Eagles Wrap – Men Round 2

The East Perth Eagles won their first game of 2024 with Sunday Dech starring on Friday night before unveiling the Peter Campbell Basketball Arena on Saturday at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

It was the first double-header of the season in the NBL1 West in Round 2 for the Eagles on the back of taking on the Warwick Senators back on Easter Thursday.

First up on Friday night at Ray Owen Sports Centre saw the Eagles defeat the Eastern Suns 99-83 before then at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre on Saturday, it was the Senators who beat the Eagles 104-88.

FRIDAY

The East Perth Eagles opened their account for the 2024 NBL1 West season in impressive fashion on Friday night with the 99-83 win on the road over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.

The Eagles welcomed Jerami Grace and Perth Wildcats NBL forward David Okwera into the line-up for the first time this season and while still awaiting the arrival of Lee Roberts and Lukas Milner were closer to full strength.

Despite that, it was the Eastern Suns who started the better on their home floor going on an 11-0 run in the opening period to take an 18-13 advantage by the end of one.

The Eagles responded, though, in the second period going on their own 9-0 run and ended up outscoring the Suns 28-19 to take a 41-37 lead into the main break.

East Perth then took further charge in the second half outscoring Kalamunda 58 points to 46 to lead by as much as 17 and win by 16 to win their first game of 2024.

The most impressive aspect of the Eagles performance was the number of contributors they had and how they overcame having 23 turnovers by shooting 51 per cent and pulling down 55 rebounds including 19 at the offensive end.

Adelaide 36ers NBL guard Sunday Dech put up another 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists with Sebit Reath impressive inside with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

David Okwera also had 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks with Sharif Watson contributing 14 points and 10 boards, Jerami Grace nine points, and Taylor Young eight points, nine assists and five rebounds.

SATURDAY

It was a memorable occasion on Saturday night back at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre in the newly named Peter Campbell Basketball Arena despite the Warwick Senators beating the East Perth Eagles 104-88.

The Eagles were playing their first home game back at the renovated Morley Sport and Recreation Centre and looking to pay the Senators back for beating them in the season opener last Thursday at Warwick Stadium.

Both teams started Round 2 with a game on Friday night with the Senators coming back from the dead to beat the Perry Lakes Hawks while the Eagles also won their first game of 2024 at the expense of the Eastern Suns.

East Perth then didn’t have the services of 156-game NBL veteran Sunday Dech at home on Saturday.

Having already beaten the Eagles nine days earlier, the Senators shot out of the blocks racing to a 15-point lead in the first quarter and were never headed from there.

The Warwick lead grew to 17 points in the second quarter and then 34 in the third on the back of putting up 36 points to 20 in the third period alone.

East Perth did attempt a fightback in the final period and put up 27 points but that only managed to cut the final deficit to 16 points with the Eagles 1-2 now at the end of two rounds.

Perth Wildcats NBL forward David Okwera delivered 20 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for East Perth with Sebit Reath adding 18 points and 11 rebounds, Taylor Young 15 points, four boards and four assists, and Nic Filpo 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.