West Spotlight | Browder, Hawks send another message

Featured image: @Chyon Kondylas Photography

Another night and both did Jack Browder enhance his MVP credentials and the Perry Lakes Hawks show they could be a real title threat with the emphatic 105-81 win over the fourth placed Cockburn Cougars.

It always loomed as a potentially season-defining Friday night match up at Bendat Basketball Centre with the Cougars trying to retain a top four position and the Hawks looking to continue their hot form that including knocking off the then league-leading Rockingham Flames last Thursday.

Cockburn had a hot start with 31 points to 22 in the first quarter with 13 of those points from Joe Bradshaw but Perry Lakes took control from there with 34 points to 14 in the second term.

They added another 18 to 16 in the third and finally 31 to 20 in the fourth with Browder scoring 14 of those for the 24-point win on a night where the Cougars were left frustrated with star guard Rowan Mackenzie fouling out and Johny Narkle valiantly playing but largely ineffective while still clearly well short of 100 per cent following his illness from last week.

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It's a big result in the context of the season for both teams with Perry Lakes remaining a chance to still even finish top four but more likely earn a home final to open the playoffs on the back of shooting 49 per cent from the field to 39.

The Hawks also forced the Cougars into 19 turnovers with Perry Lakes ending up attempting six extra shots on the way to winning by 24 and again there was plenty to like in what they delivered eight days after beating Rockingham.

Jack Browder finished on fire with 14 points in the last quarter on his way to 32 for the game to remain the league's leading scorer and to appear the biggest MVP threat to last year's winner Isaac White.

Along with the 32 points, he had 11 points, four steals and two assists while shooting 11/21 from the field, 4/10 from the outside and 6/7 at the foul line.

Isaiah Moses had 22 points in a dazzling first half and ended up with 28 to go with five rebound and five assists with Cam Huefner adding 14 points, four steals, three boards and three assists despite battling foul trouble and being limited to 23 minutes.

Max Bucknell was in the same boat and played just 26 minutes for two points, five rebounds and three assists with Andreas Grubisa adding 10 points and four boards.

The Cougars are now 13-7 having fallen to consecutive losses with Joe Bradshaw starting on fire with 13 points in the first quarter and 24 for the game with 13 rebounds and three steals on 4/7 shooting from the outside.

Rowan Mackenzie had a frustrating night and fouled out midway through the fourth quarter finishing with 16 points and five rebounds with Akeem Springs adding 11 points and seven assists, Nathan Pond six points and two rebounds, and Austin Crowe-St Jack six points and two boards.

Both teams still have two games to go in their regular season with Perry Lakes on the road to the Mandurah Magic on Saturday night and then hosting the Geraldton Buccaneers next Saturday.

The Cougars missed a chance to consolidate a top four spot and now have three games still to play against the Perth Redbacks on Saturday and then away to the East Perth Eagles next Friday.

NBL1 WEST 2026 SEASON | ROUND 17

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 105 (Browder 32, Moses 28, Huefner 14)

COCKBURN COUGARS 81 (Bradshaw 24, Mackenzie 16, Springs 11)