West Spotlight | Flames overcome brave Hawks

Featured image: @Chyon Kondylas Photography

Rockingham Flames pair Teige Morrell and Sara Puckett combined for 55 points and 18 rebounds but they had to come from behind to beat a valiant Perry Lakes Hawks 87-78 to celebrate the 200-game milestone of Paris Duffield.

There was plenty at stake on Thursday night for both teams at Bendat Basketball Centre with the Flames looking to stay in touch of a top two position and the out to try and break into the top eight.

In the end Perry Lakes not having Bridgette Rettstatt and then losing Mila Wawskowicz early took its toll and the Flames built a 15-point lead accordingly before the Hawks put up 34 points in the third quarter to be up four at three quarter-time.

Rockingham responded once more with 27 points to 14 to end up winning by nine to stay in touch of the top two at 13-4 while Perry Lakes do remain in playoff contention with three games to go at 6-11.

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It's a big result in the context of the season for both teams but Perry Lakes still had a lot to be proud of given they were already without Bridgette Rettstatt which denied them any sort of match up for Teige Morrell, and then lost Mila Wawszkowicz after 1:47 to illness.

But they still gave them a shot and still have a shot at the playoffs and will be a danger if they sneak in but the Flames showed their quality in the end with Morrell showing why she's a two-time MVP with 30 points, nine rebounds and three assists on 12/17 shooting.

Sara Puckett already had seven points and eight rebounds to half-time but then hit all four of her three-pointers in the second half on the way to 25 points and nine boards.

Paris Duffield then celebrated her 200th game with a trademark three three-point makes to help ensure it was a winning milestone while fellow co-captain Shani Amos added five points and four assists.

Perry Lakes remain just one win outside of eighth spot and only two behind the Goldfields Giants who they now play on Saturday with Makenna Marisa delivering another 34 points, eight rebounds and four assists on 5/9 three-point shooting.

Eva Smith stepped up for 11 points, six rebounds and two blocks for the Hawks, Nicola Moore 11 points and three boards, and Jess Jakens six points and four rebounds in game No. 311.

It was a big game for both teams with the Flames trying to stay in touch of the top two and the Hawks of the top eight, and away from home on the makeshift showcourt, Rockingham were up by 11 in the first quarter and leading 24-16 by quarter-time.

That lead for Rockingham grew to 15 points in the second frame and they were still on top 40-30 by half-time on the back of shooting 16/40 from the field to the 10/36 from Perry Lakes.

Teige Morrell already had 16 points to half-time with Perry Lakes dearly missing Bridgette Rettstatt while Sara Puckett had seven points and eight rebounds to help the Flames to the 10-point edge.

Perry Lakes then turned the game on its head in the third quarter by piling on 34 points with 13 of those coming from Makenna Marisa with them shooting 14/18 from the field with 6/9 from downtown.

It was a stunning turnaround and as a result the Hawks led 64-60 by three quarter-time but then the Flames flipped it back around with 13 straight points and 27 to 14 overall for the term.

That saw Rockingham shoot 8/16 from the field with 5/10 from deep for the last 10 minutes to turn that four-point deficit into the nine-point victory.

Perry Lakes now head straight to Kalgoorlie to take on the Goldfields Giants on Saturday night in what now could be pivotal in the seasons of both teams.

Rockingham also back up on the road to the Joondalup Wolves on Saturday night.

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PERRY LAKES HAWKS 78 (Marisa 34, Moore 11, Smith 11)

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 87 (Morrell 30, Puckett 25, Berberabe 14)