The Lakeside Lightning, Perry Lakes Hawks and Willetton Tigers all scored important wins on Saturday night as the battle over a top two finish heats up while the Perth Redbacks managed to overcome 43 points from the exciting Joe Cook-Green at the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.
The Redbacks won a second game this weekend over the Eastern Suns despite the 43 points and eight threes from Cook-Green while the Lightning, Hawks and Tigers won again in the race for a top two finish.
The Warwick Senators also won in Geraldton and the Goldfields Giants won in Kalgoorlie to wrap up the weekend’s action.
Round 16 in the NBL1 West Men’s Division began back on Thursday night with the Rockingham Flames defeating the Warwick Senators 88-86.
Then on Friday night, the Perth Redbacks beat the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 100-89, the Rockingham Flames defeated the East Perth Eagles 77-66 and the Mandurah Magic downed the Lakeside Lightning 94-78.
The Warwick Senators shook off the disappointment from their loss on Thursday to Rockingham by heating to Geraldton and beating the Buccaneers 90-62 at Active West Stadium on Saturday evening.
Ethan Elliott had another remarkable game for the Senators as the 17-year-old delivered 28 points on 4/6 shooting from the three-point line while Cody Ellis flirted with a triple-double with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Mathiang Muo had another 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Buccaneers.
Two regional teams then locked horns in Kalgoorlie with the Goldfields Giants scoring their fifth win of the season beating the South West Slammers 82-73 at Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium.
Melusi Mkhwananzi impressed for the Giants with 20 points with Jerome Reid and Deng Kuany adding 15 points apiece. Rhys Barrett finished with 16 points and four three-pointers for the Slammers.
The Willetton Tigers bounced back from four straight loss for an important win over the Joondalup Wolves, but only just as they held on to win 74-73 at HBF Arena.
The win keeps the Tigers on track for a top four finish on the back of 26 points from Damien Scott, 21 from Connor Mincherton and 12 points and 13 rebounds from Michael Vigor. The Wolfpack have now lost six of the last seven despite 27 points from Lochlan Cummings.
It was another tight affair at Wally Hagan Stadium with the Lakeside Lightning scoring a critical 73-69 win against the Cockburn Cougars.
The Lightning were without Corey Shervill, Kyle Armour, Jay Bowie and Jarrad Prue, but bounced back from their loss the previous night to beat a Cougars team who had won six-in-row.
Rowan Mackenzie had 21 points for Lakeside and Jack Isenbarger 14 with Gavin Field top-scoring for Cockburn with 19 points.
The Perry Lakes Hawks then took another step towards the regular season championship by beating the East Perth Eagles 92-70 at Bendat Basketball Centre.
Matt Leary put up 18 points for Perry Lakes and Ryan Smith 16 with the pair combining to shoot 8/16 from downtown while Lee Roberts had another 15 points and seven rebounds for the Eagles.
The Perth Redbacks then won a second game over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns for the weekend winning 113-101 at Ray Owen Sports Centre.
Zac Gattorna finished with 24 points for the Redbacks, Marshal Nelson 24, Tevin Jackson 24 and Louis Timms 22. That was despite a stunning effort from new Sun Joe Cook-Green who put up 43 points with 8/10 shooting from beyond the arc.
NBL1 WEST – 2021 MEN’S SEASON
ROUND 16 – SATURDAY NIGHT
GERALDTON BUCCANEERS 62 lost to WARWICK SENATORS 90
The Geraldton Buccaneers and Warwick Senators have built quite a rivalry over recent years and that included a tight battle a few weeks ago, but the Senators got the win they needed away from home on Saturday night.
The Buccs and Senators have fought out a host of fascinating playoff series in the SBL over recent years so every time they come up against one another, it’s a spirited affair even if this current Geraldton team minus Aaron Ralph and Mat Wundenberg is vastly different.
The two teams did battle at Warwick Stadium only a couple of weeks ago and that was a game where despite the absence of their two championship winning legends, the Buccs took it right up to the Senators before losing narrowly by five points.
On the back of that, Geraldton scored a stirring win last Saturday night on the buzzer beating the Perth Redbacks at home thanks to a three ball from Mathiang Muo, so they did deserve to go into hosting the Senators back at Active West Stadium with a degree of confidence.
The Senators were hungry to bounce back from a tight loss to Rockingham at home on Thursday night, though, on the back of also losing in heartbreaking fashion in overtime to the Cockburn Cougars the previous Friday evening.
Warwick needed to keep winning to try and stay a chance of breaking back into the top four, and they started well away from home with 23 points to 17 in the opening quarter.
The Senators continued to do well in the second quarter holding the home team to just the 10 points while scoring 19 themselves to go into half-time in control at 42-27.
Warwick then put the game to bed in the third quarter with 28 points to 15 before going on to record the 90-62 win to improve to 12-7 on the season with two rounds, and three games for them remaining.
Ethan Elliott continued his remarkable rise as a 17-year-old point guard with the Senators by delivering 28 points, four rebounds and three assists while nailing 11/13 from the field and 4/6 from three-point territory.
Cody Ellis added 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, Alier Riak 14 points and six rebounds, Justin King 12 points, eight boards and three assists, and Caleb Davis 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Mathiang Muo produced another 21 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals for Geraldton with Elijah Barbour contributing 10 points, Dylan Myers nine points and two assists, and Brandon Holloway six points, four assists and three rebounds.
JOONDALUP WOLVES 73 lost to WILLETTON TIGERS 74
It had all the makings of a season-defining contest at HBF Arena between the Joondalup Wolves and Willetton Tigers on Saturday night, and it sure didn’t disappoint.
With the Tigers needing to snap a four-game losing slide to remain positioned inside the top four and the Wolfpack having just snapped their own five-game losing streak in style last Saturday over Perry Lakes, they needed to string wins together if they want to make the playoffs.
Coming into the game you just had a sense it would be a dramatic evening and it would go down to the wire, and that’s exactly how it panned out even though the Tigers started well on the road with 27 points to 16 as they blend Michael Vigor and Damien Scott back into the line-up.
Willetton managed to extend its advantage narrowly during the second quarter as well to into half-time on top 45-32 against Joondalup.
The Wolfpack needed to respond knowing their season can’t afford too many more slip ups or finals would become out of reach, and they worked back into the contest with 20 points to 14 in the third quarter.
They continued with the momentum in the fourth to get back within four points immediately with a Reece Maxwell three ball. Even though Damien Scott responded with the next four points for Willetton, Lochlan Cummings led an 8-0 Joondalup run soon after.
That had the home team up 65-63 with four minutes before a huge three from Willetton young gun Connor Mincherton. He and Mitch Newton then traded buckets before another triple from Mincherton had the Tigers on top 71-67 with two minutes on the clock.
Cummings responded with his own three ball to make it a one-point game before a crafty drive and finish with his preferred left hand from Mincherton had Willetton still on top 73-70.
But again young Wolves big man Newton replied with a three up top to draw scores level with a minute remaining.
That set up a dramatic finish with MIncherton missing a three for the Tigers, and then both Cummings and Maxwell coming up short on attempts that would have put the Wolfpack in front.
Michael Vigor was then fouled going to the rack up the other end and converted one leaving the wolves with 2.6 seconds on the clock coming out of a timeout.
They couldn’t get a better look than an off-balance Jonathan Wade prayer from way downtown and the Tigers held on for the crucial 74-73 win.
Damien Scott had a terrific night for Willetton with 26 points, two rebounds and two assists with back court partner Connor Mincherton producing 21 points, four assists, four steals and three rebounds.
Michael Vigor added 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Hunter Clarke 11 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Lochlan Cummings put up 27 points and eight rebounds for Joondalup while hitting 4/9 from three-point territory with Jonathan Wade adding 10 points and three boards, Reece Maxwell nine points and five rebounds, and Mitch Newton nine points and five rebounds.
GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 82 defeated SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 73
Playoffs might be well out of reach for both the Goldfields Giants and South West Slammers coming into their clash in Kalgoorlie on Saturday night, but that didn’t mean they both didn’t throw everything at getting the win.
The Giants were back on their home floor at Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium having lost their past six matches while the Slammers snapped their own nine-game losing streak last week when they hosted Goldfields and got their third win of the season.
So this rematch had that added plus of the Slammers looking to back that performance up while the Giants were determined to rebound and snap that losing slide they were on.
It was a tight opening to the contest with the Slammers managing to lead 23-22 by quarter-time before the visitors turned that momentum into 25 points to 16 in the second period to go into the major break leading 48-38.
Goldfields needed to respond in front of their Kalgoorlie faithful and the Giants did just that by putting up 24 points in the third quarter while holding the Slammers to just 12.
The Giants then ran away with it in the final term with another 20 points to 13 to come away with the 82-73 win to give them five wins on the season now and to keep the slammers a game clear in bottom place with the three victories.
It was quite the scrappy game as you might expect given the combined 7-27 record coming into it and they combined for 54 turnovers between them while the Giants struggled with 2/24 from deep, but they won the rebound count by 16 and shot better overall from the floor to get the win.
Melusi Mkhwanazi produced the best game of his career for the Giants finishing with 20 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals while shooting 9/12 from the floor.
Jerome Reid added 16 points and seven rebounds, Cooper Creek 15 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, three steals and two assists, and Deng Kuany 15 points, 12 board, three assists and three steals.
Rhys Barrett top-scored for the Slammers with 16 points and two assists while hitting 4/9 from three-point territory.
Tanner Vogel added 11 points and four rebounds, Jack Flynn 11 points and five boards, Cody Hill nine points and eight assists, and Devan Craig eight points and four rebounds.
COCKBURN COUGARS 69 lost to LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 73
Cockburn brought some hot form with them into hosting an undermanned Lakeside on Saturday night, but the Lightning wouldn’t be denied even with four of their most important stars absent.
The Cougars came into the game on the back of a six-game winning streak to put them right on track for a playoff position even after losing nine of their opening 11 games of the season.
They deserved to be feeling good about their chances against a Lightning team without Jarrad Prue, Jay Bowie, Kyle Armour and Corey Shervill as well, and who had lost the previous night on their home floor to the Mandurah Magic.
However, the Lightning still have designs on claiming that regular season championship and were able to stick with the Cougars in the opening quarter and then put a gap between the two teams in the second.
Lakeside scored 26 points in the second term while restricting Cockburn to just 14 and that saw the Lightning head into half-time leading 47-35.
That proved to be a match-winning lead but only just. The Cougars were full of confidence coming into the game on a six-game winning streak and they made a spirited charge back in the second half.
A Zac Watkinson triple had Cockburn back within six by three quarter-time and with five minutes to go, Gavin Field hit a triple to bring them back within three. Nic Pozoglou scored soon after to make it a one-point ball game and then Field completed the comeback.
Cockburn was up by one with three minutes left but Jack Isenbarger then hit four straight points for Lakeside, and Rowan Mackenzie three and that was enough for them to steady and claim the 73-69 victory.
Rowan Mackenzie top-scored once more for the Lightning with 21 points, six assists and four rebounds while Jack Isenbarger delivered 14 points and two assists.
Josh Davey contributed 11 points and 14 rebounds for Lakeside, Nick Palleschi 10 points, four boards, three assists and two steals, Tom Parkinson nine points and nine rebounds, and Ben Lee eight points, six boards and four steals despite going 1/10 from deep.
Gavin Field was the top-scorer for the Cougars with 19 points to go with six rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots and two steals.
Nic Pozoglou added 13 points, five boards and four assists, Seva Chan 12 points and six assists, and Daniel Rogers four points to go with 11 rebounds.
PERRY LAKES HAWKS 92 defeated EAST PERTH EAGLES 70
The Perry Lakes Hawks bounced back strongly from a surprise loss a week earlier to beat the East Perth Eagles at home on Saturday night to further enhance their top two prospects.
The Hawks were on a run of winning eight of the last nine matches before a shock loss to the Joondalup Wolves at HBF Arena last Saturday night but they were always going to be a tough test for an Eagles team having lost to Rockingham the night before.
That meant the Eagles were on a three-game losing streak with just the four wins for the season, and the Hawks put them to the sword early doors on Saturday night at Bendat Basketball Centre.
Perry Lakes scored 22 points in the first quarter while holding East Perth to just the nine, and it was more of the same in the second quarter with 30 more points to 12.
That saw the Hawks head into the half-time break well in control leading 52-21.
The game might have been decided at the half but to the credit of the Eagles they fought it out strongly and actually outscored the Hawks after half-time.
East Perth scored 27 points to 22 in the third quarter and then 22 to 18 in the fourth to win the second half 49 to 40 but Perry Lakes still cruised to the 92-70 triumph.
Matt Leary knocked down 3/6 from three-point range for the Hawks on his way to 18 points and five steals while Ryan Smith hit 5/10 from downtown for 16 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Ben Purser put up another 13 points for the Hawks while Lewis Thomas contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds, Mitch Clarke 10 points, eight assists and five boards, and Bailey Cole eight points and four rebounds.
Lee Roberts top-scored once for East Peth with 15 points and seven rebounds while Andrej Donlagic contributed 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, Mitch Benger 11 points and three rebounds, and Jesse Pollock 10 points.
KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 101 lost to PERTH REDBACKS 113
The Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Perth Redbacks backed up their clash the night before by meeting at Ray Owen Sports Centre on Saturday night.
The Redbacks beat the Eastern Suns at Belmont Oasis the previous night 100-89 in a competitive match up, and the Suns certainly made the Redbacks earn the return encounter especially thanks to a brilliant showing from the newly arrived Joe Cook-Green.
Both teams came out ready to put on an offensive show from the outset and while neither coach might have liked his team’s defence, the fans sure were treated to something special in the opening quarter.
The two teams combined for 71 points with the Redbacks leading the Eastern Suns 39-32 by quarter-time.
Things quietened a little the rest of the way, but not a whole lot with the Redbacks putting up another 26 points to 24 from the Suns in the second quarter to go into half-time leading 65-56.
Kalamunda refused to go away and got back within five points by three quarter-time, but with the Redbacks needing to win to keep their top four hopes alive, they pulled away with 23 points to 16 in the fourth period to run out 113-101 winners.
While the Redbacks got the win on the back of a host of players having good nights, without doubt the star of the evening was Joe Cook-Green for the Eastern Suns.
Having only arrived in Australia from New Zealand the previous week, he was just unstoppable in his fourth game for the Suns. The previous night he did well on the back of driving the ball hard to the basket for 35 points.
But he went up another level on Saturday night with the Redbacks deciding to deny his drive a bit more. The result was he caught fire from beyond the three-point line hitting 8/10 on his way to 15/24 from the floor, 5/6 from the foul line and 43 points for the game.
It was the number of contributors the Redbacks had that proved the difference with Zac Gattorna leading the way with 25 points, nine assists and four rebounds on 9/15 shooting.
Marshall Nelson also had 24 points and five assists for Perth, Tevin Jackson 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and Louis Timms 22 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Kyden Edman also had 11 points and 10 rebounds for a Redbacks team minus captain Joel Wagner.
Along with what Cook-Green produced for the Eastern Suns, Ryan Blanchett finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, Chris Johnson 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Jermaine Malie 10 points and eight boards.