Australian forward Cooks stays hot for Wurzburg to headline Top Performers

MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) – Xavier Cooks of s.Oliver Wurzburg served up a first-class performance against Szolnoki Olaj as FIBA Europe Cup action resumed after the winter break to spearhead the Team of the Week.

The 23-year-old forward from Australia feasted with a season-best 25 points and 5 rebounds in a 118-71 triumph over the Hungarian title-holders, going 10-of-12 from the field and 5-of-6 from three-point range in an exceptionally efficient display.

"It was a good team win," the Wurzburg man shared the spotlight with his teammates after helping the German club maintain the position at the top of the Group I standings with an unmatched 3-0 record. 

"Most of my points today came from assisted buckets. We were doing a great job penetrating and passing the ball, so I was just moving well, got the ball and knocked down shots."

It was the second gameday in a row that Cooks was named among the weekly Top Performers, having signed off from 2018 with a monster double-double in an overtime win against Pinar Karsiyaka.

Having fallen to Wurzburg at the tail end of the last year, Sek Henry of Karsiyaka put the Turkish side back on firm ground with a 107-85 victory over Z Mobile Prishtina, posting a 22-point and 11-assist double-double with 6 rebounds in the process.

Prishtina playmaker Kyan Anderson also left a mark in the game with 26 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, but his best performance of the season was overshadowed by a double-digit defeat.

The two remaining slots on the Team of the Week were filled by ZZ Leiden representatives Darius Thompson and Clayton Vette, who carved up Kataja Basket 87-72 for their first win of the Second Round after back-to-back defeats to Avtodor Saratov and Bakken Bears.

The competition's leading scorer Thompson kept up his electric pace and finished the contest with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, while Vette double-doubled with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Both players added a steal and a block each.

FIBA