West Spotlight | Flames too hot for Giants

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The Rockingham Flames continued their scorching NBL1 West form by knocking down 19 three-pointers with six players hitting multiple triples in the 108-74 home Sunday win over the Goldfields Giants.

Both teams came into the Sunday match up at Mike Barnett Sports Complex after Saturday night wins with the Flames winning on the road to the Willetton Tigers by 16 points and the Giants started their away double beating the Joondalup Wolves by 22.

Rockingham put up 28 points in the first quarter with five triples before hitting another five for 25 points in the second, seven for 32 points in the third and then another two in the last for 23 on the way to the 34-point victory.

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It was a scintillating display from the Flames with them shooting 57 per cent from the field while 35 of their 74 shot attempts were from three-point territory where they knocked down 19 at 54 per cent.

That including Amy Atwell going 5/9, Stef Berberabe 3/5, Sara Puckett 3/5, Tiana Wilson-Palmer 3/5 in her 100th NBL1 West game, Shani Amos 2/2 and Lesila Finau 2/3.

Puckett finished the game with 25 points and four rebounds on 10/13 shooting from the field with Atwell delivering 20 points, six assists and four rebounds in her return this weekend.

Teige Morrell added 16 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, Berberabe 13 points and 10 assists, Wilson-Palmer nine points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, Amos eight points and five assists, and Finau eight points, nine rebounds and three assists

The Giants couldn’t quite go with the Flames in their second road game of the weekend with Sierra Moore finishing with another 20 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Delaynie Byrne had another double double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals while Hazelle Yam contributed 14 points and two boards, Chloe Zorzi 10 points and three rebounds, and Lexi Pana seven points, eight assists and three steals.

Both teams were straight off playing the night before with Rockingham beating Willetton and Goldfields beating Joondalup so that set the stage nicely for the Sunday match up.

It was a scorching start at home from the Flames with 65 per cent field goal shooting and going 5/9 from downtown in the first quarter on the way to putting up 28 points with 21 of those courtesy of Sara Puckett and Stef Berberabe.

Opposed to that it was tough going to start for the visiting Giants with just the 16 first quarter points on 6/16 shooting and missing all six three-point attempts.

The lead for Rockingham got out to 18 points in the second quarter and by half-time the home team remained in control leading 53-35 with 10/16 three-point shooting with Amy Atwell and Puckett combining to go 6/9 to do the majority of the damage.

It was even more dominance in the third frame from the Flames with 32 points to 14 in the third quarter on the back of some more hot long-range shooting going 7/12 in the term including a couple more from Atwell as she was up to 20 points.

Rockingham had the game in hand leading 85-49 by three quarter-time and then from there went on to score the 34-point victory to make it five straight with the pair of wins this weekend.

Rockingham now face a fascinating test on Saturday night at home to a Warwick Senators team fresh off handing the Cockburn Cougars a first loss in 31 NBL1 West games.

The Giants return home to host the Eastern Suns also on Saturday.

NBL1 WEST 2026 SEASON | ROUND 8

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 108 (Puckett 25, Atwell 20, Morrell 16)

GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 74 (Moore 20, Yam 14, Byrne 13)