West Recap | Round 11 Saturday

Image credit: @ChyonKondylasPhotography

Zitina Aokuso produced 27 points, 20 rebounds and 14 assists with Willetton Tigers ending up with two dramatic NBL1 West Saturday wins over East Perth Eagles while Johny Narkle, Chloe Forster, Mitch Clarke and Joey Baker were others to standout.

WEST RECAP | ROUND 11 FRIDAY

NAAR THRIVING ON MOVE WEST TO JOIN FLAMES

CLARKE EXCITED TO RETURN TO RAPIDLY GROWING WEST

WOMEN

Willetton Tigers (92) defeated East Perth Eagles (84)

Zitina Aokuso produced another monstrous triple-double and the Willetton Tigers scored the important 92-84 win over the East Perth Eagles, but they did need overtime to do so.

It always shaped as a potentially season-defining match up at Willetton Basketball Stadium with the Eagles coming into the weekend still sitting fourth despite a loss last week to Warwick while Willetton were fifth fresh off beating the Goldfields Giants in Kalgoorlie.

It was an impressive start from East Perth away from home with the Eagles going 3/6 from downtown in the first quarter on the way to the 20-11 lead by quarter-time.

Even though Willetton outscored them 20 points to 16 in the second term, East Perth were still on top 36-31 by the half-time interval.

It was in the third quarter when Willetton worked on top with 28 points to 18 including dropping 6/10 from three-point range to turn that five-point half-time deficit into a five-point lead of their own by three quarter-time.

What was to follow was a crazy fourth quarter and that included Emma Clarke picking up three fouls in the last period to foul out with just under a minute remaining in her second game with the Eagles for the season.

Willetton had got back out to a five-point lead seconds earlier with a three-point play from Eva Langton before Sasha Goodlett brought East Perth back within three.

Langton then hit two free throws to put the Tigers back up three before Madi Torresin scored on the offensive rebound to make it a three-point game once more.

The Eagles then forced the turnover and Goodlett scored down low to make the margin one in favour of Willetton as coach Simon Parker called the timeout.

That's where the drama really started in the dying seconds of regulation. East Perth got a stop up one end before Torresin found herself in the open floor with the chance at the go ahead layup.

She couldn’t get it to fall but Awatea Leach did grab the offensive rebound and was fouled. She missed the first but made the second to tie scores up, but Willetton had one last possession after a timeout.

Willetton captain Desiree Kelley then couldn’t score on her drive to the basket but Ella Averill did grab the o-board and was fouled on her attempted put back.

She had the chance to win the game for the Tigers but missed both at the stripe and the game went to overtime with fourth position on the line.

Kelley came out and hit two threes for Willetton to open overtime and the Tigers remained in front the rest of the way to secure the eight-point win to replace East Perth in fourth spot as a result having improved to an 8-4 record.

Zitina Aokuso produced a remarkable all-round performance for Willetton ending up with 27 points, 20 rebounds, 14 assists and four blocks while playing all 45 minutes of the game.

Captain Desiree Kelley ended up with 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals on 4/11 three-point shooting with Eva Langton adding 19 points on 4/9 long-range shooting, and Ajulu Thatha 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Eagles are now on a 7-4 record having lost consecutive matches for the first time in 2025 with point guard Abby Cubillo putting up 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks having played for Indigenous All Stars in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Sasha Goodlett ended up with 19 points, 13 rebounds and two steals while Madi Torresin contributed 17 points, eight boards, three assists and three steals, Awatea Leach 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists, and Emma Clarke 10 points and seven boards before fouling out.

WILLETTON TIGERS 92 (Aokuso 27, Kelley 20, Langton 19)

EAST PERTH EAGLES 84 (Cubillo 21, Goodlett 19, Torresin 17)

Perry Lakes Hawks (102) defeated Joondalup Wolves (67)

The Perry Lakes Hawks looked mighty impressive with their full line-up all up and running together and the result was a dominant 102-67 win at home over the Joondalup Wolves.

With a starting five full of quality with Grace Stone, Jayda Clark, Alex Fowler, Amy Jacobs and Megan McKay, and then with Mia Satie, Maddy Dennis and the returning Eryn Fisher off the bench, coach Craig Mansfield has good reason to be optimistic of what that full Hawks squad can do.

It left a big task for Joondalup to take it up to them even though the Wolves were fresh having had the bye last week and that came when they scored a miraculous overtime win over the Eastern Suns thanks to a halfcourt prayer from Jorjah Smith.

The Hawks had lost two heartbreakers last week to Mandurah and Rockingham, but came out impressively on Saturday night to be leading 24-19 by quarter-time.

Perry Lakes then delivered 29 points to 15 in the second quarter to go into half-time on top 53-34.

That lead continued to grow in the second half and got out to as much as 30 points in the third term and then 41 in the fourth before securing the eventual 35-point victory.

That win improves Perry Lakes to a 5-6 record on the season as they try and lock in a playoff spot with Alex Fowler finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds and two assists.

Jayda Clark added 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, Amy Jacobs 12 points, three  boards, three assists and two steals, Megan McKay 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Mia Satie 10 points and four boards, and Grace Stone 10 points, four rebounds and two steals.

Joondalup's finals hopes took a hit with the loss to now fall to a 3-9 record with Kurstyn Harden top-scoring with 19 points and five rebounds with Maddie Sutton contributing 12 points, six boards and four steals, and Lesila Finau 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 102 (Fowler 19, Clark 17, McKay 12, Jacobs 12)

JOONDALUP WOLVES 67 (Harden 19, Sutton 12, Finau 10)

Goldfields Giants (69) lost to Warwick Senators (81)

The Goldfields Giants fought hard back on their home floor but the Warwick Senators did come away with the 81-69 victory with Chloe Forster producing a 32-point performance.

Goldfields remained on their home floor in Kalgoorlie of Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium attempting to snap a seven-game losing slide including at home last week to Willetton by just 11 points in a competitive showing.

Warwick arrived sitting in second spot on a three-game winning streak but with Robbi Ryan still yet to hit the floor and Kiara Waite and Stacey Barr also not playing, it was going to be an intriguing contest.

Even though Warwick did lead by nine points during the opening term, their advantage was back to just two by quarter-time before they did put up 25 points to 11 in the second quarter to go into half-time on top 44-28.

Goldfields responded well, though, with 21 points to 14 in the third term to close that gap to single digits by three quarter-time.

Warwick did manage to do enough in the end for the 12-point victory to make it four straight wins to improve to a 10-2 record to remain solid in second spot just behind the undefeated Cockburn Cougars.

Chloe Forster finished with 32 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals for the Senators with 10/11 free-throw shooting with Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard adding 18 points and five rebounds on 4/7 shooting from behind the three-point line.

Nat Burton added 10 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, and Kyana Weir nine points, six boards and two assists.

The Giants are now 2-11 having lost eight straight but the last two games against finals bound teams Willetton and Warwick have now been encouraging for coach Jaymi Worthington.

Erin Antosh top-scored for the Giants with 20 points and 15 rebounds while fellow import Nici Gilday contributed 18 points, six assists, five boards and two steals.

Kiriana Hawaikirangi also had 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Josephine Odude nine points and eight boards.

GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 69 (Antosh 20, Gilday 18, Hawaikirangi 10)

WARWICK SENATORS 81 (Forster 32, Clinch Hoycard 18, Burton 10)

MEN

Geraldton Buccaneers (103) defeated Mandurah Magic (70)

It was a rematch from the finals last year and the Geraldton Buccaneers made a statement against the defending champion Mandurah Magic with Johny Narkle again shining in the 103-70 victory.

The Buccs and Magic also met on the same Active West Stadium floor in the first round of the playoffs last year with Geraldton scoring the win there although it would ultimately be Mandurah going on to win the championship at RAC Arena.

Coming into Saturday night's match up back in Geraldton and the Buccaneers had been impressive at home since losing to East Perth beating Perry Lakes by 28 points, Warwick by 13 and then last week, Joondalup by 20 even with coach Dayle Joseph ejected in the third quarter.

The Magic arrived having lost their past three matches to be just clinging to a playoff position and it didn't take long for Geraldton to work on top with 26 points to 16 in the first quarter on shooting 4/8 from three to the 1/8 from Mandurah.

The Buccaneers completed a 17-0 scoring run into the second frame too to end up leading by 14 points and then being on top by that margin leading 50-36 by the half-time break.

It was then another 30 points to 23 in the third quarter and 23 to 11 in the fourth with Geraldton going on to score the 33-point win against the defending champs.

The Buccs ended up shooting 48 per cent from the field to Mandurah's 39 while also taking 27 free-throw attempts to 15, collecting 20 offensive rebounds and then forcing the Magic into 22 turnovers from which they scored 19 points.

The Buccaneers improve to a 9-4 record with the win to consolidate a top four position with Johny Narkle again starring to not only keep putting himself in the MVP discussion, but to also show he's deserving of an NBL opportunity.

Narkle finished with 28 points, eight assists, six rebounds, four steals and three blocks with 4/9 shooting from behind the three-point arc.

Josh Keyes also delivered 22points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals, Liam Hunt 19 points and 12 boards, Nik DeSantis 13 points, six rebounds and five assists, and captain Aaron Ralph nine points with three more triples to extend his lead as all-time three-point shot maker.

The Magic have now lost four straight to slip to a 7-7 record with Sammie Freeman top-scoring with 20 points and seven rebounds on 8/11 shooting.

Jahcoree Ealy added 12 points, four assists and two rebounds, Julian Pesava 10 points, seven boards and two assists, Hamish Warden nine points, three rebounds and three assists, and Lachlan Bertram eight points, six assists and five boards.

GERALDTON BUCCANEERS 103 (Narkle 28, Keyes 22, Hunt 19)

MANDURAH MAGIC 70 (Freeman 20, Ealy 12, Pesava 12)

Willetton Tigers (83) defeated East Perth Eagles (82)

Both teams came into the contest in impressive form and played out a thriller with the Willetton Tigers getting the job done 83-82 at home to the East Perth Eagles with Roosevelt Williams Jr helping to cover for the absence of Taeshon Cherry.

The Tigers were back on their home floor and on a four-game winning streak to have moved up to third position and to be banging on the door of second spot, but they were without import forward Cherry who took his 21.0 points and 5.2 rebounds a game out with him.

East Perth also arrived at Willetton Basketball Stadium fresh off wins over the Giants and Senators to keep their playoff aspirations alive.

It would prove to be a game of some wild fluctuations with the Tigers opening up a 10-point lead in the first quarter but that was back to just two by quarter-time.

After scoring the last eight points of the first quarter and then the first three of the second term, East Perth briefly hit the front but Willetton soon worked on top and would score 31 points for the second frame.

That came on the back of pushing the pace and attacking the paint and they shot 12/20 for the quarter to go into the half-time break on top 52-38.

The Eagles showed strong fighting qualities to deliver a standout third term with 29 points to 15 on the back of shooting 10/22 from the floor and getting to the foul line for nine free-throw attempts to three.

That saw the scores all level going into the fourth quarter and East Perth were brimming with confidence when Max Rice hit a three early into it to put his team up three.

Tom Gerovich responded soon after with at three ball of his own for Willetton and ultimately getting some key stops, and big buckets in the last five minutes to Roosevelt Williams Jr, Tyreese Davis and Gerovich kept them in front.

East Perth did make a three on the buzzer thanks to Nick Filpo, but all that did was make it a one-point final margin with Willetton holding on for the win to make five in-a-row and to improve to a 10-3 record.

The Tigers did well to cover for the absence of Taeshon Cherry with Roosevelt Williams Jr top-scoring with 20 points to go with four rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Tom Gerovich added 18 points, nine boards, four assists and two steals, Tyreese Davis 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists, Damien Scott nine points and seven assists, and fellow 300-plus gamer Michael Vigor eight points, eight rebounds and three assists.

The Eagles remain outside the top eight with the loss at 5-7 with Lee Roberts top-scoring with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

Nick Filpo ended up with 15 points on 3/6 three-point shooting, Max Rice 15 points, six rebounds and four assists, Ioannis Dimakopoulos 10 points, three boards and two assists, and Chier Maker eight points, five rebounds and two steals.

WILLETTON TIGERS 83 (Williams Jr 20, Gerovich 18, Davis 17)

EAST PERTH EAGLES 82 (Roberts 17, Filpo 15, Rice 15)

Perry Lakes Hawks (74) lost to Joondalup Wolves (90)

The Joondalup Wolves emphatically responded from a tough loss in Geraldton the week before to beat the Perry Lakes Hawks 90-74 to stay right in touch for a top four position.

The Wolfpack lost by 20 points in Geraldton the previous Saturday night ahead of coming up against the Hawks at Bendat Basketball Centre a week later with Perry Lakes needing to win too to stay in eighth spot after playing two overtime thrillers last weekend.

Joondalup made an impressive start knocking down six three-pointers in the first quarter on the way to leading 27-17 by quarter-time before then continuing to build on that with another 26 to 19 in the second term.

That saw the Wolves lead 53-36 by half-time while only sending the Hawks to the foul once in the entire first 20 minutes.

That lead for Joondalup did get out to as much as 21 points as well in the second half before the visitors secured the 16-point win to improve to a 9-5 record.

The only downside of the weekend for the Wolves was that the four teams above them, Geraldton, Willetton, Warwick and Rockingham, also won to keep them in fifth position.

Joey Baker put in another standout performance for the Wolfpack with 26 points and four assists on 5/10 three-point shooting while CJ Turnage narrowly missed a triple-double with 18 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and four steals.

Caleb Davis added 15 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, Damon Ballantyne eight points, three boards and two assists, and Adili Kuerban eight points and two rebounds.

The Hawks now slip to a 6-7 record to be locked in a battle over seventh or eighth spot with the 7-7 Magic, 5-7 Eagles and 6-7 Eastern Suns.

Despite the loss, Luke Phillips continued his career-best run of form for the Hawks with 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists with 6/14 shooting from behind the three-point line.

Kyiah O'Donohue also had 16 points with 4/9 three-point shooting, Jaden Stanley-Williams nine points, three rebounds and two assists, and Nick Floyd eight points and three boards.

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 74 (L Phillips 29, O'Donohue 16, Stanley-Williams 9)

JOONDALUP WOLVES 90 (Baker 26, Turnage 18, Davis 15)

Goldfields Giants (75) lost to Warwick Senators (107)

The Warwick Senators impressively bounced back from their second loss of the season heading to Kalgoorlie and coming back with the 107-75 win with two-time championship winning point guard Mitch Clarke producing 34 points and seven three-pointers.

The Senators suffered their second loss of the season last Saturday night at the hands of the East Perth Eagles and conceded top spot in the process to the Rockingham Flames.

The challenges continued as Warwick made the trip to Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium to face a Giants team also attempting to bounce back from losing their past three matches to Warwick, East Perth and Willetton.

Not helping the cause of Goldfields was that the home team was without Shaun Stewart and Leigh Rickwood-Pitt while the Senators also regained the NBL1's leading scorer Elijah Pepper after missed last week's loss to the Eagles.

Goldfields did open up an early eight-point lead having scored 10 straight points but by quarter-time the Senators had narrowly worked on top 25-24.

Warwick took control in the second quarter, though, piling on 33 points to 15 to grab the lead having knocked down seven threes and to go into the half-time break on top 58-39.

Warwick then continued to dominate through the second half with the lead getting out to 30 points in the third quarter, and 34 in the fourth on the way to the eventual bounce back 32-point victory.

The Senators improve to an 11-2 record with the win to stay solid in second position and it was Mitch Clarke who played the starring role with 34 points, eight assists, three steals, two blocks and two rebounds on the back of shooting 7/12 from downtown.

Todd Withers added 21 points on 7/12 three-point shooting as well with Elijah Pepper providing 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals, and Cooper Creek 14 points, four boards and two steals.

The Giants have now lost four straight to be 7-6 and still just clinging to a spot in the top eight, but lucky that the teams directly below them coming into the round, Mandurah, Perry Lakes and East Perth, also lost.

Michael Jok top-scored for the Giants with 20 points and nine rebounds with De'Sean Parsons adding 19 points, eight boards, three assists and two steals, and Josh Duach 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.

GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 75 (Jok 20, Parsons 19, Duach 14)

WARWICK SENATORS 107 (Clarke 34, Withers 21, Pepper 20)