West Wrap | Men's Round 12

Featured image: @Chyon Kondylas Photography

Josh Davey hit another game winner for Lakeside Lightning, Marley Sam starred again for Eastern Suns, Isaac White and Michael Harris combined for 56 for Rockingham Flames, and Cam Huefner and Jack Browder 69 for Perry Lakes Hawks in NBL1 West Round 12.

>> LISTEN HERE TO WEEKLY NBL1 WEST RADIO SHOW, THE HOOP HOUR

>> WEST SPOTLIGHT | HOT FLAMES SOAR TO EIGHTH STRAIGHT

>> NO REGRETS AS ELLIS LEGACY GROWS BY REACHING 250

>> WEST WRAP | MEN'S ROUND 11

FRIDAY

Willetton Tigers (72) lost to Lakeside Lightning (79)

The Lakeside Lightning made a winning start to their double header weekend with Michael Imariagbe again starring in the 79-72 win over local rivals the Willetton Tigers.

The Tigers welcomed in two-time championship winner and Sydney Kings NBL champion Zac Gattorna to their team already in a top four spot ahead of hosting the Lightning at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

Lakeside are trying to break into the top eight and were leading by two points at quarter-time before Willetton had 21 points to 15 in the second frame for the 40-36 half-time edge.

It was still a four-point lead for the Tigers at three quarter-time but the Lightning delivered a big fourth term including scoring eight straight points to end up winning by seven to close in on a top eight spot at 6-9.

Imariagbe delivered another 23 points, six rebounds and four steals in the win for Lakeside with Corey Shervill adding 16 points, six boards and two assists, Yahui Sun 14 points, five rebounds and two assists, Liam Patterson 12 points and four boards, and Josh Davey six points, 17 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

Willetton are now 9-4 with the loss with Taeshon Cherry top scoring with 22 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals with Tom Musumeci contributing 16 points, three boards, three assists and three steals, and Michael Vigor 12 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Gattorna also played his first NBL1 game since the winning 2023 Grand Final with the Geraldton Buccaneers and first at any level since playing four minutes in the NBL for the Kings in November 2023.

He had five points in his 12:38 of court time.

Perth Redbacks (82) lost to Kalamunda Eastern Suns (99)

Marley Sam produced another performance defying being 17 years of age with 25 points to lead the Kalamunda Eastern Suns to the 99-82 road win over the Perth Redbacks.

The Redbacks were back home at Belmont Oasis trying to break into the top eight while the Eastern Suns arrived looking to rebound from a loss to the Joondalup Wolves to stay in touch of a top four place.

Kalamunda did open up an early six-point lead only for the Redbacks to respond with eight straight points to be leading 24-19 by quarter-time.

The Eastern Suns took over in the second frame with 32 points to 16 to head into half-time on top 51-40 before another 27 to 19 in the third to eventually open up a 25-point lead and to go on to score the 17-point victory.

The win improves the Suns to a 10-4 record on the season with Sam showing the way once more with 25 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals with 8/13 shooting from the floor and 7/10 at the foul line.

Joe Cook-Green added 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists, Terrandus Smith 22 points, four boards and four steals, and Jesse Pollo 14 points with 4/8 three-point shooting.

The Redbacks remain outside a playoff spot at 5-8 with Sean Conway finishing with another 18 points, nine rebounds and two assists with Luke Phillips adding 13 points and five boards.

Nick Floyd also had 11 points and 12 rebounds, Isaac Etter 11 points and three assists, and Malakye Cunningham nine points and three assists.

Cockburn Cougars (89) lost to Rockingham Flames (108)

The Cockburn Cougars had a chance to signal their intentions but the Rockingham Flames would have none of it with another blistering first half to set up the 108-89 win to stay clear on top with eight straight victories.

The Cougars were back home at Wally Hagan Stadium on Friday night coming off a stunning finish the previous Saturday night in Kalgoorlie where Johny Narkle had 28 points in the fourth quarter in the win against the Goldfields Giants.

The Flames then arrived clear in top spot and having won seven games in-a-row and it didn’t take long for the visitors to stamp their authority with Cockburn struggling against their pressure at both ends, and sorely missing championship winning import Akeem Springs.

It was a hell of a first half performance once more from Rockingham with 67 points already to half-time on 56 per cent shooting with 16/21 at the foul line with Isaac White and Michael Harris already combining for 35 points.

Cockburn had just 40 themselves as a team in the first half to go with 12 turnovers and the tone was set with the Flames from there cruising to the 19-point win to improve to a 12-2 record with eight wins on the trot.

White ended up with 31 points, six rebounds and four assists with 9/16 shooting from the floor, 3/6 from downtown and 10/14 at the foul line.

Harris added 25 points, seven rebounds and two steals with Laquinton Ross contributing 12 points and six boards, and Blake Jones 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals.

Emmett Naar also had 10 points and nine assists, and Travis Durnin nine points and four rebounds.

The Cougars are now 8-5 following the loss on the back of shooting just 45 per cent from the field and just the 10 free-throw attempts with Johny Narkle top scoring with 23 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Rowan Mackenzie also had 18 points and five assists with 5/8 three-point shooting, Joseph Bradshaw 14 points and five rebounds, Jonah Palelei nine points and five boards, and Jack Pitt nine points and two assists.

SATURDAY

Geraldton Buccaneers (108) defeated Joondalup Wolves (90)

The Geraldton Buccaneers delivered a blistering 41-point third quarter to set them on the path to a seventh straight victory to beat the third placed Joondalup Wolves 108-90.

Both teams came into the match up at Active West Stadium on six-game winning streaks and the winner would finish Round 12 in second position in the standings heightening the stakes.

It was a ferocious contest through the first half too with the Buccaneers leading by just three points at quarter-time and then by two at the half, but it was in the third where the reigning champs made their move.

Geraldton put up 41 points in the third frame with 16/22 shooting to open up a 25-point lead by the fourth quarter and go on to secure the 18-point win to consolidate second position at 10-2 with the Wolfpack now slipping to 11-4 with their six-game winning run coming to an end.

Josh Keyes put up another 28 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in the win for Geraldton with 14/20 field goal shooting.

He had plenty of help too with Cooper Creek producing 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, Matt Norman 17 points on 5/9 three-point shooting, and Verle Williams 14 points, six assists, five steals and four boards.

Liam Hunt delivered another 10 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists with Devondrick Walker ending up with 13 points, five boards, four assists and two steals, and Brendan Redhead nine points, three assists and two rebounds.

Caleb Davis ended up top scoring with 16 points and four rebounds for the Wolves even while going 0/8 from beyond the arc with CJ Turnage contributing 14 points and three assists, and Gabe Chadinha 14 points on 4/6 shooting from the floor and 4/6 from the foul line.

Sharif Black added 13 points, four rebounds and two assists, Damon Ballantyne 13 points and three boards, Jordan Wellsteed nine points, five rebounds and two assists in game 298, and Taylor Young eight points and five assists.

South West Slammers (71) lost to East Perth Eagles (77)

The East Perth Eagles might have been forced to work harder than they hoped but they got the win they needed to consolidate a place in the top eight beating the South West Slammers 77-71.

Both teams arrived at Eaton Recreation Centre struggling with the Slammers having lost 13 straight since starting the season with a win while the Eagles despite their supremely talented squad, had lost six of the past seven.

The Eagles were also hoping to welcome back Jonah Antonio from the 3x3 World Cup in Poland after he was back in town on Tuesday, but that didn’t eventuate as they hit the road to play the Slammers.

It was East Perth clinging to a one-point advantage by quarter-time before that stretched to a 45-40 edge at the half.

While the Eagles never surrendered the lead in the second half and did lead by as much as 15 points, they could never fully put the Slammers away either before ending up securing the six-point victory.

The win improves the Eagles to a 7-8 record on the season with Lat Mayen top scoring with 18 points with five rebounds, five assists and two steals on 4/9 three-point shooting.

De'Sean Parsons also had 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals, David Okwera 12 points, eight boards and four assists, Mitch Benger eight points and two rebounds, and Nick Filpo eight points, two boards and two assists.

The Slammers have now lost 14 straight to be 1-14 with Devan Craig top scoring with 16 points to go with five rebounds and four assists with Jhaylon Martinez adding 15 points and 13 boards.

Rhys Barrett also had 12 points and two steals, Philmon Gebrhiwet 11 points and seven rebounds, and Dante Matakatea six points, three boards, two steals and two blocks.

Goldfields Giants (85) lost to Warwick Senators (95)

The Warwick Senators celebrated the 250th game of championship winning captain Cody Ellis by keeping their season alive with the 95-85 road win in Kalgoorlie against the Goldfields Giants.

Both teams haven’t had the seasons they were hoping to have a combined 7-19 record coming into their match up at Evolution Mining Stadium with Warwick having some added motivation celebrating the 250-game milestone of 2020 championship captain Ellis for the occasion.

The Giants were also playing the first game with Ali Ishigami-Gims taking over the coaching duties from Lennon Smartt, and the two teams went out and combined for 60 points in the first quarter.

Warwick were leading 31-29 by quarter-time and still 55-53 by half-time before the Senators took over in the third period with 22 points to 13 to set them on the path for the eventual 10-point victory.

The win improves the Senators to a 5-10 record with Will Tschetter delivering 22 points and four rebounds with George Pearl adding 19 points, six assists and four rebounds, and Billy McRae 16 points, seven boards and four assists.

Tristan Forsyth also had 15 points, 12 rebounds and two assists, Brody England 10 points and two boards, and Marshawn Blackmon six points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals.

The Giants have now lost three straight to be 3-10 with Sam Vinson finishing with 30 points, eight rebounds and four assists with Josh Duach contributing 22 points, six boards and four assists, and Lino Manhom 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

New import Matthew MacLellan also had 13 points and six rebounds.

Lakeside Lightning (91) defeated Perth Redbacks (87)

Josh Davey hit his second game winner of the season this time on a trademark offensive rebound as the Lakeside Lightning made it a double win weekend downing the Perth Redbacks 91-87.

The Lightning were back home at Lakeside Recreation Centre coming off a win the night before against the Willetton Tigers ahead of taking on a Redbacks team who went down also on Friday to the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.

The Redbacks delivered a blistering first quarter with 33 points to 28 but Lakeside hit back in the second term and scores were all level at 50-50 by half-time.

The Redbacks got back on top in the third quarter to lead by as much as 12 points but Lakeside had assumed a three-point lead once more with a minute to play.

Sean Conway hit a huge three to bring scores back level but then after Isaiah Lewis missed a three-point attempt for Lakeside, Davey grabbed the offensive rebound and put the ball back to return to the Lightning to the lead.

Lakeside then secured the win with Malakye Cunningham called for the unsportsmanlike after a missed shot from Conway and Yahui Sun hit two at the line for the four-point win.

The Lightning improve to a 7-9 record with the double win weekend with Lewis finishing with 24 points, five rebounds and four assists with 4/9 long-range shooting.

Michael Imariagbe had another 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks with Michael Garbellini contributing 16 points and four boards, and Davey 10 points and 12 rebounds including nine of those boards at the offensive end.

The Redbacks are now 5-9 after the pair of losses with Sean Conway top scoring once more with 31 points, eight rebounds and two assists with Isaac Etter contributing 18 points, four assists and three boards, and Luke Phillips 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Perry Lakes Hawks (109) defeated Mandurah Magic (90)

It doesn’t look as though things are going to come together for the Mandurah Magic in 2026 with the Perry Lakes Hawks proving too strong for the 109-90 win with 40 points from Cam Huefner and another 29 from Jack Browder.

The Hawks played host to the Magic at one of the back courts at Bendat Basketball Centre and they opened up on fire with 35 points to 11 in the first quarter with no Jock Perry, Michael Dupree and Matt Kenyon for Mandurah.

The Magic did respond with 30 points to 21 in the second term but it was still Perry Lakes on top 56-41 by half-time before they retained that advantage through the second half on the way to the eventual 19-point victory.

The win is a second straight for the Hawks who improve to a 7-7 record with Perth Wildcats NBL forward Huefner putting up 40 points with six rebounds and three assists on 8/13 three-point shooting.

Browder continued his hot form with 29 points, 11 rebounds and three assists while Isaiah Moses returned and produced 14 points, six assists and three boards.

Mandurah are now 4-11 with back-to-back losses with Lachlan Bertram providing 32 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals with Michael Christmas adding 27 points, nine boards and two assists, and Ryan Blanchett 11 points and six rebounds in game 249.