NBL1 Wildcard Recap | Saturday July 2

The brightest young talent from the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence showcased their potential in an impressive 46-point win against the Rockingham Flames in Saturday night's Men's NBL1 Wildcard match up.

The Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence team's NBL1 Wildcard season continued at Rockingham's Mike Barnett Sports Complex on Saturday night and they maintained what has been impressive form against teams across the country.

The Centre of Excellence team defeated the Flames on their home floor 105-59 on Saturday night which improves them to an 8-2 record against NBL1 teams so far in 2022.

The only losses for the Men's Centre of Excellence team have come against Forestville Eagles and Logan Thunder while they have now defeated the Townsville Heat, Mackay Meteors, North Adelaide Rockets, Hobart Chargers, North West Tasmania Thunder, Canberra Gunners, Gold Coast Rollers and now the Rockingham Flames.

The CoE team will again be in action on Sunday against the Willetton Tigers at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

Then next Saturday they will be up against the Lakeside Lightning while they continue their stay out west by taking on defending NBL1 West champions the Perry Lakes Hawks on Sunday.

NBL1 WILDCARD – 2022 SEASON
SATURDAY NIGHT

MEN
ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 59 lost to BASKETBALL AUSTRALIA CENTRE of EXCELLENCE 105
The Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence Men's team started their stint in Western Australia in impressive fashion with a 46-point win against the Rockingham Flames on Saturday night.

It was a first game for the Centre of Excellence team since defeating the Gold Coast Rollers back on Sunday June 19, and they were able to pick up right where they left off against the Flames at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

Rockingham was coming off a remarkable victory the previous night in overtime in the NBL1 West competition against the Perth Redbacks so they were in form coming into the contest with the Centre of Excellence team.

While the Flames were without multiple NBL championship winners Tom Jervis and Greg Hire, former South East Melbourne Phoenix import Devondrick Walker and their inspirational captain Ryan Godfrey, they still had plenty of talent and experience to throw up against the Centre of Excellence team.

That included the Friday night hero and former Illawarra Hawks and Cairns Taipans NBL guard Marshall Nelson, but the Basketball Australia unit performed like a well-oiled machine under the coaching of Robbie McKinlay.

They managed to open up a 22-15 lead by quarter-time and then produced 32 points to 14 in the second quarter on the way to the 54-29 lead at the main break.

The Centre of Excellence team went on with it from there as well with 23 points to 13 in the third quarter, and 28 to 17 in the fourth to end up winning 105-59 and to improve to an 8-2 record on the season.

It was a stunning dominance on the boards from the Basketball Australia young guns as they collected 59 rebounds to just 28 from Rockingham including 21 at the offensive end to five.

Evan Kilminster was one of a host of impressive performers in the win for the CoE team finishing with 20 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Jack McWilliams added 15 points and six rebounds while Rory Hawke put up 16 points and eight boards.

Alex Condon 13 points and 12 rebounds while point guard Ethan Elliott returned to his home state where he's already a championship winner with the Warwick Senators and produced 12 points, three steals, two assists and two rebounds.

Ben Henshall was another WA product back home and he had 12 points and five rebounds with John Furphy contributing 12 points, 12 boards and five steals.

Callum Beard top-scored for Rockingham with 17 points and seven rebounds with Harry Bowater adding 14 points, four boards, four assists and three steals, and Jake Amos nine points.