NBL1 West Recap | Friday Men's Round 6

The Perth Redbacks are beginning to build some momentum this NBL1 West Men's Division season after another Friday night win over the East Perth Eagles while it was a much tighter affair between the Perry Lakes Hawks and Rockingham Flames.

There were just the two matches that took place on Friday night to open Round 6 in the NBL1 West Men's Division.

Things got underway at Herb Graham Recreation Centre with the East Perth Eagles and Perth Redbacks meeting for the second straight Friday night, and once again it was the Redbacks coming away with the 98-65 victory.

The Redbacks improved to a 2-2 record with the win on the back of 21 points from Zac Gattorna, 17 from Louis Timms, 17 from Tevin Jackson and 16 from Kyden Edman.

The Eagles are now 1-4 despite the 20 points and six rebounds from Logan Thwaites.

The Rockingham Flames also scored a 77-74 victory against the Perry Lakes Hawks at Bendat Basketball Centre even with superstar Greg Hire unavailable down the road watching the Perth Wildcats beat the Cairns Taipans in the NBL at RAC Arena.

Coming off the heartbreak of losing in Geraldton in last week with reviews determining they were decidedly unlucky, the Flames prevailed against the Hawks by scoring the last six points of the game through Ryan Godfrey and Justin Beard to turn a three-point deficit into the three-point win.

Rockingham is now 3-2 after getting 17 points each from Ryan Godfrey and Cirkook Makuac Riak, and 16 from Justin Beard.

Perry Lakes tasted defeat for the first time this season despite 19 points and nine rebounds from Lewis Thomas, and 18 points and 11 boards from Andrew Ferguson.

Round 6 of the NBL1 West Men's Division continues on Saturday night with what should be a cracking contest in Geraldton between the Geraldton Buccaneers and Lakeside Lightning.

The South West Slammers will also be hosting the East Perth Eagles while the Mandurah Magic are at home to the Warwick Senators, and the Goldfields Giants play the Joondalup Wolves in Kalgoorlie.

The Cockburn Cougars are taking on the Willetton Tigers at Wally Hagan Stadium, the Rockingham Flames are playing the Perth Redbacks at Mike Barnett Sports Complex, and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns are hosting the Perry Lakes Hawks at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

NBL1 WEST – 2021 MEN'S SEASON
ROUND 6 – FRIDAY NIGHT

EAST PERTH EAGLES 65 lost to PERTH REDBACKS 98

The Perth Redbacks broke through for their first win of the season last Friday night and were looking to repeat the dose against the same East Perth Eagles opponent this week.

Last Friday night the Redbacks were able to win their first game of the NBL1 West Men's Division season by beating the Eagles at Belmont Oasis 79-65, and the teams did it all over again this Friday night albeit at Mirrabooka's Herb Graham Recreation Centre.

East Perth was back on its home floor as well and attempting to snap its losing run but it was Perth who came out on fire in the opening quarter.

The Redbacks might have struggled in their first couple of games of the new season, but they are starting to click impressively now under coach CJ Jackson and that was on display in the opening term on Friday night as they piled on the 32 points to just 17 from the Eagles.

Things tightened up significantly in the second period but the Redbacks still went into the half-time break with the comfortable 48-32 lead away from home.

The Redbacks further put their foot down in the third quarter as well with the offence really beginning to flow as the team gets accustomed to playing together. 

They did well holding East Perth to just the 15 points in the third term too while scoring 27 themselves to head into three quarter-time in control up 75-47.

Perth then finished the job with 23 points more to 18 in the fourth quarter to end up winning 98-65 to make it back-to-back wins ahead of a Saturday night clash with Rockingham.

Zac Gattorna is building form nicely this season for the Redbacks top-scoring with 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists while Louis Timms put up 17 points, four boards, four steals and two assists.

Tevin Jackson also contributed 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, Kyden Edman 16 points and four rebounds while hitting 5/9 from downtown, and Lachlan Bertram 13 points and three steals.

Logan Thwaites battled hard again for East Perth with 20 points and six rebounds including hitting 4/7 from three-point land.

Andrej Donlagic also had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Eagles, Mitch Benger nine points and four assists, Isaac Offereins eight points and eight rebounds, and Jarrad Anastasio eight points and six boards.

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 74 lost to ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 77

Perry Lakes and Rockingham have shown enough to suggest they will be two teams right around the mark at the business end of this NBL1 West season, and their battle on Friday night did little to change yet.

Perry Lakes came into the game on Friday night unbeaten so far in 2021 while Rockingham was 2-2 and deservedly frustrated after their trip to Geraldton last week that ended with a game winner for the Buccs on the buzzer from Mat Wundenberg that later proved to come after time had expired.

With the Perth Wildcats playing down the road against the Cairns Taipans, Greg Hire was unavailable for the Flames after he played his first game of the season last week in Geraldton, but still Rockingham made the hot start.

The Flames piled on 33 points in an impressive opening term while Perry Lakes scored 24.

It was the Hawks who could maintain their scoring pace in the second quarter with another 23 points and they did tremendously defensively to hold Rockingham to just the 10 points.

That saw Perry Lakes head into half-time with the narrow 47-43 lead with the stage set for a big second half.

Rockingham managed to win the third quarter 20 points to 16 and that set the stage further for the big finish with scores tied at three quarter-time.

It was a tight and tense fourth quarter starting with a three-point play from Lewis Thomas for the Hawks. Thomas then extended the lead for the Hawks before the Flames responded with a three ball from Cirkook Makuac Riak.

A Ben Purser three kept Perry Lakes up five before Riak nailed another from downtown soon after for Rockingham and the game was tied at 71-71.

Two buckets to Ryan Godfrey helped Rockingham regain a one-point lead with three minutes on the clock before Justin Beard made it a 77-74 game with two minutes left.

That would prove the final score of the game in a dramatic finish that saw the Flames come out on the winning end of a frantic finish this time around.

Cirkook Makuac Riak top-scored for Rockingham with 17 points and nine rebounds along with Ryan Godfrey's 17 points and seven assists.

Justin Beard also had 16 points and three rebounds while connecting on 4/9 from three-point range with Brendan Redhead contributing seven points and three boards.

Lewis Thomas top-scored for Perry Lakes with 19 points and nine rebounds with Andrew Ferguson adding 18 points and 11 boards. Getting 37 points and 19 rebounds from their front court is a good sign going forward for the Hawks.

Matt Leary added 14 points and five rebounds for the Hawks, and Ben Purser 13 points and five assists.