West Recap | Round 2 Saturday

Image credit: Tiarna | @tiarnarosephoto

Abby Cubillo and Zitina Aokuso took East Perth Eagles and Willetton Tigers to NBL1 West wins while Elijah Pepper put up a spectacular 51 points as the Warwick Senators amassed 134 with 58 three-point attempts.

WEST RECAP | ROUND 2 FRIDAY

NO SHORTAGE OF MOTIVATION FOR PARSONS TO RETURN

SLAMMERS WOMEN TALK OF THE TOWN AFTER BREAKING DROUGHT

WOMEN

Kalamunda Eastern Suns (56) lost to Willetton Tigers (76)

Zitina Aokuso made her NBL1 West debut and flirted with a quadruple double on her way to leading the Willetton Tigers to the 76-56 victory over the Eastern Suns.

Aokuso is a massive coup as a signing for Willetton in 2025 given her WNBL, Opals and European playing credentials, and she hit the floor for the Tigers for the first time on Saturday at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

Both Willetton and Kalamunda were hunting a first win of the season with the Tigers losing to the Mandurah Magic by 52 points last Friday while the Suns lost to the South West Slammers last Saturday and then to the Perry Lakes Hawks on Friday to open Round 2.

It was a tight battle through the first half with the Tigers leading by just two points at quarter-time before only marginally extending that lead to 31-28 by half-time.

The Eastern Suns even managed to grab the lead early in the second half when Olivia Berry scored to put them in front, but it wouldn’t last and Willetton would soon take complete control.

The Tigers ended up going on a 14-0 scoring run and then ended up leading by as much as 20 points in the final quarter on the way to the 20-point victory to open their account for 2025.

Aokuso produced 19 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, seven steals and three blocks on 7/14 shooting in the win for Willetton while playing all but 2:56 of the game.

Ajulu Thatha was impressive for the Tigers as well with 20 points, six rebounds and five steals while Desiree Kelley contributed 14 points, eight boards, six assists and three steals, and Eva Langton eight points, five rebounds and three assists.

The Eastern Suns are now 0-3 to open the new season with Olivia Berry finishing with 18 points with Karly Murphy contributing another 14 points and 17 rebounds after her 40 and 25 the previous night against Perry Lakes.

KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 56 (Berry 18, Murphy 14, Civich 7)

WILLETTON TIGERS 76 (Thatha 20, Aokuso 19, Kelley 14)

Mandurah Magic (79) lost to East Perth Eagles (87)

The East Perth Eagles put up 32 points in the fourth quarter and Abby Cubillo was outstanding as point guard as they put in a second straight strong showing to open 2025 to beat the Mandurah Magic 87-79.

Both teams had made impressive starts to the 2025 season ahead of the match up at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre with the Magic beating Willetton first up last Friday and backing it up with the win over Lakeside on Friday.

East Perth, meanwhile, looked strong with a first up win at home over the defending champion Rockingham Flames last Friday setting the stage for a terrific Round 2 battle.

The Magic were once again without superstar point guard Ally Wilson while the Eagles still have Emma Clarke to come in once she overcomes a knee injury, but it was a high quality affair nonetheless.

East Perth started strongly with an early seven-point lead and to be up still 18-15 by quarter-time before the Eagles completed a 10-0 run to be leading by 14 in the second quarter.

The visitors were still on top 43-29 by half-time but the Magic fired back with 25 points to 12 in the third period to set up a big finish.

It was the Eagles who delivered by putting up 32 points in the last 10 minutes having only scored 55 in the previous 30 as they ended up winning by eight to improve to 2-0 to start the season under new coach Tim Symons.

Abby Cubillo ultimately proved to be the difference between the two teams with the two-time WNBL championship winner producing 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds on 7/12 shooting from the field and 9/12 from the foul line.

Import centre Sasha Goodlet was strong too with 17 points and seven rebounds with Madison Torresin contributing 15 points and 10 rebounds, Taylor Roberts nine points on 3/3 three-point shooting, Awatea Leach nine points, and captain Tessa Morrison nine points, five boards, five assists and three steals.

The Magic are now 2-1 to start the season but played both games this weekend minus Ally Wilson with McKenna Dale impressive once more with 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Claire Jacobs also had 14 points and five rebounds, Jade Gowland 12 points and three boards, and Grace Berg nine points, five rebounds and three assists.

MANDURAH MAGIC 79 (Dale 24, Jacobs 14, Gowland 12)

EAST PERTH EAGLES 87 (Cubillo 24, Goodlet 17, Torresin 15)

Warwick Senators (74) lost to Rockingham Flames (82)

Alex Sharp was back for the Rockingham Flames on Saturday night and she lifted the Rockingham Flames to the bounce back 82-74 victory away to the Warwick Senators.

The Flames and Senators finished first and second respectively at the end of the 2024 regular season so their early season meeting in 2025 at Warwick Stadium was going to be a good indicator of where they sit even with both not at full strength.

Rockingham started its championship defence with losses to the East Perth Eagles and Cockburn Cougars ahead of taking on a Senators team who opened up with the thrilling comeback win over the Lakeside Lightning.

There were still key players missing on either side with Rockingham still without Georgia Pineau, Rosie Deegan and Marena Whittle despite regaining two-time MVP Sharp with the Senators minus Emma Gandini, Kiara Waite and Nat Burton despite adding back in another dual MVP Stacey Barr.

It proved to be a rollercoaster ride of a contest too with both teams having their own double-figure leads in the second quarter.

Warwick made the first break with an 11-0 scoring run to lead by 10 but the Flames answered with 16 straight points of their own to go into half-time leading 47-38.

Rockingham were able to go on with the job from there leading by as much as 15 points in the third quarter on the way to the eight-point for a first win as defending champs in 2025.

Two-time MVP and last year's championship winning captain and Grand Final MVP with the Flames, Alex Sharp, had a huge say in the bounce back win with 27 points, 13 rebounds and two assists on 9/17 shooting while going 7/10 at the foul line.

Emily Steven is grabbing her opportunities too with 5/10 three-point shooting for 22 points with Alex Ciabattoni adding 15 points, eight boards, seven assists and two steals.

Stacey Barr missed the opening game of the season but was back on Saturday for Warwick and sent a reminder of her quality with 30 points, 10 rebounds, six steals and two assists while hitting 5/14 from downtown.

Last season's runner-up MVP Chloe Forster also had 23 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals with Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard contributing eight points, five boards, four assists and three steals.

WARWICK SENATORS 74 (Barr 30, Forster 23, Clinch Hoycard 8)

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 82 (Sharp 27, Steven 22, Ciabattoni 15)

Cockburn Cougars (102) defeated Joondalup Wolves (57)

Having played in the last two grand finals, the Cockburn Cougars are firing to start 2025 even with a new coach and kept the momentum going at home with the 102-57 thumping of the Joondalup Wolves.

The Cougars won the championship in 2023 and also made the grand final in 2024, and have now started 2025 on fire coming into Saturday's game having beaten the Goldfields Giants by 38 points and then the Rockingham Flames by 33 in a grand final rematch.

They were back home at Wally Hagan Stadium and took full advantage of a Joondalup team missing Jorjah Smith, Chelsea Belcher, Stefanie Berberabe, Maddie Sutton and Laniesha Paddon.

Cockburn shot out of the blocks with 30 points to 19 in the first quarter before holding the Wolves to just four points in the second term while putting up 30 themselves with the Cougars leading 60-23 by half-time.

The Cougars cruised to the 45-point win from there to improve to 3-0 on the season with Sarah Mortensen delivering 24 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals on 4/7 three-point shooting.

Daniel Raber added 21 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two steals, Steph Gorman 22 points, nine boards, two assists and two steals, Amelia Corasaniti 12 points and five rebounds, and Jaya Scafidi eight points, four boards, four steals and two assists.

Jhazmin Joson top-scored for Joondalup with 18 points and two assists on 4/9 three-point shooting with Keisha Chng adding 12 points and five boards.

COCKBURN COUGARS 102 (Mortensen 24, Gorman 22, Raber 21)

JOONDALUP WOLVES 57 (Joson 18, Chng 12, Haley 7, Kirby 7, Bolland 7)

Goldfields Giants (91) defeated South West Slammers (66)

The South West Slammers couldn’t quite back up their breakthrough win last week with the Goldfields Giants ending their own losing run with Nici Gilday brilliant in the 91-66 victory.

The Slammers ended a 52-game losing streak spread over three years last Saturday with the win at home over the Eastern Suns and they headed to Kalgoorlie trying to make it consecutive victories.

Goldfields were also hunting a first win on their new home at Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium but they were coming off a 38-point loss on that same floor last Saturday at the hands of the Cockburn Cougars.

South West were able to keep the momentum going to start the game with 19 points to 13 in the first quarter, but then Goldfields worked on top in the second frame with 29 points to 14.

That saw the Giants take a 42-33 lead into the half-time break and then they went on with the job from there with 27 points to 19 in the third term, and 22 to 14 in the fourth to score the 25-point win.

It's a first win for Goldfields since June 2 last year as they ended a nine-game losing streak with former Mandurah and Perry Lakes star guard Nici Gilday delivering 33 points, eight assists, five rebounds and two steals on 6/12 three-point shooting.

Rachel Pettit added 16 points and three assists with 4/11 shooting from downtown while Chloe Zorzi contributed 11 points, five steals, three boards and two assists, Ash Sidebottom nine points, six rebounds and three assists, and Josephine Odude eight points, eight boards and two steals.

It wasn’t quite the back up performance the Slammers were hoping for with Mykea Gray finishing with 19 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Nyidier Riak also had 12 points and four rebounds with Cayla King adding 10 points, five steals, four boards and three assists, and Courtney Bayliss seven points.

GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 91 (Gilday 33, Pettit 16, Zorzi 11)

SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 66 (Gray 19, Riak 12, King 10)

MEN

Geraldton Buccaneers (107) defeated Perth Redbacks (69)

The Geraldton Buccaneers opened their home season in ominous fashion on Saturday night with the 107-69 victory against the Perth Redbacks.

The Buccs opened the season with a road double where they lost in overtime to the Joondalup Wolves before overrunning the Eastern Suns ahead of getting home to host the Redbacks at Active West Stadium.

Perth did start their season encouragingly with the thrilling two-point win over the Joondalup Wolves last Friday night, but taking on the Buccs in Geraldton was a different story.

Geraldton came out on a mission to start paying back their home fans for last year's heartbreaking preliminary final loss to Willetton and raced out to a 34-16 lead by quarter-time.

The Buccs then completed a run of 13 straight points in the second frame to end up leading by as much as 33 points and being in control at 61-28 by half-time.

Geraldton then built on that lead in the second half with it getting out to as much as 43 points before winning by 38 in the finish.

There was plenty to like with what the Buccaneers did with new import Akeem Springs delivering 26 points, three rebounds and two assists on 11/15 shooting from the floor and 4/7 from downtown.

Johny Narkle added 17 points, four rebounds, four steals, four blocks and three assists with 4/6 three-point shooting while Joshua Keyes had 15 points, 12 boards, five assists, three steals and two blocks, and Nik DeSantis 14 points, six rebounds and four assists.

After an impressive first up win, it was a tough night for the Redbacks despite Joe Cook-Green's 21 points with 4/9 shooting from downtown.

Lochlan Cummings added 13 points, five assists and four rebounds, Callan McDonald 12 points and four boards, and Jacob Formosa nine points, four rebounds and two steals.

GERALDTON BUCCANEERS 107 (Springs 26, Narkle 17, Keyes 15)

PERTH REDBACKS 69 (Cook-Green 21, Cummings 13, McDonald 12)

Kalamunda Eastern Suns (88) lost to Willetton Tigers (99)

The Willetton Tigers produced another standout performance to open the new season with the 99-88 road win over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.

Coming off making last year's grand final in the NBL1 West, Willetton had an impressive first up showing in Mandurah against the Magic in a rematch of the 2024 decider with the 14-point victory last Friday.

The Tigers hadn’t played since while the Eastern Suns started their season beating the South West Slammers on the road last Saturday night before losing to the Geraldton Buccaneers on Sunday, and then winning away to the Perry Lakes Hawks on Friday to open Round 2.

Back on their home floor at Ray Owen Sports Centre, the Suns started strongly to open up a nine-point lead in the first quarter and pushing that out to 13 in the second term.

By half-time and Willetton had cut the Kalamunda lead to 54-48 before the Tigers dominated the third quarter with 30 points to 14 which saw them turn that 13-point deficit into their own 13-point lead having gone on a 16-0 run.

Willetton completed the job from there with the 11-point win with 353-game veteran Damien Scott top-scoring with 20 points to go with seven rebounds, five assists and four steals.

New import Taeshon Cherry added 19 points and seven rebounds with Tyreese Davis contributing 15 points, six boards, two assists and two steals, Tom Gerovich 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Kyle Armour 11 points on 3/6 three-point shooting.

The Eastern Suns are now 2-2 to start the season with Travis Fee coming up against his former team and putting up 27 points, eight rebounds and three assists with fellow former Willetton player Marshall Nelson not playing.

Terrico White also had 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, Joel Vaiangina 11 points, three boards and two steals, and games record holder Seb Salinas 10 points and three rebounds.

KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 88 (Fee 27, White 22, Vaiangina 11)

WILLETTON TIGERS 99 (Scott 20, Cherry 19, Davis 15)

Mandurah Magic (114) defeated East Perth Eagles (109)

Fresh off the confidence out of being part of the Mandurah Magic's championship last year, Lachlan Bertram and Julian Pesava combined for 65 points on Saturday night the 114-109 win at home over the East Perth Eagles.

It had been a mixed start to the title defence for the Magic with a loss at home last Friday to Willetton before bouncing back with a win on the road to Lakeside on Friday night.

East Perth lost at home to open its season last Friday night to the Rockingham Flames and also were looking to hit back on Saturday night at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

Motivated to get that first win of 2025, the Eagles shot out of the blocks with Lee Roberts leading the charge after the 2017 grand final MVP had just the two points last week against Rockingham.

He was instrumental in East Perth opening up a 14-point lead during the second quarter but the Magic did respond with an 8-0 scoring run to cut the lead of the Eagles to 59-56 by half-time.

Mandurah then took charge through the second half completing a 13-0 run in the third quarter and then pushing out to an 11-point lead in the final term before holding out for the five-point win.

The Magic are now 2-1 to start the season as reigning champions with Lachlan Bertram having a night out with 35 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals on shooting 14/27 from the floor.

Julian Pesava continued his hot start to the season with 30 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals with Jahcoree Ealy adding 18 points, three boards and three assists, and Joe MacDonald 13 points and five rebounds.

It's not the start to the season East Perth was hoping for to be 0-2 with Roberts finishing with 32 points and seven rebounds on 11/20 shooting from the floor, 3/3 from downtown and 7/9 at the foul line.

Matthew Lang added 17 points on 5/8 shooting from deep, Max Rice 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, Taylor Young 14 points, 12 assists and six boards, and Sharif Watson 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

MANDURAH MAGIC 114 (Bertram 35, Pesava 30, Ealy 18)

EAST PERTH EAGLES 109 (Roberts 32, Lang 17, Rice 15)

Warwick Senators (134) defeated Rockingham Flames (109)

To say that Elijah Pepper is enjoying life in the NBL1 West would be the greatest of understatements with the Perth Wildcats guard putting up a second straight 50-point outburst in the Warwick Senators' 134-109 win over the Rockingham Flames.

Pepper is coming off his rookie NBL season at the Wildcats and made his NBL1 West debut last Saturday in Warwick's win over Lakeside where he put up 50 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

He made his home debut at Warwick Stadium with the Senators on Saturday night and bettered that performance with 51 points, six assists, three rebounds and three steals on shooting 9/21 from three-point land and 10/12 at the foul line.

It was part of a spectacular offensive display from the Senators made all the more impressive for them to put up 134 points considering they are still without championship winning point guard Mitch Clarke and championship captain Cody Ellis who injured a calf in the season-opener.

Warwick piled on 38 points to 22 from Rockingham in the first quarter before another 30 in the second but the Flames were keeping pace with 37 of their own with the Senators only leading 68-59 at the half.

It was then a simply remarkable third quarter with the Senators piling on 47 points with 19 of those coming from Pepper with their lead getting out to as much as 32 points before they ended up winning by 25.

The Senators finished the night putting up 134 points on shooting 53 per cent from the floor and getting up 89 shots in 40 minutes which remarkably included 58 three-point attempts of which they scored 28.

On top of what Pepper did, Cooper Creek made sure the absence of Ellis wasn’t felt too much with 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists on 7/12 three-point shooting.

George Pearl also made 7/9 from deep for 23 points and five assists with Todd Withers adding 18 points, five rebounds and two blocks, and Tyler Shand six points, 13 boards, 10 assists, three steals and three blocks.

Rockingham had won its first two games of the season over East Perth and Cockburn but were once again without Emmett Naar, Justin Beard and a second import against the Senators.

Newly signed Adelaide 36ers guard Isaac White put up 36 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Flames with Ryan Godfrey adding 19 points, five assists and four boards.

Jervon Pressley also had 18 points and nine rebounds, Tevin Jackson 10 points, three boards and two steals, and Travis Durnin 10 points and three rebounds.

WARWICK SENATORS 134 (Pepper 51, Creek 25, Pearl 23)

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 109 (White 36, Godfrey 19, Pressley 18)

Cockburn Cougars (83) lost to Joondalup Wolves (102)

The Joondalup Wolves continued their impressive opening to the 2025 season with CJ Turnage and Joey Baker combining for 48 points in the 102-83 road win over the Cockburn Cougars.

The Wolfpack opened the new season beating the Geraldton Buccaneers in an overtime thriller at home last Saturday night ahead of taking on the Cougars on Saturday at Wally Hagan Stadium.

It had been a tough start to the season for Cockburn with losses to the Goldfields Giants and Rockingham Flames by a combined 61 points, and it was never going to be an easy task to turn that around against Joondalup.

The Cougars did make an enterprising start on their home floor to be leading 23-22 by quarter-time but the Wolves did begin to take over in the second period with 26 points to 19 to go into half-time leading 48-42.

Joondalup took complete charge in the third stanza with 29 points to 16 to end up leading by as much as 19 points with that growing to 22 in the fourth period and settling at 19 by the final buzzer.

The Wolves are now 2-0 to open the season with new import Joey Baker delivering 24 points and seven rebounds with 4/7 shooting from deep while CJ Turnage producing 24 points, seven board and three assists on 12/19 shooting.

Ethan Elliott contributed 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds, Caleb Davis 18 points, seven boards and four assists, and Damon Ballantyne eight points and four rebounds.

The Cougars are now 0-3 to open the season and having lost five straight games dating back to last year with import point guard Kortland Martin hitting 5/8 from three-point land for 23 points and five assists.

Josh Hunt also had 19 points and three assists with Riley Eves an early season bright spot by producing another 12 points, five rebounds and two steals.

COCKBURN COUGARS 83 (Martin 23, Hunt 19, Eves 12)

JOONDALUP WOLVES 102 (Turnage 24, Baker 24, Elliott 21)

Goldfields Giants (106) defeated South West Slammers (93)

The big guns of the Goldfields Giants all came up huge as they scored a second straight win on their new home floor to start the season beating the South West Slammers 106-93.

Michael Jok, Shaun Stewart, De'Sean Parsons and Joshua Duach combined for 95 of those 106 points for the Giants as they continued to enjoy their new court at Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium in Kalgoorlie.

Goldfields started the season last week with a 40-point win over the Cockburn Cougars ahead of hosting a Slammers team who lost on their home floor to open 2025 last Saturday to the Eastern Suns.

The Giants took control of the contest from the outset and were already leading 31-12 by the end of the opening quarter with the home team then extending that advantage to 22 during the second term.

Even with South West putting up 28 points themselves in the second term, Goldfields were still leading 56-40 by half-time and then led by as much as 25 in the second half on the way to the eventual 13-point victory.

It was an impressive offensive display from both teams with the Giants shooting 59 per cent as a team while hitting 11/25 from downtown and 21/26 at the foul line.

The Slammers also shot at 49 per cent for the game with 8/32 shooting from downtown and 15/21 at the free-throw line.

The weaponry of the Giants was too much in the finish with Shaun Stewart showing what a shrewd signing he will be by putting up 27 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

Michael Jok also delivered 26 points, five rebounds and four assists on 5/10 long-range shooting with captain De'Sean Parsons putting up 22 points, 10 boards, four steals and three assists, and Joshua Duach 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Jamal Poplar had a breakout performance for the Slammers with 32 points, 12 rebounds and five rebounds on 12/18 shooting from the floor and 7/8 from the stripe.

Devan Craig added 15 points, two rebounds and two assists, Manny Wugol 12 points, and Rhys Barrett 11 points while Pharell Keats had nine points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals.

GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 106 (Stewart 27, Jok 26, Parsons 22)

SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 93 (Poplar 32, Craig 15, Wugol 12)