West Wrap | Men's Heritage Round

Featured image: Michael Farnell @sportsimageryau

Isaac White and Michael Harris had another 51 points as Rockingham Flames kept on winning while East Perth Eagles escaped in overtime, Joondalup Wolves sent a message beating Cockburn Cougars, and Geraldton Buccaneers kept on winning at home.

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FRIDAY

Cockburn Cougars (87) lost to Joondalup Wolves (90)

Sometimes the true value of a player is only seen in his absence and once Rowan Mackenzie fouled out for the Cockburn Cougars, the Joondalup Wolves scored the only seven points in the last two minutes to snatch the 90-87 win.

The Cougars were back home at Wally Hagan Stadium on Friday night celebrating their 2016 championship triumph up against the team they beat in that memorable Grand Final at Bendat Basketball Centre a decade ago.

And for a lot of the night Cockburn were on track to remain the hottest team this season with a seventh straight win having built a 15-point lead in the first half and still leading by four with two minutes to play.

However, point guard Mackenzie, who has put himself in the MVP discussion during the six-game winning streak, then fouled out and the game underwent a remarkable transformation.

The Wolfpack were able to hound the Cougars into poor shots and turnovers, and took full advantage to score the last seven points with Sharif Black leading the charge for his season-best night with the Wolves winning by three to improve to a 9-3 record to remain in third place.

Black has had a brilliant first season for the Wolfpack and saved his best for Friday night finishing with 35 points, nine rebounds and four assists with 13/27 shooting from the field, 2/9 from deep and 7/8 at the foul line while being +14.

Caleb Davis was also +14 for his seven points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals with Damon Ballantyne the other player who was +14 in just 18 minutes for nine points and two rebounds.

CJ Turnage produced another 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks, and Taylor Young 10 points, six boards and three assists.

The Cougars will be disappointed to have not made it seven straight wins having been in a winning position but those two minutes did highlight the importance of Mackenzie to them who finished with 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds while being a team-high +8.

Johny Narkle top scored for Cockburn with 23 points, five rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals, but he had another mixed night going 8/22 from the field and 2/9 from three-point range with three turnovers.

Joseph Bradshaw dominated the first half but managed just six points in the second on his way to 22 for the game with 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals while going 4/9 from beyond the arc.

Akeem Springs added 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists with Nathan Pond contributing seven points, seven boards and two steals.

Warwick Senators (104) defeated Mandurah Magic (96)

The Warwick Senators built a 20-point lead in the third quarter and then held out the fast finishing Mandurah Magic for the 104-96 at Mirrabooka.

The Senators were honouring Heritage Round by playing at Herb Graham Recreation Centre and hosting the Magic with both teams looking for an important win to try and build some momentum into their faltering seasons.

Warwick made the fast start with 36 points to 25 in the first quarter to go into quarter-time leading by 11 with a three ball on the buzzer from the returning Cody Ellis.

The Magic fired back into the contest with their own 12-0 run in the second quarter and by half-time the Senators were just clinging to the 55-54 edge.

Warwick pulled away again in the third term by completing a 17-0 run on the way to the 20-point lead and still being on top 81-68 by three quarter-time.

Mandurah did their best to fire back in the last quarter but couldn’t quite complete the job with the Senators holding on for the eight-point win to improve to 4-8 on the season.

Young big man Will Tschetter produced 21 points, three rebounds and three assists in the win for Warwick with Marshawn Blackmon contributing 20 points, five boards, three assists and two steals.

George Pearl was also back and delivered 16 points, seven assists and four rebounds with Billy McRae contributing 15 points, 14 boards and seven assists, Tyler Shand nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, and Cody Ellis eight points, four boards and three assists.

The Magic are now 3-9 following the loss with Jock Perry providing 27 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and three blocks while Michael Christmas added 27 points, nine boards, five assists and two steals.

Michael Dupree also had 19 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists, and Lachlan Bertram 13 points, five boards, four assists and three steals.

SATURDAY

Mandurah Magic (98) defeated South West Slammers (89)

The Mandurah Magic couldn’t afford a second loss of the weekend and with Jock Perry showing the way with another 27 points and nine rebounds, they managed to hold out the South West Slammers 98-89.

The Magic went down to the Warwick Senators on Friday night to have just three wins from 12 games coming into Saturday night where they were hosting the Slammers at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

It was the Slammers playing their only game of the weekend who were leading by a point at quarter-time before Mandurah had 25 points to 21 in the second frame to hold the narrow 46-43 lead by half-time.

The Magic did put out to an eight-point lead in the third quarter and then to 10 in the fourth, but they could never quite shake the Slammers even with ending up claiming the nine-point win.

The result improves the Magic to a 4-9 record with Jock Perry finishing with 27 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals on 11/18 field goal shooting.

Michael Dupree also had 24 points, five assists and two rebounds, Lachlan Bertram 15 points, 10 boards and six assists, Michael Christmas 14 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Ryan Blanchett 10 points, six boards and four assists.

The Slammers have now lost 11 straight to be 1-11 with Philmon Gebrhiwet having a standout showing made up of 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Pharell Keats also had 16 points and eight assists with 4/7 three-point shooting, Jhaylon Martinez 14 points and five rebounds, and Evan Craig 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.

East Perth Eagles (90) defeated Perth Redbacks (83)

The East Perth Eagles were staring down the barrel of a fifth straight loss until Lat Mayen shot them to overtime with the Perth Redbacks and then combined with David Okwera and De'Sean Parsons as they ended up winning 90-83.

The Eagles were back home at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre having lost their past four games despite the talent they possess including having now added Parsons who was named to the All-First Team in each of the past two seasons.

East Perth did come into the game minus Jonah Antonio with the Redbacks also without Marshall Nelson, but they would end up putting on quite the show.

No more than seven points ever separated the two teams with East Perth leading by three points at quarter-time, Perth by one at half-time and then the Redbacks by two at three quarter-time.

The Eagles then led by seven in the last quarter but by the time Luke Phillips hit a huge three-point play with 3.8 seconds left, it was the Redbacks leading by three.

Eventually on the inbounds from Mayen to Okwera, the pass came to Mayen who knocked down the huge three on the buzzer right in front of the Redbacks to send the game to overtime.

Then in the extra period, Mayen found Okwera and Parsons for some alley-oop finishes late and the Eagles were able to complete the deal on the seven-point win to avoid a fifth straight loss to be 6-6.

David Okwera finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and three assists for East Perth with new Brisbane Bullets signing Lat Mayen adding 24 points, seven boards, six assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

De'Sean Parsons added 21 points and 11 rebounds with Kai Kabugua stepping up for 10 points and three rebounds as point guard.

The Redbacks are now 4-7 with a fourth consecutive loss with Sean Conway putting up 31 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists on 6/13 three-point shooting.

Isaac Etter added 22 points and four assists, Luke Phillips 16 points and six rebounds, and Nick Floyd seven points, four boards and three assists.

Kalamunda Eastern Suns (95) defeated Perry Lakes Hawks (90)

Joe Cook-Green and Terrandus Smith combined for 48 points as the Kalamunda Eastern Suns stormed back from an 18-point third quarter deficit to outscore the Perry Lakes Hawks 60 to 42 in the second half for the 95-90 win.

Both the Eastern Suns and Hawks arrived at Ray Owen Sports Centre coming off losses to the Goldfields Giants and Cockburn Cougars respectively, but with both occupying top eight positions.

Jack Browder then helped Perry Lakes build a seven-point lead by quarter-time, by 13 at half-time and then as much as 18 in the third term.

But the Suns took charge in the second half and ended up outscoring the Hawks 60 points to 42 and that saw them shake off that 18-point deficit to secure the five-point home victory to the delight of their raucous home fans.

Joe Cook-Green returned for the Eastern Suns having missed the past four games and starred with 25 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Terrandus Smith also produced 23 points, six assists and four rebounds for Kalamunda, Marley Sam 19 points, four assists, four steals and three boards, Joel Vaiangina eight points and two blocks, and Rob Huntington seven points and three rebounds.

Jack Browder had another big night for Perry Lakes made up of 26 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and two blocked shots on 9/20 shooting from the field, 1/6 from downtown and 7/9 at the free-throw line.

Cam Huefner added 23 points, eight rebounds and two assists for the Hawks with Andreas Grubisa contributing 13 points and four boards, Darcy Knox nine points and three assists, Jack Kingswood seven points on 3/4 shooting, and Max Bucknell six points, six rebounds and five assists.

Lakeside Lightning (85) lost to Rockingham Flames (110)

The Rockingham Flames remain clear on top of the competition after 10 rounds with the 110-85 road win over the Lakeside Lightning with Michael Harris and Isaac White combining for 51 points.

The Lightning shocked the Flames on the road with the buzzer-beating winner from Josh Davey earlier in the season and they were attempting to repeat the dose at Lakeside Recreation Centre.

That was made all that harder when Rockingham put up 37 points to 19 in the first quarter before that lead got out to 21 points in the second term.

The Flames were still leading 60-47 by half-time before the visitors had another 25 points to 15 in the third period, and 25 to 23 in the fourth on the way to the 25-point victory.

Rockingham have now won six straight to be 10-2 with Michael Harris putting up another 26 points, five rebounds, five steals and four assists.

Reigning MVP Isaac White also had 25 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and two steals with Emmett Naar adding 14 points, nine assists and six boards, Blake Jones 13 points and five rebounds, and the returning Laquinton Ross eight points, two boards, two steals and two blocks.

The Lightning are 4-9 following the loss with Michael Imariagbe putting up another 25 points, 15 rebounds and two assists on 12/18 field goal shooting.

Liam Patterson also had nine points, two rebounds and two assists, Ben Fairclough eight points, eight boards, four assists and two blocks, Yahui Sun seven points and two assists, and Corey Shervill seven points, two rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

SUNDAY

Willetton Tigers (98) defeated Goldfields Giants (87)

Taeshon Cherry put up 27 points and Damien Scott 24 as the Willetton Tigers snapped their losing skid with the 98-87 home win over the Goldfields Giants.

The Giants had played half a game in Geraldton the night before prior to it being abandoned at half-time when they were up against it to turn things around against the Buccaneers after a dominant second term from the reigning champs.

The Tigers were then hosting them at Willetton Basketball Stadium on a three-game losing run of their own with the home team starting well with 26 points to 19 in the first quarter.

Goldfields fired back with 27 points to 21 in the second term and by half-time it was just a 47-46 advantage for Willetton.

The Tigers were able to take control in the third frame, though, with 27 points to 17 before opening up a 17-point lead in the last and securing the 11-point victory.

The win improves Willetton to a 9-3 record with Taeshon Cherry providing 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists with Damien Scott adding 24 points, four boards and four assists in his 387th appearance.

Michael Vigor also had 13 points, nine assists and eight rebounds with 3/5 shooting from downtown with Bryce Johnson adding 10 points, two boards and two assists, and Tim Ibukunoluwa five points and 11 rebounds while Andrew Black hit three triples for nine points.

Goldfields are now 3-8 following the loss with Josh Duach top scoring with 28 points, five rebounds and three steals with Sam Vinson putting up 24 points, 18 boards and eight assists, Michael Jok 18 points and three steals, and Jerome Reid nine points, six rebounds and two steals.

Geraldton Buccaneers (108) defeated Warwick Senators (88)

The Geraldton Buccaneers would have been frustrated from the night before and then withstood Will Tschetter's 32 first half points on Sunday before dominating the Grand Final rematch to beat the Warwick Senators 108-88.

It had already been an eventful weekend for both teams for different reasons with the Senators starting things off on Friday night with an impressive win at Mirrabooka against the Mandurah Magic.

The Buccs then shook off a slow start at home to the Goldfields Giants on Saturday night to be leading 47-32 by half-time on the back of a 29-10 second quarter before that game was called off at Active West Stadium due to a wet outside of the court thanks to the storm on the night.

The floor was in better condition on Sunday night as the Buccs hosted the Senators in a Grand Final rematch, but Will Tschetter was unstoppable in the second quarter with the Michigan NCAA championship winner going into half-time with 32 points.

Josh Keyes took that personally for Geraldton and did a lockdown job on him in the second half holding him to one-point the rest of the game on just four more shot attempts and the Buccaneers took control.

The reigning champions ended up leading by as much as 27 points on the way to the 20-point win to improve to a 9-2 record with six straight victories.

On top of Keyes' defensive job in the second half, he finished with 21 points, four rebounds and two assists to be +28 in his 30 minutes.

Matt Norman only had one three-point attempt in the second half but still had 19 points on 5/9 shooting from behind the arc with Liam Hunt delivering another 17 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Cooper Creek was playing against the team he helped to the Grand Final last year and had 14 points, 11 rebounds and two assists with Devondrick Walker adding 11 points, five assists, four boards and three steals, Verle Williams 10 points and three assists, and Brendan Redhead 10 points and two assists.

The Senators split their tough weekend to now be 4-9 with Tschetter ending up with 33 points, four rebounds and two assists with 12/19 shooting from the field and 6/9 from deep. But it was just one-point on 0/4 after half-time.

Tyler Shand added 14 points, six rebounds and five assists, Marshawn Blackmon 13 points and two boards, Marcus Inu 10 points and five rebounds, and George Pearl seven points, seven boards and five assists.