Round 5 Eagles Wrap – Women/Men

Both East Perth Eagles teams did a lot right to give themselves a shot at victories in Anzac Round of NBL1 West away to the Willetton Tigers on Saturday, but came away with two frustrating losses.

Round 5 of the NBL1 West season saw the Eagles head to Willetton Basketball Stadium on Saturday evening and while it was two significant challenges, East Perth's sides put in strong performances and gave themselves a chance to come away with two victories.

However, in the end the Willetton women prevailed 77-68 while it was a thrilling men's contest that went right down to the wire with the Tigers holding out the Eagles for the 87-85 victory on their home floor.

WOMEN

The East Perth Eagles had a significant challenge up against a Willetton Tigers team who has made the last three NBL1 West Grand Finals, but they battled hard before just coming up short 77-68 on the road.

East Perth was attempting to win its first game since May 26 last year with coaches Simon Parker and Craig Allen both more than familiar with one another too just to add to the occasion.

Scores were all level at 22-22 by quarter-time but the Eagles were warming to the task and during the second quarter completed a 13-0 scoring run to take an eight-point lead with the confidence building that the elusive drought breaking win might be within reach.

Willetton had other ideas, though, and managed to work back on top and to take a narrow 45-43 advantage into half-time.

The Tigers then gradually pulled away through the second half including holding East Perth to just eight points in the third term as Willetton's lead got out to as much as 13 and they would win by nine to improve to 3-3 on the season.

There were encouraging signs for the Eagles despite suffering a 14th straight loss with Laci Hawthorne finishing with 15 points, 20 rebounds and three assists.

Mary Baskerville also had 16 points and six rebounds, Mary Goulding 13 points, seven boards, five assists and three steals, and Taylor Roberts nine points, two rebounds and two blocked shots.

Bri Bailey also finished with seven points and two rebounds for East Perth with Tessa Morrison contributing five points, four assists and two rebounds, and Sarah Allen three points, four assists and three boards.

MEN

It was déjà vu for the East Perth Eagles men and for the second straight game they've lost it was an ever so close lob attempt to David Okwera that almost came off but when it didn’t, it led to a narrow defeat.

Going back two weeks against the Perth Redbacks and a near perfect inbounds pass from Taylor Young was on target for Okwera to tip it in at the death that would have given the Eagles the win at Belmont Oasis.

It was an ever so similar story this past Saturday at Willetton Basketball Stadium. This time it was in play but Sunday Dech threw up a nice looking alley-oop attempt towards Okwera.

However, the Tigers' defence got in the way to deny the ball getting to Okwera for the game tying finish and Willetton ended up winning 87-85 as a result.

The Eagles arrived on the back of beating the Perry Lakes Hawks by 27 points last Saturday night and both teams were without some key pieces.

Willetton didn’t have the services of dynamic guard Marshall Nelson due to a groin injury while East Perth was without Sebit Reath with a finger complaint while fellow front court pair Lee Roberts and Lukas Milner are yet to arrive in 2024.

The two teams still put on an entertaining evening of basketball that went down to the very last possession.

The Tigers did complete a 12-0 scoring run in the second quarter to open up an 11-point lead with the home team going into half-time leading 47-40.

However, East Perth grabbed the momentum in the third quarter to open up a lead as big as five themselves heading into the fourth term.

A Michael Dupree three-pointer gave Willetton the perfect start to the fourth term before Roosevelt Williams tied scores up and Damien Scott put the Tigers in front.

Five quick Josh Ibukunoluwa points gave Willetton a five-point edge shortly after but the Eagles were back in front thanks to a three-point play from David Okwera with 1:45 on the clock.

Okwera was playing like a man possessed and had a huge block on Roosevelt Williams up the other end, but the ball got back to Williams who hit a huge three for the Tigers to put his team back up two.

In the end, Willetton was still leading by two when East Perth had one last chance to either go for the win or to send it to overtime.

They had the play to for Sunday Dech to lob it to Okwera going to the rim as well. It almost worked against the Redbacks a couple of weeks ago too, but the Tigers defenders read it well and were able to intercept it.

It was another heartbreaker for the Eagles with David Okwera finishing with 24 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Sunday Dech added 18 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals, Nic Filpo 13 points and six rebounds, Taylor Young 12 points, six boards, four assists, two steals and two blocks, and Sharif Watson 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Jerami Grace came back into the line-up for East Perth and scored three points with Michael Clare adding two pointes and a rebound, Elijah Pason two points, and Anthony Filpo one point and two rebounds.