Eagles Preview – Round 8

Both East Perth Eagles teams will look to make it consecutive wins when hosting the Cockburn Cougars on Friday night in Round 8 of the NBL1 West season.

The Eagles will be back on Peter Campbell Basketball Arena at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre this Friday night to play host to the Cougars.

The women's match up begins at 6.30pm with the men's game to follow at 8.30pm with both East Perth teams looking to back up last up victories this NBL1 West season.

WOMEN

The East Perth Eagles women return to action at home this Friday to take on the defending champion Cockburn Cougars in what should be a fascinating match up.

The Eagles won their last up match in the women's competition in impressive fashion defeating the Mandurah Magic 82-67 also at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

They are now back to Peter Campbell Basketball Arena this Friday night to take on the defending champion Cougars looking to make it back-to-back victories this season and to improve on the current 1-6 record.

There was a lot to like in that win against the Magic two weeks ago for East Perth with Mary Baskerville a dominant force with 34 points, 20 rebounds and five assists.

She had plenty of help too with Mary Goulding producing 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Tessa Morrison eight points and seven assists, Bri Bailey seven points and two assists, Sarah Allen six points and seven assists, and Laci Hawthorne five points, nine rebounds and two assists.

It's now a significant test for East Perth up against Cockburn this Friday night with the Cougars holding a 7-2 record on the season on the back of winning the championship last season.

It's a strong and deep Cougars outfit with Perth Lynx WNBL pair Alex Ciabattoni and Steph Gorman, a strong front court of Jessie Edwards and Daniel Raber, and also possessing Jewel Williams, Regan Turnour-McCarty, Amelia Corasaniti and Kinley Paterson.

It has the potential to be a statement performance for the Eagles up against them, though, and Baskerville is looking forward to the challenge on the back of that drought breaking win two weeks ago.

"As we go into the game against the Cougars, it will be a good test for us to show ourselves what we can do when we work together. Playing the defending champs is a good challenge that will only help us continue to grow as a team," Baskerville said.

"It felt really good to finally get a win after so many losses. Morale wise, we really needed that. Getting this one I hope gets us rolling on the right track. Now that we see how we are able to play it boosts the team's confidence, we just need to bring that every game."

MEN

Last Saturday night's memorable win in Geraldton won't mean much for the East Perth Eagles unless the momentum is built upon and that's the focus against the Cockburn Cougars this Friday night.

The Eagles became the first team to beat the Buccaneers in Geraldton since July 2022 last Saturday night by producing a tremendous performance to score the 87-72 victory on the road.

That improved the Eagles to a 4-4 record on the season so things remain precariously placed highlighting the importance of backing up that win this Friday night against the Cougars at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

There was plenty to like in what East Perth delivered in Geraldton last Saturday night to snap a 15-game losing streak against the Buccaneers dating back to 2016.

It was also a first win for the Eagles in Geraldton since the championship year of 2014 with Sunday Dech putting up 19 points, David Okwera 16, Sebit Reath 14 (14 rebounds), Taylor Young 12, Nick Filpo 12 and Sharif Watson nine.

Experienced big man and 2017 Grand Final MVP Lee Roberts will also make his return now against the Cougars on Friday night and he's fully aware of the importance of the Eagles to back up that win in Geraldton.

"That is going to be super important for us and it's the next step for a team who has championship aspirations," Roberts said.

"You've got these levels of teams and it's cool to get a good win and that can happen all the time, but if you want to establish yourselves you have to take care of business where business needs to be taken care of.

"Backing up a game like that gives us the chance to establish ourselves right now if we are to be a top four sort of team or if it was just a fluke. I don’t think it was a fluke and I'm here to help make sure it wasn’t."

Roberts also still remembers playing as a visiting player at the old Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

Friday night will provide him the first chance enter Peter Campbell Basketball Arena to play in a game and he can't wait.

"I remember Morley back on Court 1 and over the years to be able to see what it's turned into now, it's just so cool," Roberts said.

"I talk to Tim a lot and he's taken me through the process as it's gone on, and it's just been really cool to see it all come to fruition now. I will be very excited to step out there and play the first game on that court for myself. I'm super happy and excited about getting to play there."