West Recap | First Nations Round Friday

Image credit: Deacon Matthews | @deacs.jpg

Top spot in NBL1 West men got a whole lot more interesting with a loss for Rockingham Flames and win for Willetton Tigers with Eastern Suns sending a message with Lewis Thomas and Randy Bell shining in upset victory.

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THE MYSTERY OF JOHNY NARKLE NOT BEING IN THE NBL

WEST RECAP | ROUND 13 SUNDAY

WOMEN

Kalamunda Eastern Suns (68) lost to Rockingham Flames (87)

The Rockingham Flames regained Marena Whittle and got the win they needed with the 87-68 road victory against the bottom placed Kalamunda Eastern Suns.

The Suns were back on their home floor at Ray Owen Sports Centre looking for a significant upset against the defending champions who needed to keep winning to not only stay solid in the top eight, but remain any chance of breaking into the top four.

Whittle was back as well for the Flames having returned from the 3x3 FIBA World Cup with the Australian Gangurrus in Mongolia, but it was Kalamunda who started well to go on an 8-0 run to lead by six in the first quarter.

By quarter-time it was back to all square at 21-21 before it remained a tight affair going into half-time with Rockingham clinging to the 43-42 lead.

It was in the third quarter the Flames began taking over especially defensively holding the Eastern Suns to nine points on 4/17 shooting while they put up 18 points themselves to be up 10 at three quarter-time.

Rockingham went on with the job from there with 26 points to 17 in the final period to score the 19-point victory and stay solid in the top eight with an 8-7 record.

The Flames had plenty of contributors in the win with Marena Whittle and producing 18 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

Jess Jakens added 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists, Sydney Erikstrup 15 points and seven boards, Alex Sharpe 13 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Alex Ciabattoni 14 points, 10 boards and six assists fresh off signing on again with the Perth Lynx in the WNBL.

The Eastern Suns remain anchored to bottom spot at 1-13 having now lost six straight despite Karly Murphy producing another 26 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and two assists on 12/37 shooting.

Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant added 22 points and eight rebounds with Emma Strelein contributing 10 points and three assists, and Alyssa Bowen four points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.

KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 68 (Murphy 26, McGhee-Pleasant 22, Strelein 10)

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 87 (Whittle 18, Jakens 17, Erikstrup 15)

Willetton Tigers (65) lost to Joondalup Wolves (94)

Nothing highlighted just how imposing Zitina Aokuso has been with Willetton Tigers this season more than seeing them without her and the Joondalup Wolves produced their best performance of 2025 to win 94-65.

The Tigers were still sitting fourth coming into the match up at Willetton Basketball Stadium but they were without the services of MVP candidate Aokuso.

She has been averaging 24.9 points, 13.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists and had three triple-doubles so far this season so it was going to be a challenge for Willetton without her even against a Joondalup team out of finals contention.

The Wolfpack made an impressive start away from home for the 21-15 lead by quarter-time and then leading by nine early in the second term before Willetton responded with a 10-0 scoring run.

The Tigers converted that into the 36-33 lead going into half-time, but the Wolves had arrived on a mission and put up 25 points to 12 in the third frame on the back of knocking down 4/7 from three-point range with Jorja Smith showing the way.

The Wolves then produced their best quarter of the season in the fourth by piling on 38 points with 13/23 shooting from the field and 6/11 from behind the three-point arc.

They held the Tigers to 17 points at the same time and just 11 shot attempts the entire last 10 minutes with Joondalup going on to win by 29 points to make it four wins for the season after their best performance of 2025.

Jorja Smith knocked down 5/11 from downtown for the Wolfpack on her way to 22 points with Kurstyn Harden contributing 20 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots.

Lesila Finau added 15 points, six assists, three rebounds and three steals, Maddie Sutton 11 points, 14 boards and eight assists, and Stefanie Berberabe eight points, nine assists and two steals.

Willetton are now in jeopardy of losing fourth spot this weekend with a tough trip to Warwick on Saturday night with Ajulu Thatha finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Ella Averill added 12 points, five rebounds and two assists with Desiree Kelley adding nine points, nine boards and six assists, Emily Counsel eight points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Matilda Muir eight points in her best performance of a first season back in the league since 2019.

WILLETTON TIGERS 65 (Averill 12, Thatha 12, Kelley 9)

JOONDALUP WOLVES 94 (Smith 22, Harden 20, Finau 15)

South West Slammers (74) lost to Mandurah Magic (85)

The Mandurah Magic had to battle hard but got the win they needed in the finish with the 85-74 road victory against the South West Slammers.

The Magic only head south of Mandurah once any given season and that's to take on the Slammers at Eaton Recreation Centre and on Friday night they needed to come away with the victory to further consolidate a playoff spot, and stay in touch of the top four.

The Slammers have been significantly more competitive in 2025 and weren’t about to hand the Magic anything and that was evident by quarter-time with South West leading 27-20 on the back of hitting 4/8 from three-point range to 1/ from Mandurah.

The Magic were able to turn the tide in the second quarter with 26 points to 15 to lead 46-42 by half-time but it remained a tight affair.

Mandurah still couldn’t shake South West with it being just a four-point ball game still by three quarter-time, but then in the final 10 minutes the Magic were able to confirm the eventual 11-point win by outscoring the Slammers 18 points to 11.

It's an important win in the context of the season too for Mandurah as they improve to a 9-7 record with that fourth position still up for grabs with four games in their campaign remaining over the final month.

Tina Stephens produced her best performance since joining the Magic with 24 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocked shots on 10/15 shooting from the field.

Grace Berg also delivered 24 points, six rebounds and two assists, McKenna Dale 12 points, five boards, three assists and two steals, and Claire Jacobs 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.

The Slammers are now 2-13 on the season having lost six straight but there was a lot to be encouraged about in their performance with import guard Mykea Gray leading the charge with 28 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists on 4/9 three-point shooting and 10/12 at the foul line.

Zaya Black won a championship at the Cockburn Cougars two years ago and is leading South West well now with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists with Cayla King contributing 10 points, three steals and two boards, and Courtney Bayliss six points and two assists.

SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 74 (Gray 28, Black 17, King 10)

MANDURAH MAGIC 85 (Stephens 24, Berg 24, Dale 12)

MEN

Kalamunda Eastern Suns (91) defeated Rockingham Flames (88)

The Kalamunda Eastern Suns brought in Randy Bell to become a contender and they showed that's just what they could be with the 91-88 win at home on Friday over the league-leading Rockingham Flames.

The Flames arrived at Ray Owen Sports Centre with a handy gap in top spot of the NBL1 West with five weeks of the regular season to go as they took on an Eastern Suns team looking to build momentum with an exciting back court of Bell, Marshall Nelson and Travis Fee.

Considering they were up against Isaac White and Emmett Naar, and set the stage for quite the match up on Friday night and it more than delivered.

It was Rockingham clinging go the 25-23 lead by the end of the first quarter before by half-time the scores were all locked away at 44-44 with the Suns shooting 18/40 opposed to 15/37, but Rockingham had eight extra free-throw attempts.

Kalamunda then completed a 15-0 scoring run in the third term and opened up what could have been a match-winning lead of 14 points, but not against Rockingham.

The Flames had got back within two points at three quarter-time and then were leading by three after a triple from Emmett Naar with 2:30 to play.

But from there, the Suns finished the game scoring seven of the last eight points beginning with a jumper to Randy Bell before Lewis Thomas marked his return to the team with a massive go-ahead three-pointer.

Laquinton Ross then missed two free throws for Rockingham to keep Kalamunda two points up before Marshall Nelson knocked down two at the line for the Suns against a Flames team he won NBL1 West and National championships with in 2022, and then torched in the finals last year when at Willetton.

That would prove enough for Kalamunda to score the three-point win in what is their most significant result of the season as they improve to an 8-8 record and having now strung together consecutive wins and building momentum with Randy Bell in the line-up.

Bell was playing a third game since joining the Eastern Suns and shone with 24 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals with 3/5 three-point shooting.

Marshall Nelson also had 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists with Marley Sam providing 12 points and three boards, and Travis Fee nine points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Rockingham now are vulnerable in top spot at 14-3 following the defeat in what is their lone appearance of the weekend with MVP fancy Isaac White producing another 35 points, eight rebounds and four assists with 10/14 at the foul line.

Ryan Godrey, in game 344, delivered 15 points as well for Rockingham with Jervon Pressley contributing 12 points and seven rebounds, Laquinton Ross nine points and 15 boards despite going 1/6 at the foul line, and Emmett Naar eight points, seven assists and six rebounds.

KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 91 (Bell 24, Nelson 23, Sam 12)

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 88 (White 35, Godfrey 15, Pressley 12)

Willetton Tigers (99) defeated Joondalup Wolves (92)

A spot in the top four went on the line at Willetton Basketball Stadium and the Willetton Tigers came from behind to score a crucial 99-92 win over the Joondalup Wolves.

Coming into the Friday night contest and it was the Tigers still sitting in third place at 12-4 despite last week's 20-point loss in Geraldton while the Wolfpack arrived in fifth and only one game behind at 11-5.

That set the stage nicely for a critical contest and by the end of the opening quarter the Wolves had made the only four triples of the game to be leading narrowly 23-20.

Joondalup then piled on 31 points to 17 in the second term with another 5/9 shooting from downtown while the Tigers went into half-time having missed all nine three-point attempts and with the visiting Wolves leading 54-37.

That lead for Joondalup got out to as much as 18 points in the third quarter too before Willetton got themselves right back into the contest with 28 points to 13 for the term to be trailing by just two at three quarter-time.

The Tigers kept the momentum going by completing a 14-0 scoring run to see them grab the lead, and then go on with the job from there to open up their own 20-ponit lead in the last quarter having trailed by 18 only around 10 minutes earlier.

Again the Wolves did mount a fightback with their own 11-0 run, but Willetton had done enough to secure the seven-point win to keep them solid in the top four at 13-4 ahead of an away clash with the second placed Warwick Senators on Saturday.

Taeshon Cherry once again stood tall for Willetton with 33 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists on 12/18 field goal shooting with 7/7 at the free-throw line.

Perth Wildcats development player added Tom Gerovich 17 points, four rebounds and two assists, Tana Kopa 15 points and seven boards, and Roosevelt Williams 14 points, nine rebounds, six steals and four assists.

The Wolfpack remain outside the top four with the loss to be 12-5 as a result ahead of returning home to host the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, and their trio of former Wolves Seb Salinas, Rob Huntington and Reece Maxwell on Saturday.

CJ Turnage delivered another 27 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and five steals for Joondalup while Joey Baker contributed 23 points, five boards, three assists and two steals on 5/11 three-point shooting.

Caleb Davis added 21 points and seven rebounds on 3/5 shooting from downtown with Gabe Chadinha contributing 11 points on 3/4 three-point shooting, and Adili Kuerban eight points, three rebounds and three assists.

WILLETTON TIGERS 99 (Chery 33, Gerovich 17, Kopa 15)

JOONDALUP WOLVES 92 (Turnage 27, Baker 23, Davis 21)

South West Slammers (85) lost to Mandurah Magic (87)

The defending champion Mandurah Magic survived a scare with Jamal Poplar and Devan Craig combining for 57 points for the South West Slammers but they prevailed 87-85 minus Julian Pesava.

The two most southern teams in the league locked horns at Eaton Recreation Centre and the Slammers would have seen a real chance to knock off the defending champions who suffered a cruel blow on Sunday with the loss of championship winning leading scorer Pesava to a knee injury.

The Magic did come into the clash needing to keep winning to stay in a playoff position as well and both teams had their turn with a handy lead in the first quarter, but by quarter-time it was the Magic clinging to the 22-21 advantage.

The Slammers put together a strong second quarter and not only were Mandurah without Julian Pesava, but import centre Sammie Freeman was off with foul trouble too denying the Magic much of a chance to keep Jamal Poplar in check.

South West outscored Mandurah 24 points to 18 in the second term to go into half-time leading 45-40, and then the Slammers were able to push that lead out to 12 early in the second half.

Mandurah had managed to close the gap and level scores up again by three quarter-time but then the Magic lost Freeman for the rest of the game when he picked up his fifth foul less than two minutes into the last quarter.

The lead continued to exchange hands but the Slammers were the first team to lead by more than a possession when up five with just under two minutes to play.

The Magic answered with the next four points through Jahcoree Ealy and Nick Woodall before it was a dramatic finish.

Manny Wugol did well forcing a steal for the Slammers but then was out of control on the break and was called for the offensive foul.

In the end the Slammers had a chance to be back up three when Gavin Deacon was fouled with the shot clock off, but he missed both and on the subsequent possession, Lachlan Bertram scored down low for the Magic to put them back up one.

It was another Slammers offensive foul, this time on Poplar, that denied them the chance to even get up a shot and up the other end Bertram made one at the line just over a second to play.

The Slammers still had the chance out of the timeout but rather than roll to the basket that is his great strength, Poplar settled for a pop out three ball that was blocked anyway by Ealy and the Magic escaped with the two-point win.

It's an important win in the context of the season too for the defending champions with the Magic improving to a 9-8 record with Jahcoree Ealy stepping up big time with 33 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks on 12/15 field goal shooting.

Lachlan Bertram continued his career-best season with 22 points and three rebounds despite missing all nine three-point attempts with Nick Woodall contributing 14 points and eight boards, and Sammie Freeman seven points and eight rebounds in just 15 minutes.

The Slammers remain in last place at 1-15 with the loss despite a breakout performance from Devan Craig with 28 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists on 3/6 three-point shooting.

Jamal Poplar was a beast once more with 29 points, 17 rebounds, three assists and two steals with Clive Weeden contributing eight points and three boards, and Jordan Wayne six points on 2/4 shooting from downtown.

SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 85 (Poplar 29, Craig 28, Weeden 8)

MANDURAH MAGIC 87 (Ealy 33, Bertram 22, Woodall 14)