NBL1 West Recap | Friday Round 17

What a last Friday night of NBL1 West regular season with Mandurah Magic winning to celebrate Casey Mihovilovich's 550th game, Cockburn Cougars securing a first regular season title and 54 points from Joe Cook-Green and 40 from Buay Tuach weren't quite enough for their respective teams.

Friday night's women's results in the last round saw the Willetton Tigers defeat the South West Slammers 98-47, the Joondalup Wolves beat the Perry Lakes Hawks 85-43, the Cockburn Cougars down the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 84-65, the Warwick Senators prevail 93-91 against the Rockingham Flames, and the Mandurah Magic defeat the Lakeside Lighting 84-73.

The Friday night men's results saw the Tigers beat the Slammers 108-83, the Lightning defeat the Magic 102-75, the Flames down the Senators 110-87, the Cougars beat the Eastern Suns 132-124 in double overtime, the Wolfpack prevail 97-96 against the Hawks in overtime, and the Geraldton Buccaneers defeat the South West Slammers 115-96.

TRIBUTES APLENTY TO NBL1 WEST GAMES RECORD HOLDERS

SUPER WOMAN MILO KEEPS MAKING HISTORY FOR MANDURAH

SALINAS TO REACH 513 TO SET RECORD ON TROY CLARKE COURT

WOMEN

Magic secure home final on Milo's milestone night

The Mandurah Magic geared up for the finals and celebrated the 550th game of Casey Mihovilovich to end the season of the Lakeside Lightning in the process winning 84-73.

The Magic and Lightning were both playing their last games of the regular season at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre on Friday night with Mandurah needing the win to guarantee a home elimination final next weekend.

The Lightning's season was on the line with them needing the win to be a chance still of replacing the Kalamunda Eastern Suns in eighth position.

To top it off, the Magic were celebrating the remarkable Mihovilovich becoming the first player in league history to reach 550 games so the stage was set for a memorable evening.

Mandurah started strongly on the big occasion with 31 points to 21 in the opening period having led by as much as 12 points along the way.

The Magic remained in control for much of the game from there but the Lightning knew what was at stake with their season on the line and they weren’t going away. 

Lakeside came out and hit the opening eight points of the last period and hit the front for the first time in the game on the back of an offensive rebound and putback from Laci Hawthorne.

The Lightning were still up one with 5:30 to play when Hawthorne scored again but then Kat Tudor showed her range with a huge three for the Magic.

That returned Mandurah to the lead and that's where the home team would stay the rest of the way to end up scoring the 11-point victory to wrap up sixth position and set up an elimination final back at home next week against the Perry Lakes Hawks.

It's a tough end to the season for the Lightning who will finish in ninth place at 7-13 having lost their last four matches.

Sarah Toeaina finished with 23 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists for Mandurah in the win while Hannah Hank delivered 18 points, eight boards and two assists.

Casey Mihovilovich celebrated her 550th game in the league to extend the games played record and she is still contributing having put up another 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals while playing 33 minutes.

Kat Tudor added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Magic, and Sam Richards 12 points, five assists and two boards.

Lakeside captain Caitie Jones finished with 17 points, three rebounds and two assists while Laci Hawthorne contributed 16 points and 10 boards, Jade Gowland 16 points and four rebounds, and Kylee Smith 14 points and 12 boards.

Senators win final night thriller over Flames 

It might not have had an impact on the final finishing positions but the Warwick Senators and Rockingham Flames played out a cracking contest at Warwick Stadium, with the home team prevailing 93-91.

No matter the result on Friday night the Flames were locked into fourth position and the Senators fifth, but with both teams having won their past five matches they wanted to enter the finals in winning form.

It was Rockingham who got off to a hot start away from home to open up a 14-point lead already in the first quarter and to still be on top 35-24 by quarter-time.

Rockingham remained in control through the second quarter with the lead getting out to as much as 18 points with the Flames then going into half-time on top 57-41.

The visitors had controlled the first half but the Senators came out and dominated the third quarter to outscore the Flames 31 points to 11 including scoring 12 consecutive points to work their way in front.

That had Warwick leading 72-68 going into the fourth quarter but Tayah Burrows opened the last term with a three-point play for Rockingham. When Opal Mader scored as well, the Flames had regained the advantage to set up a big finish.

Chloe Forster then had a stunning couple of minutes with the next eight points for Warwick to put her team back up by seven, but again the game wasn’t done.

In the final minute the Flames were able to pull back within a point shortly after a three-pointer from Casey Samuels but the Senators were able to ice the game at the foul line with Stacey Barr showing her nerve with Warwick holding on to win 93-91.

Both teams still stay where they were to finish the season with Warwick in fifth spot at 13-7 to now host the Kalamunda Eastern Suns in an elimination final. Rockingham stay fourth at 14-6 and will play the Cockburn Cougars in a qualifying final.

Stacey Barr delivered 27 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Senators, Nicole Jorre de St Jorre 16 points, five assists and three boards, Nat Burton 15 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, and Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard 10 points, eight boards, four assists and three steals.

Casey Samuels continued her terrific form for Rockingham delivering 28 points, four rebounds and three assists with Tayah Burrows adding 20 points, nine boards and three assists, and Bendigo Spirit WNBL signing Mehryn Kraker 19 points and seven assists.

Cougars secure first ever regular season title

The Kalamunda Eastern Suns fought valiantly in the absence of Natalie Chou but in the end still qualified for the playoffs despite going down to the Cockburn Cougars 84-65 on Friday night.

It shaped as a fascinating contest at Wally Hagan Stadium with Cockburn a chance to secure a first ever regular season championship while Kalamunda potentially needed to win to lock in a finals appearance.

The Eastern Suns being without their star import guard Chou was always going to make it a challenge to knock off the league-leading Cougars, and that was even more so the case when Cockburn raced out to a 15-point lead.

The Cougars were still leading 23-11 by quarter-time and while the Suns continued to fight valiantly the rest of the way, they could never really make any inroads to seriously threaten Cockburn.

The Cougars went on to lead by 15 points again in the second quarter before the advantage got out to 19 in the third term and 25 in the fourth before Cockburn settled on the 19-point victory.

The win sees the Cougars finish on an 18-2 record to claim first place for the first ever time in the women's competition and they will now host the Rockingham Flames in a qualifying final.

The Suns still get to play finals despite the loss ending the regular season with an 8-12 record to stay eighth and now play the defending champion Warwick Senators in an elimination final.

Sarah Mortensen completed her brilliant first season with Cockburn that should have her a genuine MVP chance with 31 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals on 12/24 shooting from the field, 3/6 from downtown and 4/4 at the foul line.

Perth Lynx WNBL signing Steph Gorman delivered 19 points, three assists, three steals and two rebounds, Jewel Williams 15 points and six boards, and Patty Brossmann six points, nine rebounds and two assists.

Sam Roscoe came up huge once more for the Eastern Suns with 26 points and seven rebounds on 12/24 shooting with Eryn Fisher contributing 16 points, four boards, three assists and two steals, and Makailah Dyer 12 points and four rebounds in her 100th game in the league across three clubs.

Big win for Wolves over Hawks

The Joondalup Wolves still had an outside hope of breaking into the top two with a big win on Friday night and while they didn’t end up moving from third, they did get the big win beating the Perry Lakes Hawks 85-43.

Both teams came into the game most likely staying where they were on the table to finish the regular season but were a slight hope of jumping up a spot if they won, and had a bit of luck go their way elsewhere.

Perry Lakes came into the game once again without Nici Gilday and Sam Ashby along with Maddy Dennis getting in foul trouble, and the timing couldn’t have been worse up against the Wolves front court of Teige Morrell, Emma Klasztorny and Nes'eya Parker-Williams.

Despite all that, the Hawks did start well enough to lead by five points early but then the Wolfpack took control with a six-point lead by quarter-time and then never looked back.

The lead for Joondalup grew to 27 points in the second quarter, 36 in the third and 42 in the fourth before they scored a 42-point victory on the Bendat Basketball Centre floor they will hope to return on for a grand final appearance in three weeks' time.

The Wolves will finish the season in third position with a 17-3 record to take on the Willetton Tigers in a qualifying final next week. The Hawks remain in seventh place at 11-9 and will play the Mandurah Magic in an elimination final.

Teige Morrell delivered another strong showing even in just 25 minutes in the win for Joondalup with 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists while Emma Klasztorny added 15 points, four boards and two assists in her 201st game in the league.

Chelsea Belcher added 12 points, three rebounds and three steals for the Wolfpack, Robbi Ryan 11 points, six boards and three assists, and Nes'eya Parker-Williams nine points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.

Ash Isenbarger top-scored for Perry Lakes with 13 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots with Emma Clarke adding 12 points, nine boards and three assists, and Mia Satie six points, five rebounds and three steals.

Emma Clarke bamboozled 'em ?

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Tigers beat Slammers to lock in second spot

The Willetton Tigers booked themselves a home qualifying final next weekend by beating the winless South West Slammers 98-47 to close the regular season on Friday night.

It was an ominous task for the Slammers to close the regular season hosting the second placed Tigers on a 10-game winning streak at Eaton Recreation Centre to close the regular season.

Willetton did need to win the game to confirm second position and a home qualifying final too and by quarter-time were already leading the Slammers 29-13.

That lead continued to grow for the Tigers throughout the rest of the evening as they were out to a 25-point advantage in the second stanza, 42 in the third and 51 in the fourth which turned out to be the final margin.

The result means that Willetton ends the season in second position with a 17-3 record before now hosting the Joondalup Wolves in a qualifying final.

The Slammers finish their season at 0-20 having now lost their last 32 matches in the league, and 73 of the last 74 going back further.

Tigers import centre Melisa Brcaninovic continued her imposing form heading into the playoffs with another 27 points, six rebounds and three assists on 5/13 shooting from behind the three-point line.

Alex Sharp added 19 points and 21 rebounds for Willetton to strengthen her MVP claims while Amy Jacobs earned the start in the absence of 250-gamer Jess Jakens for 14 points, eight boards, seven assists and three steals.

Kiara Waite also had the best night of her career for the Tigers with 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Javene Fitch finished the season top-scoring for South West with 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks with playing-coach Alex Ciabattoni adding eight points and five boards, and Kate Williams seven points, seven rebounds and two assists.

MEN

Buccs beat Eagles to secure second position

The Geraldton Buccaneers confirmed themselves a second place finish to make another run at the championship by beating the previously in-form East Perth Eagles 115-96 on Friday night.

The Buccs finish the regular season with two games on the road starting at Herb Graham Recreation Centre on Friday knowing that they had the chance to confirm a second place finish and a home qualifying final.

It loomed as a significant test on Friday night, though, against an East Perth team who had won the past three matches with the Eagles in their best patch of form for what had been a frustrating season.

It was a rare Friday night game for the Buccaneers and they started well to lead 34-28 by quarter-time over the Eagles. Another 29 points to 18 in the second term saw Geraldton head into the half-time break on top 63-46.

From there, the Buccs ended up leading by 26 points in the third quarter and 34 in the fourth before going on to claim the 19-point victory.

The win means that the Buccaneers will finish in second spot no matter the result on Saturday against the Willetton Tigers with both teams then set to do battle in a qualifying final once again next Saturday night in Geraldton.

Zac Gattorna ended up top-scoring for the Buccs with 27 points, five rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks with Malik Meunier contributing 21 points, eight assists, four boards and three steals.

Shaun Stewart added 20 points and six assists for Geraldton, Ryan Blanchett 17 points and five rebounds, and Liam Hunt five points, 10 boards and four assists.

Lee Roberts ended the season for East Perth by delivering 27 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks while Taylor Young contributed 24 points, five boards and four assists, Jerami Grace 15 points, and Sebit Reath 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Lightning gear up for finals with win in Mandurah

The Lakeside Lightning had already guaranteed a playoff spot coming into the last round and geared up for their finals assault by beating the Mandurah Magic 102-75 on Friday night.

The Magic were looking to finish their frustrating season on a high note at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre against a Lightning team who were guaranteed of finishing eighth no matter the result.

It was an exciting opening to the contest with both teams combining for 55 points in the first quarter before the Lightning began to pull away in the second term with 21 points to 13 to lead 49-40 by half-time.

Lakeside kept building on that advantage throughout the second half leading by as much as 28 points in the fourth stanza before winning by 27.

The victory sees the Lightning finish the season in eighth spot at 11-11 to either face the Perth Redbacks or Joondalup Wolves in an elimination final next week.

Mandurah's challenging season finishes with a seventh consecutive loss in bottom place at 2-20.

Max Richards continued his career-best form to finish the regular season for the Lightning with another 21 points, six rebounds, four steals and two assists on shooting a perfect 5/5 from behind the three-point arc.

Josh Davey put up another 20 points, nine boards, three steals and two assists, Rowan Mackenzie 18 points and five assists, and returning from injury import Hayden Brown 13 points, four rebounds and two assists.

Ray Turner had a strong finish to the season for Mandurah with 30 points and 13 rebounds on 12/21 shooting with Dequan Abrom adding 17 points, five boards, three assists and two steals.

Flames to enter finals on 11-game winning streak

The Rockingham Flames will begin the defence of their NBL1 West and National Championships over the next month finishing the regular season on an 11-game winning streak after beating the Warwick Senators 110-87.

Both teams were playing their last games of the regular season at Warwick Stadium on Friday night and even though the Senators started well, it didn’t take long for the Flames to take charge.

Rockingham went on an 11-0 scoring run to go into quarter-time leading by 12 points and they would remain in control most of the rest of the way.

The lead for the Flames got out to as much as 20 points in the second quarter, 23 in the third and then 29 in the fourth before they went on to make it 11 straight wins with the 23-point victory away from home.

The result means that Rockingham finish the season in top spot at 19-3 to now take on the Perry Lakes Hawks in a qualifying final at home next week.

The Senators will finish the season at 12-10 in seventh place and will either face the Perth Redbacks or Joondalup Wolves in an elimination final.

Four players from the Flames scored 20 or more points with Marshall Nelson leading the charge with 22 points, six rebounds and six assists on 4/5 three-point shooting.

Jeremy Combs contributed 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, reigning MVP Devondrick Walker 21 points and three assists with 5/10 three-point shooting, and the emerging Cody Hill 20 points with 6/8 shooting from downtown as they went 19/38 as a team.

Senators captain Cody Ellis did what he could to give his team a chance with 19 points, three rebounds and two assists while hitting 5/11 from behind the three-point arc.

Ethan Elliott added 14 points, four assists and three rebounds, Caleb Davis 13 points, five boards, three assists and two steals, and George Pearl seven points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Jay Thwaites put his man on a flight ??

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Cougars prevail in 2OT despite Cook-Green's 54

Both teams might have been disappointed to be out of the playoff race, but they sure put on a show going to double overtime with the Cockburn Cougars denying Seb Salinas a fairytale record setting night for the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.

For a lot of the season, the Eastern Suns and Cougars looked likely and capable to be battling for a playoff spot, but it didn’t turn out that way with Kalamunda having lost five straight coming into Friday night and Cockburn four of the last five.

That didn’t stop them putting on quite the spectacular show on the night Salinas set a new men's games record in his 513rd appearance ironically on the court named after the man he was surpassing, Troy Clarke.

Courtney Alexander is ??? ????? of style ?

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In the end, it was quite the eventful evening and not even a remarkable 54 points from Joe Cook-Green was quite enough for the Eastern Suns.

Cockburn started well to open up a double-figure lead by quarter-time and to lead by as much as 12 points in the second quarter, and to still be up 10 in the third.

The Eastern Suns weren’t going away, though, and scores were all level early in the fourth period when Reece Maxwell knocked down a three-pointer.

It was big shot for big shot in the fourth quarter and just before and after the two-minute mark, Kieran Berry hit a three to put Cockburn up four before Cook-Green answered for Kalamunda.

Berry hit yet another three-point bomb shortly after to put the Cougars back up four with 45 seconds to go but then free-throws from Cook-Green, an offensive rebound and bucket to Albert Almanza later, and scores were all square again 15 second later.

That's where scores stayed by the end of regulation before the Suns scored the first six points of the first overtime period in a minute. After an Andrew Cooper timeout, though, and it was Taj Benning who led the Cougars back into the contest.

Benning continued to fire for Cockburn and when he converted a three-point play with just under a minute to go, it was a one-point game. Eventually it was a finish from Courtney Alexander II that locked scores up again and forced the game into a second overtime.

It was Cockburn's turn to hit the first six points of this extra period before Almanza steadied Kalamunda with a three-pointer. But Benning grabbed an offensive rebound to throw down a dunk, and he scored on a layup shortly after to keep the Cougars on top by four.

The lead was again six and this time Cockburn was able to convert it into the eventual eight-point win on quite the remarkable night in so many ways.

Despite Cockburn winning, Joe Cook-Green was brilliant for Kalamunda finishing with 54 points and six assists on 17/29 shooting from the floor, 4/9 from beyond the arc and 16/18 from the foul line.

However, the Cougars had plenty of big performers too with captain Gavin Field shaking off injury for 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals with 6/8 three-point shooting.

Taj Benning added 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, Josh Hunt 21 points, six assists and five boards, Kieran Berry 17 points and four assists, Courtney Alexander II 16 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks, and Keegan Phillips 15 points, five boards and three assists.

As well as Cook-Green's 54 points for the Eastern Suns, Albert Almanza delivered 26 points, five rebounds and four assists, Dyson Lowe 14 points and four boards, and the record setting Seb Salinas eight points, five rebounds and five assists.

While the game ended in double OT heartbreak for the Eastern Suns, Joe Cook-Green dropped one of the biggest scores we've seen this season with...

5??4??. POINTS. ?

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Wolves beat Hawks in OT thriller

The Joondalup Wolves gave themselves a chance of finishing in fifth position and condemned the Perry Lakes Hawks to fourth with a 97-96 thrilling overtime win to close the regular season.

There was still potentially plenty at stake on Friday night at Bendat Basketball Centre as the Hawks and Wolves renewed their fascinating rivalry ahead of another playoff campaign for both.

A win for Perry Lakes would guarantee third spot to avoid a qualifying final with Rockingham while Joondalup can still finish fifth provided they got the victory.

The Hawks did start the game well with 27 points to 20 in the opening quarter having led by as much as 11 on their home floor.

Bryan Michaels beat the half-time buzzer ???? ???? ????? ?

Then just dipped ?

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However, the Wolves worked back into the contest and scored 10 consecutive points and that helped to cut the Perry Lakes lead to 51-48 by half-time.

The Hawks did work back on top in the second half and were leading by as much as seven points once more in the fourth stanza when Matt Leary knocked down a three-pointer with 7:30 to play.

There was a two and-a-half minute scoring drought after that but Perry Lakes was still up seven with five minutes to play thanks to a bucket to Daniel Alexander.

However, Joondalup hit back starting with a three-point play from CJ Turnage. Christian Jurlina then hit a three-pointer and Quintin Dove tied scores up at the free-throw line.

Eventually the biggest man on the court, Ioannis Dimakopoulos, hit a three for Joondalup to level scores and then Turnage put the Wolves in front before former Grand Final MVP Andrew Ferguson brought Perry Lakes back even.

That took the game into an extra five minutes with Leary and Bryan Michaels trading early three-pointers for their teams. 

Michaels then scored inside to put the Wolfpack up one and that's where they remained with the Hawks unable to get off a shot on the last possession thanks to a deflection from Jordan Wellsteed on Alexander.

The Wolves now improve to fifth position and will stay there unless the Perth Redbacks beat the Goldfields Giants on Saturday. CJ Turnage top-scored with 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Quintin Dove added 24 points and five boards.

Bryan Michaels returned from an ankle injury for 22 points, four assists and three rebounds with 4/6 three-point shooting while Christian Jurlina added 13 points, nine boards, five assists and three steals, and Ioannis Dimakopoulos nine points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Perry Lakes slips to fourth with the loss to take on Rockingham in a qualifying final after Matt Leary delivered 26 points with 5/8 three-point shooting.

Daniel Alexander also had 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists, Andrew Ferguson 16 points and seven boards, and Mitch Clarke 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

A MASSIVE Quintin Dove jam - with ??????? ?

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Tigers beat Slammers to secure third place

The Willetton Tigers withstood 40 points from Buay Tuach from the South West Slammers for the 108-83 road victory to lock away third position and a trip to Geraldton to open the playoffs.

The Slammers were at home at Eaton Recreation Centre to close the regular season on the back of a weekend where they beat the Cockburn Cougars by 23 points before losing to the Perth Redbacks by the same margin.

Willetton, meanwhile, headed south with a chance to confirm third position this weekend and the Tigers made an impressive start with 32 points to 21 in the opening quarter.

Darnell Hoskins shot the ball like a ??? ????????? ?

The Willetton sharp-shooter nailed 7?? triples in his 30 points ?

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Willetton remained in control from there to end up leading by 26 points in the second quarter, 30 in the third and 32 in the fourth on the way to the eventual 25-point victory.

The win improves the Tigers to a 15-6 record to go ahead of the Perry Lakes Hawks into third spot with a game to finish on Saturday at home to Geraldton Buccaneers. That will be a preview of Geraldton hosting Willetton now in next Saturday night's qualifying final.

The season for the Slammers finishes with a 4-18 record in second last position.

Darnell Hoskins Jr top-scored in the win for Willetton with 30 points, four rebounds and four assists while knocking down 7/15 from behind the three-point line.

Mark Worthington geared up for a playoff run back on the floor he was coach at only a couple of years back delivering 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Damien Scott also had 15 points and five rebounds for the Tigers, Gorjok Gak 13 points, 15 rebounds and three assists, and Andrew Black 13 points with 3/3 three-point shooting.

Don't mind us... just another Mark Worthington post move™?

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Buay Tuach had a huge night for the Slammers despite the loss with 40 points, five rebounds and three assists on 17/29 shooting from the field, 3/8 from beyond the arc and 3/4 at the free-throw line.

Clive Weeden delivered 16 points, four rebounds and two steals for the Slammers, and Ben Stevens 12 points, 18 boards and four blocks.

It was a ??????? night for the Slammers' Buay Tuach despite the result, dropping 4??0?? points (and two INSANE poster dunks ?)

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