Half-time lead keeps Panthers men in the race

Both clubs finished the night with a win and loss, with Penrith losing the women's game 77-68, before winning the men's game 101-93.

There was little to like in the early game of the night, with the Panthers women shooting poorly and playing well below their best.

Alicia Poto led the Panthers with 21 points, ahead of Rhiannon Pope, 17, and Tahlia Tupaea, 15 points, 10 boards, 6 assists.

The Penrith men led early in the second game of the night but the Hunters exploited a lazy period from the home team, to close to just 26-29 down at the end of the first quarter.

Sydney Kings NBL development player Madol Chol had looked in good form, but a leg injury cut short the big man's night, having played just five minutes of the game.

Penrith would lose the second half and also lose head coach John Hennessy with his second technical foul, but would survive to win the game, thanks to their 12-point half-time lead.

Ben Kearins led the Panthers with 25 points, ahead of Jarrod Sorenson (Springwood) 20, Nic Pozoglou, 18, and Louis Brandt (Springwood) with 14 points and 10 boards.

Both Penrith teams have a bye on the Anzac Day long weekend and meet the Hills District Hornets at Castle Hill on Sunday, May 3 women at 11am, men at 1pm.

Meanwhile, Blaxland giant Adam Lulka has won a Silver Medal with NSW Metro at the 2015 Australian Under 18 Championships.

NSW Metro fought back from a disappointing 53-45 loss to VIC Metro in the preliminary rounds, defeating SA Metro 72-70 in the quarter finals, then surprising red-hot title favourites QLD North to win 74-64 in an equally thrilling semi-final.

That good form was unfortunately not enough to claim the Gold Medal, with NSW Country taking that prize with a comfortable 82-66 win over NSW Metro in the grand final.

Lulka finished the tournament with an average of 9.43 points, 6.29 rebounds and 1.71 assists per game.