Mortensen with stunning winner against old team

Featured image: Travis Anderson | @andmediaphoto

Sarah Mortensen starred in two NBL1 West championships for the Cockburn Cougars but had a moment she'll treasure forever on Friday night hitting the stunning walk off game winner as the East Perth 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 on Friday night 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.

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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 it was Jessie Edwards who continued the best form of her 244-game career.

She had 22 points already to half-time and Cockburn were leading 44-28 at the break as a result on the back of shooting 46 per cent from the field to 29 from the Eagles, and 4/14 from the outside to 1/14.

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.

East Perth ended up scoring 29 points to 17 in the third frame and that cut the Cougars lead back to 61-57 by the last break with the Eagles forcing Cockburn into the six turnovers in the period.

It was then a roller coast 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 rebound 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.

The Cougars remain as regular season champions at 17-3 despite the defeat and with Darcee Garbin back and Jewel Williams still out, coach Russell Hann decided to go super big and it worked for a lot of the night.

Garbin finished with 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds with Jessie Edwards adding another 27 points and eight boards on 12/16 shooting, and Daniel Raber yet another triple double with 16 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.

Both teams now will look to lock in a preliminary final spot next week with the Cougars likely to host the Warwick Senators with the Eagles locked in to play away to the Rockingham Flames.

NBL1 WEST 2026 SEASON | ROUND 18

EAST PERTH EAGLES 82 (Barr 21, Mortensen 19, Williams 16)

COCKBURN COUGARS 81 (Edwards 27, Garbin 24, Raber 16)