Featured images: Vikki Edwards / Michael Farnell (Sports Imagery)
The Rockingham Flames and Joondalup Wolves split two fascinating NBL1 West match ups while Karly Murphy and Michael Harris dominated for the Warwick Senators with both Willetton Tigers teams winning as did Geraldton Buccaneers and Goldfields Giants men.
The three women's games in the NBL1 West on Saturday saw the Warwick Senators beat the South West Slammers 124-58 with the Willetton Tigers defeating the Perry Lakes Hawks 86-81 and the Rockingham Flames downing the Joondalup Wolves 95-51.
There were then two extra men's matches with the Geraldton Buccaneers beating the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 77-68 and the Goldfields Giants downing the Cockburn Cougars 101-94.
The Wolves also defeated the Flames 95-77, the Tigers downed the Hawks 102-89 and the Senators won 98-75 over the Slammers.
RECAP NBL1 WEST | ROUND 13 FRIDAY
VERSATILE BALLANTYNE WANTS TO BRING FLAG TO GOLDFIELDS
BUCCS SKIPPER TO REACH 450 AS LEGACY CONTINUES TO GROW
WOMEN
Warwick Senators (124) defeated South West Slammers (58)
The Warwick Senators maintained their ominous form to beat the South West Slammers 124-58 and to further consolidate second position with the sixth straight victory.
The two teams had completely contrasting form lines coming into Saturday's match up at Warwick Stadium with the Senators on a five-game winning streak in second spot having beaten the Perth Redbacks on Friday night.
Warwick were without Marena Whittle but still had plenty of experience and firepower up against a Slammers team still hunting a first victory since May 2022.
Saturday wasn’t going to be the night that changed with Warwick already leading 25-16 by quarter-time before taking over totally in the second period.
The Senators outscored the Slammers 37 points to 12 to go into half-time on top 62-28 having put together a run of scoring 25 straight points.
From there, the lead for Warwick would grow to 53 points in the third quarter and 67 in the fourth before eventually winning by 66 and improve to a 14-2 record to be solid in second spot.
Karly Murphy dominated once again in the win for the Senators with 28 points, 21 rebounds, five assists and three steals on 10/18 shooting.
Chloe Forster added 24 points, 10 assists, four steals and three rebounds with Stacey Barr contributing 16 points, eight boards, four assists and three steals, Nat Burton 14 points and seven rebounds, Katie Cummins 11 points, and Kyana Weir 10 points.
The Slammers have now lost all 15 games of 2024 along with 47 in-a-row going back more than two years, and further than that having lost 88 of the last 89 games they have been part of.
Zaya Black continued her best NBL1 season with another 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Slammers with Courtney Bayliss contributing 13 points and nine rebounds, Nyidier Riak eight points and four boards, and Charlotte Mills seven points and three assists.
The Senators will play host to the Goldfields Giants next Saturday while the Slammers are home to the Willetton Tigers on Friday night.
WARWICK SENATORS 124 (Murphy 28, Forster 24, Barr 16)
SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 58 (Black 15, Bayliss 13, Riak 8)
Willetton Tigers (86) defeated Perry Lakes Hawks (81)
The Willetton Tigers produced a big finish at home to overrun the Perry Lakes Hawks for the 86-81 victory to consolidate their place in the top eight.
Willetton was coming into the game fresh off a win over the Goldfields Giants last week to remain in the top eight as they returned home to Willetton Basketball Stadium to host the Hawks on Saturday.
Perry Lakes came into the contest after beating the Joondalup Wolves at home on Friday to have won four in-a-row and to be sitting in fourth position.
It was a close contest right through the evening with no more than seven points ever separating them with Willetton narrowly leading 23-20 by the end of the first quarter.
Perry Lakes outscored the Tigers 27 points to 19 in the second term to go into half-time leading 47-42 with the Hawks then still on top 65-62 by three quarter-time.
The Tigers had worked their way on top by five points when Claire Jacobs hit a three-pointer with just over two minutes to play and the home team managed to stay in front the rest of the way.
The biggest play of the game ended up being a steal from Willetton captain Desiree Kelley who took it off Sam Ashby when the Hawks were getting ready for the last possession to try and get the game to overtime.
Instead, Kelley iced the win by making two free throws for the Tigers to win by five points to improve to a 7-7 record to stay comfortably inside the top eight.
Melisa Brcaninovic finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in the win for Willetton with 3/4 three-point shooting and going 10/11 at the foul line.
Jillian Archer added 21 points and 10 rebounds, Claire Jacobs 22 points, two boards and two assists, and Desiree Kelley 12 points and seven rebounds.
Perry Lakes' winning run comes to an end to see their record slip to 11-5 with Grace Stone top-scoring once more with 20 points, three rebounds and two steals.
Maddy Dennis also had 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals, Ash Isenbarger 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Mia Satie 10 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.
The Tigers are now on the road to the South West Slammers on Friday night while the Hawks then play host to the same Slammers team on Saturday.
WILLETTON TIGERS 86 (Brcaninovic 23, C Jacobs 22, Archer 21)
PERRY LAKES HAWKS 81 (Stone 20, Dennis 16, Isenbarger 12)
Joondalup Wolves (51) lost to Rockingham Flames (95)
The former Joondalup Wolves faces at the Rockingham Flames in 2024 enjoyed the return to their old home court with the 95-51 victory.
The two teams had already met earlier this season when both teams were undefeated and Rockingham handed Joondalup its first loss of the season with the 93-63 win, but Saturday night was the first meeting back at HBF Arena for the former Wolves players at the Flames.
Robbi Ryan, Shani Amos, Nes'eya Parker-Williams, Ellyce Ironmonger are all former Wolves players now at Rockingham in 2024 while coach Marcus Wong was also up against his old side, and they showed no mercy on their former club.
It didn’t take long for the Flames to take control with the league-leaders already on top 31-14 by the end of the first quarter.
It was another 20 points to six in the second term as well in favour of Rockingham to see them head into half-time leading 51-20.
It was another 20 points to 13 in the third frame and 24 to 18 in the fourth with the Flames ending up scoring the 44-point victory to remain in top spot at 15-2.
Back on her old home floor, Nes'eya Parker-Williams produced 22 points, 10 rebounds and two assists on 11/21 shooting from the field.
Emma Gandini also had 19 points, three rebounds and two steals, Georgia Pineau 18 points, six steals, five boards and five assists, Jess Jakens 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Robbi Ryan 10 points, five assists and three boards.
After winning the first five games of the season, the Wolves have now lost eight in-a-row and 10 of the last 11 dating back to that first loss in Rockingham back on May 4.
Sirena Tuitele top-scored for Joondalup with 13 points and eight rebounds on 4/5 shooting with Geraldynn Leaupepe contributing 11 points, two boards and two steals, and Darien Huff eight points and two assists.
The Wolfpack are on the road to the Perth Redbacks next Saturday with Rockingham on the road to the Cockburn Cougars.
JOONDALUP WOLVES 51 (Tuitele 13, Leaupepe 11, Huff 8)
ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 95 (Parker-Williams 22, Gandini 19, Pineau 18)
MEN
Geraldton Buccaneers (77) defeated Kalamunda Eastern Suns (68)
Geraldton Buccaneers imports Josh Braun and Joshua Keyes delivered when it mattered most to ensure the reigning champions kept on winning with the 77-68 home win over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.
The Buccs were made to earn it at Active West Stadium on Saturday night with a strong showing by the Eastern Suns, but ultimately an offensive rebound and put back from Keyes, and huge three from former MVP Braun sealed the deal for the home team.
The Buccaneers were back home putting their eight-game winning streak on the line against an Eastern Suns team playing better basketball than their 5-11 record suggests.
Even though Geraldton started well to lead by nine points at quarter-time and got out to an 11-point lead in the second term, the Eastern Suns had come to play and were back within seven points at half-time.
Then even with the Buccaneers still leading by nine points at three quarter-time, it was still a fascinating last quarter and when former Buccs championship winner Brendan Dinardo landed a three for Kalamunda, the visitors were back within a point with over six minutes to play.
Every time the Suns did get within striking distance, though, the Buccs responded and the first dagger blow came with just under a minute to play when Joshua Keyes collected the offensive rebound and scored to put Geraldton up seven.
Josh Braun then sealed the deal with a big three shortly after to make it a 10-point game and the Buccaneers won by nine to improve to a 16-1 record to retain top spot.
Keyes ended up with 18 points and seven rebounds on 8/10 shooting for Geraldton with Nik DeSantis contributing 17 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Johny Narkle 12 points, nine boards, five assists, five steals and two blocks.
Liam Hunt also had 11 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, and Josh Braun nine points, four boards and three assists.
Despite another competitive showing the Eastern Suns slip further from the playoff hunt at 5-12 with Marek Nelson top-scoring with 21 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Reece Maxwell added 11 points, six assists and four rebounds, Jack Exeter 10 points, four boards and two assists, and Brendan Dinardo 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals against the team he won the 2019 championship with.
The Buccaneers have a road double next weekend to the Lakeside Lightning on Saturday and Joondalup Wolves on Sunday while the Eastern Suns are home to the East Perth Eagles on Friday.
GERALDTON BUCCANEERS 77 (Keyes 18, DeSantis 17, Narkle 12)
KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 68 (Nelson 21, Maxwell 11, Exeter 10, Dinardo 10)
Goldfields Giants (101) defeated Cockburn Cougars (94)
It took a combined 70 points from Goldfields Giants imports De'Sean Parsons and Randy Bell for them to overcome a spirited Cockburn Cougars to stay in touch of a top four position.
The Giants were back home at Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium looking to hit back from last week's narrow loss to the second placed Willetton Tigers.
They were up against the bottom placed Cougars who had lost 11 straight upon arrival in Kalgoorlie and were still without the services of Hunter Clarke, Seva Chan, Demetris Morant, Nathan Pond and then emerging star Josh Hunt's troublesome ankle gave way in the first half.
Despite all that, it was a Cougars team ready to fight and try to get back on the winner's list in what will be the last road trip to a regional venue for captain Gavin Field as his pending retirement at the end of the season inches closer.
Cockburn made an encouraging start too for an early seven-point lead but Goldfields responded with an 11-0 run to end up leading 25-22 by quarter-time.
It was then still just a one-point ball game by half-time and the Cougars even grabbed the lead briefly to start the second half, but the Giants were able to work their way back on top and would end up leading by as much as 13 points.
They could never quite shake the dogged Cockburn, but the Giants did have enough of the answers to end up securing the seven-point win and keep their top four hopes alive at 10-7.
De'Sean Parsons had his best performance of the season in the win for Goldfields with 41 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals on shooting 15/18 from the floor and 10/12 at the free-throw line.
Randy Bell also put up 29 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals on shooting 4/9 from three-point range while Kon Anguik contributed 16 points, eight boards, three assists and three steals, and Damon Ballantyne 11 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Despite the strong showing, the Cougars have now lost 12 in-a-row to be 3-15 on the season but there was a lot to like with Charlie Dimmock having a breakout performance with 15 points and nine rebounds on 7/7 shooting.
Noah Stewart also had 13 points while captain Gavin Field on his last trip to Kalgoorlie had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists with Rhys Vague putting up 22 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, and Kyle Armour 12 points and 10 assists.
The Giants are on the road next weekend to the Warwick Senators on Saturday and Willetton Tigers on Sunday with Cockburn hosting the Rockingham Flames next Saturday.
GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 101 (Parsons 41, Bell 29, Anguik 16)
COCKBURN COUGARS 94 (Vague 22, Field 17, Dimmock 15)
Warwick Senators (98) defeated South West Slammers (75)
The Warwick Senators retained their position inside the top eight by backing up a big Friday night win to head back home for the 98-75 victory against the South West Slammers.
The Senators scored the 30-point win on Friday on the road to the Perth Redbacks even without the presence of Cody Ellis and he was still out on Saturday to take on the Slammers at Warwick Senators.
Warwick was back in the top eight on the back of that Friday night win and needed to keep on winning to stay there and after leading by three points at quarter-time, they took over in the second term.
The Senators ended up leading by as much as 18 points in the second quarter and went into the half-time break on top 50-36.
It was another 23 points to 16 in the third quarter from Warwick and the lead got out to as much as 24 points before the Senators went on to score the 23-point victory.
That improves Warwick to a 9-9 record on the season to remain inside the top eight with Perth Wildcats guard Michael Harris unstoppable with 38 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two steals with 7/13 three-point shooting.
Todd Withers was coming off 79 points in his last two games and still had his moments with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and three blocks while Brody England contributed 12 points, and George Pearl 11 to go with eight rebounds and three assists.
The Slammers have now lost their past five games to sit on a 3-14 record with Buay Tuach once again top-scoring with 16 points to go with eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Xavier Cotton added 15 points with Alex Holcombe finishing with 12 points, four blocks and three rebounds, and Mathiang Muo 11 points and six boards.
The Senators will play host to the Goldfields Giants next Saturday while the Slammers are home to the Willetton Tigers on Friday night.
WARWICK SENATORS 98 (Harris 38, Withers 14, England 12)
SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 75 (Tuach 16, Cotton 15, Holcombe 12)
Willetton Tigers (102) defeated Perry Lakes Hawks (89)
The Willetton Tigers kept their hot form going making it six wins in-a-row with the 102-89 home win against the Perry Lakes Hawks.
The Tigers were back home at Willetton Basketball Stadium after making it five straight wins with a narrow win on the road to the Goldfields Giants last Saturday while the Hawks were fresh off a loss at home to the Joondalup Wolves on Friday.
Willetton need to keep winning to stay second while Perry Lakes are trying to break back into the top eight so there was plenty on the line for both teams.
Willetton were leading by two points at quarter-time but Perry Lakes turned things around with 28 points to 21 in the second period to go into the main break leading 47-42.
It was time for the Tigers to take back control in the second half as they put up 30 points to 17 in the third frame, and 30 to 25 in the fourth to end up leading by as much as 15 points and to win by 13.
The win is a sixth in-a-row for Willetton to improve to a 14-2 record to remain solid in second spot with Michael Dupree delivering 23 points, five rebounds and four assists while shooting 5/12 from three-point range.
Tom Gerovich grabbed his increased role in the absence of Michael Vigor, Deng Gak and Josh Ibukunoluwa to play almost 32 minutes for 20 points, three rebounds and three assists with Damien Scott having another 22 points, nine boards, three assists and two steals.
Marshall Nelson added 11 points, five rebounds and five assists, Roosevelt Williams 11 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals, and Tom Musumeci 10 points and two boards.
Perry Lakes remains outside the top eight now having lost five straight with a 7-11 record with Keegan Phillips stepping up to top-score with 24 points, seven rebounds and three assists on 9/13 shooting.
Luke Phillips added 19 points, four boards and three assists, Dequan Abrom 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Jaylen Key 11 points, 10 boards and three assists.
The Tigers are now on the road to the South West Slammers on Friday night while the Hawks then play host to the same Slammers team on Saturday.
WILLETTON TIGERS 102 (Dupree 23, Scott 22, Gerovich 20)
PERRY LAKES HAWKS 89 (K Phillips 24, L Phillips 19, Abrom 18)
Joondalup Wolves (95) defeated Rockingham Flames (77)
The Joondalup Wolves maintained touch with a top two spot by making it five straight wins with Devondrick Walker unable to back up as the Wolfpack beat the Rockingham Flames 95-77.
Both teams scored wins on Friday night with the Wolves beating the Perry Lakes Hawks while the Flames were buoyed by the presence of two-time MVP Walker in the second half at home to beat the Mandurah Magic.
However, Walker wasn’t able to get out on the court on Saturday at HBF Arena and with Jono Jansen also missing for Rockingham, they didn’t quite have the quality of depth to take it up to the third placed Wolves.
Joondalup made a flying start opening up a 13-point lead in the first quarter and put up 37 points in the opening term and never looked back from there.
The Wolves were still leading 55-48 by half-time with the Flames having worked back into the contest, but Joondalup pulled away again the longer the game went back up 13 in the third period and 21 in the fourth.
The Wolfpack ended up winning by 18 points to improve to 13-4 on the season to remain in third spot with Jonathan Wade putting up 25 points on 10/17 shooting from the floor.
CJ Turnage added 18 points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds, Ethan Elliott 13 points, seven boards and six assists, Jordan Wellsteed 12 points and six rebounds, and Caleb Davis 11 points, eight boards and three steals.
Rockingham is still clinging to its place in the top eight at 10-8 after splitting the two games this weekend and Jeremy Combs had a big night with 33 points and 11 rebounds which only added to the intrigue in the night given originally he was to be playing at the Wolves in 2024.
Gorjok Gak added 14 points and nine rebounds, Travis Durnin 10 points and 10 boards, and Emmanuel Dech eight points.
The Wolfpack are on the road to the Perth Redbacks next Saturday with Rockingham on the road to the Cockburn Cougars.
JOONDALUP WOLVES 95 (Wade 25, Turnage 18, Elliott 13)
ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 77 (Combs 33, Gak 14, Durnin 10)
