will take on Liaoning, with game one scheduled for Wednesday. 

Luke Fennell – Centre of Excellence – (NBL1 East)
4PTS, 1REBS, 2ASTS vs Newcastle Falcons
4PTS, 4ASTS vs Inner West Bulls

The Centre of Excellence went 2-0 across the weekend with two crucial wins over Newcastle Flacons, 76-53 and Inner West Bulls, 88-78.

Fennell assisted his side in the wins by recording four points for each win. 

(Fennell in action for COE. Photo Credit: Grant Sproule)

Jordan Hunter – Rigas Zelli – (Latvian Basketball League)
22PTS, 8REBS vs VEF Riga

Rigas Zelli began their grand final series on Friday against VEF Riga. Unfortunately, they lost game one 78-81.

Rigas Zelli named Jordi Hunter the MVP of the game after he scored 22 points and reigned in eight rebounds. The series continues on Tuesday.

💪 Kluba biedri vakar par labāko Zelli atzina Džordanu Hanteru, kurš izcēlās ar 22 punktiem un astoņām atlēkušajām bumbām pic.twitter.com/M6vQKv1AV3

— Rīgas Zeļļi (@RigasZelli) May 10, 2024

Kody Stattmann – Cairns Marlins (NBL1 North)
30PTS, 2ASTS, 4REBS, 3STLS vs Northside Wizards
36PTS, 3ASTS, 5REBS, 1STL vs Sunshine Coast Phoenix

Cairns Marlins went 1-1 across the weekend, with Stattmann producing a combined 66-point weekend.

In their 90-81 win over the Wizards on Friday, Stattmann came out firing with 30 points before backing it up on Saturday in a close loss of 94-99 against Sunshine Coast with 36 points. 

Luke Rosendale – Ballarat Miners (NBL1 South)
9PTS, 7ASTS, 4REBS vs Eltham Wildcats
8PTS, 2ASTS, 3REBS, 1STL vs Kilsyth Cobras

The Miners donned the pink jerseys as they honoured those who have lost their battle with breast cancer, with Ballarat proving pretty good in pink going 2-0 across the weekend.

In the first game against Owen Foxwell's Eltham, Rosendale had nine points and seven rebounds in the 95-82 win. Before returning to court on Sunday, taking on Kilsyth Cobras for an 80-68 victory. Rosendale was pivotal, collecting eight points in the win.

Reuben Te Rangi – Auckland Tuatara (NZNBL)
16PTS, 5ASTS, 1REBS, 2STLS vs Manawatu Jets

Auckland Tuatara's 38-point win over the Jets pushed them to the top of the New Zealand NBL ladder. 

In the 110-72 thrashing, Te Rangi assisted his side with 16 points and five assists. 

Reuben Te Rangi with the first points from the field tonight! 🔥#SalsNBL #RatedE @skysportnz pic.twitter.com/VrqTl7vA6D

— Sal’s NBL (@nznbl) May 11, 2024

Stay tuned via Phoenix socials to keep updated with players' performances during the off-season.

For a list of the latest roster updates, see below.

Under Contract 
Ben Ayre  
Mitch Creek  
Luke Fennell
Owen Foxwell 
Angus Glover
Jordan Hunter 
Matt Kenyon 
Nathan Sobey  
Derrick Walton Jr

Free Agents 
Gary Browne  
Craig Moller  
Abdel Nader  
Anzac Rissetto  
Luke Rosendale  
Kody Stattmann  
Reuben Te Rangi  
Alan Williams  
Rhys Vague

Off-Season Moves 
Gorjok Gak (Tasmania)
Austin Rapp (Portland Pilots)

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