NBL1 West Recap | Friday Finals Week 1

The defending NBL1 West champion Rockingham Flames were pushed down the stretch before some Devondrick Walker brilliance on Friday night to advance to a preliminary final while the Perth Redbacks eliminated the Lakeside Lightning.

The NBL1 West finals got underway on Friday night with two men's matches with the Rockingham Flames beating the Perry Lakes Hawks 94-85 in a qualifying final while the Perth Redbacks defeated the Lakeside Lightning 98-81 in an elimination final.

The rest of the action takes place on Saturday with a men's elimination final between the Joondalup Wolves and Warwick Senators, and a qualifying final between the Geraldton Buccaneers and Willetton Tigers.

The women's elimination finals feature the Warwick Senators against the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, and the Mandurah Magic playing host to the Perry Lakes Hawks. The qualifying finals see the Cockburn Cougars play the Rockingham Flames, and the Willetton Tigers play the Joondalup Wolves.

MACKENZIE THRIVING BACK AT LIGHTNING AFTER TEXAS SOJOURN

NBL1 WEST RECAP | SATURDAY ROUND 17

NBL1 WEST RECAP | FRIDAY ROUND 17

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Hobbs fires as Redbacks eliminate Lightning 

Another standout performance from import point guard Bryton Hobbs led the Perth Redbacks to a 98-81 elimination final victory against the Lakeside Lightning at Belmont Oasis.

Despite the best efforts of Rowan Mackenzie for the Lightning, the Redbacks proved too strong to keep their season alive with the Friday night victory to open the NBL1 West finals.

The Redbacks ended the regular season in fifth position with a 14-8 record ahead of hosting the Lightning who ended up eighth at 11-11, and it was Perth who opened up a 26-22 lead by quarter-time.

Tevin Jackson with absolutely ?? ?????? for the buzzer ?

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The Redbacks were then able to complete a 13-0 scoring run in the third quarter to open up a 16-point lead, and to be in control leading 51-39 by half-time.

That advantage got out to as much as 20 points in the third quarter and 21 in the fourth, and while the Lightning did keep on fighting and even scored 10 straight points at one stage of the final stanza, the Redbacks weren’t ever seriously threatened. 

Perth went on to score the 17-point victory to end the season of Lakeside while advancing to a semi-final against the Perry Lakes Hawks at Bendat Basketball Centre.

Bryton Hobbs was the star once again in the victory for the Redbacks finishing with 28 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals on shooting 8/19 from the field, 4/9 from behind the three-point line and 8/8 at the foul line.

The absence of Perth Wildcats big man David Okwera benefitted Louis Timms who played a more prominent role and delivered 14 points, five rebounds and three huge blocks.

Captain Tevin Jackson added 18 points, five assists and two rebounds, Joel Vaiangina 11 points, seven boards, three steals and two blocks, and Maris Colton 10 points and five rebounds.

Brian Voelkel also delivered seven points, seven rebounds, five assists and a block.

Emerging gun Rowan Mackenzie again offered a significant look at what he's capable of leading Lakeside with 34 points, five rebounds and two assists on shooting 12/20 from the field, 6/11 from three-point range and 4/4 at the foul line.

Ben Lee added 10 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Lightning, Kyle Armour nine points, four rebounds and two assists, and Josh Davey seven points, 11 boards and three assists.

Bryton Hobbs and the Redbacks advance ?

Perth's star guard dropped 2??8?? points in a ?????? opening finals statement ?

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Flames overcome late scare from Hawks

The Perry Lakes Hawks delivered a spirited fightback but the defending champions on the back of their two-time MVP did enough to will the Rockingham Flames to the preliminary final with the 94-85 home victory.

On the back of winning both the NBL1 West and National Championship in 2022, the Flames ended the 2023 regular season in top spot with a 19-3 record having won their last 11 matches.

That saw them earn home court advantage at Mike Barnett Sports Complex for Friday's qualifying final with a Hawks team who beat them in the 2021 Grand Final, and finished this regular season in fourth place at 15-7.

Don't let Devondrick Walker past you ?

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It was actually Marshall Nelson who was instrumental in helping Rockingham set the tone early with the Flames opening up an eight-point lead in the first quarter, and still leading by four at quarter-time. 

The lead for the Flames would get out to as much as 14 points in the second stanza but the Hawks weren’t going to lie down and by half-time had cut that Rockingham advantage to 51-46.

Rockingham continued to threaten to blow the game open throughout the second half including leading by 14 points again with eight minutes to play after a three-point dagger from Devondrick Walker.

However, Perry Lakes wasn’t going away and kept on fighting and consecutive three-point makes from Daniel Alexander brought them back within six points and it was game on.

Mitch Clarke hit a triple himself soon after and would score seven consecutive points for the Hawks to make it a three-point ball game with four minutes to play before Tom Jervis hit a steadying bucket for Rockingham.

It was a dagger three-pointer from two-time MVP Walker with just under two minutes to play that pushed the Flames back out to a 10-point lead that sealed it, and from there the Flames went on to win by nine.

The victory means the Flames advance straight to a home preliminary final while the Hawks will now host the Perth Redbacks in a semi-final next week.

Having just claimed his second straight MVP award, Devondrick Walker was again instrumental in the win for Rockingham finishing with 24 points, four assists and two steals including going 5/13 from three-point territory.

Marshall Nelson also finished with 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals, Tom Jervis 14 points, seven boards and three assists, and Jeremy Combs 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Daniel Alexander ended up top-scoring for Perry Lakes with 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists on shooting 9/17 from the floor and 3/6 from beyond the three-point arc.

Andrew Ferguson added 20 points, 11 rebounds and three assists for the Hawks, Mitch Clarke 19 points, five assists and four rebounds, Lewis Thomas 10 points, six boards, three assists and two blocks, and Matt Leary six points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in a starting role. 

Jeremy Combs smacked the ???????? out of it ?

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