ABA 2025-26: Harrison Sedgwick’s 16 points gives Barking Owls the edge over Raiders as Sonics Blue top ladder

As runaway leaders Sonics Blue maintained their grip on the Albany Basketball Association men’s A-grade competition on Tuesday night, Barking Owls and Railways Tigers clung to their coattails with wins over basement sides. The Owls backed up last week’s victory over the Magpies by trouncing Raiders 64-42, while the Tigers saw off Sonics Grey 62-42. The Raiders enjoyed their first win of the season last week as they dispatched Sonics Grey but could not keep the momentum going against the Owls, who have their eye on the finals’ competition. Harrison Sedgwick, who usually turns out for the Raiders, swapped sides to star for the Owls, top-scoring with 16 points with back-up from William Roocke’s 13 and 11 from Evan Delbene. There was an even start with the sides locked at 8-8 by the five-minute mark. But Owls pulled away as Sedgwick and Delbene found their range and by half-time they were well in control, 38-21. There was no way back from that for the under-18 side, but they maintained their scoring rate to add another 21 points after the break. Marley Cox, who shone in the Raiders’ win last time out, had another belter in nailing 12 points. However, he was very much a lone wolf with Thomas Phillips next best from a scoring point of view with eight points. The Tigers were too good for Sonics Grey, whose seven-man line-up included Phillips doubling up from his previous duties. Nathan Lillicrap was on fire for 17 points with Beauden East backing up with a 14-point haul. Phillips was bang-on for Grey, but his 17 points were in vain. The Tigers were in control from the off and although Grey battled back to 16-16 midway through the first half, the Tigers roared again to be 36-22 up by the break. Successive three pointers from East and then Caleb Carman, added the final touches as the Tigers claimed second spot on the ladder, four points adrift of leaders Blue. Blue were pared to the bone, facing Magpies with a squad of six, but David Arthur ran riot with 20 points to steal the show. Mason Tion, with 10, was a willing accomplice but Magpies pushed them all the way in a competitive first half. Trailing 26-21 at the break, Magpies struck first on the resumption but a three-pointer from Mark Elentorio and a basket from Kayden Collins put Blue back on track. Eight points in a row cemented their advantage and although Magpie Luke Wilson battled well for his 14 points and Jackson Shaw contributed 10, Blue were on cruise control by the end. In the women’s A-grade competition, Barking Owls were stunned by Sonics 52-51 in an evening thriller. Owls were leading 49-44 and all seemed well with less than three minutes left but successive long-range efforts from Aleesha Narkle added six points to the Sonics tally and turned the tables. Phoenix Woods added two more to lead 52-49 and although free throws from Dakota Bremner got Owls to within a point, Sonics were left to celebrate their fourth win of the season. Kaylee Arthur finished with 19 points for Sonics with Woods (15) and Narkle’s precious 10 the other main contributors. Bremner bagged 18 points for Owls with Te Paea Keremete adding 11 and Keely Berry 10. Magpies trail the Owls on head-to-head — they have six wins apiece — after getting the better of Railways Tigers 28-23. In a late-evening, low-scoring affair Danielle Carne top-scored for Denmark with 10 points while Angelina De Giambattista (11 points) went one better in a losing game for Tigers.