Eagles Recap | Women/Men Round 18

Featured image: @codexdesignstudio, Mark Filpo

Sarah Mortensen hit a stunning walk off game winner to close the season for the East Perth Eagles women in the best possible way and while the men didn't quite beat the Cockburn Cougars, the signs were all encouraging entering the NBL1 West finals.

It was the last night of the regular season on Friday night at Morley Sport and Recreation with the Eagles playing host to the Cougars with all four competing teams getting themselves ready for the upcoming playoffs.

The Eagles women opened up beating the Cougars in remarkable fashion with Mortensen's game winning three ball on the buzzer for the 82-81 victory before the men survived a blistering first half from Cockburn before having a strong second half despite the visitors still winning 109-104.

What it all means is that both East Perth teams now prepare to start the finals this Saturday night with the women taking on the Rockingham Flames in a qualifying final while it's an elimination final for the men against the Willetton Tigers with both games on the road.

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WOMEN

Sarah Mortensen starred in two championships for the Cockburn Cougars but had a moment she'll treasure forever hitting the stunning walk off game winner as the Eagles won 82-81.

It was the final game of the regular season for both teams as they prepare to tackle the finals from top four positions as they locked horns at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

The Cougars went through an undefeated season in 2025 winning the championship and now have already locked in top spot coming into the final round having won nine straight matches.

The Eagles were back home where they were 8-1 on the season and sitting in third position and did need to win to ensure they stay there going into the finals.

Despite being locked into top spot no matter the result, Cockburn did have the better of the start away from home with 19 points to 16 in the opening quarter.

The Cougars then took control in the second period with 25 points to 12 and Jessie Edwards then already had 22 points to half-time with Cockburn leading 44-28.

The Cockburn lead was out to 21 points early in the third quarter but then the Eagles fired back into the contest led by captain Stacey Barr who was up to 18 points suddenly by three quarter-time.

It was then a rollercoaster ride in the fourth quarter with Cockburn going back up six when Edwards scored again with a minute to play before the Eagles forced a couple more turnovers and Mortensen scored against her old team.

Another turnover led to two free throws for Sydney Wright before Wright drew the charge on Daniel Raber in the paint which gave East Perth the chance at the winner with 5.5 seconds on the clock.

Coming out of a Jonelle Morley timeout, the ball got to Mortensen right in front of the Cougars bench who she played in championships with in 2023 and 2025.

Her three-point bomb never looked like missing as she buried her former team and secured the one-point win in remarkable fashion to secure East Perth in third position at the end of the regular season with a 15-5 record and going 9-1 at home.

Eagles captain Stacey Barr top scored once more with 21 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and two steals with 6/19 three-point shooting.

On top of her game winner, Mortensen produced 19 points and 10 rebounds while Jade Williams provided 16 points, six boards, three steals and two assists, Brooke Malone 12 points and three rebounds, and Sydney Wright 12 points, five assists and three steals.

Jo Odude also played an important 14 minutes and had two points, four rebounds and three blocks with Zaya Black also having three rebounds and an assist in her 16 minutes.

MEN

The Eagles might have lost to the Cockburn Cougars but they were already locked into eighth position no matter the result and they withstood 33 first half points from Johny Narkle to win the second half 53 points to 40 before the visitors did hold on 109-104.

The Eagles had done a good job to qualify for the finals already for a third straight season heading into the last game of the regular season on Friday night at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre with the Cougars needing to win to make sure they stayed fourth.

Cockburn got off to the flying start with 37 points to 24 in the opening quarter with 19 of those points courtesy of two-time Grand Final MVP Johny Narkle.

As a result, the Cougars were shooting 61 per cent form the field with 7/12 from the outside but the Eagles were doing well offensively shooting the 64 per cent with 4/8 from deep but the five offensive rebounds for Cockburn proved costly.

The lead for the Cougars got out to 21 points in the second quarter and by half-time they were on top 69-51 with Narkle up to 33 points with 7/12 three-point shooting while going 13/23 from downtown as a team.

East Perth got a spark from Jermaine Malie who had 11 points with 3/3 three-point shooting and they were still shooting 20/33 from the field and 7/15 from the outside themselves while only having the six turnovers so the signs were encouraging.

East Perth then clamped down on Cockburn in the third quarter to hold them to 16 points on 6/14 shooting while holding Narkle scoreless and they had 24 themselves including De'Sean Parsons up to 18 points by three quarter-time and Kai Kabugua 11.

East Perth did manage to be within 10 as a result by three quarter-time and then five by the final buzzer having outscored Cockburn 53-40 in the second half on the back of shooting 19/40 from the field and 9/23 from the outside and having six offensive rebounds and just the three turnovers.

Up the other end, the Eagles held the Cougars to the 40 points on 15/35 shooting and 5/13 from downtown and to 11 turnovers across the second half.

There were plenty of positive signs for the Eagles to take into their elimination now on Saturday night against the Willetton Tigers with the turnovers way down to nine along with the shooting of 53 per cent from the field and 16/38 from the outside.

De'Sean Parsons finishing with 25 points, six rebounds and four assists with 10/11 field goal shooting and 4/4 at the foul line.

Nick Filpo hit 5/9 from three-point range for 15 points and five assists with Kai Kabugua contributing 11 points and nine assists, Jermaine Malie 11 points with three triples, and David Okwera nine points and five rebounds.

Bing Huang added nine points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals with 3/4 three-point shooting, Jack Gartlan six points on 2/2 shooting from deep, Lee Roberts six points, four rebounds and two blocks, Lat Mayen four points and three assists, Ioannis Dimakopoulos four points and two rebounds, and Roman Hube two points, a rebound, an assist and a steal.