West Spotlight | Magic close in on top four spot

Featured image: @hyperfocusimages | Michael Bailey

Claire Jacobs scored 25 points and Mikayla Pivec almost had another triple double with the Mandurah Magic taking control in the fourth quarter to keep their NBL1 West top four hopes alive beating the Warwick Senators 83-68.

With the Senators arriving at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre in third position and the Magic fifth, it was a big game in terms of the battle for top four positions.

Then for three quarters it was a tight contest with the Senators leading by four points at quarter-time thanks to Kyana Weir's 10 points before Warwick were still on top by four at three quarter-time.

Mandurah started to work on top to be leading by two at three quarter-time before then taking over with 21 points to eight in the last term to take control and secure the 15-point victory.

The win significantly heats up the top four battle with the Magic improving to a 10-5 record with the Senators now slipping to 11-5.

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By the end of the game, Mandurah finished up shooting 44 per cent from the floor to 35 from Warwick along with 20/26 from the foul line to 9/10 but the Senators did pull down 12 offensive rebounds to six on the way to getting up 14 more shots.

It was a fifth straight win in the finish for the Magic with Mikayla Pivec only narrowly missing another triple double ending up with 16 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists with Mandurah +18 with her out there.

Claire Jacobs then top scored with 25 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals with 3/6 shooting from behind the arc and 6/6 at the free-throw line.

Jordana Reisma also had 14 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks, Jade Gowland eight points and three rebounds, and Sharn Hayward six points and four assists.

Warwick did run out of gas in the fourth quarter and the absence of Jayda Clark, Nat Burton and Izzy Miotti didn’t help their cause with Kyana Weir top scoring with 17 points, five assists and three rebounds.

Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard added 17 points, six rebounds and four blocks, Chloe Forster 15 points, eight boards, four assists and three steals, and Greta Kampschroeder 13 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

It was a crucial battle in terms of the teams being locked in a battle over a top four position and the Senators made a strong start away from home to open up a nine-point lead in the first quarter.

They were still on top 26-22 by the end of the first term with Kyana Weir on fire with 10 points already with Warwick going 4/10 from three-point range.

But Mandurah stayed in touch 57 field goal shooting despite the six turnovers with Claire Jacobs having 12 points and Mikayla Pivec putting herself on track for another triple double already with six points, four rebounds and three assists.

It was then 18 points apiece in the second quarter and even with Warwick going 1/7 from long-range, they were still leading 44-40 by the main break with Greta Kampschroeder warming nicely to be up to 11 points.

Mandurah worked their way on top in the third frame with 22 points to 16 with Pivec providing another six points, four rebounds and three assists with Claire Jacobs adding a further seven points for the Magic to have worked on top 62-60.

That set the stage for a big finish and it was all the Magic in the final term with 21 points on 6/12 shooting along with 7/12 at the foul line to just eight points from the Senators with 3/20 shooting and missing all 11 free-throw attempts.

The Magic will look to keep their momentum going in a fascinating clash on the road to the Cockburn Cougars on Friday night with the Senators attempting to bounce back hosting the South West Slammers next Saturday.

NBL1 WEST 2026 SEASON | ROUND 14

MANDURAH MAGIC 83 (C Jacobs 25, Pivec 16, Reisma 14)

WARWICK SENATORS 68 (Clinch Hoycard 17, Weir 17, Forster 15)