Recap NBL1 West | Round 3 Friday

Both Rockingham Flames teams kept winning setting up a Saturday double against the also undefeated Warwick Senators in NBL1 West while Imani Guy came up huge for the Willetton Tigers and Joel Murray did the same for the Mandurah Magic.

Friday night's Round 3 NBL1 West women's action saw the Rockingham Flames beat the Perry Lakes Hawks 92-58 while the Mandurah Magic downed the Lakeside Lightning 77-67, and the Willetton Tigers defeated the Perth Redbacks 90-74.

The men's fixtures then saw Rockingham beat Perry Lakes 97-87, Mandurah defeat Lakeside 105-81, and Willetton down Perth 95-75.

FITTING SEND OFF FOR STEVE, NICOLLE DICONZA

RECAP NBL1 WEST | ROUND 2 SUNDAY

WOMEN

Perry Lakes Hawks (58) lost to Rockingham Flames (92)

The Rockingham Flames continued their scintillating start to the NBL1 West season with the 92-58 road win over the Perry Lakes Hawks.

With a superstar-laden line-up, the Flames started the season beating the South West Slammers, Mandurah Magic and Goldfields Giants by an average of 58 points highlighting their remarkable dominance.

That set up a daunting challenge even at home for the Hawks on Friday at Bendat Basketball Centre as they attempted to bounce back from losing to the Warwick Senators last week after a first up 79-point win against the Eastern Suns.

The Flames had taken control of the contest by late in the first quarter having opened up a 15-point lead and then leading still 30-17 by the end of one.

Perry Lakes battled hard in the second quarter to cut the Rockingham lead to 49-39 at the main break, but the Flames then dominated the second half further.

Rockingham outscored Perry Lakes 43 points to 19 in the second half to end up winning by 34 points to improve to 4-0 on the season but given how dominant they have been, that margin brings their winning average significantly down.

Two-time league MVP Alex Sharp continued to shine at her new club after what she did this WNBL season at the UC Capitals. She finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two blocked shots.

Sami Whitcomb top-scored with another 23 points and eight assists with Georgia Pineau contributing 13 points and seven boards, and Nes'eya Parker-Williams 11 points and six rebounds.

It was a tough evening for Perry Lakes with Grace Stone top-scoring with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Ash Isenbarger added 10 points and five rebounds, Elizabeth Hutton nine points and four boards, and Maddy Dennis seven points and five rebounds.

Rockingham backs up to take on the also undefeated Warwick Senators at home on Saturday at 6pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. Perry Lakes don't play again until hosting the Perth Redbacks next Friday.

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 58 (Stone 11, Isenbarger 10, Hutton 9)

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 92 (Whitcomb 23, Sharp 20, Pineau 13)

Lakeside Lightning (67) lost to Mandurah Magic (77)

The Mandurah Magic are settling into the new season nicely after beating the Lakeside Lightning 77-67 on the road on Friday night.

It was a challenging start to the season for the Magic losing to the Cockburn Cougars and Rockingham Flames by a combined 54 points, but they bounced back last Saturday night with a road victory against the Perth Redbacks.

While still not quite at full strength, the addition of Nicole Fransson to the line-up has been significant and their improved form continued on Friday against the Lightning at Lakeside Recreation Centre.

Lakeside had won its opening two matches against the Willetton Tigers and Goldfields Giants but the Magic went on a 12-0 run in the first quarter to head into quarter-time with an eight-point advantage.

Even though the Lightning had cut the deficit back to five at half-time, the Magic worked on top once again in the second half to lead by as much as 13 points in the third period, 14 in the fourth and to go on and win by 10 to improve to 2-2 on the season.

Canadian big Nicole Fransson once again was significant in the win for Mandurah with 18 points and 14 rebounds with front court partner Emma Klasztorny delivering 17 points and 12 boards.

Tiana Palmer continues her emergence after crossing from Rockingham with 13 points and three steals while the remarkable Casey Mihovilovich put up 10 points, eight assists and four rebounds in her 557th appearance.

Rachel Halleen is another who came up big for nine points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in her 367th game for the Magic.

Gun Lakeside pair Teige Morrell (24 points, seven rebounds, two assists) and Marnelle Garraud (21 points, four boards, three assists, two steals) again had strong performances but didn’t quite get enough support especially still being without Caitie Jones.

Neither team plays again in Round 3 with the Magic hosting the Cockburn Cougars next Friday while the Lightning don't play again until hosting the South West Slammers on Friday April 26.

LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 67 (Morrell 24, Garraud 21, Ucich 7)

MANDURAH MAGIC 77 (Fransson 18, Klasztorny 17, Palmer 13)

Willetton Tigers (90) defeated Perth Redbacks (74)

Both teams were hunting their first wins of 2024 and with Imani Guy on fire, the Willetton Tigers were too strong for the Perth Redbacks, winning 90-74.

The Tigers had played just the one game back in the opening round this season and that was a narrow loss to the Lakeside Lightning while the Redbacks had lost their opening two matches to the Joondalup Wolves and Mandurah Magic.

So both teams were hunting that first win of 2024 on Friday night at Willetton Basketball Stadium and it was a tightly contested first half with no more than five points separating the two teams.

Willetton went into half-time narrowly leading 43-39 but the home team then took control throughout the second half including 30 points to 22 in the third quarter.

Another 17 points to 13 in the final term and Willetton cruised to the 18-point win to open its account for the season with Melisa Brcaninovic still to come into the team.

New signing Imani Guy produced a dominant performance for the Tigers with 27 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Perth Lynx development player Grace Foster added 15 points, five assists and four rebounds with captain Desiree Kelley putting up 12 points, seven assists, five boards, three steals and two blocked shots.

Another Lynx DP, Amy Jacobs, produced 11 points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists with Claire Jacobs back from college and joining her sister with 11 points and six boards.

The Redbacks slip to 0-3 with the loss and the arrival of Lynx WNBL captain Anneli Maley can't come soon enough for new coach Tim Rendulic.

Captain Mikayla Pirini did put up 23 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals on 5/9 three-point shooting with Shenae Hartree contributing 18 points and 15 rebounds, and Brooke Malone 11 points and five boards.

The Redbacks back up on Saturday night at home to the East Perth Eagles at 5pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Tigers are next in action next Friday away to the Rockingham Flames.

WILLETTON TIGERS 90 (Guy 27, Foster 15, Kelley 12)

PERTH REDBACKS 74 (Pirini 23, Hartree 18, Malone 11)

MEN

Perry Lakes Hawks (87) lost to Rockingham Flames (97)

The undefeated Rockingham Flames withstood a hot Perry Lakes Hawks start inspired by Jaylen Key to end up winning 97-87 at Bendat Basketball Centre.

Rockingham has come into the new season on a mission having not made the Grand Final last year after finishing in first place and then losing the Grand Final at the National Championships on the back of winning both in 2022.

The Flames came into the clash with the Hawks having won their opening three games of the season while the Hawks had split their first two with a win over the Eastern Suns and narrow loss to the Warwick Senators.

Rockingham added in Quintin Dove for the match up too having signed him after his standout 2023 season with the Joondalup Wolves, but it was the Hawks' import who made all the running early.

Key was proving unstoppable in the opening period for Perry Lakes scoring 13 points alone with the home team going into quarter-time leading 30-20.

Perry Lakes was still leading 54-48 at half-time but Rockingham was working its way on top and with Dove, Devondrick Walker and Gorjok Gak proving quite the imposing trio, the Flames powered away through the second half to score the 10-point win.

The Flames improve to 4-0 on the season as a result with Gorjok Gak proving quite the tough cover with his size and energy finishing with 20 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Quintin Dove took no time settling in at the Flames with 17 points and 12 rebounds on 7/11 shooting with two-time MVP Devondrick Walker producing 15 points and four assists with 4/10 three-point shooting.

Justin Beard also had 15 points and five rebounds with Ryan Godfrey contributing 14 points and four assists, and Travis Durnin eight points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Jaylen Key had a hot start and finished the night with 29 points and seven rebounds for Perry Lakes on 13/15 field goal shooting.

Luke Phillips added 15 points and four rebounds, Keegan Phillips 12 points and five boards, Dequan Abrom 10 points, nine assists, five rebounds and three steals, and Joel Vaiangina nine points and seven boards.

The Flames now take on the also undefeated Warwick Senators at home on Saturday at 8pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Hawks host the Perth Redbacks next Friday night.

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 87 (Key 29, L Phillips 15, K Phillips 12)

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 97 (Gak 20, Dove 17, Walker 15, Beard 15)

Lakeside Lightning (81) lost to Mandurah Magic (105)

The Mandurah Magic are warming into the season nicely and with a deeply talented squad, the excitement is building after a 105-81 road win over the Lakeside Lightning.

Mandurah did start the season losing its first two games, but there was plenty to like in those two performances which could have quite conceivably gone their way before the Magic broke through to win a thriller over the Perth Redbacks last week.

That had them coming to Lakeside Recreation Centre on Friday full of confidence especially knowing they were fully stocked for the first time with Julian Pesava returning and with Joel Murray having settled in.

The Lightning had yet to win this season but the losses to Willetton and Goldfields had only come by a combined nine points so they had been strongly competitive as well.

But it was the Magic feeling good from the outset on Friday night as they raced to a 21-point lead already by quarter-time on the back of scoring 10 consecutive points.

It was a blistering opening from the visitors with new import Joel Murray on fire while a couple of early fouls all but ended the first half of Mike Adewunmi for Lakeside.

The Magic had already built a match-winning advantage, though, and weren’t about to give it up with the lead growing to 26 points in the second period, 36 in the third and they would end up winning by 24 to improve to a 2-2 record.

There was a lot to like about the Mandurah performance led by 31 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals from Joel Murray in just his third game. He shot 13/21 from the field in 34 and-a-half minutes.

Lachlan Bertram continued the best form of his 51-game career having made the move to Mandurah this season with another 22 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Julian Pesava also put up 18 points and six rebounds, Michael Durr 15 points, three boards, three assists and three blocks, and Jarrod Molnar 11 points and two assists.

The Lightning are now 0-3 following the home defeat with Josh Davey top-scoring with 17 points to go with 10 rebounds.

Marshawn Blackmon also had 15 points, eight boards and three assists but Mike Adewunmi played less than 17 minutes because of foul trouble and had just 10 points, three rebounds and two assists.

The Magic will now host the Geraldton Buccaneers on Sunday at 12pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. The Lightning next face the Buccs as well but in Geraldton next Saturday.

LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 81 (Davey 17, Blackmon 15, Adewunmi 10)

MANDURAH MAGIC 105 (Murray 31, Bertram 22, Pesava 18)

Willetton Tigers (95) defeated Perth Redbacks (75)

The Willetton Tigers' depth was on display as they defeated the Perth Redbacks 95-75 at home on Friday night.

It was an emotional night at Willetton Basketball Stadium and not just involving the teams on the floor even though that had plenty of intrigue including Michael Vigor and Marshall Nelson up against the club they won a championship at back in 2017.

However, it was a big night for the three referees with Nicolle and Steve DiConza both officiating alongside Steve's younger brother Adrian with the married couple to retire from officiating after this weekend.

As for the action once the game started, the Redbacks did race out to an early eight-point lead hunting their first win of the season but the Tigers took control in the second quarter.

Willetton would outscore Perth 32 points to 10 in a monstrous second period to go into the half-time break in control leading 54-36.

While the Redbacks did threaten a fightback in the third quarter, the Tigers continued to have all the answers and ended up winning by 20 to improve to 2-1 on the season with the Redbacks now 0-3.

Michael Vigor put in a terrific performance against his original club with 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists with 4/8 three-point shooting in the 285th appearance of his career.

He had plenty of help on the night too with Michael Dupree putting up 15 points, four rebounds and three assists, Marshall Nelson 12 points, 10 boards, five assists and three steals, Damien Scott 11 points and five assists, and Deng Gak 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

The Redbacks had high hopes coming into the season and still do despite being 0-3 with Joe Cook-Green finishing with 27 points and seven rebounds on 11/17 field goal shooting.

Tevin Jackson contributed 19 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals, and Ioannis Dimakopoulos 13 points, six boards, three steals and three blocks.

The Redbacks will hunt that first win at home to the East Perth Eagles on Saturday at 7pm local time via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App. Willetton hosts the unbeaten Rockingham Flames next Friday.

WILLETTON TIGERS 95 (Vigor 19, Dupree 15, Nelson 12)

PERTH REDBACKS 75 (Cook-Green 27, T Jackson 19, Dimakopoulos 13)