Weekly WABL Wrap – Round 8 – 9 June 2024 | Perth Basketball Association

The Weekly WABL Wrap is proudly sponsored by Woods Insurance Brokers.

Here’s the Round 8 wrap-up of how all our teams went, including comments from coaches:

12-1 Girls – Marcia Dowling (sponsored by National Geotech)

Won against Hills Raiders 55-45

Coach comments

Our first half was rocky, and the girls seemed to be in their heads a little. After some great positive advice from Assistant Coach Dahney at the first break, the girls began to settle. The second half was played much more upon our terms, in our style and at our pace
Bella Nevill made great shot choices today, earning a top score of 19 by consistently outrunning her defender. Bella had 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals to go with those points.
Once again, Mia Exeter and Darcey Hill were fast in transition and effective on the boards. Mia recorded her second triple-double of the season with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 steals, along with 2 assists and 5 blocks. Darcey also had 12 points to go with 9 boards, and 4 steals.
Zara Flynn played an excellent game. Her stats of 2 rebounds and 1 deflection don’t reflect her great hustle in defence that generated steals for others. And once again, she kept getting to the right spot in offense to receive an easy pass for a shot. Once those shots start dropping, Zara will receive great reward on the scoresheet.

12-2 Girls – Paul Philpott (sponsored by Infinity Designed)

Lost to Cockburn 25-36

Coach comments

Today we played unselfishly, we played together, and we played hard – well done girls. Whilst we struggled to add to our bank, we were consistently fierce in denying the Cougars easy deposits. Today, all our girls brought great energy to the game, resulting in a fierce wrestle for every ball.
Sophie Nichols and Rachel Deering were pivotal forces today. They worked together on our speedy transitions around the key and under the ring, adding 10 points between them.
Jade MacPherson continues to impress with her defensive coverage and offensive availability allowing her to take the open shot, further adding to the overall tally.
Matilda Thompson continues to understand and excel in her role of guarding the yard which often resulted in the Cougars turning over possessions.

12-3 Girls – Khalid Elmi

Won against Eastern Suns 58-8

12-1 Boys – Ofir Ben Dror (sponsored by Pivot Project Consulting)

Won against East Perth 77-47

Coach comments

Finally! Things are starting to fall into place. The boys followed the game plan from beginning to end, and when there were things to tweak – they responded to instructions immediately. What a win!
Harry Frame played his best game yet, shooting an extremely high percentage from mid-range and behind the arc. He also provided runs on the wing and finished fast breaks.
Eli Mancini was a standout in driving through the middle, no matter what stood in his way and also provided some serious pressure in defence.
Noah Mucjanko exposed the defence on the left side and was also a key to our relentless defence.

12-2 Boys – Dom Pitchen (sponsored by Sushi Wawa)

Won against Cockburn 74-57

Coach comments

The boys started strong, getting early steals that led to easy buckets. Cockburn closed in in the second quarter, but the boys kept calm and closed the game out strong, with great defence and physicality.
Ned Tierney was very strong on both sides of the court, providing great pressure and rebounding on the defensive end and then making great drives to the ring. Good job Ned.
Talin McCullough was also strong on both sides of the court making great passes and providing great on ball pressure. Good job Talin.
Harrison Kingsbury was strong on the rebounds, boxing out and hustling after the ball. He did well to hold bigger players and match their intensity. Good job Harrison.

12-3 Boys – Craig Dropulich (sponsored by Profusion Planning)

Lost to Eastern Suns 47-60

Coach comments

We got off to a great start – out by 9 points halfway through the first quarter. Then we felt their pressure crank up. We turned the ball over far too many times and looked lost when not getting the foul calls from all the contact our boys received. We dropped our heads and stopped putting in the effort needed to get back in the game. Our fourth quarter was more of us playing the right way and shifting the pressure back onto them, which was a positive way for us to finish. We learned that having the right attitude to play means you always play well.
Ryan Karaki showed some desperation for the ball and brought great pressure to his game. He also showed how to use tempo with the ball and moving the ball helps handle and absorb pressure. Good work.
Rintaro Haginiwa took instruction well in the game to change what he was doing and attack the rim with more shots. He worked hard up and down the court; he just needed more help under the basket.
Aiden Morgan had a game that he will look back on and see how much he has grown as a player and teammate. He started well, then got knocked about, but finished strong to see that he can make a difference when he is in control of his efforts and playing positively.

12-4 Boys – Wayne Dropulich (sponsored by Playa Coffee)

Lost to East Perth 36-55

Coach comments

On Sunday, our team took on the top-seeded Eagles in a challenging away game.
The game tipped off with a slow start for us, as we found ourselves on the back foot, trailing 11-2. However, we didn’t let the early deficit get the best of us. We quickly found our rhythm, got a few quick baskets and brought the score to 13-10 early in the second quarter. Despite our recovery, we lost some ground towards the end of the second quarter, allowing the Eagles to go on a significant scoring run that extended their lead to 27-12 by halftime.
The third quarter was back and forth, as both teams exchanged baskets without either making a substantial run. Despite being down by 18 points early in the fourth quarter, our players dug deep, demonstrating remarkable resilience and tenacity. They managed to cut the lead to a mere 9 points. Unfortunately, we couldn’t sustain this momentum and ultimately fell short, losing the game by a 19-point margin.
Despite the defeat, it was an impressive effort from the boys, filled with excellent plays and moments of brilliance. Although we didn’t come out on top this time, the improvement from our previous encounter with the Eagles was evident. As Coach Jake emphasised after the game; last time we played them, we lost by 38 points. In this match, we only lost by 19, and even took the lead down to just 9 points in the last few minutes. In light of this progress, it’s clear that we are closing the gap, and a win in our next game against the Eagles is well within our reach.
Riley Kuan had an impressive performance during the game. With a team-high score of 9 points, Riley showed off his driving and shooting skills by maintaining a 50% shooting percentage throughout the game. Despite facing a tightly packed and aggressive defence, he attacked the basket with exceptional skill and precision. This led him to the foul line 7 times during the course of the game, further contributing to his impressive point total.
Thomas Stephenson achieved an impressive score of 7 points, demonstrating his skill and consistency with a shooting percentage of 60%. Tom also showed his marksmanship abilities by successfully making his attempt from the 3-point range. He also worked hard on defence, contributing significantly to the team’s overall performance and showing all of his capabilities.

14-1 Girls – Simon Daff (sponsored by Australian Financial Planners)

Won against East Perth 64-61

Coach comments

We went into this game without our captain, Ellie Pike, which was a big loss, especially in the energy and rebounding department. To the girls’ credit, they rallied, and all competed and rebounded well against taller opponents. This, as well as our ball movement and spacing, got us the win today.
Jacinta Wladyka was huge today, scoring 30 points. She attacked the basket at will off the dribble and made very good decisions when attacking the basketball. Her timing of when to go and when to slow it down was a highlight.
Sally Dowling had her best game of the season, with 10 points. But what really stood out was her decision-making and ability to step up in Ellie’s absence.
Hayley Hill did a great job stepping in as captain today she was vocal and led her team well.

14-2 Girls – Reid Ballantine (sponsored by Fish Boss)

Won against Cockburn Cougars 52-33

Coach comments

This week we had a great sense of composure and confidence and went on to lead from start to finish. I asked the team to play a more free-style game today, leaning into their naturally fast passing transition and focusing on early attack opportunities and better attacking angles. I was really pleased with the constant stream of players and passers hitting attacking space in the keyway.
The Cougars put on a much better challenge than in Rd1, and yet we lifted as well and finished the game with a few team ‘bests’: best Rebounding game this year winning 66%, best Blocks game this year knocking 11 out of the way, lowest foul count this year getting caught just 12 times, but still applying good ball pressure and generating 22 steals (second most this year) and off-ball coverage getting a hand on 27 deflections (another best this year). Statistically, also great to see over 50% of made baskets generated off pass assists 🙂
Saachi Ti’en started the game with the opening bucket (again!), and once again, she seemed to spark the team early. In limited minutes this week (14), Saachi finished with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 2 steals, showing how high impact she can be!
Cyra Olowoyo started the game with brilliant hands, picking off steal after steal. Cyra then took on the big defensive assignment of the game and literally tagged the Cougars’ most dangerous guard out of the game, matching up quickly time and time again and denying her any access to the ball. Seriously, good job!
Soniya Karimi ran and ran and ran and was up on the ball defending early all game, snatching 6 steals of her own but generating a dozen more for her teammates.
Ella Fair and Harper Grace were up and about and enjoyed the game with 14 points each.
Audrey Toussaint is always fast—so fast! And is growing in confidence and composure. I love how coachable Audrey is during the game.

14-3 Girls – Helen Pardini (sponsored by Access Hire)

Lost to East Perth 35-40

Coach comments

For the second consecutive week, we faced one of the top teams in our division. The girls put up a strong fight against East Perth but ultimately fell short by 5 points.
The turning point came in the third quarter when our shots weren’t dropping, allowing East Perth to take the lead. To their credit, the girls fought back hard, winning the fourth quarter, though it wasn’t enough to close the gap completely.
Reflecting on our previous match against East Perth, where we were defeated by 18 points, this 5-point loss highlights our significant improvement and growing confidence as we approach the second half of the season.
Freya Whitehouse has been a model of consistency this season. Her defensive skills, particularly her help defence, were outstanding this week. She also demonstrated her ability to steady the team and control the game’s tempo.
Molly Nicholas continues to contribute well, both offensively and defensively. She had another solid game this week with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals.

14-4 Girls – Rori Roberts (sponsored by Habitat Finance)

Lost to Rockingham 32-47

Coach comments

This game just wasn’t our game. Shots we would normally make just were not dropping but the girls kept fighting and played hard all game.
Isla Cowman continues to grow week after week and is becoming an amazing scorer, finishing the game with 9 points.
Saige Deeks is a defensive weapon, finishing the game with 7 blocks.
Bianca Bajin’s efforts to get back on defence and able to get multiple steals allowed us to go on a little run.

14-1 Boys – Ben Hamilton (sponsored by Geist Consulting)

Lost to Slammers 43-44

Coach comments

This week we travelled to Bunbury to play a rapidly improving Slammers team. We knew they would be fast and could be dangerous after a really competitive game in round 1. We focused on our defence and how to contain the league’s leading scorer without two of our best defenders. We showed improved defence, particularly with our help inside the key, and were able to contain them to their lowest score of the season.
Unfortunately we never really got going offensively and were not able to capitalise on our size advantage or our quick ball movement, scoring below 50% of our season average. We were also out-rebounded, giving them 19 offensive rebounds.
Despite not winning, it was an exciting game that came down to two shots in the dying seconds.
Christian Cvitan had the biggest task on defence, which was to disrupt their key scorer and play-maker, which he did with great skill and effort. Things were tougher in the second half, but Christian’s first half defensive effort was extraordinary.
Zeke Brian executed the help defence plan perfectly and was also instrumental in our transition defence with a handful of desperate plays in the final quarter to keep our chances alive. Zeke’s temperament is the perfect example of how to stay composed and bounce back when things don’t go your way – great leadership Zeke!
Texas Tierney did an exceptional job on rotation defence while also being accountable for his man – continually denying the driving and passing lanes. He capitalised on his effort, spacing and positioning to be our leading scorer, including 2 x 3 pointers at 100%. He continues to cause considerable match-up problems for the opposition, which is a huge advantage for us.

14-2 Boys – Fletcher Clemmence (sponsored by Ponosh Vascular)

Lost to Rockingham 70-71

14-3 Boys – Brad Holyoak (sponsored by Westbeck Capital)

Won against Rockingham Red 57-52

Coach comments

We played 3 good quarters and fell away in the last. Our focus to stick with our game plan in the first 3 quarters was spot on. We dictated the terms on which we played the game, and it paid dividends. In the last, it fell apart. We got sucked into playing their game and blew a sizeable lead. But as I always say, good teams find a way to win, and we did.
We won an ugly, but a win is a win.
Nathan Jetajobe played a great game grabbing rebounds and kept the score ticking over staying in our offensive structure.
Ollie Colangelo was his always reliable best, staying cool and finding the right option.
Tom Smith put up his top score of the season

14-4 Boys – Ethan Saliacus (sponsored by Skyward Roof Plumbing)

Lost to Cockburn 36-73

Coach comments

The boys started well this week, with a close first half. However, just as we were hitting halftime, we got into a deficit and never really recovered. Our ball movement was great, but we weren’t able to capitalise on that.
Loki Griffiths was great his finishing was improved, and his rebounding and being a big presence definitely showed
Jacob Fode, after a slow start, really gave the team energy by getting deflections and steals when we were down

16-1 Girls – Sam Fox (sponsored by Sushi Wawa)

Lost to Willetton 67-80

Coach comments

The Tigers came out to speed us up with full-court pressure all game. We led until late into the third and dealt with the pressure for long stretches, but there were patches where we let it get to us, especially in the fourth quarter. Overall, we didn’t control the pace and get into our half-court offense, which is key to our team identity.
Ella Welsh was fantastically composed and aggressive all game, making heads-up plays and scoring a team-high 17.
Salma Rahmadavi was super aggressive on offence, being a threat from the perimeter and creating shots for herself off the dribble as well as looking for team mates.
Madison Makavilitogia has been super strong in the paint on offence and continued that this week with 12 tough points in the paint.

16-2 Girls – Vance Karimi (sponsored by Packaging Perth)

Lost to Perry Lakes 49-77

Coach comments

Our girls were up against the top of the ladder this week. We really struggled in the first half with our half-court finishing, forcing too many early finishes where it was contested or even highly contested. Our transition defence wasn’t bad, but the Hawks were using a simple give-n-go with a back-door cut to finish before our help defence would step in. And we were in foul trouble with several players in the first half. However, I’m so proud of the girls who all continued to play the game rather than challenge the calls.
We won the third quarter battle and effectively drew the second half, playing with poise in our half-court offence, with good ball and body movement. This has been a struggle for us all season, and I hope the girls realise how their confidence develops on-court when they possess the ball when they can’t finish in transition, and when they don’t force shots. It was great to watch them play their game in the second half and see them all find scoring opportunities.
Sam Morgan had a great game. In the second half, her objective was to stop one of the most athletic Hawks players by aggressively denying her a catch and locking her down when she got the ball. It was great to see how much fun Sam had playing both the mental and physical game.
Charlie Foster applied great mid-court defensive pressure, reading mid-court intercepts and causing turnovers. She read her defender, finding good space and timed her cut to finish.
Bella Kahl found herself in foul trouble early and did extremely well to adjust and play smart. She remained dangerous in defence with good footwork and walling up to contest shots.
It was great to have Liv Weddikarra and Mya Slee back from injuries. They are both so vocal on and off the court and always chase back in defence.

16-3 Girls – Dave Ogden (sponsored by Kai Rho Consulting)

Lost to Rockingham 45-46

Coach comments

Unfortunately, we fell short in a tight game. A focus in the last few weeks has been our transition drill at training. We showed positive signs of improvement and are starting to see it develop on Sunday. Looking after the ball has been another focus, and the girls displayed better decision-making and, again, progress in that area of our game.
Cara Hayes had a strong game and was our leader in points with 12. She finished some contested shots, showed improved decision making and is always working hard defensively.
Summer Chalder was a big part of our improved second half. She worked hard to defend the ball throughout the court, was confident when dribbling, and worked hard both ways.
Matisse Guy filled a void offensively for us with missing players and has the potential to be a really disruptive defender. The improved defensive game continues to grow as she gains experience.

16-4 Girls – Marcia Dowling (sponsored by Professional Web Solutions)

Won against East Perth Red 66-30

Coach comments

The girls are working so hard to implement new plays and yet still make split second decisions during the game. I am really happy with their intent, their focus and their attitude. Today, all these things, plus some fine skills helped us take the win
Macaela Tugwell was a menace under the basket and also ran the floor several times as a ball carrier and made great decisions.
Alessia Wladyka was, as usual, a vital player; however, today took some more risks and made some excellently chosen shots. Thanks so much to Em Rizkalla for stepping in at short notice.

16-1 Boys – Mitch Jesson (sponsored by DLA Piper)

Won against Lakeside 84-68

Coach comments

This game saw us come up against the team that gave us our one and only loss so far in Round 1 (a 24-point loss). So, we had a lot to play for.
Finding ourselves down 2-17 midway through the first quarter was a true test of our resilience as a team. The key difference was that their shots were falling, and ours weren’t. In the second quarter, we got going offensively to at least level peg with them and go into the half-time break down 16 points (28-44).
Teamwork and energy were our focus in the half-time huddle and a wonderful 30-9 third quarter showed the message got through. Our boys played hard-nosed defence, restricting Lakeside to 24 points in the second half, while putting on a transition show to score 56 ourselves. It was a very good show to watch – the energy on and off the floor was amazing.
Cooper Hewer is evolving into a scoring playmaker. Still some work to be done on leadership but from a pure basketball perspective, 26 points (@ 45%), 4 triples (@45%), 100% from the line, 6 boards, 5 assists, a steal and a block is solid stuff. The best moment was late in the game – turning down an open three in favour of taking time off the clock. We over Me.
Tait Dalton kept us in this game early. He was a target and put his hand up to take the comp’s best scorer on the defensive end. Our run in the second half was largely due to Lakeside doubling Tait and him doing the team thing. Tait’s stat line does not do him justice – which is quite impressive seeing he had a double-double in 14 points (@56%), 11 boards, 3 assists, 3 steals and a block.
Rodney Lovasi is an injured player who continues to come to training and games. He could not have supported his teammates more, clapping and surrounding the boys at every opportunity (especially when we were down). It is just wonderful as a coach to have such buy-in from every single squad member.

16-2 Boys – Dan Cartwright (sponsored by Triple Seven)

Won against Lakeside 91-79

Coach comments

This game saw us up against the ladder-leading Lakeside Purple side, who won our previous encounter by 23 points. This team averaged 90 plus points per game over the first half of the season so the mission was simple: slow down the league’s leading scorer, pressure their guards, and take care of the glass. Rebounds and defence were the keys to winning this game.
The first half was very tight with both teams defending well. We were winning the rebound count, were pressuring their guards relentlessly, and Riley Thill was doing a great job limiting the impact of the league’s top scorer.
Things opened up a bit in the third, so the three-quarter-time break was a time to revisit the game plan. The boys came out in the last quarter and responded like a coach’s dream, holding Lakeside to only 7 points for the quarter while scoring 17 points of their own. The final result was a hard-earned 12-point win.
Cooper Poustie and Seina Pirmorady’s disruptive pressure on Lakeside’s guards really set the tone for this win. Cooper had a strong offensive game as well, contributing 14 points on 5 of 7 shooting, including two big threes.
Riley Thill had an incredible game, scoring 23 points and raking in 11 boards, but it was his defensive effort on the league’s leading scorer that caught the eye, keeping him to 12 points under his average.
Koby Kalebic was an offensive threat throughout, scoring 22 points which included 7 from 7 from the stripe.
Flynn Weston played with great energy, ripping down 9 rebounds (3 offensive) which got his offensive game going, scoring some crucial buckets in the third quarter.
Harvey Wishart was rock solid on the glass again, doing what he does best, picking up 9 defensive boards.
Whenever a team defeats the top team, though, it is the contribution of the collective that really count. The beauty of this team is that everyone contributes when called upon. The chemistry and camaraderie between this group of young men really stands out. They do the things that don’t always show up in the scoring column. They really play for each other and today they got their reward. Well done, boys.

16-3 Boys – Francis Crawshaw (sponsored by Teqar IT Consulting)

Lost to Joondalup 76-79

Congrats to Kimzy Matondo for achieving his 50th WABL game for the Perth Redbacks in this game!

16-4 Boys – Cheyne Kerp (sponsored by Perth Safety Deposit Boxes)

Won against Eastern Suns Blue 106-49

Coach comments

This was the best game we played all year. We worked collaboratively, and our full-court defensive pressure created many turnovers and boards. Assists, as mentioned to the boys, were the highest this season, along with rebounds. We outrebounded the opposing team.
Being able to hold a team to 10 points and in each of the first 3 quarters proves our setup on D, help, cutting off passing lanes, boxing out.
Huge congrats to the boys on a big win from the team effort.
I don’t want to shout out any individual player in this game as everyone contributing with/and/or assists, rebounds, box outs and offensive play. Our defensive structure all game was superb and they should feel proud of themselves, each and every one of them.

18-1 Girls – Stephen Charlton (sponsored by Aussie Fencing)

Won against Willetton 75-69

Coach comments

The team played really well to grab their first win of the season. We kept to a simple plan and just kept working hard. Willetton made a couple of runs, but we took that and then re-established our game style to great effect
Blaise Stancil, with 19 points, was fantastic in her first game back from several weeks out with concussion.
Matilda Thomson (9pts) and Kate Anderson (14pts) also had outstanding games.
A special shout out to Ella Welsh, who came in from the U16s to top us up. She contributed everywhere, including 11 points on the scoresheet.

18-2 Girls – Steve Herring (sponsored by MD Building Maintenance)

Lost to Perry Lakes 45-47

Coach comments

We had an amazing, solid start in this game, which was gradually reined in over the course of the game. The team made a great physical effort, always trying to score against some tough conditions. This was another great learning opportunity to set us up for the rest of the season.
Grace Almond showed powerful and sustained strength and effort all game.
Matilda Pyne demonstrated highly intelligent play, composure and intensity

18-3 Girls – Andy Zell (sponsored by High Octane Automotive Services)

Lost to Lakeside Purple 89-42

Coach comments

This week, we faced a challenging assignment: playing against a strong Lakeside team away. Two of our players were recovering from illness and injury, and a third player was not available, so this made the match-up even more difficult.
The girls started off on fire, playing high-intensity, smart basketball, taking a strong lead through the first part of the game.
Unfortunately, Lakeside was able to go on a run and had a handy lead at the end of the first. We started the second quarter really strongly, but were unable to get reward for effort with our finishing. Lakeside went on another run, and dominated in the paint.
In the second half, we were able to shut down Lakeside’s inside game, but they shot well and were able to combat our runs.
In the second half, we were able to contest more strongly under the basket and, at times, played our best basketball of the season. We also played very well against the press and minimised turnovers throughout the game.
Our captain, Alex Temby, had a solid game. She worked tirelessly on the floor, making great passes and good decisions for shots in her 100th game for our club. Alex is recovering from the flu and COVID and still played with 100 percent intensity and effort. Congratulations Alex for reaching this milestone!
Indi Ballantine had another solid game and sees the floor so well for a tall player. She found her mojo on the wing, making some great passes inside while also playing well under the basket. Indi is starting to put a strong body of work together, and I think we will see her basketball skills improve again in the second half of the season.
Yusra Handule, Maddie Wade, Em Swann, and Meiling Wang also made significant contributions this week. Yusra played strongly in the middle and scored 8 important points off the bench. Maddie brought her trademark intensity, energy, and enthusiasm, leading our team with rebounds this week, despite being a small. Em Swann was able to shut down Lakeside’s most dangerous player, and Meiling played a good game, even with her finger swollen from an injury suffered during a domestic game.
Also, thanks to Izzy Swann for filling in! Great effort.

18-1 Boys – Andrew Logan

Won against Redbacks Black 89-71

Coach comments

The boys looked strong from the start, executing what we had been training and sticking to our structures.
David Moore got off the leash today, looking balanced when taking his shots and slicing through 2-3 defenders to get to the rack
Max Wishart continues to do what is asked of him. he consistently gives us 15 & 10 and helps us maintain our structures

18-2 Boys – Marshall Robinson (sponsored by Integrity Fencing and Gates)

Lost to Redbacks Red 71-89

18-3 Boys – Louis Timms (sponsored by Icon Plumbing Solutions)

Lost to Mandurah 70-77

Coach comments

Mandurah’s defensive pressure and individual offensive ability proved too good for us on Sunday, especially in the second half. They are now a much better team than when we first played them.
Coach comments
Michael Ryan, Ben Galvin and Cuba Brian all impacted the game in positive ways. Their continual individual development is pleasing to see.

18-4 Boys – Nick D’Elia (sponsored by Mortgage Choice – Emma Tyler)

Won against Willetton 82-79

Coach comments

This week we had our best game yet. We faced the top team, Willeton, who beat us convincingly in the first game of the Season and hadn’t lost a game. We went into the game expecting a tough fight and, unfortunately, got off to a slow start. However we overcame a small deficit early with tough interior defence and offensive rebounding. Eventually, our outside shots started to fall, and it felt like we were in control of the game. Suddenly, it was their turn to be on the back foot, but of course, they didn’t go away and had a few late game plays that kept them within striking distance. However, smart defensive strategy from us and a moving screen gave us a well-deserved win
Zaydn Thomas demonstrated excellent defensive pressure and shooting
Tyler Hirt put on a great offensive game, inside and out
Zayde Parriman showed great poise

21-1 Girls – John Care’ (sponsored by Fine Food WA)

Lost to Willetton 64-71

Coach comments

It was a close game within our reach, but unfortunately, we fell short. The girls played a good game and are continually improving game after game.
The game was tight right up until the fourth, but 3 x 3 point makes from Willo hurt us and we couldn’t bring it back.
This was a stand-out game from Ella Buxey, who was strong both offensively and defensively. She troubled Willetton all game and top scored with 15 points.

20-1 Boys – Graham Jones (sponsored by Bendigo Bank Community Bank North Perth)

Lost to Eastern Suns 87-98

Coach comments

After a productive training session with some slight adjustments, we entered the game hopeful for a better performance. The team made a solid start, playing well but falling away at the end of the first quarter to be down by 5 points.
The rest of the game was a closely contested battle, with both teams exchanging baskets and maintaining pressure. However, our consistency wasn’t quite enough to secure the win. We managed to keep each quarter competitive, not losing any by more than the 5-point deficit from the first quarter.
Despite the loss, there are several takeaways from this game. The key issue was consistency of execution, particularly on the offensive end. Improving this aspect will be crucial as we move forward. On a brighter note, everyone on the team got on the scoreboard, which is a promising sign of our offensive potential and the confidence our players have in their abilities.
Wade Bonhomme had a solid outing on both ends of the floor, scoring 14 points in a composed performance. His consistent effort and leadership were crucial throughout the game.
Aiden Cannington demonstrated determined defensive enforcement, showcasing glimpses of his potential. We look forward to seeing him continue to develop this aspect of his game.
Luke Ogden, returning after missing the last game, delivered a strong all-around performance. He was effective both offensively, hitting shots from the outside and defensively, putting his body on the line. We hope to see this level of play continue.
Sarmesh Velan, playing his longest minutes of the season, had his best performance yet. He made smart passes, moved well on offense, and showed improved footwork on defense.
Guy Liggins overcame early foul trouble to make a significant impact late in the game. Coming on late in the third quarter, he demonstrated disciplined play and set a high standard for the team.

20-2 Boys – Dario Povia (sponsored by Bendigo Bank Community Bank North Perth)

Lost to Willetton 71-74

Coach comments

This week’s game was a fiercely fought contest from start to finish.
We adopted a one-on-one defence and full-court pressure for most of the game, which was intense and kept us in front up to three-quarter time.
We held our lead through most of the final quarter with a strong zone defence but unfortunately went down by a couple of points in the dying seconds of the game.
The game was a real team effort with great passing and intercepts.
Alistair Hartmann once again was cool under pressure
Andrew Chilufya had a standout game scoring 33 points.