Recap NBL1 West | Round 14 Saturday

Gavin Field again showed his greatness for the Cockburn Cougars as his NBL1 West career winds down while Anneli Maley and Natalie Chou combined for 67 points for the Perth Redbacks, and Julian Pesava, Buay Tuach and Michael Harris stood out.

The women's results saw the Perry Lakes Hawks defeated the South West Slammers 98-70, the Perth Redbacks beat the Joondalup Wolves 102-69, the Rockingham Flames down the Cockburn Cougars 89-88, the Warwick Senators down the Goldfields Giants 119-64, and the Mandurah Magic defeat the Eastern Suns 87-65.

Then in the men's action, the Geraldton Buccaneers beat the Lakeside Lightning 100-93 while the Slammers beat the Hawks 95-82, the Wolves beat the Redbacks 99-84, the Cougars defeated Flames 98-85, the Senators downed the Giants 106-95, and the Magic defeated the Eastern Suns 106-82.

RECAP NBL1 WEST | ROUND 14 FRIDAY

LUBCKE HOPES CONCUSSION JOURNEY CREATES AWARENESS

WOMEN

Perry Lakes Hawks (98) defeated South West Slammers (70)

The Perry Lakes Hawks consolidated their hold on a top four position with the comfortable 98-70 home win against the South West Slammers.

The Hawks were making their only appearance of the weekend back home at Bendat Basketball Centre looking to bounce back from a loss to the Willetton Tigers hosting a Slammers team who lost to the Tigers as well on Friday night on their home floor.

With Perry Lakes needing the win to maintain its hold over a top four spot, it was a big ask for the Slammers and the Hawks were already out to a 13-point lead in the opening quarter.

Perry Lakes pushed that advantage out to 54-34 by half-time before going on with the job for the eventual 28-point victory to improve to a 12-5 record to remain clear in fourth position with three games remaining.

Grace Stone continued her standout form for the Hawks by delivering 18 points, three assists and two rebounds on 4/11 three-point shooting.

Maddy Dennis added 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, Sam Ashby 12 points, five steals, four assists and three boards, Mia Satie 11 points, six rebounds and four steals, Millie McCarthy 10 points, six assists and five boards, and Beige Harris 10 points and six rebounds.

The Slammers have now lost all 17 matches this season despite 17 points from Courtney Bayliss who hit 4/8 from downtown to go with three rebounds and three assists.

Zaya Black also had 14 points, five rebounds and three assists, Nyidier Riak 13 points and nine boards, and Charlotte Mills nine points and four steals.

Perry Lakes will next be in action at home to the East Perth Eagles next Saturday with the Slammers hosting the Mandurah Magic also on Saturday.

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 98 (Stone 18, Dennis 13, Ashby 12)

SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 70 (Bayliss 17, Black 14, Riak 13)

Perth Redbacks (102) defeated Joondalup Wolves (69)

The Perth Redbacks welcomed back Anneli Maley and she combined with Natalie Chou for 67 points, 21 rebounds, eight assists, eight steals and eight three-pointers in the 102-69 win against the Joondalup Wolves.

The Redbacks were back home at Belmont Oasis looking to bounce back from a tight loss to the Warwick Senators but they welcomed back Perth Lynx captain and Australian star Maley to reform her dynamic duo act with Chou.

The Wolfpack arrived on an eight-game losing slide despite welcoming back WNBL star Emma Clarke into the line-up for her second game of the season, but the Redbacks didn’t take long to take control.

Perth delivered 24 points to 18 in the first quarter but then continued to take greater control the longer the game went including the Redbacks opening a 17-point lead in the second frame and going into half-time on top 49-35.

That lead continued to grow throughout the second half with the Redbacks ending up leading by 23 points in the third period and 33 in the fourth, and that would end up the final margin.

The victory improves the Redbacks to a 10-8 record on the season to be still in touch of a top four spot with Anneli Maley brilliant back in the line-up with 34 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and four steals with 5/8 three-point shooting.

Natalie Chou also had 33 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists on 13/24 shooting from the field, 3/8 from downtown and 4/4 at the free-throw line.

Brooke Malone added 11 points and six rebounds, Mikayla Pirini nine points, four boards and three assists, and Raya Thompson nine points and six rebounds on 4/5 shooting as she continues some of the best form of her 142-game career.

The Wolves are only just clinging to a playoff spot now having lost nine in-a-row to be 6-11 with Darien Huff top-scoring with 20 points, three assists and two rebounds.

Sirena Tuitele added 10 points, four rebounds and two assists, Sarah Toeaina eight points, five boards and two assists, and Emma Clarke eight points, seven rebounds and three assists.

The Redbacks have just the two games remaining starting at home next Saturday to the Lakeside Lightning with the Wolfpack away to the Willetton Tigers also on Saturday.

PERTH REDBACKS 102 (Maley 34, Chou 33, Malone 11)

JOONDALUP WOLVES 69 (Huff 20, Tuitele 10, Clarke 8, Toeaina 8)

Cockburn Cougars (88) lost to Rockingham Flames (89)

It was billed as a heavyweight clash and Rockingham almost delivered a knockout blow early only for Daniel Raber to fire the Cockburn Cougars back into the contest before the Flames did eventually prevail 89-88.

It was first against third and while the Warwick Senators can't be discounted sitting in between them, there is at least some chance that it was a Grand Final preview when the Cougars hosted the Flames at Wally Hagan Stadium on Saturday evening.

Both teams brought key players back for the contest as well including Jessie Edwards returning for Cockburn and two-time MVP Alex Sharp playing her first game for Rockingham since April 19.

Despite being away from home, it was Rockingham who shot out of the blocks racing to a 19-4 lead after the first eight minutes.

The Flames would end up leading 25-10 by quarter-time still and the lead for the league-leading Rockingham grew to as much as 18 points in the second term before they went into half-time still on top 52-38.

Cougars centre Daniel Raber was scoreless at half-time despite averaging 16.4 points a game and she was the one who led Cockburn's fightback when she caught fire coming out of the half-time break.

The Cougars outscored the Flames 28 points to 16 in the third quarter before a couple of scores down low from Raber early in the fourth quarter gave Cockburn the lead and the momentum.

The lead continued to exchange hands including on a three-pointer for Cockburn from Jaya Scafidi before it was Nes'eya Parker-Williams who put Rockingham back in front with three minutes to play.

Emma Gandini soon stretched that lead to three and Robbi Ryan made it five but the Cougars front court of Raber and Maria Blazejewski were able to combine to bring their team back within a point in the final minute.

The Cougars then forced the Flames into a turnover and had the last possession to snatch the win. Rockingham played strong transition defence, though, and the best look Cockburn got was a pressure one handed fling from point guard Jewel Williams.

That didn’t fall and time expired with Rockingham winning by a point to retain top spot with a 16-2 record.

Nes'eya Parker-Williams continued the best season of her 135-game career now at her third club with 31 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists on 11/19 shooting from the field, 3/6 from downtown and 6/6 at the foul line.

Robbi Ryan added 19 points, three rebounds and three assists, Jess Jakens 17 points, seven boards, two assists and two steals, Georgia Pineau 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists, and Emma Gandini six points, 11 boards and four assists.

Cockburn is now 13-4 on the season with the loss and still in third position with Daniel Raber shaking off a scoreless first half to finish with 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Alex Ciabattoni added 19 points, seven assists and five rebounds against the team she won a championship with while Steph Gorman added 15 points, four boards, four assists and two steals, and Maria Blazejewski 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Cougars take on the Lakeside Lightning on the road next Friday with the Flames to take on the East Perth Eagles next on Saturday July 13 at home.

COCKBURN COUGARS 88 (Raber 26, Ciabattoni 19, Gorman 15)

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 89 (Parker-Williams 31, Ryan 19, Jakens 17)

Warwick Senators (119) defeated Goldfields Giants (64)

The Warwick Senators welcomed back Marena Whittle but it was their full firepower that was on show in the 119-64 home victory against the Goldfield Giants.

The Senators were back home at Warwick Stadium on a six-game winning streak and following two recent losses for Rockingham, if they keep winning they will be a chance to end up claiming the regular season championship.

They were playing host to a Giants team having lost their past three games and starting their double-header on the road this weekend but Warwick shot out of the blocks on fire and never looked back.

The Senators piled on 36 points to 17 in the first quarter which included them scoring 18 points in-a-row and to lead by as much as 27 points in the first half on the way to the 57-38 advantage at half-time.

Warwick weren’t done yet either and they put up 36 points to 11 in the third period and 26 to 15 in the fourth with the lead growing to as big as 56 points before the Senators scored the eventual 55-point victory.

It's a seventh straight win for Warwick who improve to a 15-2 record on the season and Chloe Forster finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Stacey Barr contributed 23 points, six boards, five assists and two steals on hitting 7/15 from three-point territory, and Karly Murphy had another 15 points and 15 rebounds.

Marena Whittle returned with 13 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals with Nat Burton adding 12 points and six rebounds.

Young gun Kyana Weir was also impressive in her 17 and-a-half minutes with 20 points on 6/9 three-point shooting.

The Giants are now 3-13 with a fourth successive defeat with Ash Sidebottom top-scoring with 14 points while Jhazmin Joson added 13 points and three rebounds, Kate Sidebottom nine points and five boards, and Lauren Fech nine points, six rebounds and three assists.

The Giants complete their road double on Sunday against the Willetton Tigers with the Senators at home to the Willetton Tigers this coming Friday night.

WARWICK SENATORS 119 (Forster 26, Barr 23, Weir 20)

GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 64 (A Sidebottom 14, Joson 13, K Sidebottom 9, Fech 9)

 

Kalamunda Eastern Suns (65) lost to Mandurah Magic (87)

The Mandurah Magic continue to make a late charge towards an NBL1 West playoff spot backing up Friday's win by beating the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 87-65.

The league's games record holder Casey Mihovilovich produced a masterful showing on Friday night for the Magic to beat the Lakeside Lightning as they backed up on the road to the Eastern Suns at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

The Suns were also coming off an impressive Friday night victory on the road to the East Perth Eagles so the stage was set for a fascinating battle between two teams trying to keep their late season momentum going.

Even though Mandurah made a fast start and led by as much as 14 points in the first quarter, Kalamunda responded and by quarter-time trailed by just the two points.

The Magic were clinging to a two-point lead still at half-time but then in the third quarter they took complete control of the contest with a 13-0 scoring run.

That saw Mandurah's lead get out to as much as 26 points in the third term and then 30 in the fourth on the way to the eventual 22-point victory as the Magic improves to 7-11 on the season to remain a chance to take part in the finals.

Sam Roscoe was playing another of her former teams and enjoyed her return up the hill with the Magic by putting up 18 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Donica Cosby added 17 points, four assists and four steals, Emma Klasztorny 17 points, eight rebounds and two steals, and Tiana Wilson-Palmer 11 points, six assists, three boards and two steals.

The Eastern Suns three-game winning run comes to an end with them now 5-12 on the season with Tiahna Sears continuing her impressive form with another 19 points, 13 rebounds and two steals.

Olivia Berry added 14 points while Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant contributed 16 points and six rebounds, and Ella Fotu 11 points, five boards and four assists.

The Eastern Suns will now hit the road to the play the Goldfields Giants next Saturday with the Magic having just two more games including next Saturday on the road to the South West Slammers.

KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 65 (Sears 19, McGhee-Pleasant 16, Berry 14)

MANDURAH MAGIC 87 (Roscoe 18, Cosby 17, Klasztorny 17)

MEN

Lakeside Lightning (93) lost to Geraldton Buccaneers (100)

The defending champion Geraldton Buccaneers have a remarkable ability to find ways to make the big plays when they matter most and that was on show again in the 100-93 win against the Lakeside Lightning.

The Buccs began their road double weekend on Saturday night at Lakeside Recreation Centre with the Lightning out of the playoff hunt and coming off a Friday night loss to Mandurah, but still having a lively, talented and dangerous team.

Veteran Buccs trio Mat Wundenberg, Aaron Ralph and Liam Hunt along with former teammate and assistant coach Carter Cook all arrived with buzz cuts as of this week too, and the stage was set for a tantalising match up.

It was a game full of physicality, full of big plays and with neither team able to break away from the other.

Lakeside did manage to open up a seven-point lead in the first quarter but Geraldton responded and by quarter-time were on top 29-27.

The Buccaneers were still leading 51-47 by half-time but the Lightning were sticking around and even willing to make a physical statement including a monster putback one-handed slam on the offensive glass from Josh Davey.

Lakeside were able to build some momentum in the third quarter too with an 8-0 scoring run to grab the lead and get the home fans behind them, but as they always do, the Buccaneers responded.

The Buccs continued to have the answers to all the game's big moments including three-point bombs from last year's Grand Final MVP Johny Narkle and former league MVP Josh Braun in the space of 20 seconds.

That pushed Geraldton out to a nine-point lead with just over four minutes to play, and then it was captain Aaron Ralph who landed a dagger blow with a trademark three-point bomb as he closes in on hitting the most from outside the arc in league history.

That made the lead nine once again and Geraldton ended up winning by seven to make it 10 in-a-row and to be further clear in top spot as defending champions.

Josh Braun is warming into the season nicely at the right time for the Buccs and he had 24 points, five rebounds and three assists on shooting 6/14 from behind the three-point line.

Nik DeSantis continued his standout first season in the NBL1 West with 23 points and five assists too with Johny Narkle contributing 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals, and Aaron Ralph 16 points and four rebounds with 3/6 three-point shooting.

Despite a competitive and spirited showing, Lakeside has lost two games this weekend to fall to a 5-12 record with Mike Adewunmi doing what he could finishing with 33 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals.

Fellow import Marshawn Blackmon had 19 points and three rebounds with Josh Davey contributing 13 points and 22 rebounds along with receiving a nasty cut to the head along with his spectacular dunk.

Dom Jackson scored 19 points with Max Richards adding eight points, three boards, two assists and two steals.

The Buccaneers complete their road double-header in a Grand Final rematch with the Joondalup Wolves on Sunday with the Lightning hosting the Cockburn Cougars this coming Friday night.

LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 93 (Adewunmi 33, Blackmon 19, Jackson 19)

GERALDTON BUCCANEERS 100 (Braun 24, DeSantis 23, Narkle 20)

Perry Lakes Hawks (82) lost to South West Slammers (95)

The South West Slammers completed their best weekend of the NBL1 West season backing up the win over Willetton by beating the Perry Lakes Hawks 95-82.

Consistency has been the big thing holding a talented Slammers team back from reaching its potential in 2024 and contending for a playoff spot, but they found it this weekend and it was mighty impressive as a result.

The Slammers opened their weekend by hosting the second placed Willetton Tigers on Friday and they handed them just their third loss of the season.

South West then backed up on Saturday against the Hawks at Bendat Basketball Centre with Perry Lakes trying to snap its own five-game losing slide to stay in finals contention.

It was a remarkable start to the game from the Slammers with a 17-0 scoring run in the first quarter as they went on to lead by 18 points but the Hawks were able to work back into the contest and even hit the front during the second term.

South West were leading again 49-46 at half-time but then the Slammers took charge once more in the second half opening up a lead of as much as 15 points once more and then holding firm for the 13-point victory.

The victory improves the Slammers to a 5-14 record with Buay Tuach again outstanding with his aggression to attack the rim finishing with 31 points, eight rebounds, six steals and five assists on 14/19 shooting from the field.

Mathiang Muo showed he still has plenty left in the tank with 21 points and 12 rebounds while Alex Holcombe contributed 11 points, six boards and two blocks, Pharell Keats 10 points and eight assists, and Devan Craig 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.

It's another blow to the hopes of Perry Lakes reaching the playoffs with the Hawks now 7-12 with Dequan Abrom top-scoring with 24 points on 9/13 shooting from the field and 3/6 from behind the three-point line.

Jaylen Key also had 17 points and five rebounds, Keegan Phillips 16 points and four boards, and Matt Leary 16 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Perry Lakes will next be in action at home to the East Perth Eagles next Saturday with the Slammers hosting the Mandurah Magic also on Saturday.

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 82 (Abrom 24, Key 17, Leary 16, K Phillips 16)

SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 95 (Tuach 31, Muo 21, Holcombe 11)

Perth Redbacks (84) lost to Joondalup Wolves (99)

The Joondalup Wolves moved a step closer to second spot opening up a 31-point lead on the hapless Perth Redbacks before securing the eventual 99-84 victory.

There was plenty of natural intrigue in the match up at Belmont Oasis with Ioannis Dimakopoulos playing for the Redbacks up against the Wolves team he had such a big hand in reaching the Grand Final last year.

The Redbacks also came into the game trying to snap their eight-game losing streak while the Wolfpack arrived having won five straight and with their top two chances enhancing the night before with Willetton's loss to the South West Slammers.

Joondalup didn’t take long to take charge of the contest against the down on confidence Redbacks with the visitors already leading 28-19 by the end of the first quarter.

The Wolves then put up another 33 points to 23 in the second term to see the lead grow to as much as 19 points as they went into the half-time break with the 61-42 advantage.

The lead for the Wolfpack blew out to as much as 31 points in the third quarter as well before at least the Redbacks finished strongly with 27 points to 13 in the last term to cut the final deficit to 15 points.

The victory improves the Wolves to 14-4 on the season having won six straight with Jonathan Wade starring once again with 27 points, six rebounds and six assists on shooting 11/16 from the floor and 3/6 from three-point territory.

He had plenty of help too with Jacob Wiley adding 18 points and five rebounds, Caleb Davis 16 points and six boards, CJ Turnage 15 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Ethan Elliott eight points, six assists and five boards.

The Redbacks have now lost nine in-a-row to sit on a 4-15 record with Miles Gibson finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds and four steals, and Ioannis Dimakopoulos 18 points, 10 boards and two assists against his former team.

Joe Cook-Green also had 15 points and three assists, Maris Colton 13 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Denzel Jackson 12 points, three boards and two steals.

The Redbacks have just the two games remaining starting at home next Saturday to the Lakeside Lightning with the Wolfpack away to the Willetton Tigers also on Saturday.

PERTH REDBACKS 84 (Gibson 22, Dimakopoulos 18, Cook-Green 15)

JOONDALUP WOLVES 99 (Wade 27, Wiley 18, Turnage 15)

Cockburn Cougars (98) defeated Rockingham Flames (85)

In what is the second last home game with the Cockburn Cougars and fourth last match overall of his historic career, Gavin Field produced a performance to savour with eight three-pointers and 35 points in the 98-85 win over the Rockingham Flames.

It has been a season from hell in so many ways for the Cougars and they came into Saturday's match up with Rockingham on a 12-game losing slide and it had been anything but the farewell season that club legend Field was deserving of.

However, he took it upon himself to have perhaps one last great match-winning performance to break that losing run for the Cougars in remarkable fashion and to leave the Flames vulnerable in just reaching the playoffs at all in 2024.

It's still a Cockburn team missing Seva Chan, Hunter Clarke, Josh Hunt and Demetris Morant who were all pencilled in to form their starting line-up this season mixed in with Field and Rhys Vague.

But Field took it upon himself on Saturday night in the 336th game of his career to send a reminder to the basketball community why he will go down as one of the best players the league has seen.

He finished the night with 35 points, eight rebounds and six assists while making 8/19 from three-point territory and it felt as though the more contested his shot, the more likely he was to knock them down.

Field has already decided that 2024 will be the final season of his career and Saturday night is the second last home game left for the Cougars at Wally Hagan Stadium and he made sure it was one to remember.

Despite having lost their past 12 matches, Field helped Cockburn dominate in the second half to end up leading Rockingham by as much as 19 points and ending up scoring the 13-point victory to improve to 4-15 on the season.

On top of what Field produced, a lot of his shots were assisted by fellow 300-plus game player Kyle Armour which was only fitting. Armour also ended up with 18 points and 10 assists.

Charlie Dimmock added 13 points, three rebounds and two assists, Rhys Vague 12 points, 12 boards and four assists, and Austin Crowe-St Jack nine points and two rebounds.

Rockingham is now 10-9 on the season having lost three of the last four with Gorjok Gak finishing with 20 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

Devondrick Walker's return continued to be on a minutes restriction with the two-time MVP playing 17:30 off the bench for 11 points with Jeremy Combs adding 16 points, six rebounds and four assists, Travis Durnin 13 points and six boards, and Justin Beard 11 points, three rebounds and two assists.

The Cougars take on the Lakeside Lightning on the road next Friday with the Flames heading off to play the Geraldton Buccaneers next Saturday night.

COCKBURN COUGARS 98 (Field 35, Armour 18, Dimmock 13)

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 85 (Gak 20, Combs 16, Durnin 13)

Warwick Senators (106) defeated Goldfields Giants (95)

Michael Harris and Todd Withers combined for 53 points and nine three-pointers to inspire the Warwick Senators to a third straight victory with the 106-95 home win over the Goldfields Giants.

It was a significant game for both teams as the finals race heats up with the Senators back home at Warwick Stadium having won their past two to be two games clear in eighth position.

They played host to a Giants team just above them at 10-7 and coming off a win at home against the Cockburn Cougars but what Saturday night's game would do was be important in who would be in the top four hunt still.

The Senators also welcomed back championship winning captain Cody Ellis for the match up and they got off to a flying start with a 10-0 run in the third quarter to end up leading by as much as 13, and still 32-20 by quarter-time.

While the Giants kept on fighting and import pair Randy Bell and De'Sean Parsons were keeping them somewhat within striking distance, the Senators were able to keep them at bay the rest of the evening.

Warwick would end up leading by as much as 17 points in the third quarter but Goldfields continued to make things interesting and the margin was back to four with two minutes to play after a Parsons three-point play.

Michael Harris responded for the Senators with a huge three-pointer and Todd Withers did the same 30 seconds later and that was enough to secure the eventual 11-point win for the home team.

The win improves Warwick to a 10-9 record having won the last three with Harris delivering 28 points, nine assists and five rebounds on 4/8 three-point shooting and going 10/10 at the foul line.

Withers ended up with 25 points and five rebounds with 5/8 three-point shooting with George Pearl contributing 17 points, seven boards and five assists on 3/5 shooting from downtown.

Cody Ellis returned and had 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals with Tyler Shand fighting hard for seven points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals despite two tough trips to the line late in the piece.

Goldfields slips to 10-8 with the defeat to start the double on the road with De'Sean Parsons outstanding with 37 points, 12 rebounds and three assists on 15/22 shooting from the field and 7/8 at the line.

Randy Bell added 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals with Kon Anguik ending up with 15 points, three boards, three assists and two steals, and Damon Ballantyne 13 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals.

The Giants complete their road double on Sunday against the Willetton Tigers with the Senators at home to the Willetton Tigers this coming Friday night.

WARWICK SENATORS 106 (Harris 28, Withers 25, Pearl 17)

GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 95 (Parsons 37, Bell 24, Anguik 15)

Kalamunda Eastern Suns (82) lost to Mandurah Magic (106)

Julian Pesava had a night out with 35 points and seven three-pointers to help ensure the Mandurah Magic kept on winning with the 106-82 road win over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.

Both teams arrived at Ray Owen Sports Centre fresh off wins on Friday night with the Eastern Suns impressive with taking care of the East Perth Eagles while Joel Murray piled on 52 points as Mandurah defeated the Lakeside Lightning.

The Magic were still without starting five pair Michael Durr and Jarrod Molnar but it didn’t stop them putting up 35 points in the first quarter away from home to already be leading by 15 points at quarter-time.

Both respective coaches Aaron Trahair and Mark Utley were coaching their previous teams as well just to add some added intrigue to the match up, but the Magic just had too much firepower even without two of their stars with the Suns unable to replicate their form from the previous night.

Mandurah would continue to build on its lead with it getting out to 26 points in the second quarter and then 35 in the second half before the Magic scored the 24-point victory.

The win improves Mandurah to a 12-7 record on the season to strengthen its top four claims with Julian Pesava shining by knocking down 7/12 from three-point range for 35 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.

MVP fancy Joel Murray was fresh off his 52-point outburst on Friday and delivered another 27 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals with Jermaine Malie adding 17 points, five assists and four boards, and Lachlan Bertram 15 points, six rebounds and three assists.

The Eastern Suns slip further from playoff calculations at 6-13 after splitting the two games this weekend with Marek Nelson again top-scoring with 22 points and eight rebounds on 4/6 three-point shooting.

Raphell Thomas-Edwards finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds while Jhye Stoker contributed eight points and two boards, and Reece Maxwell seven points and four assists.

The Eastern Suns will now hit the road to the play the Goldfields Giants next Saturday with the Magic having just two more games including next Saturday on the road to the South West Slammers.

KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 82 (Nelson 22, Thomas-Edwards 18, Stoker 8)

MANDURAH MAGIC 106 (Pesava 35, Murray 27, Malie 17)