NBL1 West Recap | Saturday Week 1 Finals

The Cockburn Cougars and Willetton Tigers women booked in home preliminary finals in the NBL1 West while the Warwick Senators and Mandurah Magic stayed alive with the Geraldton Buccaneers staying perfect at home, and the Joondalup Wolves eliminating the Senators men.

All four women's matches to open the finals took place on Saturday with the qualifying finals seeing the Cockburn Cougars beating the Rockingham Flames 80-66 and the Willetton Tigers defeating the Joondalup Wolves 79-69.

The elimination finals saw the Warwick Senators defeat the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 105-78 and the Mandurah Magic beat the Perry Lakes Hawks 73-53.

The men's finals began on Friday night with the Perth Redbacks beating the Lakeside Lightning 98-81 in an elimination final while the Rockingham Flames beat the Perry Lakes Hawks 94-85 in a qualifying final.

Then on Saturday, the Geraldton Buccaneers beat the Willetton Tigers 87-86 in the qualifying final and the Joondalup Wolves beat the Warwick Senators 93-85 in the elimination final.

NBL1 WEST RECAP | FRIDAY FINALS WEEK 1

MACKENZIE THRIVING BACK AT LIGHTNING AFTER TEXAS SOJOURN

WOMEN

Tigers overcome Wolves in game of wild swings

The Willetton Tigers have continued their stunning winning form to book in a home preliminary final beating the Joondalup Wolves 79-69 at Willetton Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.

It was a rematch of last year's preliminary final which also saw Willetton beat Joondalup on the way to the Grand Final of 2022 before losing to the Warwick Senators, and both teams could scarcely be separated through the 2023 regular season.

Both teams finished the regular season with identical 17-3 records but it was the Tigers who earned the home court advantage and came into Saturday's qualifying final on an 11-game winning streak.

The Wolfpack were on their own four-game winning run so the stage was set for both teams to try and make a statement to open the finals.

It was Willetton who opened up on fire, though, and scored 18 straight points in the first quarter to go from being a point behind to suddenly lead by 17, and to still be on top 25-10 by quarter-time.

The Tigers were still leading by 10 at half-time and one by three quarter-time, but the Wolfpack had built some momentum and kept that going to start the fourth stanza.

Robbi Ryan opened up the final term with a three ball to put Joondalup in front with the lead soon six after buckets to Teige Morrell, Isabelle Miotti and Chelsea Belcher.

It had been a stunning turnaround from how dominant Willetton had been in the first half, but the Tigers responded themselves beginning with a triple from Melisa Brcaninovic.

Then after Ryan pushed the Wolfpack lead to six with another long ball, Willetton controlled the final five minutes of the game to outscore the Wolves 18 points to two in yet another dramatic swing in the contest.

Willetton went on to clinch the 10-point victory to book in a home preliminary final while the Wolves will now host the Mandurah Magic in a semi-final.

The big three of Willetton were outstanding once more with import big Melisa Brcaninovic brilliant with 27 points, seven rebounds and two assists while two-time MVP Alex Sharp added 26 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals.

Captain Desiree Kelley also had 12 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals with Jess Jakens contributing six points and 10 boards, and Sophie Doran four points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals.

Robbi Ryan delivered 29 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Joondalup with 7/12 three-point shooting while Teige Morrell added 20 points, 16 boards and six assists.

Chelsea Belcher also had nine points and three rebounds but foul trouble limiting Emma Klasztorny to under 16 minutes proved a big blow.

Slick dime from Neseya Parker Williams ?

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Mortensen ensures Cougars a home preliminary final

The best ever season of the Cockburn Cougars women has continued with the 80-66 home qualifying final victory against the Rockingham Flames.

For the first ever time, the Cougars women finished the regular season in top spot with the 18-2 record to set up Saturday night's qualifying final at Wally Hagan Stadium.

The opponents were a Rockingham team who finished in fourth position at 14-6 having also won 14 of the last 17 matches coming into the finals so it shaped as a fascinating match up.

Throw in the fact that new Cougars import Patty Brossmann was up against a Flames team she played with last season and it only added to the intrigue.

It didn’t take long for Cockburn to get rolling with the home team having opened up an 11-point advantage by the end of the first quarter.

The lead for the Cougars grew to as much as 15 points in the second stanza but the Flames fired back leading into half-time to cut that advantage for Cockburn to 38-33 at the main break.

It became a defensive grind in the third quarter with Cockburn outscoring Rockingham 13 points to nine, but the Cougars dominated the early parts of the final period to open up the match-winning 25-point lead.

Cockburn would go on to win by 14 points from there to book in a home preliminary final against either the Joondalup Wolves or Mandurah Magic while the Flames have another chance to get to a preliminary final with a home semi-final against the defending champion Warwick Senators.

On the back of being named to the All-First Team, Sarah Mortensen continued her scintillating form for the Cougars by producing another 27 points, 17 rebounds, three steals and two assists on shooting 11/21 from the field.

Steph Gorman added 21 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, Jessie Edwards 14 points, 13 boards, four assists, three steals and two blocks, and Jewel Williams 13 points and five assists.

Tayah Burrows ended the night with 17 points, eight rebounds and two assists for Rockingham with Mehryn Kraker contributing 12 points and two boards, Marissa Pangalos 11 points and three steals, and Teyla Evans eight points and five rebounds.

Sarah Mortensen went off ?

2??7?? points, 1??7?? rebounds and 3?? steals to advance to Preliminary Finals ?

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Magic overpower Hawks to advance to semis

The championship dream of legendary games record holder Casey Mihovilovich remains alive after the Mandurah Magic beat the Perry Lakes Hawks 73-53 on Saturday night.

The Magic played host to the Hawks in the elimination final at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre with Mandurah having qualified for the finals from sixth position at 12-8 with Perry Lakes seventh at 11-9.

The two teams put their seasons on the line on Saturday night and with the Hawks welcoming back star import guard Nici Gilday into the line-up to face her former team on her return after missing the last seven games through injury, the visitors started well.

Perry Lakes managed to lead 15-10 by the end of the opening quarter but then Mandurah turned the tide in the second stanza with 19 points to seven and never looked back.

The Magic went into half-time leading 29-22 before outscoring the Hawks 26 points to 13 in the third quarter. Mandurah's lead grew to as much as 26 in the final period before winning by 20.

The victory means the Magic advance to a semi-final against the Joondalup Wolves while the season is over for the Hawks.

Sarah Toeaina led the charge in the win for Mandurah ending up with 22 points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists with Kat Tudor delivering 20 points, six boards, three assists, two steals and a block.

Hannah Hank also delivered 15 points, 16 rebounds and three assists, and Casey Mihovilovich eight points, five assists and two steals in her 551st appearance.

Nici Gilday made her return from injury and top-scored for Perry Lakes with 14 points and two rebounds but Emma Clarke had a tough night with eight points, five boards and three assists on 2/15 shooting.

Ash Isenbarger added seven points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, Millie McCarthy seven points and two boards, Maddie Dennis six points, 10 rebounds and three assists, and Mia Satie six points, nine boards and three assists.

Barr leads Senators into semi finals

The Kalamunda Eastern Suns fought valiantly without their star import guard but ultimately the defending champion Warwick Senators proved too strong on the way to the eventual 105-78 victory.

The Senators finished the regular season with good momentum having won the last six matches to end up in fifth position at 13-7 to begin their championship defence also ahead of defending their National Championship next month.

They played host to the Eastern Suns at Warwick Stadium in the elimination final with Kalamunda having made the finals from eighth position at 8-12, but trying to topple the Senators without the 20.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game from Natalie Chou was going to be some challenge.

The Senators didn’t take much time to take control of the contest on their home floor racing to a 14-point lead in the first quarter before still being on top 25-15 by quarter-time.

The Senators continued to build on that lead the rest of the evening despite the best efforts of the brave Suns.

Warwick's lead would grow to 16 points in the second stanza, 18 in the third and 27 in the fourth before the Senators scored the 27-point win to keep their championship defence alive ahead of a semi-final match up with the Rockingham Flames.

Two-time MVP Stacey Barr, fresh off still being named to the All-First Team this season, once again starred in the victory for Warwick by producing 30 points and eight assists while shooting 11/20 from the floor and 6/11 from three-point territory.

Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard added 18 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals for the Senators, Karly Murphy 18 points and nine boards, and Nat Burton 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. 

Chloe Forster also had nine points, nine boards and six assists, and 456-game veteran Nicole Jorre de St Jorre seven points, five rebounds and five assists.

Makailah Dyer ended up top-scoring for the Eastern Suns with 26 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals with Eryn Fisher adding 17 points and two boards, Georgia Denehey 11 points and nine assists, Ella Thornton-Elliott 11 points and three assists, and Sam Roscoe nine points and seven rebounds.

Stacey Barr is a sniper ?

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MEN

Gattorna's Buccs win thriller over Gak's Tigers

It had blockbuster written all over it coming into the contest and it certainly delivered with Zac Gattorna leading his Geraldton Buccaneers over Gorjok Gak's Willetton Tigers for the 87-86 victory.

The two teams did battle at Active West Stadium on Saturday night with the right to host a preliminary final on the line as the Buccaneers put their perfect home record up against the Tigers.

The Buccs had won all 10 of their home matches this season on the way to securing second position with a 17-5 record on the back of making last year's Grand Final and winning a championship back in 2019.

However, the Tigers had put together a terrific season too to finish third at 15-7 and all the makings were there for a cracking contest.

It delivered and more with both teams having their moments on top in the opening quarter but it was Geraldton leading 26-21 by quarter-time.

Willetton ran that break perfectly ?

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The Tigers turned the tide in the second term outscoring the Buccs 27 points to 21 to go into the half-time break leading 48-47.

Things stayed tight in the third quarter with Willetton still leading by a point at three quarter-time but the Buccaneers turned the tide with the opening seven points of the fourth term including the last five by Shaun Stewart.

A three-point play soon after from 432-game veteran Aaron Ralph put the Buccaneers out to a six-point lead but the Tigers weren’t about to lay down.

With Geraldton still leading by four with just under a minute to go, Australian basketball legend Mark Worthington continued to show why his comeback season was a good idea by hitting a huge corner three to bring Willetton back within a point.

Stewart found Liam Hunt under the bucket with a beautiful pass up the other end to restore Geraldton's three-point lead, but then Darnell Hoskins Jr made a massive three as well for the Tigers to tie scores up.

The Buccaneers ran the clock down as much as they could before Zac Gattorna was fouled. He made the first to put the home team up one and Willetton didn’t have time to get off a shot with the Buccs advancing to a home preliminary final.

Geraldton will host either the Perry Lakes Hawks or Perth Redbacks having not lost at home since July 23 last year. Willetton stays alive and will host the Joondalup Wolves in a semi-final.

Sydney Kings NBL championship winner Zac Gattorna was tremendous in the win for Geraldton with 27 points, five rebounds and two assists on shooting 6/12 from the floor, 3/6 from behind the three-point arc and 12/16 from the foul line.

Liam Hunt added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Buccaneers, Shaun Stewart 12 points, two boards and two assists, Johny Narkle 11 points and nine rebounds, Aaron Ralph nine points and nine boards, and Malik Meunier nine points, nine assists, eight rebounds and four steals.

Best Defensive Player Gorjok Gak did all he could to lift Willetton to the win with 29 points, 11 rebounds and two steals with Damien Scott contributing 24 points, six assists and five boards, Darnell Hoskins Jr 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals, and Mark Worthington 12 points and three boards.

Mathew Wundenberg sent that BACK ?

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Dove/Turnage fire Wolves over Senators

Warwick Senators stalwarts Cody Ellis and Caleb Davis gave it their all, but ultimately just didn’t have enough help with the Joondalup Wolves prevailing with the 93-85 semi-final victory.

It was a do-or-die Battle of Joondalup at HBF Arena on Saturday night in the elimination final between the local rivals and it always had the makings of a dramatic affair, and it lived up to that.

It was a battle between the sixth ranked Joondalup who finished the regular season at 14-8 and the seventh placed Warwick who were 12-10, and it was the Senators who got the better of the opening.

The Senators would lead by as much as 10 in the opening quarter and were still up nine by quarter-time despite a triple on the buzzer from Quintin Dove on the buzzer.

It was Cody Ellis who kept the Senators on top for most of the second quarter starting when he converted a four-point play after being fouled making a three-pointer.

With his family sitting courtside under the basket, Ellis got on a roll for Warwick and hit a couple of more three-pointers heading towards half-time, but the Wolves were warming to the task and had cut the Senators lead to 53-50 at the break.

Joondalup then took complete control of the contest in the third quarter to end up outscoring Warwick 23 points to 11 to open up a nine-point lead.

That advantage for the Wolfpack grew to 17 points in the third quarter on the back of 17 straight points either side of three quarter-time, and there would be no coming back from the Senators with the home team ending up winning by eight.

The win keeps the Wolves alive ahead of a semi-final match up with the Willetton Tigers while the season is over for Warwick with some potential big off-season changes from the coaching staff and experienced playing group.

Ultimately the difference between the teams was the imports. Quintin Dove delivered 25 points and eight rebounds for Joondalup with CJ Turnage adding 23 points, 10 boards, four assists and two steals.

Hussayn Ford did battle hard for the Senators with 18 points and five rebounds but Ilarion Bonhomme Jr only had two points on 1/3 shooting in eight minutes.

Bryan Michaels also had 25 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Wolves with Mathiang Muo adding nine points and three boards, and Ioannis Dimakopoulos seven points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocks.

Cody Ellis did all he could to try and will his team over the line with 25 points, three rebounds and three assists on 6/12 three-point shooting while Caleb Davis added 17 points, nine boards and four assists, and Ethan Elliott 11 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals.