Senators' bloodlines run strong

Eric McFarland loves his hoops and is as passionate as they come. He has built a profile around supporting basketball at the grassroots and the highest levels, commentating at two National Finals.

He is a weekly fixture at the Warwick Senators, calling all their home games and hosts the Hey Pal Radio podcast -- diving into all stories across the Australian basketball scene. 

The Senators are one of many storied clubs in Western Australia, and he spoke with some of the key players who have made Warwick what it is today. 

Senators' bloodlines run strong

To paraphrase a familiar sports-entertainment catchcry, “Basketball has more than one royal family”

Western Australian basketball is littered with families that have had generation upon generation of success and the Warwick Senators' bloodlines run strong as their men’s program chases an elusive NBL1 West Championship.

Whilst the women’s program has raised a NBL1 West and National Championship in 2022, the men’s program has yet to raise a full-season NBL1/SBL banner - Paying all due respect to the COVID-affected SBL 2020 West Coast Classic championship.

Sitting at the top of the table ahead of Heritage Round at their old stomping grounds at Herb Graham Recreation Centre against the Goldfields Giants, two men with legacy in their past play a key role in forging the future for the Warwick Senators in season 2025.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Warwick Senators (@warwicksenatorsbasketball)

Creek crosses the Rubicon to attack for the Senate.

Cooper Creek is a recruit who has gone somewhat unheralded for the Senators despite being a key part of their magnificent start. It was a perfect start from a results perspective until last weekend’s trip to Geraldton, however, perfection is not the benchmark for Warwick this season, as Creek shared.

“I think we are in a good spot as a team at the moment. Not perfect of course, you’ don’t really want to be perfect this early but as coach (Andrew Cooper) says, always chasing perfection," he said.

Coach Andrew Cooper was awarded the NBL1 West Coach of the Month nod during April, and a special mention was made of his recruitment in the NBL1 West’s social media post. It’s a persistent effort – one that Creek highlights.

“At the time of recruitment, Coach Coops and I had been in contact for about two years almost and throughout that time leading up to me signing with Warwick, he was great," he said.

Through conversations with Andrew Cooper and Senators General Manager Mike Norman, Creek felt aligned with the club to sign on.

“We were on the same page with everything and when I sat back and assessed the options, Warwick felt like the best option for me, and it's worked out very well thus far," he said.

The Ellis Legacy

The Ellis name comes with an air of awe and lore around the WA basketball community. Cody Ellis is synonymous with the Senators. He forms the third generation of the Ellis’ family name at the Senators.

It is family that is at the heart of his connection, as he detailed.

“My family has been involved with this club since ‘Day 1’ basically and have poured a lot of time, effort and energy into it," he said.

Cody adds that it continues to grow as well,

“My son is now part of the club at the WABL level which is the 4th generation of Ellis to be part of it. I have three cousins who play, two uncles who still coach. I feel like we are pretty deeply rooted in the club.”

Cody is proud of his family’s history, including that of his two-time NBL Championship-winning father, Mike Ellis.

“My dad was obviously a massive reason why the club has come so far. He has worn many hats and been part of the major growth of this club," Cody said. 

The growth of the current-day Senators has been tremendous this season. After finishing 8th and being eliminated in the first round of finals last year, the Senators sit in first place with a 9-1 record and Cody believes there’s still more growth to come for this squad.

“I think the biggest thing for us is we haven’t even hit our potential yet. We have had a couple games where we have been very good, but can still reach another gear. For me, that’s something we should be building towards with every game that comes.”

Joy and Happiness – An instilled mindset

An added layer to this week’s clash is that Cooper Creek’s father Wayne, is a legend of the Goldfields club, where he amassed 312 games between 1991 – 2007 and won a SBL Championship.

Cooper reflects fondly on watching his father play.

“I remember getting really into it and even being able to go on some of the road trips was great.” Looking back, he sees this as being the formative moments of his career," he said.

“I think for me the basketball journey begun during those days for sure. Sitting with mum and my brothers at the games, it was a good time for sure.”

Creek credits his father and his mum, Peta, with embracing the thought of playing with joy and freedom. Whilst he has learned through father Wayne’s extensive experiences, it’s more the mental factors that father and son discuss these days.

“In regards to the game, I find we talk more about the mindset. Taking it seriously, of course, but just relaxing and enjoying it, having fun out there, and not thinking about it too much," he said. 

It’s that state that Cooper finds beneficial, adding.

“That’s the stuff we probably talk about the most because when I’m playing like that is when I feel I’m at my best.”

With Creek’s start to the year a near-on double-double average and his team sitting at the top of the ladder it’s fair to assume that he is enjoying the game at this present time.

The missing piece to a very rich puzzle

Cody Ellis looks up amidst the rafters of ‘The Senate’ and would love to see the 2025 Senators add to the banners on display. That said, he does note the West Coast Classic banner earned in 2020 when speaking of the current side’s ambition.

“A lot (most really) do not count our 2020 WCC banner as an actual championship," he explained. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NBL1 (@nbl1)

The West Coast Classic was a three-month abridged season staged by the then SBL during the COVID-19 pandemic. He notes that whilst the championship season is a statistical abyss in terms of official records, it still stands as a remarkable achievement for his side and the competition.

"The league was one of the only leagues in the world to be able to play, and I think to be able to go out that year and get the job done was a very proud moment that I don’t let anyone take away from us.

“However, I really want to get an NBL1 Banner to hang at our stadium. Winning one this late in my career would mean quite a lot, and it would be something to be very proud of.”

Ellis doesn’t equate championships as the only measure of success, but acknowledges that the total banners raised by the Senators doesn’t serve as an accurate representation of the club’s success. The Warwick Senators of 2025 are certainly well-placed to improve upon that through the remainder of this season. And well placed to add to the legacy of the bloodlines that have forged the path to the present and to the future of the NBL1 West.

Warwick Senators host the third-placed Goldfields Giants this Saturday at the Herb Graham Recreation Centre in what will be a red-hot Heritage Round battle. Check out this double header with Women’s tip-off at 6:00pm and Men’s tip-off at 8:00pm, get your tickets via Intix here. 

If you can’t make it to the game, you can catch it live from 8:00pm AWST via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.