NBL1 West Recap | Friday Men's Round 14

The Lakeside Lightning shot to the top of the NBL1 West Men's Division by overrunning the Perry Lakes Hawks on Friday night while the Cockburn Cougars and East Perth Eagles were also victorious.

The top-of-the-table clash took top billing to open Round 14 action in the NBL1 West Men's Division and it was Lakeside prevailing over Perry Lakes while East Perth impressed on the back of the presence of Lee Roberts and the Cougars kept their playoff hopes alive.

The Cockburn Cougars got off to a fast start and then held out the South West Slammers at Eaton Recreation Centre to win 90-73 for a third straight victory and to stay in the playoff hunt.

Gavin Field top-scored for the Cougars with 19 points and seven assists while Nic Pozoglou and Seva Chan had 15 points apiece. Mitch Keller fought hard for 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Slammers.

The Lakeside Lightning then moved to the top of the standings at least as of Friday night by coming from behind and despite losing Jay Bowie to beat the Perry Lakes hawks 91-86 at Lakeside Recreation Centre.

Bowie had 16 points in the first quarter and had 19 before leaving the game injured while Rowan Mackenzie ended up with 21 points. Lewis Thomas put up 16 points and seven rebounds for Perry Lakes.

The East Perth Eagles then recorded their fourth win of the 2021 season and their first victory on the road by beating the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 82-76 at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

Lee Roberts was terrific for East Perth with 25 points and 15 rebounds while Ryan Blanchett battled hard for the Eastern Suns to put up 18 points and eight rebounds.

Round 14 in the NBL1 West Men's Division continues with a huge Saturday night with 12 of the 14 teams all in action.

That sees the Perth Redbacks hosting the Lakeside Lightning, the Perry Lakes Hawks taking on the South West Slammers and the Joondalup Wolves at home to the Warwick Senators.

The East Perth Eagles also face off with the shorthanded Geraldton Buccaneers, the Mandurah Magic are at home to the Willetton Tigers and then in Kalgoorlie, the Goldfields Giants play host to the Rockingham Flames.

Round 14 isn't done there and continues on Sunday with two more matches featuring the Goldfields Giants against the Cockburn Cougars and the Warwick Senators face off with the Geraldton Buccaneers at Warwick Stadium.

NBL1 WEST – 2021 MEN'S SEASON
ROUND 14 – FRIDAY NIGHT

SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 73 lost to COCKBURN COUGARS 90
The Cockburn Cougars made it three straight wins to keep themselves in the playoff hunt after beating the South West Slammers by 17 points on Friday night.

The Cougars had kept their slim playoff prospects alive win wins in their last two match ups with the Geraldton Buccaneers and Kalamunda Eastern Suns so took some winning form with them down to Eaton Recreation Centre on Friday to open Round 14.

It was a dominant opening quarter from the Cougars as they piled on 30 points to just 13 from the Slammers and ultimately that would prove to be the difference in the contest.

Cockburn led by those 17 points at quarter-time and were still on top by 15 points at half-time before extending their advantage to 19 points by three quarter-time.

The Cougars went on to score the 90-73 victory away from home to make it three consecutive wins and to improve to a 5-9 record on the season ahead of a trip to Kalgoorlie on Sunday.

The Slammers have now lost their last seven matches to be anchored to bottom spot at 2-12.

It was a dominant effort on the boards from Cockburn with the Cougars pulling in 56 rebounds to 38 from the Slammers which helped them to end up taking eight more field goals for the game even if South West did attempt 10 extra free throws.

Gavin Field showed the way for the Cougars finishing the evening with 19 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals.

Seva Chan added 15 points, five assists and four rebounds for Cockburn, Nic Pozoglou 15 points, seven boards, three assists and two steals, Ben Henshall 10 points, four rebounds and four assists, and Jaarod Holmes 10 points and eight boards.

Mitch Keller continues to fight valiantly inside for the Slammers and he produced another 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Caleb Van De Griend also had 11 points and seven rebounds, Cody Hill 10 points and five boards, Rhys Barrett 11 points and two rebounds, and Cory Richardson eight points, four assists and three steals.

 

LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 91 defeated PERRY LAKES HAWKS 86
The Lakeside Lightning shook off the loss of Jay Bowie before half-time and with Jack Isenbarger and Rowan Mackenzie delivering late they shot to the top of the NBL1 West Men's Division with a thrilling win over the Perry Lakes Hawks.

It had all the hallmarks of the game of the NBL1 West coming into Friday night at Lakeside Recreation Centre with the Lightning and Hawks occupying the top two spots in the standings, and both on significant winning streaks.

Perry Lakes was on top at 12-2 having won six straight and not only was the inside presence of Andrew Ferguson and Lewis Thomas, and leadership of Ben Purser, Ryan Smith and Rob Cassir continuing to serve them well, but others had caught fire including Matt Leary recently from three-point range.

Lakeside, though, was hot on their heels having won their previous five matches to hold an 11-2 record since a 16-point loss on the road to Perry Lakes.

So with both teams in hot form and with top spot up for grabs at least by the end of the night, it shaped as a fascinating contest and it didn’t fail to deliver.

It was the Jay Bowie show in the opening quarter for Lakeside as he put up 16 points in a dazzling and dominant display to help his team to the 27-23 lead by quarter-time.

That first quarter performance included Bowie nailing all four of his three-point attempts. He added another in the second quarter too to go to 19 points on 5/5 shooting from beyond the arc but once he hobbled off with four minutes left in the half, he didn't return to the game.

He left with Lakeside leading 40-37 and still by half-time the Lightning were managing to hold on to a 47-43 advantage.

However, with Andrew Ferguson coming out strong to start the second half for Perry Lakes with five quick points against his former club, the Hawks took the lead and worked their way in control of the contest.

Cooper Hamilton knocked down three triples in the third quarter alone and that helped Perry Lakes to turn that four-point half-time deficit into a six-point lead by three quarter-time.

It didn’t take long in the fourth quarter for Lakeside to close the gap with a couple of three-pointers to Jack Isenbarger, and an and-one from Kyle Armour. Isenbarger then hit another three and a pull up jumper to give the Lightning a narrow lead with six minutes on the clock.

Five quick points to Rowan Mackenzie soon after put Lakeside up five before Ben Lee hit a huge triple with three minutes left to keep the home team up five.

It was then a trademark Jarrad Prue offensive rebound and putback that kept the Lightning up three and from there Lakeside managed some big stops down the stretch to come away with the 91-86 win.

The result improves the Lightning to a 12-2 record on the season while Perry Lakes is 12-3 with both teams to play again on Saturday night away to the Redbacks and at home to the Slammers respectively.

It was a tremendous physical, intense playoff like battle but in the end, Jack Isenbarger (15 points, 3/7 from deep) and Rowan Mackenzie (21 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals) came up big when it matters for Lakeside in the absence of Bowie and Corey Shervill.

Kyle Armour finished with 13 points and four assists too for the Lightning, Ben Lee 13 points and Jarrad Prue six points to go with 16 rebounds.

Lewis Thomas top-scored for Perry Lakes with 16 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals while fellow big man Andrew Ferguson had 11 points and nine rebounds against his original club.

Ben Purser put up 17 points, six assists and five rebounds as well for the Hawks, Mitch Clarke 11 points and three assists, Matt Leary 10 points, Rob Cassir nine points and four assists, and Cooper Hamilton nine points with those three triples in the third quarter.

 

KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 76 lost to EAST PERTH EAGLES 82
The East Perth Eagles returned to the winner's list in the NBL1 West Men's Division on Friday night beating the Kalamunda Eastern Suns on the road by six points.

The Eagles held on for their fourth win of the season and it could end up being a savage blow for the Eastern Suns who were desperate to win to maintain their slim playoff hopes alive.

The two teams locked horns at Ray Owen Sports Centre on Friday night to open Round 14 in the NBL1 West Men's Division, and it was the home team Eastern Suns who started the better.

By quarter-time the Suns had put up 26 points to lead the Eagles by six but East Perth then turned things around in the second period by pilling in 23 points and holding Kalamunda to just the 14.

That saw the Eagles head into half-time leading 43-40 and it was more of the same in the third quarter as they outscored the Eastern Suns 20 points to 15 to have the victories leading 63-55 by three quarter-time.

The Eastern Suns attempted to make a charge home in the fourth quarter but it wasn’t to be with the Eagles going to score the 82-76 victory.

It is just the fourth win of the season for East Perth and their first on the road in eight attempts while it was a third successive defeat for the Eastern Suns who now slip to a 4-11 record.

He was Grand Final MVP for the Perth Redbacks back in 2017 and Lee Roberts showed why he is a signing that could have made a real difference this season for East Perth had he arrived earlier. He was a match-winner on Friday night delivering 25 points, 15 rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Kieran Berry enjoyed having a genuine big to play with too and had 20 points and four assists for East Perth while Jarrad Anastasio contributed 11 points and six boards, and Andrej Donlagic 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Ryan Blanchett did all he could to try and inspire the Eastern Suns to the win with 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists while Jermaine Malie contributed 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds against his former club.

Cooper Lowe also had 13 points and six rebounds for the Suns, and Corey Easley nine points, five rebounds and five assists.