Weekly WABL Wrap – Round 15 – 17 August 2025

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

Here’s the Round 15 wrap-up of how all our teams went, including comments from coaches:

12-1 Girls – Adam Gunnis (sponsored by CPR Electrical)

Lost against South West Slammers 18-49

Coach comments

• Playing the top team looked like a daunting challenge, and after missing several early opportunities to score, we ended the first quarter scoreless. To the girls’ credit, they fought hard all game, tying the second half 15–15 and holding the Slammers to just 3 points in the third quarter. A strong performance and a promising sign of what’s to come from this group.

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

Won against Senators 36-22

Coach comments

• The girls had an absolutely cracking game! They came in with the determination to not only win 2 in a row but to prove to senators and themselves that the last time they played against each other was a fluke. Everyone played their part in the win, and I’m so proud of their efforts!!!
• Erin was powered by the glitter in her hair and absolutely smashed it every minute she was on the court!!!
• Claire was a rebound legend, taking charge of the key like the boss she is! She powered through, helping to create space in offence, aiding teammates to score 💪🏻

12-3 Girls – Paul Philpott

Won against Hills Raiders 42-23

Coach comments

• Today, the court was our canvas, the ball our paintbrush, making us artists in basketball, and we painted our masterpiece. Leading in each quarter, our girls produced some highly watchable basketball. Our inbound defence was amazing, along with our kicks to start our transition up the court.
• So hard this week to highlight individuals, as Teamwork was our fuel and at just the right time, we lit the match. As my last game for the regular season approaches and the highly competent Tarquin takes the helm, I am so grateful for all that our Redbacks 3 girls have given of themselves this season. My desire for the girls has been for them to have lots of fun, enjoying their basketball journeys. As some often say … how can you Brady if you don’t bunch and our girls have certainly achieved that, making them a formidable team going into the finals.

12-4 Girls – Dave Power

Lost against Lakeside 16-22

Coach comments

• Early foul trouble and full-court traps put us behind the game flow. The girls competed hard and bridged the gap a few times. There were some really nice patches of play, it was good to experience a different sort of adversity! Girls did great.
• Maneeha Saad and Aurelie Ford had some really good moments busting up the court and playing aggressive defence.
• Ella Jones, after early foul trouble, found her rhythm in the second half, attacking the basket.

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

Won against Mandurah Magic 83-40

Coach comments

• We came into this game with the focus of playing tough defence, and we executed it from the start. This led to us playing aggressive offense and scoring at will. We made adjustments to their offensive style and took away their main contributor, allowing for us to dominate on the scoreboard through our bigs racking up plenty of rebounds and our guards forcing lots of steals which turned into buckets for us. We were able to get our transition offence working its best it’s been all year. The boys all know their roles and are playing them to a high level and a real feeling of team-first basketball is coming from the boys.
• Alex Litas played an outstanding game. His ability to position himself right where the team needs him on offense saw him score 7 of our first 11 points including a 3 pointer to pull us ahead right from the start. Moreover, his defense was exceptional, meeting players outside the keyway and forcing several steals, each one leading to easy scores for his teammates.
• Rintaro Haginiwa was a destructive force in the rebounding contest, and all over the court, Rintaro dominated the game with a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds. His hustle throughout the game, whether that be on a loose ball or pushing past defenders off the dribble looked amazing. Keep up the good work Rintaro.

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

Won against Rockingham Flames 70-60

Coach comments

• The boys started the game a little slow and frazzled, but quickly matched the pace and physicality of Rockingham and this got them to get back into the game. The third quarter from the boys was very impressive and dominant on both ends with the boys playing strong and forcing stops that led to easy transition points. They also did well to space the floor and set screens, allowing for ball carriers to get space for shots or find others for better looks. The communication on the defensive end was also a massive improvement. The boys should be very happy with their efforts. Well done, team.
• Ryan Karaki was a strong leader offensively, finding and taking the right shots, creating opportunities for others and crashing the glass for second-chance points. Defensively, Ryan did well to communicate with his teammates and apply heavy pressure when guarding the ball. Great job Ryan.
• Riley Kuan was a strong playmaker in the game, creating space and shots. He did well to break the defence when bringing the ball up the court and then make the right read of whether to attack the basket or slow the tempo down. Riley also did well to not coast back on defence if he got blown by, his defensive pressure and energy were really good. Well done Riley.

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

Lost against Mandurah Black 67-73

Coach comments

• This was one of our strongest efforts of the season against a very tough Mandurah Magic team, and while the scoreboard didn’t quite fall our way in the end, I’m incredibly proud of the way the boys competed.
• We started the game with great energy, Cole opening the scoring and the rest of the group following with strong defensive pressure and smart ball movement. By the end of the first quarter, we were up 14–12, showing that we were ready to take the game on.
• The second quarter was some of our best basketball all season. Hudson and Jesse got us rolling offensively, while Cayden and Barnaby added important buckets. Our defence created stops, and we were able to build a small lead. We went into halftime up 32–27, full of belief and momentum.
• In the third quarter, Mandurah lifted their intensity. They hit some tough shots, and while Jesse and Cayden worked hard to keep us level, foul trouble started to hurt us. By the end of the quarter, the game was neck-and-neck, and we went into the final period down 41–47.
• The fourth quarter was a real battle. Hudson knocked down a huge three, and Jesse and Miles kept attacking to give us scoring chances. Cayden’s hustle plays kept us in it, and we fought right until the final buzzer. In the closing minutes, Mandurah managed to capitalise on a couple of key plays and free throws, and while we hit some big shots through Jesse and Hudson, we just couldn’t quite close the gap, going down 67–73.
• Overall, this was a brave performance. We showed composure against one of the strongest teams, and every player contributed. If we keep bringing this level of intensity and teamwork, we’re going to continue improving and start turning these close battles into wins.
• Jesse Freeman delivered one of his best games of the season, leading the team on both ends of the floor. He finished with 15 points at an efficient 50% shooting, showing confidence and composure whenever he had the ball. On the glass, Jesse was outstanding, pulling down a team-high 13 rebounds, often outmuscling bigger opponents and giving us valuable second-chance opportunities. His presence was felt in every part of the game, combining scoring, rebounding, and effort to set the standard for the team. A breakout performance that highlights just how important Jesse is becoming to our success.
• Cole Jones put in a fantastic all-round performance, bringing his trademark relentless defensive pressure to the game. He racked up 6 steals by constantly harassing ball-handlers and forcing turnovers, while also pulling in 4 rebounds to help control possession. On offence, Cole showed great vision and composure, pushing the ball forward and setting up teammates for easy scores. His 4 assists reflected his unselfish play and ability to read the floor. Another high-energy game where Cole’s hustle and playmaking lifted the whole team.

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

Lost against East Perth Eagles 28-95

Coach comments

• Similar to last week, we came up against an Eagles team that beat us by 86 points in the first half of the season. In a clear show of improvement for us, we cut the deficit by 20 points. Despite some third-quarter struggles with our discipline, we managed to hold them to just one point in the last four minutes of the game.
• Zach Harris showed some more intent on the ball defensively and some more patience with the ball in his hands.
• Otis Tierney was getting in all the right positions and easily getting to the basket early, before an injury kept him out for the second half.
• Alex Kirou showed some very impressive ball skills escaping the trap, often using impressive and complex dribble moves to create space.

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

Won against Willetton White 66-32

Coach comments

• What a game! This was easily one of our best performances of the season and such a joy to watch.
• It was a close start with only one point in it after the first quarter, but midway through the second, the girls really found their groove. A 22–10 run blew the game open and gave us a 13-point lead at the half.
• The third quarter was a bit of a grind offensively, but our defence never let up, holding Willetton to just 4 points. From there, the girls turned it on again, storming home with a huge 23–6 final quarter to seal a dominant win.
• What really stood out was the way we played together, 20 team assists says it all. We looked after the ball with our lowest turnover count all season, ran the floor beautifully, protected the paint with 10 big blocks, and knocked down free throws at 80%. The girls have been working hard at training, and it’s fantastic to see that effort show up on game day.
• A great team performance and one the girls can truly be proud of.
• Siena Mouttet was huge defensively and made smart decisions on offence, finishing with 9 points, 4 assists, 12 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 blocks.
• Mia Exeter was again unstoppable, racking up another double-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds, plus 3 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks.
• Molly Nicholas lit it up as well, playing with great energy at both ends, adding 20 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.

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

Lost against Warwick 30-60

Coach comments

• Bit of a hard grind today. Probably not our best game, but also not our worst. We fought hard but were not as dangerous as we could have been. Warwick killed us in transition speed, had a numbers advantage and moved the ball to finish easy buckets. We are fast enough to run with them, but it’s best to be more alert and react to the game situations faster. Delete this game and go again. Need to find some legit desperation and just hustle next week.
• Allegra Care showed some spirit and focus, tucked her shirt in and locked in to win ball, giving the team some inspiration.
• Elsey Lohman white did very well handling the ball and using her team to get through the Warwick mid-court press, and also showcased some signature moves to the bucket.
• Bianca Bajin worked really hard off the ball and making good contact in defence. Off court she was wonderfully encouraging to her teammates, oozing confidence.
• Jana Djurasovic started to play her natural game again today which included some savage blocks and defensive stops.
• Eva Blyth had a run of sort of average or unlucky possessions in the first half but, to her credit, she kept her head up and found her way into the game to become one of the very best players at the back end of the game. Well done Eva!

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

Won against Cockburn 52-29

Coach comments

• The girls kept fighting this game, never giving up, and kept pushing and extending the lead. What started as a super messy game slowly turned to us controlling the game by playing super hard on defence and attacking the ring, sending ourselves to the free throw line shooting and an incredible 9/11.
• Rachel Deering had a consistent game from start to finish, playing fantastic defence and getting to the ring, ending the game with 11 points, 5/5 from the free throw line.
• Bella Nevill had a shoe change at halftime, and she became a problem for Cockburn, getting to the ring at will and shooting whatever shot she wanted, finishing with 16 points.

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

Won against East Perth Eagles Red 67-24

Coach comments

• We came out strong and kept up our energy until the end, not giving the opposition anything easy, even when we were up.
• Our passing in transition continues to improve every week, and we did well to take opportunities when they came.
• Some more of our shots dropped this week, and we did well to share the ball around.
• Eloise Watts didn’t stop moving offensively, and it paid off as she got the ball when she was open, and finished shots well. El also crashed the offensive boards to get some nice put-backs.
• Alexander Trilling-Kirkwood had a good shooting game and continues to be a positive voice from the bench.
• Ally Taylor controlled the game, slowing it down for us when needed, and delivering quick passes up the court when we had potential fast breaks.

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

Lost against Lakeside Lightning 65-75

Coach comments

• A tough loss, but one of our strongest games in recent weeks. We had our best third quarter in a long time, putting us within striking distance heading into the fourth. There were strong stretches of play with great shooting patches and solid defensive rotations at times, though we need to build more consistency in this area.

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

Lost against Warwick Senators 57-47

Coach comments

• Every season, you have one game where you get caught short on numbers – this was our ‘just battle it out’ game.
• Any coach knows that if you wake up to WhatsApp alerts on game day, it’s rarely positive news. We were aware that we were already down 1 player. After the morning messages, we were down three. With another boy who had missed training due to illness, the equation was 7 fully fit (including our train on) and one on reduced minutes.
• A turned ankle on Harry, a heavy fall on the hip for Kruz, and at one stage it was 5 on court and the hope that one of our wounded boys could recover.
• We had 2 boys foul out (largely due to having to play big mins), and I could not be prouder of the fight these boys gave. We won the 3rd quarter and turned for home only 6 down – quite remarkable. We also fought the game out to the final seconds.
• I never normally just name the whole team as impactful, however, in this game the 8 players who represented our club did us proud.
• Leo Burton played centre and top scored with 12.
• Tom Smith and Benji Hayley clocked 28 mins with little rest.
• Harry Frame willed himself back onto the court where the easier option was to sit.
• Jayden Austin ran hard for every second on the court.
• Kruz Viesca took a really hard fall, yet we couldn’t keep him off court once he composed himself.
• Ted Jarlett fouled out with 14 rebounds (more than half the team total) – amazing.
• Finally Griffin Sharp, our train on – started and clocked 15 quality minutes.
• Very proud as it would’ve been easy to just give up, instead we played Redbacks Basketball.

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

Lost against Joondalup 28-44

Coach comments

• Battle of the two best defences in our division – in a high-scoring first quarter of 6-2, it will make for a great view on HUDL. Wolves beat us in the second quarter in all facets of the game, before we finally got our game going in the second half in an evenly fought second half.
• We will make some changes to combat the aggressive pack line defences we will see going into finals, and the group will respond as they have all season.
• Talin M led our rebounding in the game with 4 in an impressive effort on his normal production. Gives up a fair a bit of size to his opponent and was happy for him when I saw the stat.
• Noah O led all comers with 12 points – given we scored 28, this was an impressive effort and works both side of the ball.
• Ned T and James P showed their movement in the half court to put themselves into good positions and tried hard all game.
• Huge congrats to Victor M, who played his 50^th WABL game for Perth Redbacks today.

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

Won against Hills raiders 76-57

Coach comments

• Matt Price from the start of the game gave great energy on defence and was in all the passing lanes, picking steal after steal. It really fueled his offence as he had a huge 18 points and I don’t even remember a turnover from him, so that’s the sort of level of decision making at the speed he plays at was great to see
• Lenny, I thought had a great game, which might go unnoticed as he didn’t score much but his defence, particularly when defending the basket, was elite. He was walling up, getting blocks and getting his hands in to knock it out the way was good to see.
• Lennox had one of his best games as he played with great aggression on both ends. He took some really nice jump shots and attacked the close-out to get himself and his teammates good looks. On defence, he was really up and in and helped to cause several turnovers

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

Won against Hills Raiders 68-47

Coach comments

• This week, I had the privilege of stepping in to coach the girls, with Nigel unavailable. A big thank you to the team for welcoming me so warmly and making my job easy. I would also like to acknowledge Nick for his excellent pre-game speech and his support throughout the match.
• The game began evenly, with both sides trading baskets and neither team able to gain much separation in the first quarter. From there, the girls steadily built momentum, extending the lead a little more at each break. There were a few momentum swings along the way, but I was really proud of the way the team stayed composed, recovered quickly, and made sure the game never got away from them.
• Overall, it was a strong, disciplined performance and a great team effort. The resilience shown during those pressure moments reflects the growth the girls are making every week.
• A special mention goes to Abi, who not only led on the scoresheet but also maintained high intensity from start to finish, getting under the opposition’s skin and setting the tone defensively.
• We also celebrated some fantastic milestone games this week:
  • Ella Welsh – 150 games
  • Abigail Leslie – 50 games
  • Chelsea Karsum – 50 games

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

Lost against Willetton Tigers White 46 to 33

Coach comments

• Very disappointing week for us. After beating this team convincingly last time we played, we just didn’t come with the same intensity and energy this week. It is one of the first times this season I’ve felt like we didn’t play as a team and went very individual. As a positive though you learn more from a loss and its a good wake up call heading into finals. This is a good grou,p and I know they will bounce back despite the loss and a few injury concern.s
• Alice Lawrance battled hard all day. At the end of the day, all a coach wants is effort and energy and for girls to care about the team to be upset at the way we played. She is one of our most consistent players which shows up even more in games we struggle.
• Macaela Tugwell had a great game despite hurting her ankle during the game. She battled on hard to be a presence on the rebounds and is a great low post defender. Hoping she can bounce back ready for finals

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

Lost to Perry Lakes 44-82

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

Lost against Warwick 62-80

Coach comments

• Easily our most physical game of the season. The girls had a 22-point comeback at one stage, which was great to see. They did really well to handle some pretty tough calls.
• Teah pulled out some killer post moves as a guard.
• Harper took a big hit and managed to get back out there.

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

Lost to East Perth 85-97

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

Lost against Perry Lakes 68-80

Coach comments

• We had a lot of good early looks at the rim in the first quarter that we weren’t able to convert. In the second quarter, we had a lot of open jump shots that we weren’t able to convert. All our good decisions and strong defence were doing a good job keeping us close.
• Hawks went on a run in the 3rd and opened up a big lead. We came home strong in the 4th, got to within 9, but fell short.
• Boys competed hard in tough and rough conditions.
• Toby Schultz and Arman Demir played hard on both sides of the ball.
• Sebastian Doyle started to hit a groove, showing his size and athleticism with a good 3rd quarter.

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

Won against Willetton White 105-65

Coach comments

• After a tough loss to this team last round, it was great to bounce back with a strong win built once again on our trademark defensive effort. The game was enjoyable for both players and parents, with all players contributing. Some even stepped into unfamiliar defensive roles, and to their credit, the boys embraced the challenge — the results spoke for themselves.
• Lucas, our season-long sharpshooter, was on another level, draining 8 threes on his way to 28 points. He capped it off with a huge steal and a buzzer-beating three to close the game.
• Meanwhile, Tex Tierney continues to climb back to peak form after his ankle injury at grading. His timing on cuts has been spot-on for our guards, and he’s been reliable from deep. Tex finished with 26 points, including 3 triples — all while taking on a defensive tagging role in spurts.
• Zeke Brian and Toby Deshon were instrumental in our defensive plan, containing their elite ball handler. They pressured him every moment of the game and never lost focus for even a second. Most of our 38 steals and deflections stemmed directly from their relentless on-ball pressure.

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

Lost to Mandurah 56-61

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

Lost against Warwick Senators 55/77

Coach comments

• Warwick is a really good squad, but last time we played them, we rallied and got close. This game, they came out to make a statement, and we rose to their intensity for the bulk of the game. We made runs in response to theirs, and we forced a huge amount of turnovers with our pressure D. At halftime the score was 35/30 and in the third the margin was 9. In the fourth, we succumbed to fatigue, pressure and some intense denial D. Overall, though, it was a fantastic effort and if we see this team in the finals, we know we can get it done if we put it together.
• Amina Handule is growing in her role and played great minutes on Sunday, racking up 9 points, heaps of boards and denying Warwick’s bigs for long stretches.
• Grace Almond was tough all game, embracing contact and giving maximum effort on D and boards.
• Mafa Tuialli was creative and motivated on the offensive end, testing D and knocking down mid-range looks as well as drives to the hoop.
• Harriet Woods led us in scoring for another week, letting it fly from deep and creating bank shots off the baseline drive.

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

Lost against Joondalup White 50-56

Coach comments

• Wolves got on top in the first quarter as we gave them far too much opportunity through unforced turnovers and a lack of intensity on the boards. The second quarter was a much more even affair as we warmed into the game before coming fully into life in the 3rd with improved defence and offensive execution giving us a 2-point lead at the last break. Unfortunately, we appeared to run out of steam in the last quarter as our opponents lifted their effort, generating extra opportunities from offensive boards and capitalising on lapses in our defence to regain the lead and hold on through the final minutes.
• Millie Stancil played a lot of minutes and consistently delivered by reading the play at both ends of the floor. She led the team for shooting efficiency with some nice drives, generated scores for others with 7 assists and constantly disrupted our opponents’ offense with 4 deflections and 5 steals.
• Matilda Wyatt was also a menace on defence. Consistent intensity in ball pressure created countless turnovers for the opposition, besides the 8 steals she recorded herself. She was one player who fought hard for rebounds throughout the game and never stopped trying.
• Salma Rahmadavi continues to be very safe with the ball in hand, spaces the floor well off the ball and consistently applies ball pressure and helps out her teammates. Her willingness to stand in front of or push against bigger opponents and to win some strong boards despite being outsized is a credit to her commitment and competitiveness.
• Arabella Kahl competed really well throughout the game and had some good inside finishing where her size, balance and composure make her a real problem for opposition teams.

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

Lost against Mandurah Magic Gold 49-63

Coach comments

• The girls really brought flexibility and coachability today. If we needed to adapt a defensive play, they did it on the next run. Likewise, finishing was better under the basket. In this game, we brought better strength and resilience to start the third.
• Mei Wang ran hard and fast, and her defensive steals and stops were consistent.
• Sam Morgan’s transition speed was amazing, and her under-the-basket work was great at both ends.
• Mya Slee consistently performed at a high standard everywhere on the court.

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

Lost against Mandurah 52-72

Coach comments

• A tough game without Zayde and Ben. It was all even at three-quarter-time, but a three-point last quarter led to a 20-point loss.

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

Lost against East Perth Eagles 70-93

Coach comments

• Both teams opened the game with confidence, trading baskets and executing well on offense. The first half was evenly matched, with each side finding success against the defence and shooting efficiently.
• However, in the third quarter, we struggled to maintain our rhythm. Our offense went cold, and we lacked the intensity needed to match their continued momentum. They capitalised by attacking the basket consistently, and the gap began to widen.
• From that point on, we were in an uphill battle. Despite our efforts in the fourth, their penetration remained effective and we couldn’t generate the stops we needed. Ultimately, we weren’t able to claw back the lead, and the result reflected that stretch where the game slipped away.

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

Lost to Warwick 80-85

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

Lost against Lakeside 80- 85

Coach comments

• Last game of the season before finals (as we have a bye next week) saw us hoping to take another win. We had a few of the team unwell with flu, however set ourselves the goal knowing this would be a hard game.
• The first quarter saw a strong start as we created a good lead against Lakeside and showed we rattled them. It was a long quarter, noting the total game went for nearly 2hrs. In the second quarter, we found ourselves in foul trouble, and they were catching our lead with an even quarter for both teams. Some great teamwork in offence utilising the bigs under the rim. There was a shift in our mental game that was evident and impacted the game from this point.
• In the 3rd quarter, we held our lead and focused on defence, boards and breaking their zone defence. Heading into the 4th quarter, we had a few team members on four fouls and frustrations with average tactics from the opposition (two tech fouls given to Lakeside and the coach warned). In the final minutes of the game, we were in front, but it slipped away from us with some rushed decisions under pressure and missed shots. Great fight to the end and learnings to take us into finals.
• Our defensive intensity and composure/ball movement in offence have developed over the season. What an achievement to be the only team to win against the undefeated team and win most of the season against all but two teams. I couldn’t be more proud of the teamwork demonstrated, dedication every week and working through the mental game that has shown to be a factor in who wins.
• Mark played an amazing defensive game. He worked so hard against the Lakeside point guard who was the enabler for their other key scorers. Mark has this ability to retrieve unfortunate passes and deflections by reading the ball to retrieve. We often refer to Mark as “versatile” given his role. He excels at both point guard and small forward.
• Lachlan Abbot worked hard offensively and defensively throughout the game. Some awesome passes to bigs were the highlight of his game, and his reads in transition. Lockie plays with intensity and speed in defence. Top scorer and assists – he added 24pts to the team total.
• Tom’s leadership in every game is outstanding. Natural leader on and off the court, he brings encouragement and experience to our team. 17pts and key rebounder – he was key to the game.

21-1 Girls – John Care’

Won against South West Slammers 78 – 54

Coach comments

• This was going to be a redemption game after our previous game against the Slammers this year, where we lost key players and walked away with a loss. After a slow start, the girls managed to find a groove and build momentum, drawing out a handy lead. Good execution in offence and strong defensive pressure in Q2+Q3 gave us a handy lead to maintain in the 4th.
• Talia Adams was unstoppable this week, scoring 19 pts, defensively strong and contesting rebounds on both ends.
• Yusra Handule found her groove in offence and executed well in the paint.

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

Won against Warwick Senators 92-88

Coach comments

• Another great game where we got to compete against a strong, well-drilled side. The boys played a brand of basketball they should be proud of. We had identified a couple of weak spots from the week before, and the boys came in focused and hungry. I was most impressed with our ball movement and rebounding. With finals around the corner, we couldn’t have asked for better preparation playing the top 3 sides in the division. We have won the first two, now we need to get the job done once more.
• Max Wishart, celebrating 50 games for Perth Redbacks, brought his A game, putting up a double-double. He shot well from the stripe and worked hard defensively all game.
• Isaac Moore had limited minutes in this game, but his impact was felt when he was on the floor. Grabbing offensive rebounds from the weak side and getting to the right places offensively.
• David Moore had a solid all-around game. He also pulled down numerous O boards, splashed a timely three and attacked the ring hard to put pressure on Warwick’s D.
• Tavian Griffiths was dominant when on the floor. He rebounded with ease and made the most of his offensive opportunities. As a team, Tavian straightens us up, and we look threatening when we play through him.

20-2 Boys – John Foley

Lost against Willetton Tigers 89-102

Coach comments

• The first half was evenly contested, with both teams applying strong pressure. Our defence was energetic from the outset, with effective rotations and solid box-outs. On offence, the ball movement was sharp, creating a number of open looks.
• In the third quarter, the side began to tire after the loss of two players in the first half reduced our numbers to six. Despite this, the team continued to compete and rallied in the final quarter in an attempt to close the gap, but ultimately fell short.
• Noah had a standout performance, finishing with 28 points, including five three-pointers. He also contributed strongly on the boards and lifted his defensive effort when it was needed most.
• Benji played with intensity, at times pushing the limits, but he also made some important shots that helped keep the team in the game.
• Saxon produced his best game of the season, pulling in several strong rebounds and knocking down two three-pointers. He also began to show the physical presence he is capable of bringing to the court.