West Recap | Week 1 Finals Friday

Image credit: Michael Farnell (Sports Imagery)

NBL1 West women's finals started on Friday night with Cockburn Cougars staying unbeaten in a tight one with Rockingham Flames before Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard and coach Brad Robbins orchestrated a stunning win for Warwick Senators over Perth Redbacks.

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Qualifying Final – Cockburn Cougars (86) defeated Rockingham Flames (84)

The defending champion Rockingham Flames always had the potential of pushing the undefeated Cockburn Cougars more than anyone and that certainly was the case before Steph Gorman fired late to get Cockburn to 21-0 with the 86-84 win.

Just to add to the occasion of the qualifying final at Wally Hagan Stadium on Friday night was that it was a grand final rematch from last year where it was Rockingham that finished strongly to overcome Alex Ciabattoni and the Cougars for the champions.

Ciabattoni was in Rockingham colours this time around and the Flames had done a tremendous job to overcome losing five of the first six games of the season to start building momentum once three-time NBL1 West championship winning coach Ryan Petrik took back over.

The Flames went on to win the last six games to finish in fourth position to earn the finals double chance and the right to try and hand the Cougars their first loss of 2025 after they finished five games clear in top position.

The reward for the winner was the right to host a preliminary final next Saturday night with a spot in the grand final RAC Arena then on the line, and the Flames got off to a hot start including opening up the game with a three ball from Sydney Erikstrup.

Then midway through the first quarter Rockingham scored eight straight points to be leading 17-8 and the Cougars found themselves in a position they hadn’t been in all season.

The two teams only combined to shoot 2/14 from three-point range in the first quarter but the Cougars had managed to assume the 22-19 lead by quarter-time.

However, it was Rockingham who got rolling once more in the second term outscoring Cockburn 28 points to 20 to be on top 47-42 by half-time with Marena Whittle starring already with 19 points to her name.

The Cougars turned things around with 28 points to 20 in the third quarter but the Flames weren't going away and were back level to start the final term with a triple to Erikstrup before Whittle made her only shot of the second half with a three ball too put Rockingham back in front.

Daniel Raber responded with a three-point play for Cockburn but then Erikstrup hit a second three ball of the fourth term for Rockingham to keep the reigning champs up by three.

That's when Defensive Player of the Year Stephen Gorman fired up for the Cougars to knock down three three-pointers in less than a minute to put her team on top by four.

Things really dried up in the last five minutes with turnovers galore with the pressure in tense and Rockingham were able to get back level at 84-84 with four minutes to play.

That would be the last score of the game for the Flames and the only other score was a mid-range jumper from Sarah Mortensen with two minutes on the clock that ultimately gave the Cougars the win and shot them into a home preliminary final back at Wally Hagan Stadium.

It was quite the defensive grind between two standout teams for a lot of the evening but Cockburn did end up attempting 14 extra shots on 23 offensive rebounds which proved pivotal in the final result even with the Flames going 17/21 at the foul line to 10/13.

Sarah Mortensen was seen by many as the favourite to win MVP this season and she was named to the All-First Team, and showed why for the Cougars with another 26 points, 14 rebounds and three assists in the win.

Daniel Raber provided 22 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals as well while All-Second Team member Steph Gorman made 4/11 from downtown including those three in the last quarter for 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Jessie Edwards also had 13 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks including one massive one late on Alex Sharp that proved crucial when the Cougars were up two.

The Flames will now be at home for a semi-final against the winner of Saturday's elimination final between the Mandurah Magic and East Perth Eagles.

Marena Whittle finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists for Rockingham with 4/8 three-point shooting and with 19 of those points coming by half-time.

Reigning championship captain and grand final MVP Alex Sharp provided another 21 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and two blocks for the Flames too with Sydney Erikstrup landing 16 points with 4/9 three-point shooting.

Alex Ciabattoni also had 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while Jess Jakens contributed seven points, three boards and three assists.

COCKBURN COUGARS 86 (Mortensen 26, Raber 22, Gorman 17)

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 84 (Whittle 23, Sharp 21, Erikstrup 16)

Qualifying Final – Warwick Senators (75) defeated Perth Redbacks (71)

Even with the absence of Robbi Ryan, Stacey Barr and Kiara Waite along with Chloe Forster's unsuccessful return and a tough shooting night from Stacey Barr, the Warwick Senators pulled of a win for the ages advancing to the preliminary final beating the Perth Redbacks 75-71.

The Senators did finish the regular season in second position but they had lost three of their last five matches and came into the qualifying final at Warwick Stadium minus back court pair Ryan and Gandini who were instrumental in the Rockingham Flames' championship in 2024.

Perth Lynx forward Waite has also missed all but four games this season but there was positive news on the personnel front for the Senators with the return of All-First Team member Chloe Forster after she had missed the past five matches with an ankle injury.

The Redbacks were also without captain Raya Thomspon and Youth Player of the Year Alaska Rhebok, but were loaded up with their big guns Anneli Maley, Nat Chou, Patty Brossmann and Georgia Denehey.

The Redbacks also finished the season winning five of their last six matches to join Warwick on a 15-5 record and in third position, and the visitors did have the better of the first quarter leading by as much as 10 and being up 22-16 by quarter-time.

The Redbacks still managed to lead the entire second quarter and it was a late bucket from Anneli Maley that saw Perth leading 40-35 by the half-time break.

Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard was stepping up huge for Warwick and when she scored five straight points early in the second half the Senators were back level, and eventually they grabbed a two-point lead when Katie Cummins scored on the inside.

It was still the Redbacks clinging to the 57-56 advantage by three quarter-time but it had all the makings of a game that would go right down to the wire with a home preliminary final on the line.

Clinch Hoycard scored four more quick points for Warwick to start the final frame before Stacey Barr got one to fall to put the home team up by four.

Maley landed a three ball shortly after to bring Perth back within one and then just as the Senators had some momentum and a five-point lead, the Redbacks responded with six straight points all courtesy of Maley to reclaim the lead.

Barr then scored to bring Warwick back level with just under two minutes on the clock before Nat Burton scored on the inside showing her class and experience.

Georgia Denehey made two free throws for Perth but the biggest shot of the game was courtesy of Clinch Hoycard who drained a three with just under 20 seconds to go.

That would prove the difference before Kyana Weir made a free-throw to stretch the lead to four and that's what Warwick won by to ensure they will host a preliminary final next Saturday back at Warwick Stadium.

It was a win to savour for the Senators without Robbi Ryan, Emma Gandini and Kiara Waite, and with Chloe Forster appearing to reinjure her ankle after playing 17 minutes for four points in her return.

Stacey Barr then had a tough shooting night going 4/20 from the field for 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists, but still coach Brad Robbins orchestrated a memorable win.

Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard is joining Geelong Venom for the upcoming WNBL season and will be doing so in fine form after putting up 22 points, 17 rebounds, four steals and two assists on 4/9 three-point shooting.

Sixth Woman of the Year also had 10 points, two rebounds and two assists with Izzy Miotti adding seven points and five rebounds, Katie Cummins seven points and three boards, Samara Grinceri seven points and three steals, and Nat Burton six points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

The Redbacks will now host a semi-final against either the Willetton Tigers or Perry Lakes Hawks to have a second chance to advance to a preliminary final that will be on the road to the Cockburn Cougars.

Anneli Maley put in a typically incredible display full of hustle for the Redbacks with 33 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.

Nat Chou added 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals, Georgia Denehey 10 points, three assists, two boards and two steals, and Patty Brossmann four points and 13 rebounds.

WARWICK SENATORS 75 (Clinch Hoycard 22, Barr 12, Weir 10)

PERTH REDBACKS 71 (Maley 33, Chou 13, Denehey 10)