Hills Hornets Hold Off Inner West Bulls in NBL1 Eastern Battle

The Hills Hornets edged out the Inner West Bulls 82–74 in a fiercely contested NBL1 Eastern matchup on Sunday, May 31, 2026. The Hornets used a strong fourth-quarter surge to break a 61–61 tie and claim a hard-fought home victory, improving their standing in the competitive NBL1 Eastern conference.

Match Overview

Both teams struggled with offensive rhythm early, but the defensive intensity on both ends kept the score close. Hills held a narrow lead at halftime, 40–37, but the Bulls came out firing in the third quarter, using an 11–2 run to take their first lead of the second half. The game remained tight heading into the final period, where the Hornets’ depth and composure made the difference.

Key Moments

With the score tied at 68–68 with under four minutes to play, Hills’ experienced guard drilled a step-back three-pointer to put his team ahead for good. The Hornets followed that with two defensive stops, and a fast-break layup extended the lead to seven. Inner West scrambled but missed two crucial free throws that could have cut the gap to a single possession, allowing Hills to close the game from the charity stripe.

Standout Players

• Hills Hornets: A balanced scoring effort saw four players in double figures. The team's center notched a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the paint on both ends.
• Inner West Bulls: The Bulls’ lead guard finished with 22 points and five assists, but he received limited support; the rest of the rotation shot just 38% from the field.

Season Context

With the win, Hills Hornets leapfrog a direct rival in the NBL1 Eastern standings, keeping their playoff hopes alive in a tightly bunched mid-table. For Inner West, the loss is a missed chance to gain ground on the top four. The Bulls will need to address their late-game execution if they are to make a run in the second half of the season.