NBL1 West Recap | Friday Women's Round 18

The Perry Lakes Hawks and Rockingham Flames suffered losses they could be left to rue on Friday night in the NBL1 West Women's Division while the Mandurah Magic and Perth Redbacks were among the big Round 18 winners.

It's the final round of the regular season in the NBL1 West competition and plenty went on the line in the five matches on Friday night. 

By the end of the evening, the Lady Wolfpack moved back into top spot ahead of the Willetton Tigers while the Perth Redbacks returned to winning as fellow top four prospects the Rockingham Flames and East Perth Eagles lost again. 

The Cockburn Cougars missed a chance to lock in a playoff berth officially but the Mandurah Magic did and then there was the Warwick Senators delivering a killer blow to the Perry Lakes Hawks.

The Perth Redbacks put themselves in the box seat to finish in fourth position by bouncing back to some strong form to beat the Cockburn Cougars 77-65 at Belmont Oasis.

Jess Jakens put up 19 points for the Redbacks, Makailah Dyer 17 and Maddie Allen 17 to go with 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots. Molly Matthews had 17 points for the Cougars and Taylah Simmons 15 in a loss that could have cost them a finals spot.

It was then a critical contest at Bendat Basketball Centre and despite the Perry Lakes Hawks coming in on the back of some hot form, Warwick Senators scored the 92-87 victory and could very well have knocked the Lady Hawks from a playoff spot in the process.

The Senators guaranteed their own finals appearance with the win on the back of 22 points from Stacey Barr, 17 from Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard and 15 from Caitlyn Jones. Megan McKay put up 18 points and 12 rebounds for Perry Lakes.

The Kalamunda Eastern Suns might be out of the finals hunt but finished their season on a high recording their fifth win at the expense of the finals bound East Perth Eagles, who will now enter the playoffs on a three-game losing slide and 11-7 record.

The Eastern Suns snapped their six-game losing run on the back of 27 points from Jewel Williams who knocked down 6/9 of her three-point attempts. Mary Goulding had another huge night for the Eagles with 29 points and 20 rebounds at Herb Graham Recreation Centre.

The Mandurah Magic kept their winning form going with a third straight win to all but lock in a playoff berth by defeating the Lakeside Lightning 82-64 at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

Rachel Halleen put up 20 points for Mandurah, Emma Klasztorny 19 and Carly Boag 18 to go with 11 rebounds while Casey Mihovilovich put up 10 assists in her 508th appearance. Emma Clarke finished with 17 points for Lakeside and Ash Isenbarger 15.

The Joondalup Wolves put the pressure back on Willetton to win on Saturday in the race for top spot by defeating the Rockingham Flames 77-69 at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

The Lady Wolfpack will now take a seven-game winning streak into the playoffs with Kayla Steindl delivering 26 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Alex Ciabattoni put up 22 points for Rockingham, Tayah Burrows 20 and Christina Boag 15 to go with 14 rebounds.

The regular season will now wrap up on Saturday with two games starting at midday with the Lakeside Lightning hosting the Willetton Tigers, and the Cockburn Cougars taking on the South West Slammers at Wally Hagan Stadium.

NBL1 WEST – 2021 WOMEN'S SEASON
ROUND 18 – FRIDAY NIGHT

PERTH REDBACKS 77 defeated COCKBURN COUGARS 65

The Perth Redbacks bounced back impressively on Friday night to beat the Cockburn Cougars and lock away a top four position in the process.

The Redbacks suffered a disappointing loss last week also at Belmont Oasis against the Mandurah Magic to put their top four position in jeopardy, but they soon fixed that on Friday night in their final game of the regular season.

With the Redbacks needing to win for that top four spot and the Cougars having to guarantee their own position in the top eight there was plenty on the line going into the Friday night Round 18 contest at Belmont Oasis.

After a slow start on the way to a disappointing loss last Friday to Mandurah, Cockburn again turned the heat back on Perth early this Friday with the Cougars scoring the game's first six points on the back of a triple to Molly Matthews and three-point play from Jessie Edwards.

Edwards was a monster on the offensive boards early and soon helped the Cougars to a 9-2 advantage, but the Redbacks did steady from there to work their way back into the contest and then end up in control most of the rest of the way.

The Redbacks led 17-15 by quarter-time after scoring 15 of the last 21 points of the opening term.

The home team continued to work their way further on top in the second quarter with 23 points to 14 to go into half-time leading 40-29.

The Redbacks maintained their control of the contest throughout the second half to come away with the 77-65 win to lock away their top four finish, and likely third spot while the Cougars missed a chance to 100 per cent lock away a playoff berth.

However, with Perry Lakes losing they do remain inside the top eight ahead of their clash with the South West Slammers on Saturday.

After Jessie Edwards dominated the offensive boards to start the game, it was a good effort from the Redbacks to end up on top in the rebound count 58 to 45 for the game. 

That helped them win the game despite only hitting 3/16 from downtown. They did shoot 42 per cent from the floor opposed to just 28 from the Cougars though.

Captain Jess Jakens put up 19 points and seven rebounds for the Redbacks while Maddie Allen delivered 17 points, 11 boards, six assists and three blocked shots, and Makailah Dyer 17 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Bri Bailey also finished with 10 points, two rebounds and two assists for the Redbacks, and Shenae Hartree six points to go with a career-best 17 rebounds.

Molly Matthews ended up top-scoring for the Cougars with 17 points, four assists and three rebounds while Taylah Simmons contributed 15 points, nine boards and four assists, Jessie Edwards 12 points, 16 rebounds and five blocked shots.

 

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 87 lost to WARWICK SENATORS 92

The Perry Lakes Hawks brought some hot form into their home clash with the Warwick Senators on Friday night, but in the end the loss now appears to have cost them a playoff berth.

Perry Lakes arrived at Bendat Basketball Centre on Friday night on the back of strong wins against East Perth, Mandurah and Kalamunda that had not only put them in a position to reach the playoffs, but to have the potential to cause some real damage should they get there.

All the Lady Hawks had to do was finish off their regular season with a home win against the Senators on Friday night and it likely would have been enough to lock in a top eight spot with the Cougars losing to the Redbacks at the same time.

However, it wasn’t to be with Warwick turning a one-point deficit at quarter-time into a 55-42 half-time advantage on the back of putting up 33 points to 19 in the second quarter.

The Senators extended their advantage and led by as much as 21 points late in the third quarter. It was still a 14-point margin with five minutes to go and while the Hawks mounted a comeback, they couldn’t get back closer than the final five-point margin.

The win sees the Senators end the regular season with a 10-8 record as they now await their playoff opponent while the Hawks appear to have missed their chance to be there at all at 8-10.

Stacey Barr top-scored for Warwick with 22 points to go with five rebounds, five assists and two steals on 3/6 shooting from beyond the three-point arc.

Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard added 17 points and five rebounds for the Senators with Caitlyn Jones contributing 15 points and three assists, Tayla Hepburn 14 points and five rebounds, and Chloe Forster 12 points and six boards.

Perry Lakes' season promised so much should they have made the playoffs and on Friday night, Megan McKay delivered 18 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and two assists.

Millie McCarthy also scored 13 points to go with five rebounds for the Hawks while Sarah Donovan contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, Malia Tharpe 12 points, and Ellie Newman 12 points and four rebounds.

Nat Burton also contributed eight points, 10 rebounds and four assists, and Maddie Dennis nine points, nine boards and four assists.

 

EAST PERTH EAGLES 61 lost to KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 72

East Perth was the team gearing up for the playoffs and Kalamunda playing their last game of the regular season, but it was the Eastern Suns who came out victorious on Friday night.

The Lady Eagles could have laid claim to being the hottest team in the NBL1 West Women's Division only a couple of weeks ago with them on a seven-game winning streak which included victories against the Flames (twice), Tigers, Hawks and Senators.

However, fresh off a Friday night win over Rockingham in Round 16, East Perth lost to Perry Lakes, then went down to the Warwick Senators last Thursday night and now have suffered a third straight loss that they will take into the finals with them.

The Eastern Suns had lost their previous six matches coming into Friday night's game at Herb Graham Recreation Centre to fall out of the playoff race, but they remain well coached by Craig Mansfield and still have enough talent to be dangerous.

Scores were tied at 18-18 by quarter-time but Kalamunda worked their way on top in the second quarter with 21 points to 14.

However, East Perth turned the tide in the third quarter holding the Suns to just the nine points while scoring 16 themselves with scores once again locked away at 48-48 heading into the fourth term.

It was the Eastern Suns who found an extra gear in their last game of the season putting up 24 points to 13 to claim the 72-61 win to end a six-game losing streak and end the season on 5-13.

Jewel Williams delivered a tremendous performance for the Eastern Suns with 27 points, five assists, three steals and two rebounds on the back of shooting 6/9 from three-point territory and 9/11 at the foul line.

Mia Jacobs added 17 points and five rebounds for the Suns, Sam Roscoe 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Ellyce Ironmonger 14 rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.

It was a tough evening in the finish for East Perth and that was despite another huge display from Mary Goulding who delivered 29 points, 20 rebounds and two assists while hitting 3/5 from three-point range and 6/7 from the free-throw line.

Eryn Fisher added eight points, six rebounds and three assists for the Eagles, Opal Mader six points and five boards, and Hannah-Rose Gillis six points.

 

MANDURAH MAGIC 82 defeated LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 64

The Mandurah Magic continued their impressive charge into the playoffs with an 18-point win at home over the Lakeside Lightning on Friday night.

Mandurah had a slow start to the NBL1 West Women's Division season losing seven of their opening nine matches, but they have turned things around impressively to have won six of the past eight heading into Friday's clash with Lakeside at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

The Lightning had fallen from playoff contention themselves on the back of losing their past three matches in the absence of Mikayla Pirini and Emma Clarke.

So it was all on the line for the Magic on their home floor on Friday night with them needing to win if they wanted to take the place in the top eight of either the Cockburn Cougars or Perry Lakes Hawks.

They had to take care of business themselves first, though, and the job was ahead of them by half-time with the Lightning having played well to end up leading 34-26 going into the main break.

The Magic's season was on the line and they turned things around in the second half with 29 points to 14 in the third quarter, and then 27 to 16 in the fourth to come away with the 82-64 victory.

The win means that Mandurah has now won seven of their past nine games to appear locked away for a finals appearance while Lakeside have suffered four consecutive losses at 5-12 with a game at home to Willetton to finish off their season with.

Rachel Halleen top-scored for the Magic with 20 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals on the back of shooting 6/9 from the three-point line in her 324th game.

Emma Klasztorny also had 19 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals for Mandurah, Carly Boag 18 points, 11 boards, three assists and three steals, and Rachel Pettit 12 points, four assists, four steals and two rebounds on shooting 4/9 from beyond the arc.

Casey Mihovilovich also delivered eight points, 10 assists and five steals in her 508th game for the Magic.

Emma Clarke ended up top-scoring for the Lightning with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists while Ash Isenbarger delivered 15 points, six boards and five assists, and Kyrah Daniels 10 points and five rebounds.

 

ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 69 lost to JOONDALUP WOLVES 77

With the Rockingham Flames eyeing a top four finish and the Joondalup Wolves still holding out hope of finishing on top, it was another fascinating game at Mike Barnett Sports Complex on Friday night.

The Flames had lost their last couple of games somewhat surprisingly after an impressive win following the return to the line-up of Tayah Burrows against the Warwick Senators, but could make a real statement at home to the Wolves.

However, the Lady Wolfpack had to win too if they wanted to be any chance of claiming the regular season championship having already locked away at least a top two finish.

It was a tight game throughout the opening half too with the Wolfpack scoring 19 points to 18 in the first quarter, and the same in the second term to go into half-time with a narrow 38-36 advantage.

Joondalup then rammed home their advantage in the third quarter with 21 points to just nine, and then withstood a strong final quarter from Rockingham to claim the 77-69 victory.

That sees the Wolves finish the regular season with seven consecutive wins on a 15-3 record. They will stay in first place now heading into the playoffs unless Willetton beats Lakeside on Saturday afternoon.

Rockingham, meanwhile, missed the chance to break into the top four and will go into the playoffs with three straight losses at 11-7.

Kayla Steindl produced an impressive performance for Joondalup made up of 26 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals on 11/22 shooting from the field.

Georgia Denehey added 16 points and three rebounds for the Wolves, Amber Land 10 points and five boards, and Nes'eya Williams nine points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Alex Ciabattoni top-scored for Rockingham with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Tayah Burrows contributed 20 points, four assists and three boards, Christina Boag 15 points, 14 rebounds and six steals, and Jorjah Smith eight points and two boards.