Maitland young gun Jay Cole starred with 20 points and seven rebounds to lead the Mustangs to a 70-57 win against arch rivals Newcastle Falcons in their inaugural match in the NBL1 East men's competition.
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Unfortunately, it was a losing start for the Mustangs women who had a 69-39 loss to the Falcons with Newcastle' Chyra Evans the star of the game with 28 points and 13 rebounds.
It was an even performance by the Mustangs men with three players scoring in double figures.
However, both teams struggled to convert their opportunities. Cole with a 61.54 per cent field goal conversion was the only Mustangs player to shoot better than 50 per cent from the floor.
Myles Cherry was the best for the Falcons shooting a game-high 22 at 53 per cent
Maitland finished with just 36.62 per cent field goal accuracy (44 per cent two-point accuracy), but it was better than the Falcons who managed just 35.59 (42.4 two-point) accuracy.
The scores were tied at half-time, but the Mustangs pulled away in the third to a four-point break and then finished strongest to run out 13 point winners.
After a breakout season last year, Cole seems to have taken his game to another level and coming off the bench he was a standout.
With Sharif Watson and Australian-born US College players Matt Gray and Will Cranston-Lown still to come into the side, the Mustangs look to have enviable depth and strength now from their starting five and well into the bench.
Jack Edwards had a strong game with 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals and new big man James Hunter scored 10 points and collected seven rebounds as well as three steals and a block.
Daniel Millburn found himself in foul trouble and was eventually fouled out with nine points, but he and Cole loom high as key players for the Mustangs in the inaugural NBL1 East competition.
Terrell Turner produced plenty of pressure and had four rebounds, three steals and four assists.
Coming up against 2019 Waratah League champions Newcastle was always going to be a big ask for the young Maitland Mustangs, but they showed plenty in going down 69-39 to their more fancied opponent.
Hannah Griffin led the way posting 13 points for the game and Mila Wawszkowicz had a strong defensive game pulling in five rebounds and making five blocks.
The Mustangs are still looking to build their strength for 2022 and coach Leilani Mitchell will be studying her team's needs before making any decisions on possible imports.
