Feature images via: Tiarna McGillivray
The last two NBL1 West women's champions, Cockburn Cougars and Warwick Senators, won on Friday to set up their Saturday Pink Round match up while Caleb Davis and Ethan Elliott led Joondalup Wolves to beat their former team.
The three Friday night's women's NBL1 West matches to open Round 7 saw the Cockburn Cougars beat the Perth Redbacks 102-44 while the Perry Lakes Hawks defeated the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 94-38, and the Warwick Senators won 79-65 against the Joondalup Wolves.
The corresponding men's fixtures saw the Redbacks beat the Cougars 90-83, the Hawks defeat the Eastern Suns 104-97, and the Wolfpack down the Senators 105-90.
NOTHING BUT EXCITEMENT FOR DAVIS TO FACE SENATORS
RECAP NBL1 WEST | ROUND 6 SUNDAY
WOMEN
Cockburn Cougars (102) defeated Perth Redbacks (44)
The Cockburn Cougars emphatically hit back from a rare down performance last Saturday night to hammer the shorthanded Perth Redbacks 102-44.
The Cougars were back home at Wally Hagan Stadium not shy on motivation to respond to last Saturday night's 23-point loss to the Willetton Tigers in the Grand Final rematch.
The Redbacks were right up against it even prior to tip-off with the absence of their two guns, Anneli Maley and Natalie Chou, and it didn’t take long for the defending champions to take full advantage.
Cockburn themselves were without front court pair Jessie Edwards and Maria Blazejewski, but it mattered little as they caught fire in the opening quarter.
Making up for missing their first 28 three-pointers last Saturday night, Steph Gorman on her own made four triples in the first quarter as the Cougars raced to a 35-15 lead already by the end of one.
Cockburn continued to dominate the rest of the evening leading by as much as 38 points in the second quarter, 50 in the third and 62 in the fourth before winning by 58 and to improve to 6-2 on the season.
It's a 20th straight win for the Cougars now at Wally Hagan Stadium as well with Gorman finishing the night with 28 points, three assists, three steals and two rebounds on knocking down 6/10 from downtown.
Jewel Williams also went 6/8 from beyond the arc for 24 points with Alex Ciabattoni contributing 12 points and five assists, Daniel Raber 11 points, 21 rebounds and six assists, Harriet Ford seven points and 10 boards, and Regan Turnour-McCarty six points and 12 rebounds.
It was a tough evening for the shorthanded Redbacks who are now 4-6 with Shenae Hartree finishing with nine points and nine rebounds, Raya Thompson eight points, and Mikayla Pirini six points, four assists and two steals.
The Cougars back up against the 2022 champion Warwick Senators on the road on Saturday with the Redbacks at home to the South West Slammers.
COCKBURN COUGARS 102 (Gorman 28, Williams 24, Ciabattoni 12)
PERTH REDBACKS 44 (Hartree 9, Thompson 8, Pirini 6)
Perry Lakes Hawks (94) defeated Kalamunda Eastern Suns (38)
The Perry Lakes Hawks continue to make sure their wins are emphatic ones this season with the 94-38 win at home over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.
Close games haven’t really been the order of the day for the Hawks so far this season with their six wins coming at an average of 28 points and then the three losses also by an average of 22.
Friday night at Bendat Basketball Centre saw the Hawks hosting a Suns team they opened up the season beating by 79 points, and it was a similar story once again.
Considering how bad things would get for the Eastern Suns, the first quarter wasn’t too bad with Perry Lakes only leading 23-13 by quarter-time.
However, from there and it was a complete domination from the Hawks with 29 points to five in the second quarter, 22 to 10 in the third and 20 to 10 in the fourth on the way to the 56-point victory.
Being outrebounded by 19, attempting 18 fewer field goals and 11 less free-throws while shooting at 22 per cent from the floor combined with 25 turnovers all made it a night to forget for Suns coach Marcus Bardill back against the club he played 215 games with.
Ash Isenbarger produced another 20 points, 13 rebounds and two assists for the Hawks on 9/14 shooting with Grace Stone adding 16 points, eight boards, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
Beige Harris also had 13 points and five rebounds, Mia Satie 12 points and three boards, Maddy Dennis 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals, and Millie McCarthy five points, four assists and three rebounds.
Tiahna Sears top-scored for the Eastern Suns with nine points, 12 rebounds and two steals with Olivia Berry adding eight points and five boards, and Skye Thomas seven points.
The Suns have to regroup to host the undefeated Rockingham Flames on Saturday with the Hawks not playing again for two weeks before hosting the Cockburn Cougars.
PERRY LAKES HAWKS 94 (Isenbarger 20, Stone 16, Harris 13)
KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 38 (Sears 9, Berry 8, Thomas 7)
Joondalup Wolves (65) lost to Warwick Senators (79)
The Warwick Senators made a statement by handing the Joondalup Wolves a second loss inside six days with Stacey Barr and Chloe Forster combining for 50 points in the 79-65 win.
It was the first Battle of Joondalup contest for 2024 and with the Wolves entering at 5-1 and the Senators 7-1, it always shaped as a fascinating contest at HBF Arena.
The Wolfpack were attempting to hit back from their first loss of 2024 last Saturday night on the road to the Rockingham Flames while the Senators arrived on a four-game winning run and with Forster in career-best form.
Joondalup were still minus Jorjah Smith and Emma Clarke, but the Senators are still awaiting the arrival of Marena Whittle as well, and it was Warwick who worked on top by six at quarter-time and never looked back.
The Senators saw that lead out to 12 points in the second quarter before going into half-time on top 41-30 and the Wolves built some momentum to get back within seven points in the third frame.
However, Warwick pulled away once more with an 11-0 scoring streak and going on to score the 14-point win to make it five wins on the trot at 8-1.
Two-time MVP Stacey Barr delivered 28 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals for Warwick on 6/9 three-point shooting with Chloe Forster continuing her stunning form with 22 points, nine boards and seven assists.
Nat Burton added 15 points, three assists and two rebounds while young gun Kyana Weir contributed eight points and two rebounds.
It's back-to-back losses now for the Wolves who slip to 5-2 with Sarah Toeaina top-scoring with 16 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Julia Chandler added 12 points and 11 rebounds, Laniesha Paddon 12 points and six boards, and Sirena Tuitele 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The Senators now head home for a fascinating match up with the defending champion Cockburn Cougars on Saturday while the Wolves host the Willetton Tigers next Saturday night.
JOONDALUP WOLVES 65 (Toeaina 16, Chandler 12, Paddon 12)
WARWICK SENATORS 79 (Barr 28, Forster 22, Burton 15)
MEN
Cockburn Cougars (83) lost to Perth Redbacks (90)
The Perth Redbacks were able to tough out an important road win with Miles Gibson starring as they held out the Cockburn Cougars 90-83.
The Cougars had been good at home at Wally Hagan Stadium so far this season with wins over the Mandurah Magic, Kalamunda Eastern Suns and South West Slammers.
They were looking to keep that run going despite the absence of Seva Chan and Hunter Clarke on Friday night up against a Redbacks team still without Joe Cook-Green.
The Redbacks made a strong start on the road opening up a 10-point lead by the end of the first quarter with that lead remaining for most of the second term with the woes for the Cougars exacerbated by an ankle injury to Josh Hunt.
He has been in career-best form so far this season, but Cockburn was able to build some momentum leading into half-time and a crafty offensive rebound from Kyle Armour before finding Gavin Field for the corner three gave the home team some momentum.
Perth were still clinging to the 41-39 half-time lead, but the Cougars had worked back into the contest and then both teams found their offensive flow in the third quarter combining for 58 points.
The Redbacks would outscore the Cougars 33 to 25 to push back out to a game high 12-point lead.
Cockburn did keep fighting in the fourth quarter but without key playmakers Chan and Clarke, with Hunt off injured and 301-game veteran Armour anchored to the bench, costly shot selection and turnovers cost the Cougars any shot at snatching the win.
The Redbacks stayed cool to ice the important victory to steady their season at a 4-6 record with Miles Gibson the star of the night with 28 points, 13 rebounds and four assists on 9/18 shooting from the floor and a perfect 10/10 at the stripe.
Tevin Jackson added 19 points, six rebounds and three assists with Ioannis Dimakopoulos contributing 16 points, five boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks, and Jacob Formosa 10 points and four assists.
It turned out a frustrating night at home for the Cougars with Demetris Morant continuing to find his feet with 17 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two assists.
Rhys Vague added 14 points and eight rebounds with 4/10 three-point shooting while Gavin Field contributed 12 points and four assists, William Yarran 11 points, and Kyle Armour 10 points and three assists in just 16 minutes.
The Cougars back up against the Warwick Senators on the road on Saturday with the Redbacks at home to the South West Slammers.
COCKBURN COUGARS 83 (Morant 17, Vague 14, Field 12)
PERTH REDBACKS 90 (Gibson 28, T Jackson 19, Dimakopoulos 16)
Perry Lakes Hawks (104) defeated Kalamunda Eastern Suns (97)
Marek Nelson caught fire to give the Kalamunda Eastern Suns a sniff late but the Perry Lakes Hawks held firm for the 104-97 home victory.
The Hawks came into the contest looking to back up their win against the South West Slammers while the Suns were out to start getting some reward for effort with just the one win despite being in with a chance late in most of their seven defeats.
The Eastern Suns got off to a good start as well with a seven-point lead in the first term and still clinging to the 28-26 advantage by quarter-time.
After Kalamunda were back up five in the second period, Perry Lakes went on an 8-0 scoring run to be up three themselves, but by half-time it was still the Eastern Suns holding a 52-50 advantage.
The Hawks caught fire in the third quarter, though, putting up 33 points to 22 to grab an 11-point edge, and just when they seemed in control, the Suns made a charge late inspired by Marek Nelson.
He had to step up too with Bryan Michaels earlier leaving the court through injury, and suddenly when Nelson went up to score after a Luke Phillips turnover, it was a one-point ball game with 45 seconds to play.
The Suns had all the momentum at that point but then it disappeared and they wouldn’t score again and the Hawks steadied beginning with a Dequan Abrom strong finish and and-one.
Perry Lakes would go on to win by seven and improve to 5-5 on the season as a result with Jaylen Key finishing with 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists on 10/12 shooting.
Dequan Abrom added 22 points, seven boards, four assists and three steals, Matt Leary 21 points, five assists and four rebounds, and Kyiah O'Donohue a career-best 20 points on 5/5 three-point shooting.
It was yet another frustrating loss for Kalamunda with Marek Nelson finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks on 8/15 shooting from the floor and 9/11 at the foul line.
Bryan Michaels had 19 points and three assists before going off hurt with Reece Maxwell contributing 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in game 312 and Jack Exeter 14 points, five boards and two assists.
The Suns back up to play host to the Rockingham Flames on Saturday in captain Rob Huntington's 300th game while the Hawks host the defending champion Geraldton Buccaneers next Saturday.
PERRY LAKES HAWKS 104 (Key 23, Abrom 22, Leary 21)
KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 97 (Nelson 26, Michaels 19, Maxwell 16)
Joondalup Wolves (105) defeated Warwick Senators (90)
Caleb Davis and Ethan Elliott had nights to savour against their old team helping to lead the Joondalup Wolves to the 105-90 home victory against the Warwick Senators.
It always shaped as a fascinating Battle of Joondalup at HBF Arena with the Wolves coming into the match up undefeated fresh off beating the Rockingham Flames while the Senators were off combined wins of 70 points over Perth and Perry Lakes leading into a narrow loss to Geraldton.
With the natural rivalry between the local foes up a notch with Senators products Davis and Elliott having crossed to the Wolfpack in the off-season, there was always going to be plenty in the contest.
Some of that intrigue dissipated with Davis and Elliot's former captain at Warwick, Cody Ellis, unable to play through illness while Jeremy Combs and Zac Gattorna were still absent for either side.
Warwick were able to start the game well but by quarter-time Joondalup had worked on top to lead 26-24 and then turned on the afterburners in the second period.
The Wolves piled on 42 points to 21 in the second term and that saw the home team go into the break leading 68-45.
The Senators started the second half well and did get back as close as 12 but a dagger of a three ball from Davis on the three quarter-time buzzer was a savage blow.
Warwick were then never able to get closer than nine points in the last period with the Wolves going on to win by 15 and improve to a perfect 7-0 on the season.
It was the two former Senators playing against their old team who became the story of the night for Joondalup with Caleb Davis putting up 25 points and 10 rebounds with 4/6 three-point shooting while Ethan Elliott had 21 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
CJ Turnage could well be leading MVP voting right now and had another 24 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals for the Wolfpack with Jonathan Wade adding 13 points, four steals, three boards and three assists.
The Senators are now 5-5 following the defeat despite 31 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals from Todd Withers.
Michael Harris still had 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, but never quite found his offensive flow with George Pearl contributing 16 points and seven boards, and Kieran Berry 13 points, four rebounds and two steals.
The Senators back up to host the Cockburn Cougars on Saturday while the Wolves are at home to the Willetton Tigers next Saturday.
JOONDALUP WOLVES 105 (Davis 25, Turnage 24, Elliott 21)
WARWICK SENATORS 90 (Withers 31, Harris 18, Pearl 16)
