Weekly WABL Wrap – Round 5

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

Here’s the Round 5 wrap-up of how all our teams went, including comments from coaches:

12-1 Girls – Kelly Webb (sponsored by CPR Electrical)

Lost to East Perth 17-41

Coach comments

We did pretty well in the first, third and fourth quarters holding the opponents defensively. However, the second quarter made the difference with East Perth scoring 20 points through steals and turnovers, which resulted in the final score.

12-2 Girls – Charlize Nicolaou (sponsored by Mount Hawthorn Clinical Psychology)

Lost to Lakeside 14-38

Coach comments

The girls fought hard as usual, working hard to fight for the ball and to get back on defence. Although we lost, the girls didn’t give up!
Caitlyn Lim was an absolute menace again, being an absolute ninja once again turning over the ball like an absolute boss!!
Zoe Savich did amazingly, making it seem like she was the biggest on court! She expertly brought up the ball continuously and rebounded the ball over players double her size!
Indi Mascurine was an absolute goblin on court, helping Caitlyn and Zoe to turn over the ball again and again! She kept going and going, it was truly inspirational !!

12-3 Girls – Paul Philpott

Won against Hills Raiders 44-20

Coach comments

Today was a Royal Flush of individual performances, with each of our Reddies girls bringing their own magic to the game. Individually, each player was an artist in basketball, but together as a Team, today we painted a masterpiece.
In our learning space at Thursday training and Friday skills sessions we are learning many skills which we bring to our Sunday challenges. Today we were all over Hills Raiders, often trapping them in the mid and back courts, creating many handy turnovers from which we found the space on court we needed, giving rise to multiple transitions up court. Further to this, in the second half our coverage of Hills Raiders inbounding following Redback scores was fierce and added to our tally significantly. From last week it is safe to say our girls have worked extremely hard in improving their short (shooting) game with tremendous results. Well done girls you were awesome to watch today!

12-4 Girls – Dave Power

Lost to Lakeside 14-22

Coach comments

This game was an arm wrestle from the start. We ground out a halftime lead of 8-5, but heavy foul trouble in the second half let go of the lead. The girls played hard and had lots of good shot attempts.
Aurelie Ford was strong on defence, competing for the ball and contesting the opposition.
Shanaya Siva is providing a spark of energy when she gets on the floor, and Maneeha Saad is doing well coming back from injury and attacking the basket.

12-1 Boys – Craig Dropulich (sponsored by Profusion Planning)

Lost to Joondalup 52-55

Coach comments

A real up-and-down game for us this week. Started slow, and we had quite a few player challenges this week. Our energy wasn’t there to start the game, but kicked in when we were flying in the second quarter, up by 8. Pressure on ourselves seems to be the cause of our lean periods in games. Focusing on the individual and not on what I can do to help my teammates. Offence and defence were slow, quiet and lacked movement. In the second half, we got behind 2 or 3 times and clawed back to 1 point behind every time, but were unable to get in front. They shot very well and were very physical under the basket, which are things we need to improve on. We can play a lot better, so we will work towards that rather than final scores in games.
Elijah Devitt was at his best today, finding his rhythm shooting and dealing with excessive contact that comes with being a dangerous player anywhere on the court. He puts his body on the line all the time and has the bruises to show for it. 24 points and 4 of 5 made three-pointers in the second quarter was a purple patch.
Aiden Morgan played with good physicality and consistently pressured his opponent throughout the game. He hit a vital three-pointer and gave us all the energy he could. He is listening and is progressing his game very well, and leading the team on and off the court.

12-2 Boys – Dom Pitchen (sponsored by Candy Verse)

Lost to Joondalup 53-83

Coach comments

The boys started the game well and were matching Joondalup. We then picked up multiple fouls, which altered our defensive dynamic, but the boys did well to stay focused on the game and keep putting in effort. They should keep their heads high as we move on to next week.
Ioane Ivala-Kotua was a strong scoring and rebounding presence. He did well to convert on transition buckets and use his size in the paint to get second-chance points and make defensive plays. Good job Ioane.
Fionn Healy was a strong defensive presence, applying heavy ball pressure and making an effort to get back on defence. Offensively, he did well to get the ball up and make good decisions on the court, as well as finding good shots. Well done Fionn.

12-3 Boys – Wayne Dropulich (sponsored by Axis Mineral Service)

Won against Eastern Suns 87-34

Coach comments

Our boys put on an absolute clinic this week, dominating from the opening tip and never looking back in a commanding victory.
After conceding the first basket, we went on a relentless 27–4 run for the rest of the first quarter, showcasing our trademark pressure defence and fast-paced offence. Hudson McClintock led the early charge with nine first-quarter points, while Miles Southwell and Baxter Miles added key contributions to stretch the lead.
The second quarter saw more of the same as we scored 30 points and continued to build momentum. Our scoring was highlighted with three-pointers from Barnaby, Louis and Cody, and an all-team effort ballooned the lead to 57–12 by halftime. The boys maintained intensity at both ends, capitalising on turnovers and drawing multiple fouls from the Suns.
With the game well and truly over by half time, the intensity dropped off, and the boys enjoyed the second half. We still won the second half by 8, closing out the game 87 to 34.
Overall, it was a brilliant performance across the board – the boys moved the ball selflessly, defended with grit, and displayed impressive maturity in game management. They’ll look to carry this confidence into next week’s clash.
Hudson McClintock was in elite form this week, delivering a standout performance on both ends of the floor, scoring 25 points with an efficient 11 of 16 from the field and adding 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. He consistently attacked the ring and converted under pressure. On top of his scoring, he dished out a game-high 4 assists, showing excellent vision and unselfish play. A composed and well-rounded performance that set the tone for the team.
Baxter Miles delivered a strong all-around performance, finishing with 11 points on 50% shooting and adding 1 of 2 from the line. He was a dominant force on the boards, pulling down 14 rebounds, giving us second chances and helping control the tempo. A physical and impactful game on both ends.

12-4 Boys – Mason Wigmore (sponsored by Sushi Wawa)

Lost to Perry Lakes 28-70

Coach comments

A challenging game this week saw our boys have to adapt to some new things they hadn’t yet seen – a full-court trap and a team that cut really well off the ball. After being stunned in the opening six minutes, we did well to keep within an arm’s length of the opposition, but at the end of the day, we were unsuccessful.
Kasper Jeromson’s ball handling was a standout- his ability to track and trust his teammates is growing rapidly each week, a very promising sign!
Rion Carter’s effort on rebounds is always valuable. As he builds his confidence, Rion is becoming a very exciting player to watch!

14-1 Girls – Helen Pardini (sponsored by Ferguson Corporation)

Won against East Perth 75-32

Coach comments

The girls entered the game focused and ready, delivering a dominant performance from start to finish. We maintained control throughout all four quarters, steadily increasing our lead before delivering a huge final term, scoring 31 points in the last quarter alone. The challenge to finish strong was met with energy and intensity.
Our defensive pressure and relentless hustle proved too much for East Perth, leading to an impressive 40 points from turnovers. Our ball movement in transition was sharp, creating consistent scoring opportunities.
It was fantastic to see contributions across the board, with all players showing determination, making smart reads, rebounding aggressively, and playing selflessly for one another.
This was a complete team performance, and the growth in chemistry, effort, and execution is exciting to see as the season progresses.
Paige Granato had a breakout performance, showing growing confidence and strength on both ends of the floor. Her offensive impact was marked by excellent footwork and composure, finishing with 16 points with perfect efficiency from the field (7/7 FG) and 2/4 from the free-throw line.
Mia Exeter was a force on both ends, just one steal shy of a triple-double. She filled the stat sheet with 21 points, 14 rebounds, 9 steals, and 4 assists—an incredible all-around effort.
Siena Mouttet continued her consistent form, contributing 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals, making a strong impact across the court.
Molly Nicholas also played a key role, adding 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 steals, showing her versatility and tenacity throughout the game.

14-2 Girls – Reid Ballantine (sponsored by Access Hire)

Lost to Perry Lakes White 30-61

Coach comments

The Hawks had their hands in on everything (some clean, some not) in this game. The result was that they really disrupted our dribble and disrupted our mojo for the first half of the game.
We had much better reaction time on turnovers than in the previous game, and we more often beat them in defensive transition and defended their first shot attempt. However, they won 60% of their offensive boards and got too many second-chance buckets.
We went missing on rebounds in the first half (just 12 vs 30), and on offence we didn’t space out well and had traffic jams with ourselves, so we weren’t very potent. The game got away to 50-14 before we found our way.
We went bigger in Q4, and with Jana, Skye, and Lily tripling up, we started to win the rebound count and had a stronger defensive presence in the key. Bianca and Winnie went hard at it in Q4 and we started to fight our way into form and won the last quarter 16-11.
Bianca Bajin was electric today, working hard to disrupt the Hawks with 6 steals, 5 deflections and a block, jumping for 6 rebounds, and driving hard, drawing fouls and knocking down 5 free throws on her way to 7 points. She was the X factor in Q4 and really enjoyed it.
Winnie Devitt had some swift steals in the fourth quarter and finished some fast-running coast-to-coast fast breaks.
Jana Djurasovic has been working her way back into form after a preseason ankle injury. This was her first big game, ramping up the minutes and scoring 8 rebounds and 8 points. Keep going strong, Jana!
Once again, Isla Cowman played a hard-fought and physically strong game and did well to stay composed in the pressure and keep fighting.

14-3 Girls – Rori Roberts (sponsored by National Geotech)

Won against Hills Raiders 57-43

Coach comments

A big win from the girls, they all came out super aggressive and ready to play. Offensively, we attacked the ring hard and went to the free throw line a lot, which the girls were able to capitalise on. Defensively, we pressed hard, which caused trouble for Hill’s ball handlers.
Isabella Tolley led the way offensively, finishing with 14 points. She was staying in the lane defensively and getting a number of steals, leading to fast-break opportunities.
Stevie Brehaut was aggressive during the game and sprinted back on defence.

14-4 Girls – Lucy Dowling (sponsored by Gobsmacked Mouthguards)

Lost to Perry Lakes 20-56

Coach comments

We started off well, with a strong first quarter, and the girls continued to run hard for the rest of the game. Unfortunately, we were lacking some height against the much taller Hawks side, but many of the girls stepped up and put their bodies on the line.
This was our first encounter with a well-run press, and the girls did well to learn from their mistakes and pass the ball up rather than dribbling it.
We haven’t gotten to play against defence this strong yet, so it was an excellent opportunity to put our decision-making to the test.
Annabelle Liu stepped up for us in this game and pulled in important rebounds. Annabelle tried her hardest to practice things we’ve done at training, like sealing at the basket.
Jade Macpherson had great hustle all game, and wasn’t afraid to get in front of some big players.
Sophie Nichols and Zoe Bartucciotto sprinted nonstop, giving their absolute best.
Well done to Eloise Watts and Maeve Whitehouse for supporting their teammates all game and staying positive.

14-1 Boys – Adam Gunnis (sponsored by Paragon Corporate Training)

Won against Rockingham 70-69

Coach comments

The boys delivered a strong four-quarter performance to secure our first win of the season.
Despite being down to just eight players, the team showed tremendous grit and resilience. They refused to slow the pace and fought right through to the final buzzer. Rockingham had a final possession to steal the win, but our boys held firm.
Full credit to Rockingham, who challenged us with a mix of defensive looks — switching between transition defence and both full and half-court presses. It was a great example of coaching prioritising development over sitting in a set trap all game, helping athletes learn how to read and play through different situations.
Vinnie Ryder was a constant offensive threat, ending the game with 31 points. Vinnie is developing into an effective three-level scorer.
Franciszek Cytowski was able to stay out of foul trouble for the first time in a few games. Franciszek showed how valuable he is to this team at both ends of the floor.

14-2 Boys – Mitch Jesson (sponsored by E&M Electrical)

Lost to Willetton 39-49

Coach comments

Willetton are undefeated for a reason, and that reason is they are a very disciplined team who play 4 quarters and wait for you to make mistakes.
Willetton had size, and it cost us our first rebounding deficit for the season, -9. We did not shoot the ball well, however, the Tigers played really good defence, but it was also our best defensive stand for the season. Turnovers were much better- we’ll continue to work on our deficiencies at training.
Also a big thank you to Jen Hart for videoing every game. It often gets overlooked, but at the end of the day, it is the most valuable coaching tool I have and allows me to tailor training.
Loki Griffiths matched up on a very good opposition big and did really well to negate his influence on the game. I was most proud of Loki catching a ball midcourt under press conditions and not panicking but calmly slotting a pass to one of our players. Improving game by game.
Jayden Austin is just a constant voice of leadership on our squad, you can see he just relishes calling the boys in and reminding them of what we are in and what we need to do. Jayden also only committed 2 turnovers, which as a guard under constant pressing conditions – that is a much improved number.
Noah Mucjanko is a wonder to watch as he just finds ways to contribute. Defensively, he takes great joy in locking up opponents, breaking presses/traps – he will every now and then just fake a pass and be through. Very coachable and still room for improvement.

14-3 Boys – Dave Ogden (sponsored by Balance My Books)

Won against Cockburn Cougars 62-56

Coach comments

We were at home and kept our unbeaten streak there intact in what was a determined win by the boys. We were a little more aggressive to shoot the three-ball and hit a season high for threes. And also to explore our shot in the mid-range when on offer.
Credit to the group, we were extremely efficient at the free-throw line, which ultimately had a significant impact on the final result. Great to see the boys have some rewards at the line, as it is something they identified during grading that we wanted to improve on.
Ned Tierney hit a game high 11 and was also 7/7 at the free throw line. Ned hit a tough couple of shots and showed plenty of energy in transition defence and had his best game of the season after having a great training session on Tuesday.
Lucas Blackmore, coming off illness, had a handy 10 points and also went 4/4 from the FT line. He was playing at less than 100% but fought on and gave us some productive minutes where the talls were in foul drama all game.
Eddie Cliff, rocking a new haircut, showed what he is capable of and finished his work with a solid 7 points and showed he has the capability of being a disruptive defender when he is focused on finding his man.
Seth Cass and Jimmy Price had solid games and both hit 3s with Eddie, and gave our team shot-making and lots of hustle in trans D.
Overall, a good day at VP, and I look forward to seeing us build on it.

14-4 Boys – Ethan Saliacus (sponsored by Meritus Legal)

Won against Hills Raiders 74-52

Coach comments

The game was a lot closer than we expected in the first half, with them keeping pace but the ability to really crash the boards and bring the pressure really made sure we kept in front and then went on to blow them out in the 4th
Eli Mancini had a huge game not only with his 31 points but also crashing the glass and maintaining that aggression and tenacity
Harry Kingsbury was huge despite foul trouble and already down a big, he continued to be big on the boards and contributed on the scoreboard

16-1 Girls – Nigel Esau (sponsored by F45 Vic Park)

Won against Warwick 74-40

Coach comments

Warwick came out really strong and took advantage of the referees’ whistle to go up 5 at the end of the first quarter. The girls then composed themselves and started to play their game, leading the way with great defensive effort that didn’t allow Warwick to score more than 10 points a quarter for the rest of the game. A strong third quarter of 29 points saw the girls secure their lead and victory.
Jamima Jacob had a fantastic game for the team, playing really great defence, closing out shooters, blocking shots, grabbing rebounds and setting our transition game off.
Lottie Ballantine, Paige Ogden and Grace Butcher took advantage of their size to dominate the paint on both ends.
Summer Chalder had a great day shooting from 3.
It was also good to have Scarlett Hill back for us, hitting 3s.

16-2 Girls – Simon Daff (sponsored by West Coast Reinforcing)

Won against Lakeside 73-62

Coach comments

We played solid for 3 quarters, keeping in touch with Lakeside, but then really turned it on in the 4th. We went into the fourth quarter down 10 points and ended up winning by 11. We scored a whopping 36 points in the final quarter to completely run over them.
It was our ability to stay in front of our players and really put pressure in the backcourt that generated our offence. The girls played for each other, the trust and talk were amazing, and just shows what they are capable of.
Ellie Pike led from the front as captain. When the game was on the line, she put her body on the line, got turnovers and was instrumental running the fast break.
Halle Griffiths continues to build her game and confidence. She is becoming a very important two-way player for us. Her shooting has improved a lot over the last 2 weeks.
Cara Hayes deserves a special mention. She was our anchor on defence. She rebounded, blocked shots and is becoming a very important vocal leader of the group.

16-3 Girls – Dahney Chamberlain (sponsored by Total Digital)

Lost to Warwick 63-68

Coach comments

This weekend’s game was undoubtedly a competitive one. We faced the top team and fell just short of a win. While this is disappointing, I can’t help but feel super proud of the girls. Despite having a hard game filled with many emotions, the girls kept their heads up and fought hard till the end. We brought the gap back up to only a 2-point game. The improvement the girls have made since Round 1 is astonishing, both in terms of skills and mental strength. I am super proud, and I am sure the girls will take down the Senators next time we meet them on the court.
Lauren Jones attacked the paint hard this weekend with 14 points. She was a gun both offensively and defensively, causing the other team to turn the ball over continuously. Her intensity was really hard, and it was great to see.
Trinity Doulis stepped up this weekend. She showed more confidence and had some really good scores. Trinity never fails to get behind her teammates and brings the energy to every game without fault. Having her do that lifts the entire team’s heads and keeps us fighting.

16-4 Girls – Caitlin Rawes (sponsored by NewSmile Dental Centre)

Won against Hawks Blue 70-57

Coach comments

Best game yet by the girls. We lost the first quarter and had to play a 15-point catch-up game from there. To then win was great. You can definitely see some of the girls gaining more confidence and showing leadership
Soni Karimi is always diving for the ball; she’s a key defensive player for us
Emily Flynn played the big position well and started to take some of the physicality
Maia Leckey killed it from the 3pt line

16-1 Boys – Francis Crawshaw (sponsored by Pivot Project Consulting)

Lost to Lakeside 74-75

Coach comments

A huge improvement defensively from previous weeks, holding Lakeside to 75 points. Our offense flowed better, we were moving the ball, and moving off the ball well, shifting the defence which opened up gaps and double gaps. Rebounding was much better as well, not giving up as many second-chance points.
Riley Barmentloo again topped the scoring for us with 26 points.
James Galvin hit timely three-pointers and finished with 15 points.
Will Hemingway worked really hard for us with his defence, coming off the bench.
Nate Cass got a nice breakaway dunk that helped keep the boys’ energy up

16-2 Boys – Dave Power (sponsored by F45 Vic Park)

Lost to Joondalup 62-80

Coach comments

We felt this game got away from us. We turned the ball over a lot more than our average. However, in the patches where we reduced turnovers, we looked really good. Against a zone the whole game, we started to get the penetration, cuts/slashes and kick outs we wanted and looked really good.
Erik Davies started to make adjustments and find the gaps in the zone to take shots
Tace Rankin hit some timely shots to keep us close until the fourth
Toby Summers was crafty getting his shots in the paint.

16-3 Boys – Ash Brian (sponsored by Cogito Psychology)

Won against Cockburn 82-57

Coach comments

This was a game where we took control from the opening tip and never let go, maintaining our dominance for the full four quarters. It provided a great opportunity to experiment with some of the concepts we’ve been working on over the past few weeks, all within the comfort of a game where the result was never in doubt.
It was a breakout performance for Jordan Ong, who made his presence felt on the defensive end while also chipping in a well-earned 14 points on offense.
Our train-on, Tom Coppard, was given another chance to take the floor and once again slotted in seamlessly, contributing across all statistical categories and showing his value to the squad.
Toby Deshon also had a standout game — he went a perfect 100% from inside the arc and pulled down an impressive 7 rebounds from the guard position, demonstrating both efficiency and hustle.

16-4 Boys – John Revelle (sponsored by Willie Creek Pearls)

Won against Mandurah 106-31

Coach comments

The boys came to Mandurah with something to prove, looking for their first win of the season. And prove it they did. Everyone played with great energy and effort from the start, which helped us achieve our goals. Up by a 38-point margin at halftime, the boys never took their foot off the gas pedal and played hard until the end, impressively breaking the centennial mark with 106 total points and finishing with a 75-point margin of victory.
9 of our 10 players scored in double figures. Will Holzheimer (15 pts), Hisham Elmi (15 pts), Eoin Foley (12 pts), and Parker Dunstan (10 pts) each scored in double figures for the first time this season. We will need this type of scoring production from these boys on an ongoing basis, in addition to the consistent production from our usual scorers if we want to achieve our goal of competing for a Grand Final this season.

18-1 Girls – Sam Fox (sponsored by Woods Insurance Brokers)

Lost to Willetton 43-81

Coach comments

Though we’re still figuring things out as a unit, this game was an improvement. We executed well in the first half and were unlucky to convert on a heap of great shots. Willetton going to a zone for the second half made the day particularly frustrating, but we eventually broke it down, and I’m proud of the commitment our full squad showed despite not turning the tide just yet. This team is built to respond to tough challenges, so it’s only a matter of time.
Lailah Tasker did a great job taking more responsibility as a point guard coming off the bench. She was in control and embraced the challenge throughout the entire game.
Grace Almond was tough and fired up all game, winning rebounds and attacking the paint.

18-2 Girls – Geoff Alger (sponsored by The Loan Company)

Won against Suns 67-41

Coach comments

Our focus areas this week were to be more composed in offense and more intense in defence, and we were pleased to do both. The scoreboard was relatively even through the first quarter and a bit before the reward for effort came through on the scoreboard. Improved defensive pressure caused turnovers up the court, and good rim protection mostly secured the paint, which helped hold the Suns to their lowest points total so far this season. Opposition turnovers and winning the boards gave us more and better offensive opportunities, which helped us to our highest points total.
Each week it is hard to single out individual players because every player brings something to this team. Niamh Murphy had her shooting game going to go along with some solid rebounding, highlight blocks and a commitment to pressure the ball.
Arabella Kahl was strong in the paint at both ends of the floor and impressed further with court coverage in open court.
Millie Stancil’s court vision and read of the game at both ends of the floor is a big plus for this team.

18-3 Girls – Marcia Dowling (sponsored by Packaging Perth)

Lost to Lakeside 28-42

Coach comments

A balanced start gave us a good feeling against a tall team. Lots of hustle on the ball, and we played a great zone defence that was hard to penetrate. Eventually, Lakeside worked around us and got ahead. Only in the third quarter were the Lightning the better team, and this enabled a solid lead for them. The girls fought hard and finished with intensity and effort.
Liv Weddikara is an amazing teammate. Individually, today she kept shooters out of the keyway while still vocalising well to the team.
Charlotte Dillon once again dominated in transition defence.

18-1 Boys – Stephen Charlton (sponsored by Cannington Mazda)

Won against Willetton 97-73

Coach comments

Very happy result playing against a fellow undefeated team when we only had 7 players. Another even spread of scorers this week, 6/7 of our players finished in double figures. We also turned a 4-point lead at three-quarter time into a 24-point win at game’s end.
Best game of the year so far for Curtis Carrol after coming up late from the 2’s. He was a perfect 5/5 from the field, including 4 three-pointers, to go with 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
Another all-around great energy game for Michael Ryan, who finished with 18 points off 8/10 shooting while also contributing 10 rebounds and 3 assists.

18-2 Boys – Nick D’Elia (sponsored by EJL Mechanical)

Won against the Suns 84-77

Coach comments

This week’s game was a thrilling back-and-forth battle, with both teams displaying incredible resilience. The highlight of the match was the electrifying showdown between Cooper from the Suns on offense and Zadyn’s defensive brilliance.
We started strong, sinking a few early threes, but momentum shifted as our shooting cooled off. A lack of discipline on defense—especially jumping on shot fakes—allowed their physicality to keep them in the game. After an offensive surge from the opposition, we found ourselves in a tough spot, seemingly right at home playing catch-up.
Then, we finally hit our stride. Hunter Mettam and Jack Ryder knocked down key outside shots, while JR’s penetration helped open up the floor. Zadyn Thomas was locked in, shutting down their best player, and from there, we took control of an intense, hard-fought contest. It wasn’t perfect, but it was earned.

18-3 Boys – Dan Cartwright (sponsored by Meyer Shircore Architects)

Lost to Perry Lakes 81-118

Coach comments

We had a large chunk of our team missing this game, so our goal was to see what we could get out of our role players.
Perry Lakes came out of the gate hot from the three-point line, hitting 19 three-pointers.
In the end, we only had 7 healthy players to rotate through the game, which hurt us.
Seina Pirmorady had the best game I’ve ever seen. Seina, usually a role player, stepped up to the plate, scoring 24 points.
Tommy Jakimowiez had his highest scoring game in two seasons, finishing with 17 points and also hit a 3! Great work Tommy!

18-4 Boys – Jess Tiwade (sponsored by Dental Gallery Mt Lawley)

Won against Hills Raiders

Coach comments

We had the full team back this week and headed into what we were hoping for, a 5th win, up against the Hills 2 team. We started the first quarter strong with composure in offence and intense defence. We committed as a team to play each quarter with the same level of intensity, scoring between 25 and 30 pts a quarter. In the first quarter, we made a strong 64% lead, with most of the team contributing to the total. We found our bigs in early foul trouble heading into quarter 2, but maintained the lead with 20 pts. Defensively, we kept the intensity and put pressure on Hills’ scorers. The team atmosphere on the court and the bench was second to none; getting around each other on each effort, and the strength of our mental game showed how it wins games. I am really proud of the team, and so far one of the most composed, fun and high team atmosphere games. Well done to the full team; you are a fantastic team on and off the court!
Mark Sunkar, Jimmy Ford, Anthony Laurie and Quincy Harawara got the job done on defence. Defensively matching up to deny the ball to Hills’ scorers on full-court defence.
Seb Tiwade brought three 3s early in the game and played an intense defensive game.
Great to have Lachlan Abbot back, leading the scoring with 35 pts with a strong 3rd quarter. It was excellent to see us slowing down our offensive pace, getting ball movement, and making strategic passes to the bigs. His impressive defence in full-court pressure brought turnovers, converting to quick points.

21-1 Girls – John Care’

Won against Kalamunda 105-50

Coach comments

Having two players out with injury, it was a little unknown as to how the game would unfold. However, week after week, the chemistry has been getting better, and the girls did not disappoint. Having executed well in both offence and defence, the girls gained momentum to push and outplayed the Suns. Everyone contributed, and it’s so pleasing to see the growth and confidence continue to build.
Olivia Bennison, in her 100th game played a big role in crashing the boards, executing in offense and scoring 26pts.
Isabella Cobb has been a quiet achiever, getting stronger every week, building on her confidence and her game, which has been so exciting to watch.

20-1 Boys – Andrew Logan (sponsored by IPI Packers)

Won against Lakeside 109-72

Coach comments

As a team, we’re chasing consistency over four quarters. Although today was a solid win, we played to our opposition’s level. In patches, we hunted as a team on D and moved the ball well offensively, but only for short periods.
Isaac Moore had a day out scoring 28, attacking the ring and getting out in transition.
David Moore played hard all game and made his teammates better. His work rate on the boards was first-class.

20-2 Boys – John Foley

Won against Mandurah 97-91

Coach comments

The game started the way we played last weekend — with intensity and purpose. Our defence was aggressive, and everyone applied pressure, which made it difficult for our opponents to settle into their sets. Offensively, we were clicking. The ball was moving well, and we were creating and taking high-quality shots. We finished the first quarter with a strong lead, 32–23.
The second quarter didn’t go as well. We started to slip back into some old habits that we’ve worked hard to break. This led to a few poor turnovers and some questionable decisions. We lost that quarter 19–14.
After halftime, we came out with renewed pride and passion. We returned to the style of play we aim for as a team. The ball movement improved, which created more scoring opportunities. On defence, we helped each other, got into the passing lanes, and forced turnovers. We won the third quarter 24–22.
In the fourth quarter, both teams emerged determined to take control of the game. Fatigue began to set in from the previous three quarters, and the pace slowed. It became a back-and-forth battle, trading baskets. Fortunately, our work on conditioning paid off. The boys lifted each other, stayed strong, and made a final push. A couple of key steals and fast-break points helped us maintain the edge. Although the quarter ended tied at 27–27, our early lead secured us our very first win of the season.
I’m incredibly proud of the team. We’ve been working hard to improve each week, and today, we finally put it all together.
Benji Berardis led the way with a game-high 26 points.
Luke Dropulich had another solid performance, battling for rebounds and working hard on defence.
Noah Rees-Turner also stood out, grabbing boards and scoring key buckets.
Everyone contributed something important when we needed it most. That’s what made the difference.
Well done, boys. On to the next!