NBL1 West Recap | Friday Round 14

There were big NBL1 West women's wins for the Willetton Tigers, Warwick Senators and Kalamunda Eastern Suns while the Perry Lakes Hawks men produced a Mitch Clarke led Friday night miracle to snatch one from the Tigers along with men's wins for the Senators and East Perth Eagles.

The three women's matches to open Round 14 in the NBL1 West on Friday saw the Willetton Tigers beat the Perry Lakes Hawks 98-79 while the Warwick Senators defeated the Perth Redbacks 118-62, and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns downed the East Perth Eagles 72-54.

The men's matches then saw the Hawks beat the Tigers 95-94, the Senators defeat the Redbacks 97-78 and the Eagles prevail 103-86 against the Eastern Suns.

MILESTONE LETS BEARD REFLECT ON HOW ROCKINGHAM HAS GROWN

MICHAELS EMBRACING POINT GUARD LIFE WITH WOLFPACK

WOMEN

Brcaninovic stars as Tigers overpower Hawks

Bosnian import Melisa Brcaninovic proved an unstoppable force for the Willetton Tigers on Friday night as she led her team to the 98-79 victory against the Perry Lakes Hawks.

The Hawks were once again without star duo Nici Gilday and Emma Clarke as they were in last Saturday night's 39-point loss at the hands of the Cockburn Cougars.

The Tigers arrived at Bendat Basketball Centre on a seven-match winning streak as well but it was a tight contest throughout the opening three quarters including Perry Lakes leading by 10 during the first stanza.

Willetton turned the tide to be up by nine during the second but the Hawks answered back once more and by half-time the Tigers were only clinging to a 48-44 advantage.

The Tigers were still only leading by four at three quarter-time, but it was then all Willetton down the stretch as they piled on 30 points to 15 to secure the 19-point victory.

The win improves Willetton to a 14-3 record having now won eight in-a-row while Perry Lakes slips to another loss without Gilday and Clarke with the top four slipping away at 10-7.

Melisa Brcaninovic was the dominant player on the court for the game finishing with 31 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and two blocks for Willetton while hitting 5/9 from beyond the arc and 8/8 at the foul line.

Alex Sharp also put up 22 points, 12 rebounds and three assists, Desiree Kelley 14 points, nine boards, five assists and three steals, Grace Foster 13 points with 3/5 three-point shooting, and Amy Jacobs 10 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two blocked shots.

Ash Isenbarger did what she could to lift Perry Lakes with 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks with Millie McCarthy contributing 16 points, five assists and three steals, Sam Ashby 16 points and three rebounds, and Maddy Dennis 10 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Senators with dominant showing away to Redbacks

The Warwick Senators locked away their playoff berth and kept their slim top four hopes alive in their championship defence beating the struggling Perth Redbacks 118-62.

The Redbacks were back home at Belmont Oasis but it was going to be an uphill battle in the hunt for their second win of the season hosting the defending champion Senators trying to build some momentum.

The Senators were trying to build on their strong win at home to the Mandurah Magic on Sunday and started on fire with 34 points to 12 in the first quarter on Friday night and never looked back.

Warwick's lead blew out to 42 in the second term on the back of another 37 points to 17 as they went into the half-time interval leading 71-29.

It was an incredible half-time scoreline and from there Warwick still outscored Perth in the second half 47 points to 33 to improve to a 9-7 record ahead of a fascinating clash away to the second placed Joondalup Wolves on Saturday.

There was a lot to like in the big win for the Senators with reigning MVP Stacey Barr delivering 23 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Karly Murphy contributed 22 points, 10 rebounds and four steals, Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard 21 points, nine boards and six assists, and Nat Burton 14 points, seven boards, three assists and two steals.

Perth Lynx WNBL guard Chloe Forster also had 11 points, eight assists and four rebounds, and 17-year-old Kyana Weir eight points on 4/7 shooting.

It was another tough night for the Redbacks who have now lost 10 in-a-row with DaJah Daniel putting up 18 points and 10 rebounds on 7/8 shooting.

Ella Dimanlig added 10 points, Raya Thompson seven points, and Grace Gordon seven points and two rebounds before they now have to face the league-leading Cockburn on Saturday.

Stacey Barr put this tough pass on the ?

Watch #NBL1West via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/GtWQxXnAMq

— NBL1 (@NBL1) June 30, 2023

Suns beat Eagles to stay alive

The Kalamunda Eastern Suns kept their NBL1 West playoff hopes alive by beating the East Perth Eagles 72-54 on the road on Friday night.

Coming into the last month of the regular season, the Suns were two wins behind the eighth placed Lakeside Lightning but having won their last two games, they were heading in the right direction and had to keep it going at Herb Graham Recreation Centre.

If Kalamunda was going to stay in the playoff hunt, it was a win they had to get and they did start well enough to lead 18-12 at quarter-time, and still be leading 36-30 at the main break.

The Suns then blew the game wide open in the third stanza outscoring the Eagles 23 points to 12 on the way to the 18-point road win before also facing the Perry Lakes Hawks now on Saturday.

Natalie Chou top-scored once again for the Eastern Suns with 19 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and four assists with Georgia Denehey contributing 12 points and seven boards, and Makailah Dyer 11 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Eryn Fisher also had 10 points, four rebounds and three steals, Sam Roscoe eight points and nine boards, and Ella Thornton-Elliott seven points and 10 rebounds.

Madison Torresin finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for East Perth with Sylwia Bujniak adding 11 points and five assists, Tessa Morrison 10 points and three rebounds, and Maddie Allen eight points, 13 boards, three blocks, two assists and two steals.

MEN

Clarke inspires Perry Lakes' Friday night miracle

Perry Lakes Hawks pulled off a Friday night miracle spearheaded by a career-best night from point guard Mitch Clarke to snatch a remarkable 95-94 win from the Willetton Tigers.

With both teams occupying top four positions, there was plenty on the line at Bendat Basketball Centre and it was the Tigers who looked to have the game in the bag until the dying seconds.

Despite still missing Mark Worthington, Hunter Clarke and Andrew Black, Willetton started well to be up by as much as 13 points in the first period and still leading 15-7 by the end of one.

The Tigers' lead was back out to 14 points in the second stanza and then 20 in the third after they had completed a 15-0 scoring run.

Mitch Clarke wins it for Perry Lakes in the dying seconds??

Watch #NBL1West via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/XCm6nNjtSy

— NBL1 (@NBL1) June 30, 2023

Willetton was still leading by nine points after two free-throws to Michael Vigor with 1:15 to play so there were no signs of what was to come in the most dramatic final minute.

Ben Purser hit a three ball for Perry Lakes to start the drama and then Mitch Clarke drained his sixth three ball of the evening to make it a four-point ball game.

Purser then snatched up an offensive rebound on a missed Matt Leary three and Purser's putback made it a three-point game before Travis Fee made one at the line to put Willetton back up four.

Clarke hit his seventh three of the game on the next possession and then out of a timeout, a fumbled Damien Scott to Gorjok Gak pass for Willetton saw Purser grab the ball, get it off to a wide open Clarke who strolled in for the go ahead layup.

Willetton then turned it over again in the back court and Perry Lakes had pulled off the miracle to win by a point to further cement a top two spot at 14-4. It puts the Tigers in jeopardy in fourth too at 12-6.

Mitch Clarke has crammed plenty into his 131-game career already for the Hawks, but it was the game of his life on Friday as he finished with 40 points, five steals and four assists while hitting 15/23 from the field and 7/10 from three-point range.

Andrew Ferguson also had 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Perry Lakes, Daniel Alexander 16 points and three boards, and Ben Purser 10 points and five rebounds.

It will be a tough loss for Willetton to swallow with Damien Scott top-scoring with 19 points and six assists. 

Michael Vigor contributed 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Darnell Hoskins Jr 18 points and two assists, Gorjok Gak 14 points, 13 rebounds and three assists, Travis Fee 13 points and eight boards, and Tom Gerovich 12 points and three rebounds.

Gorjok Gak ?

Watch #NBL1West via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/GppnN0gKlV

— NBL1 (@NBL1) June 30, 2023

Senators keep building momentum with win over Redbacks 

Caleb Davis knocked down six three-pointers as the Warwick Senators continue to build some momentum late in the season with the 97-78 win against the Perth Redbacks.

The Redbacks were losing touch with the top four after losses last weekend to the Joondalup Wolves and Lakeside Lightning so they weren’t short on motivation to hit back but the Senators arrived at Belmont Oasis having won three of the last four.

Warwick then started the game on fire to lead 32-24 by the end of the opening quarter before then putting up 30 points to 15 in the second term to end up leading by as much as 26 points in a stunning first half performance.

The Senators were leading 62-39 by half-time and there would be no fightback from the home team with the visitors ending up leading by as much as 29 points before Warwick ended up winning by 19.

The victory improves the Senators to a 10-8 record ahead of a crucial clash away to the Joondalup Wolves on Saturday while the Redbacks have now lost three straight to be 10-7 before being away to a desperate Cockburn.

Caleb Davis hit 6/11 of his three-point attempts on the night for Warwick on his way to 20 points, 11 rebounds and two steals with George Pearl also landing 4/6 from downtown for 19 points and five boards.

Ethan Elliott produced 19 points, five assists and three rebounds for the Senators with new import guard Ilarion Bonhomme Jr 12 points and six assists, Connor Mincherton nine points, Tyler Shand eight points and 11 rebounds, and captain Cody Ellis five points, six boards and four assists.

Bryton Hobbs top-scored with another 20 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Redbacks with Joel Vaiangina adding 16 points and four boards, Maris Colton 12 points, and Tevin Jackson eight points and five rebounds.

Improving Eagles too much for Eastern Suns

The East Perth Eagles continue to be getting better the longer the season is going after a commanding performance to beat the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 103-86.

The Eastern Suns arrived at Herb Graham Recreation Centre still being in the playoff race but the Eagles had been building some improved form and by quarter-time were leading 30-25.

East Perth continued on with that momentum with 23 points to 17 in the second stanza with the lead growing to as much as 16 points.

The Eagles were still leading 53-42 by half-time and they remained in control throughout the second half to lead by as much as 17 which was the final winning margin.

Sebit Reath was a dominant presence for East Perth finishing with 24 points and 15 rebounds but he had plenty of help including new import Lukas Milner producing 20 points, four rebounds and two blocks in his third game.

Justin King added 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals, Taylor Young 14 points, six assists, four boards and two steals, and Lee Roberts 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Joe Cook-Green produced another 23 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals for Kalamunda with Albert Almanza contributing 23 points, four boards and two steals, and Carl Aylett 12 points.