Round 14 Spotlight | Lightning finish strong to go top

The Lakeside Lightning shook off the loss of Jay Bowie before half-time and with Jack Isenbarger and Rowan Mackenzie delivering late they shot to the top of the NBL1 West Men's Division with a thrilling win over the Perry Lakes Hawks.

It had all the hallmarks of the game of the NBL1 West coming into Friday night at Lakeside Recreation Centre with the Lightning and Hawks occupying the top two spots in the standings, and both on significant winning streaks.

Perry Lakes was on top at 12-2 having won six straight and not only was the inside presence of Andrew Ferguson and Lewis Thomas, and leadership of Ben Purser, Ryan Smith and Rob Cassir continuing to serve them well, but others had caught fire including Matt Leary recently from three-point range.

Lakeside, though, was hot on their heels having won their previous five matches to hold an 11-2 record since a 16-point loss on the road to Perry Lakes.

So with both teams in hot form and with top spot up for grabs at least by the end of the night, it shaped as a fascinating contest and it didn’t fail to deliver.

It was the Jay Bowie show in the opening quarter for Lakeside as he put up 16 points in a dazzling and dominant display to help his team to the 27-23 lead by quarter-time.

That first quarter performance included Bowie nailing all four of his three-point attempts. He added another in the second quarter too to go to 19 points on 5/5 shooting from beyond the arc but once he hobbled off with four minutes left in the half, he didn't return to the game.

He left with Lakeside leading 40-37 and still by half-time the Lightning were managing to hold on to a 47-43 advantage.

However, with Andrew Ferguson coming out strong to start the second half for Perry Lakes with five quick points against his former club, the Hawks took the lead and worked their way in control of the contest.

Cooper Hamilton knocked down three triples in the third quarter alone and that helped Perry Lakes to turn that four-point half-time deficit into a six-point lead by three quarter-time.

It didn’t take long in the fourth quarter for Lakeside to close the gap with a couple of three-pointers to Jack Isenbarger, and an and-one from Kyle Armour. Isenbarger then hit another three and a pull up jumper to give the Lightning a narrow lead with six minutes on the clock.

Five quick points to Rowan Mackenzie soon after put Lakeside up five before Ben Lee hit a huge triple with three minutes left to keep the home team up five.

It was then a trademark Jarrad Prue offensive rebound and putback that kept the Lightning up three and from there Lakeside managed some big stops down the stretch to come away with the 91-86 win.

The result improves the Lightning to a 12-2 record on the season while Perry Lakes is 12-3 with both teams to play again on Saturday night away to the Redbacks and at home to the Slammers respectively.

It was a tremendous physical, intense playoff like battle but in the end, Jack Isenbarger (15 points, 3/7 from deep) and Rowan Mackenzie (21 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals) came up big when it matters for Lakeside in the absence of Bowie and Corey Shervill.

Kyle Armour finished with 13 points and four assists too for the Lightning, Ben Lee 13 points and Jarrad Prue six points to go with 16 rebounds.

Lewis Thomas top-scored for Perry Lakes with 16 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals while fellow big man Andrew Ferguson had 11 points and nine rebounds against his original club.

Ben Purser put up 17 points, six assists and five rebounds as well for the Hawks, Mitch Clarke 11 points and three assists, Matt Leary 10 points, Rob Cassir nine points and four assists, and Cooper Hamilton nine points with those three triples in the third quarter.

Lakeside coach Dave Daniels enjoyed the contest against a team that he knows they are going to continue to battle with over one of those top spots.

"It's a big win for us. They got us at their place so this was a big one for us and I think top two would be great, but we want to definitely try and finish top four," Daniels said.

"We're still not guaranteed of anything and there's a lot of really tough teams we have to play so we still have a long ways to go but we're taking it one at a time. Our goal is to finish top four, though, and that is what we're shooting for.

"It was just a really good game and well fought out. I thought we were in control early but when Jay went out that obviously changes us offensively and then they made a nice run. They are tough. I mean they aren’t just talented, but they are physically tough and they have played together a long time, and are well coached. 

"They made a nice little run there in the third quarter but we kept just kind of banging away, and then we got three stops in-a-row and got out in transition. They did a good job of keeping us out of transition earlier but then once we got going Rowan had a really big stretch. Jack got going as well and that was huge for us."

Matching the size and physicality the Hawks possess with the likes of Andrew Ferguson, Lewis Thomas, Ben Purser and Bailey Cole was always going to be key for any success the Lightning were going to have.

Despite giving up size, they battled hard inside again led by Jarrad Prue who got good support from Josh Davey and a few minutes from Liam Hislop. Daniels was proud of that fight to ensure they ended up winning the rebound count. 

"Even Liam Hislop came in and battled hard and Ben Lee was in there guarding Purser and giving up a lot of size and experience so we fought hard all the way down," he said.

"Jarrad is obviously just doing what he's always done but I'm really impressed with Josh. He came in and fought, and rebounded and did whatever he needed to do for us."

As for Jay Bowie, Daniels isn’t sure how long to expect him out for now but does know he won't be playing Saturday night against the Perth Redbacks at Belmont Oasis.

Corey Shervill won't be there either and neither will Jarrad Prue, but Daniels is still looking forward to the battle with a Redbacks team who has now won seven of their past eight matches.

"We don't know for us how bad it is right now and we'll just wait and see, but he has been nursing a pulled muscle so we'll see where he's at. He might need a little time off but he had a really nice early stretch there. He won't be playing against the Redbacks that's for sure," Daniels said.

"Corey will be back for us next week. It's been a fantastic year for him with the time at the Wildcats and he's done a fantastic job of juggling being with them and then coming back to us. He's come in and been a part of this team still and has done a great job of fitting in. It will be no trouble when he gets back and he'll fit in nicely.

"It's going to be a good battle but we are going to be really shorthanded. We won't Jarrad, Jay or Shervill so it will be tough but our guys showed tonight that with our style of play, whoever steps out is going to compete so we'll give a good contest. But they've got some guns and they are playing really well."

Daniels is in his fourth season now in charge of the Lightning, but this is the first year where he's coached both the Men's and Women's teams. It's quite the undertaking especially the challenges it provides on game nights to give both teams the proper attention, but he's enjoying it.

"It's two things, we have such a great community here so I am coaching both teams but I have great assistants and great support with our chaplains and everybody else," Daniels said. 

"Then there's our leadership especially on our men's team with Jarrad, Jack, Kyle, Jay and guys that to be honest don't need a lot from me in terms of coaching. 

"I think it's actually been a benefit because the whole team has stepped up to lead themselves and our system is in place, and we know what we want to do having been together two or three years. That's helped a lot. 

"It's still full on and half-time of the ladies' game is big trying to speak to both groups but we have such a great group of people and community that it makes it doable."

NBL1 WEST MEN'S DIVISION 2021
ROUND 14

FRIDAY
South West Slammers 73 lost to Cockburn Cougars 90
Lakeside Lightning 91 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 86
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 76 lost to East Perth Eagles 82

SATURDAY
Perth Redbacks v Lakeside Lightning – Belmont Oasis 7pm
Perry Lakes Hawks v South West Slammers – Bendat Basketball Centre 7pm
Joondalup Wolves v Warwick Senators – HBF Arena 7pm
East Perth Eagles v Geraldton Buccaneers – Herb Graham Recreation Centre 7pm
Mandurah Magic v Willetton Tigers – Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre 7pm
Goldfields Giants v Rockingham Flames – Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium 7pm

SUNDAY
Goldfields Giants v Cockburn Cougars – Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium 12pm
Warwick Senators v Geraldton Buccaneers – Warwick Stadium 12pm