Perth Redbacks Men's Wrap – Round 6

By Chris Pike for Perth Redbacks

The Perth Redbacks were impressive to beat the East Perth Eagles in the NBL1 West Men's Division on Friday night before battling hard with the Anthony Exeter Cup on the line in Rockingham 24 hours later.

The Redbacks Men had notched their first win of the season the previous week at home to the Eagles at Belmont Oasis leading into the Round 6 double-header away from home.

The weekend started strongly with the Redbacks making it back-to-back wins against the Eagles, this time winning 98-65 at Mirrabooka's Herb Graham Recreation Centre.

That led into Saturday night's trip to Rockingham and it was the Flames beating the Redbacks 89-75 to secure the Anthony Exeter Cup.

Starting on Friday night, 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 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.

Then on Saturday evening, a fascinating contest awaited with the Anthony Exeter Cup on the line named in honour of the champion former league MVP who represented both clubs with such distinction.

On the back of their wins the previous evening, both teams came out playing well in the opening quarter with the Flames boosted by the inclusion of Greg Hire in his 200th game split across the Joondalup Wolves and now Rockingham.

The teams combined for 57 points across the first quarter with Rockingham leading 30-27 by quarter-time, but by half-time, the Redbacks had closed that deficit to the one solitary point and the game was right up for grabs.

Rockingham turned up its defensive intensity after half-time holding the Redbacks to just 12 points in the third quarter to turn into three-quarter-time having taken control to lead 64-57.

The Redbacks were still close enough if good enough but the Flames continued to have all the answers down the stretch and would end up claiming the 89-75 win.

The Redbacks end up splitting the road weekend and now sit on a 2-3 record following the opening five matches of the NBL1 West season.

Despite the end result, there continues to be plenty of encouraging signs at the Redbacks with Louis Timms now fitting in nicely at his new home putting up 33 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday night on the back of shooting 14/27 from the floor.

Tevin Jackson delivered 17 points and three rebounds as well for the Redbacks with Zac Gattorna contributing eight points and three rebounds, Joel Wagner seven points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, and Kyden Edman six points and two boards.