The Perry Lakes Hawks wrapped up top spot, the Willetton Tigers and Rockingham Flames secured top four positions and the Cockburn Cougars shot ahead of the Joondalup Wolves in eighth spot all part of Friday night’s action.
The final round of the NBL1 West Men’s Division got underway with six massive matches on Friday night and it included a loss for the Lakeside Lightning and win for the Tigers ahead of their clash over second spot on Saturday to close the regular season.
The Hawks won again to lock in top spot while a win for the Flames not only locked them into fourth position, but also bumped the Wolfpack behind the Cougars who advanced to eighth spot with demolition job on the Perth Redbacks.
But both the Wolfpack and Cougars host the Buccaneers and Slammers respectively on Saturday afternoon with eighth spot on the line.
The Willetton Tigers locked in at least a top four finish for themselves with a 103-42 hammering of the severely shorthanded Geraldton Buccaneers at Willetton Basketball Stadium.
Tom Gerovich was the star for Willetton with 19 points and 14 rebounds while they only got five points and 10 minutes from star scorer Damien Scott. Brandon Holloway finished with 15 points and two steals for Geraldton.
The Perth Redbacks have now had a horror last seven days after the Cockburn Cougars put themselves into eight position with a 96-70 thumping of the home team at Belmont Oasis.
The Cougars needed to win both their games this weekend and hope the Wolves didn’t to be able to play finals, and they took care of the first part on Friday night with Gavin Field putting up 18 points and Nic Pozoglou a spectacular 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Louis Timms scored 23 points for the Redbacks who dearly missed Joel Wagner and Zac Gattorna, and turned way too individual.
The Perry Lakes Hawks locked away the regular season championship by making it four straight wins with a strong showing to beat the Warwick Senators 97-88 at Bendat Basketball Centre.
Andrew Ferguson finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks while 17-year-old point guard Ethan Elliott produced 20 points and five assists from 4/8 shooting from beyond the arc for the Senators.
The East Perth Eagles snapped a six-game losing run to beat the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 81-55 at Herb Graham Recreation Centre in a battle of two teams out of the finals race.
Lee Roberts had 23 points and eight rebounds in the win for the Eagles while Ryan Blanchett had 14 points and six rebounds for the Suns.
The Mandurah Magic put in an impressive performance ahead of the playoffs to beat the Lakeside Lightning 93-74 at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
Fred Williams top-scored for the Magic with 20 points, Riley Parker 19 and Jerami Grace 15 with Scott Machado dishing out 13 assists while Jay Bowie and Jack Isenbarger had 22 points apiece for the Lightning who are now just clinging to second spot and can no longer finish first.
The Rockingham Flames then kept themselves in fourth position and made life difficult to make the finals for the Joondalup Wolves with a 96-85 win at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.
Ryan Godfrey had 21 points for the Flames, Justin Beard 19, Tom Jervis 18 and Atem Bior 17 while the Wolfpack are now back in ninth position despite 24 points and nine rebounds from Jonathan Wade.
The regular season will now conclude with four matches on Saturday afternoon starting with the Perth Redbacks playing the Goldfields Giants at 12pm at Belmont Oasis.
Then at 2pm, the Lakeside Lightning play host to the Willetton Tigers, the Joondalup Wolves face the Geraldton Buccaneers at HBF Arena and the Cockburn Cougars take on the South West Slammers at Wally Hagan Stadium.
NBL1 WEST – 2021 MEN’S SEASON
ROUND 18 – FRIDAY NIGHT
WILLETTON TIGERS 103 defeated GERALDTON BUCCANEERS 42
The Willetton Tigers opened up their crucial final round in the NBL1 West Men’s Division with a big win over the severely undermanned Geraldton Buccaneers.
The Buccs arrived at Willetton Basketball Stadium on Friday night without Mat Wundenberg, Aaron Ralph, Mathiang Muo and Taine Wattie making their task of a competitive final weekend of the season all the more challenging.
The Tigers needed to keep winning as well to ensure a top four finish and they weren’t in the mood for mercy against the Buccaneers on Friday night.
Willetton put up 30 points in the first quarter alone while holding Geraldton to just the 12, and that set the tone for the rest of the evening.
The Tigers held the Buccs to just five points the entire second term while putting up 27 points themselves to head into the half-time interval well in control at 57-17.
Willetton would go on to outscore Geraldton 46 points to 25 throughout the second half as well to come away with the 103-42 victory to lock away a top four finish ahead of a clash with Lakeside on Saturday afternoon.
The Buccs have now lost eight in-a-row to sit on a 5-14 record with one game to go on Saturday against the Joondalup Wolves at HBF Arena.
The Tigers ended the night shooting 42/79 from the field at 53 per cent and 9/32 at 28 per cent from deep opposed to 18/72 at 25 per cent for the Buccs from the floor and 4/27 at 15 per cent from beyond the three-point line.
Willetton also got to the foul line 12 times opposed to four and pulled in 64 rebounds to just 30 from Geraldton.
Tom Gerovich was the standout on the night for Willetton with 19 points and 14 rebounds with Travis Fee contributing 12 points, eight boards, five assists and three steals, Brent Hank 11 points and seven rebounds, Lachlan Evans 10 points, four boards and four assists, and Michael Garbellini 10 points.
However, Michael Vigor and Damien Scott only played a combined 18 minutes for 13 points.
Brandon Holloway delivered 15 points and two steals for the Buccaneers with Elijah Barbour contributing 11 points, three rebounds and three steals.
PERTH REDBACKS 70 lost to COCKBURN COUGARS 96
The Perth Redbacks were still fighting for a top four spot and the Cockburn Cougars for a playoff spot when the two teams went to battle at Belmont Oasis on Friday night.
The Redbacks suffered a couple of tough losses last weekend in the absence of Joel Wagner and Zac Gattorna, but they could still end up in a top four finish with two wins in the final round and depending on how the other results fell.
Meanwhile, Cockburn just had to win to be any shot at making the playoffs and then hope that Rockingham did them a favour against Joondalup at the same time with the Cougars and Wolves locked in a fight over that final playoff position.
The Redbacks were once again without key starters Wagner and Gattorna, and it showed, and even though they were on the road, the Cougars got off to a fast start with the opening six points of the game through Josh Hunt and Nic Pozoglou, and they never looked back from there.
With six-time NBL champion and Australian basketball’s greatest ever defender Damian Martin watching on with former teammates Louis Timms, Gavin Field and Nic Pozoglou, and opponents Tevin Jackson and Marshall Nelson, even referee Bret Campbell, gracing the court.
What he saw was quite the dominant performance from the Cougars as they fought to keep their season alive. They would lead 24-15 by quarter-time and only continue to ram home their advantage the rest of the night.
Cockburn put up another 23 points to 17 in the second quarter to go into half-time in control leading 47-32.
The margin ballooned out to as much as 33 points early in the fourth quarter before the Cougars cruised to the 96-70 victory against a disappointing Redbacks outlet who looked directionless without captain Joel Wagner out on the floor leading them.
Nic Pozoglou put on quite the spectacular show getting Damian Martin out of his seat on several occasions including with a massive one-handed tomahawk dunk in the second quarter a huge blocked shots that he put up against the backboard, and then pulled down possession from.
Pozoglou ended the night with 15 points, 13 rebounds and those two blocks while Gavin Field was terrific as well with 18 points, five assists and three rebounds.
Jaarod Holmes enjoyed his chance to play bully ball at times and overpower his Redbacks defenders for 11 points while Josh Hunt contributed 11 points and two assists, Daniel Rogers 10 points and 11 boards, Nathan Pond seven points and four rebounds, Matt Clifford seven points and two assists, and Seva Chan seven points and four assists in his 200th appearance with Cockburn.
After a dominant 25-6 start last Friday night against the Mandurah Magic, the Redbacks have now been outscored in their last 11 quarters of basketball against the Magic, Lakeside Lightning and Cougars 295 to 222.
That’s hardly the form they would like to take into the playoffs but they have a chance to regain some form and confidence, and to start playing as a team again and not just individuals, against the Goldfields Giants on Saturday.
Louis Timms put up 23 points and five rebounds on Friday night for the Redbacks while shooting 4/7 from beyond the arc with Marshall Nelson adding 10 points, eight boards and three assists, Derek Igbenoba eight points and three rebounds, and Tevin Jackson eight points and three assists.
PERRY LAKES HAWKS 97 defeated WARWICK SENATORS 88
The Perry Lakes Hawks locked away the regular season championship in the NBL1 West Men’s Division on Friday night with a win against the Warwick Senators.
Perry Lakes completed their outstanding regular season campaign in the inaugural NBL1 West by recording a fourth straight victory at Bendat Basketball Centre on Friday night against the Senators.
The Senators still had some hope of a top four finish if they could have come away with the win, but the Hawks started strongly with 25 points to 20 in the opening quarter.
The Senators managed to close that gap to just two points by half-time but Perry Lakes did enough to stay on top throughout the second half to end up delivering the 97-88 victory.
The win sees the Hawks finish the regular season with an 18-4 record in first place while the Senators fall short of a top four finish with their 13-9 record.
Andrew Ferguson had an impressive night for Perry Lakes with 20 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots on 9/13 shooting from the floor and 2/4 from beyond the arc.
Matt Leary continued his career-best season with another 16 points and three rebounds while hitting 4/6 from three-point territory with Lewis Thomas adding 14 points, four assists, three blocked shots and two steals.
Ben Purser returned for the Hawks and had 12 points and four assists, Mitch Clarke nine points and eight rebounds, and Ryan Smith eight points.
The Senators looked a stronger unit with the return of Ash Litterick from a shoulder injury while 17-year-old point guard Ethan Elliott stood out once more with 20 points and five assists while hitting 4/8 from beyond the three-point line.
Cody Ellis also had 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks for Warwick, Caleb Davis 17 points, three boards and two assists, and Justin King 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
EAST PERTH EAGLES 81 defeated KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 55
Neither East Perth nor Kalamunda could reach the finals coming into their last matches on Friday night, but it was the Eagles who put together an impressive performance to end their season on a high.
The Eagles came into the clash on their home floor at Herb Graham Recreation Centre on a six-game losing streak while the Eastern Suns had lost eight in-a-row and would be without newly arrived New Zealand guard Joe Cook-Green.
But there was plenty of emotion surrounding the Suns with coach Mark Utley confirming what he hinted at in the NBL1 website several weeks ago that he wouldn’t be continuing on as coach beyond this season bringing to and his 596-game involvement as a player and coach in the league.
So with it being the last game of the season for both teams, it was always going to be an intriguing night but it was the Eagles who were on top virtually from the outset.
East Perth scored 26 points in the first quarter while holding Kalamunda to 15 before really putting their foot down with 13 points to just four in the second term.
The Eagles then cruised to the 81-55 victory to snap their six-game losing slide to end the season on a 5-17 record. The Eastern Suns end up on 4-17 having lost their past nine.
Lee Roberts led the way for the Eagles with 23 points, eight rebounds and three steals with Mitch Benger contributing 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Jarrad Anastasio also finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots for the Eagles with Jesse Pollock contributing nine points on 3/6 from downtown.
It was tough going for the Eastern Suns without the presence of Joe Cook-Green with Ryan Blanchett top-scoring with 14 points and six rebounds on 6/8 shooting.
Brendan Dinardo added 11 points, three rebounds and two steals, Jermaine Malie eight points and Chris Johnson six to go with eight rebounds.
MANDURAH MAGIC 93 defeated LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 74
The Mandurah Magic ensured they enter the playoffs in some good form after a big win against the second placed Lakeside Lightning on Friday night.
The Lightning headed to Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre with a chance of snatching the regular season championship still there if they could win their two Round 18 matches and the Perry Lakes Hawks lost to the Warwick Senators.
Standing in the way for the Lightning was a Magic team on their home floor coming off a tough loss to the Rockingham Flames last Saturday night, but they were determined to bounce back strongly in their last game of the regular season on Friday.
The Magic opened up the game strongly with 25 points to 19 in the opening quarter but the Lightning hit back in the second term with 24 points to 16 and that saw the visitors head into half-time leading narrowly 43-41.
The Magic were able to take over the game in impressive fashion throughout the second half, though, with 28 points to 17 in the third quarter and 24 to 14 in the fourth.
That saw Mandurah claim the 93-74 victory and while they will fall just short of a top four finish at 14-8, they appear set to enter the playoffs from fifth position.
The loss for the Lightning means they missed a chance to finish on top but they can lock away second spot with a win against Willetton at home on Saturday afternoon.
Fred Williams top-scored for Mandurah with 20 points and three rebounds while nailing 4/6 from the three-point line.
Riley Parker also had 19 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals for the Magic, Jerami Grace 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, and Scott Machado 12 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds.
The Lightning were still without Jarrad Prue, Ben Lee and Corey Shervill but did welcome back Jay Bowie who had 22 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Jack Isenbarger also had 22 points on 5/8 shooting from beyond the arc with Rowan Mackenzie contributing 12 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Kyle Armour seven points and four assists.
ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 96 defeated JOONDALUP WOLVES 85
It was another fascinating match up at Mike Barnett Sports Complex on Friday night with plenty on the line for the Rockingham Flames and Joondalup Wolves.
The Flames were back on their home court looking to lock away a top four position in their last game of the NBL1 West Men’s Division season while the Wolfpack were just playing to stay in the top eight altogether.
Rockingham came into the contest on an impressive six-game winning streak while the Wolves had steadied themselves as well having won their last couple of games to remain just ahead of the ninth placed Cockburn Cougars.
It was a high-scoring opening to the contest with 55 points between the two teams with the Flames going into quarter-time leading the Wolfpack 29-26.
The Wolves kept it close in the second quarter, though, and the scores were locked at 46-46 going into the main break.
Rockingham put down the hammer in the third quarter and the 24 points to 15 they delivered proved decisive in the match with the home team going on to record the 96-85 victory.
The result sees the Flames finish their regular season with a 15-6 record in fourth position while the Wolves now find themselves outside the top eight needing to beat the Geraldton Buccaneers on Saturday and hoping things fall their way between the Cougars and South West Slammers.
Flames captain Ryan Godfrey top-scored in the seventh straight win for Rockingham with 21 points and five assists while Justin Beard contributed 19 points, five steals and four rebounds while knocking down 5/7 from three-point territory.
Tom Jervis also put up 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Flames, Atem Bior 17 points, 10 boards and five assists, Cirkook Makuac Riak 13 points and two rebounds, and Travis Durnin eight points, two rebounds and two assists.
Jonathan Wade finished up with 24 points and nine rebounds for Joondalup with Rob Huntington delivering 12 points, four rebounds and two assists, Lochlan Cummings 10 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Sioeli Vaiangina eight points.