NBL1 West Recap | Men's Friday Round 6

It was a dramatic opening to Round 6 of the NBL1 West Men's competition on Friday night with the Willetton Tigers finishing strongly over the defending champions and the Lakeside Lightning breaking their duck for 2022 in remarkable fashion.

There might have been just the two matches on Friday night to open Round 6 in the 2022 season, but they didn’t fail to deliver two outstanding contests.

With the East Perth Eagles hunting their second win of the season and the Lakeside Lightning their first at Herb Graham Recreation Centre, both teams were always going to throw everything at it.

East Perth were four points up with five minutes left but Lakeside responded with five quick points to Ben Lee before a huge triple from Landon Taliaferro and strong finish from Sebit Reath appeared to set the Lightning up for their first win of 2022.

There was still one late piece of drama with Nic Filpo hitting a stunning fallaway three-pointer which he was able to bank in. That made it a one-point game and he was fouled, but he missed the extra shot and Lakeside opened their account for the season with the 82-81 win.

The Tigers then had to dig deep but they produced a 30-point fourth quarter to come from eight points down late in the third quarter to end up beating the Perry Lakes Hawks 78-69.

Five players from Willetton scored in double-figures led by 16 points from Tom Gerovich and 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks from Michael Vigor. Matt Leary hit five triples on his way to 20 points for Perry Lakes.

Round 6 in the NBL1 West Women's competition for 2022 will now continue on Saturday evening with the Joondalup Wolves hosting the South West Slammers while the Mandurah Magic take on the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, and the Perth Redbacks play the Cockburn Cougars.

The Goldfields Giants are also at home to the Warwick Senators while the Geraldton Buccaneers play host to the Rockingham Flames to close out the round's action.

NBL1 WEST – 2022 MEN'S SEASON
ROUND 6 – FRIDAY NIGHT

EAST PERTH EAGLES 81 lost to LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 82

The Lakeside Lightning got what they were after with their first win of the 2022 season on Friday night but not without a dramatic contest with the East Perth Eagles.

East Perth was at home at Herb Graham Recreation Centre still chasing their second win of the season while Lakeside were still attempting to break their duck on the back of a tumultuous off-season that ended up with the experienced Dave Lindstrom taking over as coach.

It had been a rough start for the Lightning with six consecutive losses but now with Landon Taliaferro and Sebit Reath settling into the line-up they were looking a more competitive outfit coming into the clash with the Eagles.

East Perth also welcomed back Jarrad Anastasio having become the first team to lose to the Kalamunda Eastern Suns last Sunday, and they didn’t want to do the same thing to Lakeside on Friday night.

The Eagles were able to open up a 24-22 edge by quarter-time but Lakeside turned things around in the second quarter to go into the half-time break leading 45-41.

It was a game just destined to go down to the wire with one point the Lakeside advantage with 7:30 on the clock. East Perth then made their move starting with a big block from Anastasio. He then threw down a dunk up the other end and the Eagles soon led by four with five minutes on the clock.

If Lakeside wanted to break their losing run they needed to respond and it was Ben Lee who hit the next five points. The biggest shot of the game was then a Taliaferro three-point bomb as he lived up to his reputation as a big shot maker.

Lakeside was leading 82-78 with time running out and the Eagles had possession. It was Nic Filpo who gave them a sniff at the miracle when he drained a three from way downtown after being pushed in the chest.

He banked in the three ball and was fouled in the process. He had the chance to tie scores up but missed the free-throw and in the end it was Lakeside holding on for the 82-81 win to get their first win on the board for 2022 to leave both teams at 1-6.

Landon Taliaferro showed what a difference maker he could be from now on for the Lightning putting up 19 points and four steals while hitting 4/11 from three-point range.

Sebit Reath added 16 points and 19 rebounds as well for Lakeside while Ben Lee delivered 22 points, five assists, five steals and three rebounds on 5/8 shooting from deep in just 22 minutes.

Nick Palleschi also had seven points and five assists, and Josh Davey six points and nine rebounds.

Justin King had another standout performance for East Perth with 35 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists with Mateo Campbell 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Jarrad Anastasio eight points and four blocks, and Nic Filpo seven points, three rebounds, three assists and two blocks. 

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 69 lost to WILLETTON TIGERS 78

The Willetton Tigers put together their best quarter of the 2022 season and the result was them overrunning the defending champion Perry Lakes Hawks for a nine-point road victory on Friday night.

The Tigers have had a bit of a rough start to the 2022 season largely through not having a full squad available to date. 

They had lost four of their six games coming into Friday night's clash with the reigning champion Hawks at Bendat Basketball Centre and were taking them on minus Oliver Hayes-Brown and Travis Fee.

Perry Lakes has made a good start to its title defence winning four of five matches as well coming into Friday night's game and scores were tied at 14-14 by quarter-time after a bit of a defensive grind.

The Tigers then went into half-time with a narrow 34-33 lead but Perry Lakes took over proceedings in the third period with 23 points to 14 to be on top 56-47 heading into the fourth quarter.

Determined to avoid a 2-5 start to the season after a top four finish in 2022, the Tigers produced their best quarter of basketball for the season with the game on the line. They put up 30 points to 13 in the fourth period to end up beating the Hawks 78-69.

Tom Gerovich had a breakout performance for Willetton in the absence of Hayes-Brown and Fee, putting up 16 points, five rebounds and two assists on 6/9 shooting from the floor.

Michael Vigor showed his full array of talents with a superb all-round display as well for Willetton in a fascinating battle with Andrew Ferguson. He finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks on 6/12 shooting.

Andrew Black added 12 points and two rebounds for the Tigers, Damien Scott 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Michael Collins 10 points and four boards, and Connor Mincherton eight points, four assists and three rebounds.

Perry Lakes wasn’t at full strength either with the absence of Bailey Cole, Ryan Smith and Lewis Thomas, but Matt Leary stepped up for 20 points, five rebounds and four steals while knocking down 5/11 from the land of plenty.

Andrew Ferguson produced 14 points and nine rebounds, Rob Cassir 12 points, four boards and three assists, Adam Thoseby eight points and two steals, and games record holder Ben Purser eight points, seven rebounds and three assists.