West Finals | Cougars one win from fourth GF

Featured image: Drew Molodstov | @thedrewmedia

The Cockburn Cougars made a blistering start to open up a 23-point lead in the first half in the NBL1 West Grand Final over the Warwick Senators rematch and that set the tone for their eventual 91-79 qualifying final win.

The two teams backed up playing off in last year's Grand Final at RAC Arena by having top four finishes again in 2026 with Cockburn finishing as regular season champions once more while Warwick ended up fourth.

The Cougars did go through undefeated through all of 2025 but their remarkable 30-game winning streak was ended by the Senators at Warwick Stadium back on May 16.

So the stage was set nicely for the Friday night qualifying final battle at Wally Hagan Stadium and it was a big start from the Cougars with 29 points to 14 in the first quarter with shooting 9/21 from the field to 6/20, and 4/11 from the outside to 2/12.

Cockburn also took the only seven free throws of the first quarter to be up 15 before that lead blew out to 23 in the second term and by half-time it was still a 54-36 advantage the way of the defending champions.

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Cierra Walker didn’t miss in her three attempts from deep for 15 points with Cockburn shooting as a team at 53 per cent to just 37 from Warwick who also had 12 turnovers.

Jayda Clark, though, was doing her best to keep the Senators in the contest with 16 points on 4/5 shooting from the outside.

Warwick did try to fight back into the contest in the third period and did manage a 7-0 run and with Clark scoring another 10 points with two more triples, the Senators had closed the deficit to 12 by three quarter-time.

The Senators did get back within 10 thanks to another three ball from Clark with seven minutes to play but Cockburn answered with a tough three-point play from Jaya Scafidi and from there the Cougars were able to retain control and win by 12.

That sees Cockburn earn a home preliminary final next Saturday night as they attempt to reach a fourth consecutive Grand Final and try to win back-to-back championships for the first time.

The Cougars ended up shooting 51 per cent from the field to 39 along with 16/22 from the foul line to 8/9 for their 11th straight victory with Cierra Walker delivering 20 points with 4/9 three-point shooting.

Daniel Raber had another 19 points, 11 rebounds and three assists with Jaya Scafidi contributing 18 points and four boards, and MVP winner Jessie Edwards 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Warwick will now have to get to a preliminary final the hard way having to host the Joondalup Wolves on Thursday night with the winner to end up playing the Rockingham Flames on Saturday night.

The Senators were also without coach Brad Robbins with Paul Rogers in charge for the evening with Jayda Clark delivering 36 points, five rebounds and five assists with 8/11 shooting from the outside.

Greta Kampschroeder also had 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals with Chloe Forster contributing 13 points and eight boards, and Kiara Waite nine points, five rebounds and two assists.

NBL1 WEST 2026 SEASON | QUALIFYING FINAL

COCKBURN COUGARS 91 (Walker 20, Raber 19, Scafidi 18)

WARWICK SENATORS 79 (Clark 36, Kampschroeder 13, Forster 13)