West Spotlight | Magic do it again against the Flames

Featured image: @drewmolodstov.media

The Mandurah Magic have the utmost belief no matter the situation against the Rockingham Flames which was on full show coming back from 19 points down with Mikayla Pivec brilliant with a triple-double and Georgia Adams' game of her life in the 86-84 win.

The cards were certainly stacked coming into the Friday night contest at Mike Barnett Sports Complex against the Flames for the Magic with both Claire and Mia Jacobs unavailable along with Emma Klasztorny still being sidelined along with Erin Antosh.

That was somewhat offset with the first appearance of the season of Pivec, but still they were on the road to a Rockingham team having won three straight by an average of 24.7 points with superstars on deck including Amy Atwell and Teige Morrell.

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Rockingham then built a 19-point lead during the second quarter to be in control and still up 12 midway through the third period.

That's when Mandurah dug deep and showed the belief that they used to shock the Flames to end their season in the finals on the same floor last year and then also to beat them in Mandurah in the season-opener of 2026.

The Magic scored the last 10 points of the third quarter and overall outscored the Flames 35 to 21 from the moment they were down 12 with Georgia Adams hitting the two biggest shots in the biggest performance of her 60-game career.

She hit a huge three that put Mandurah in front with a minute to play and then responded to a Morrell bucket to score the game winner on the dime from new arrival Pivec that gave her a triple-double and the Magic got the stunning win against the odds to improve to 3-2.

Pivec is no stranger to the NBL1 and has played some standout basketball previously at the Albury Wodonga Bandits and Bendigo Braves, but in her first appearance in the West she shone for the Magic.

She delivered a triple-double consisting of 21 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocked shots.

Then there was the breakout performance from Adams who delivered 25 points and eight rebounds on 10/15 shooting from the floor and 3/4 from downtown.

Jade Gowland also had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Sharn Hayward 15 points and four assists.

Rockingham are now 3-2 following a loss they will be kicking themselves over with Morrell finishing with 20 points, 16 rebounds and two assists on 9/14 shooting.

Amy Atwell ended up with 19 points, 10 rebounds and four assists with Stef Berberabe contributing 15 points, four boards, three assists and two steals.

New import Sara Puckett was having a significant impact with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists with Rockingham +17 with her out there, but the game was significantly different without her out there and once she fouled out the Flames struggled.

Rockingham were back home and on a three-game winning streak up against the shorthanded Magic. By quarter-time the home team was in control leading 22-12 having gone on an 11-0 scoring run, and with Amy Atwell and Teige Morrell combining for 18 of their 22 points.

The lead for the Flames got out to 19 in the second quarter as well and they were still on top 48-35 by half-time with them shooting 49 per cent to just 32 from Mandurah.

Rockingham were then leading 63-51 with three minutes to go in the third quarter and it was going to take something special from the Magic. That's just what they delivered including the last 10 points of the period.

It then turned into quite the dramatic fourth quarter and things swung Mandurah's favour when Sara Puckett fouled out for Rockingham, and then Georgia Adams hit a massive three with a minute to play to put her team up two.

Teige Morrell answered immediately up the other end to level scores again for Rockingham but then Mikayla Pivec showed her craftiness and creativity with the perfect dish inside to Adams who hit the game winning shot.

Rockingham still had a shot at a prayer but Stef Berberabe's quick three-point attempt wasn't close and Mandurah pulled off a stunning road win against the odds.

It's the lone game of the Anzac Day weekend for both teams with the Magic now not playing again until Friday May 8 against the Cockburn Cougars while the Flames will be at home to the Eastern Suns next Friday night.

NBL1 WEST 2026 SEASON | ANZAC ROUND

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 84 (Morrell 20, Atwell 19, Berberabe 15)

MANDURAH MAGIC 86 (Adams 25, Pivec 21, Gowland 16)