Weekly WABL Wrap – Round 6

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

Here’s the Round 6 wrap-up of how all our teams went, including comments from coaches:

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

Lost to Rockingham 20-53

Coach comments

We got jumped in the first quarter but adapted our game and showed more intensity in the second half to slow down the opposing team. However, the Flames took advantage of our turnovers.
Lillian Inkster and Mina Bajin’s drive, intensity and hustle all throughout the game is definitely something the team can take upon.
Shay Olowoyo’s rebounding just keeps on improving.
Madelyn Duffield’s voice on and off the court is an amazing addition to the team.

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

Lost to Hawks 27-42

Coach comments

The game was an intense one, the entire game. The girls played with a lot of intensity and heart from the start to the finish! Even though we lost, this was the best game from all 10 of the girls yet, I am so proud of each of their individual efforts when they were on court and off court cheering for their teammates!
Indi Mascurine was a superstar the entire game! I don’t know what she had for breakfast, but it was definitely a super food that made her super! I was amazed by her performance the entire game, and I hope I get this version of her for the rest of the season!!
Jemima Hargrave also amazed me in this game! She played like a superstar every minute she was on the court, and even though she got hurt, she came back onto the court as if it hadn’t happened at all! Jemima used what she had learned from training to her advantage throughout the entire game, and I can’t wait to continue seeing her shine throughout the season!
My silent assassin, Millie Kavanagh, played an amazing game as well! She continues to create space for her teammates to score in offence. She presses up on the opposition from the moment they have the ball on defence every game and I’m so proud of her contributions that she may think goes unnoticed on game day but doesn’t!

12-3 Girls – Paul Philpott

Lost to East Perth 16-50

Coach comments

With 3 players out, this proved to be a tough game. However, we did not fail today, we learnt many ways things did not work and many ways to do things better. Whilst we came pouncing out of the gate, unfortunately, we trailed for most of the game. Despite this our girls although tired, continued to fight hard for every ball, spoke with each other and produced some admirable basketball moments. Well done, Reddies.
The D in Daisy Robertson stood for Dangerous today, and she was clearly outstanding today with her ball carriage, her fight in scrimmages and as an all-rounder player.
River Sikora introduced herself today to the Eagles, surprising them by popping up in open spaces on court, with her consistent and fierce contesting for the ball.

12-4 Girls – Dave Power

Won against East Perth 23-15

Coach comments

The first quarter was both teams playing good defence and trying to find some execution. After getting an early lead, we were down 5-6 after the first.
The 2nd and 3rd quarters for us were a combination of good defence and lots of good opportunities with the ball, winning those 2 quarters 14-5 to be up 19-11 going into the 4th.
To finish the game, the girls executed an ATO off the board and scored on the buzzer. Great job girls!
Ella Jones was everywhere on the court. Our leader provided energy and strength, especially offensively with bust outs, handling the ball and finding teammates cutting into open spaces.
Mahli Parsons showed her resilience, breaking through and getting an important bucket in the 4th to stop East Perth’s momentum and never giving up on plays defensively.
Niyala Sakala had an impact on both sides of the ball, competing for the ball and making impactful plays.

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

Won against Cockburn 60-26

Coach comments

We started our match strong and built a good lead, which we grew every quarter to win by a large margin. Our defence was outstanding as everyone was closing out on the ball and leaving the other team without options. We played our most aggressive defence for the season, and our close-outs and contests led to many steals, which were easily turned into buckets. The boys are starting to understand how hard the game can be played and how to handle the physical side of the game.
The way we moved the ball on offense was much better, we were swinging the ball around looking for options, setting hard screens to get through to the bucket, and finding the open teammates under the basket when they were doubled.
Aiden Morgan put fantastic pressure on the ball throughout the whole game, not many players could get around him as his pressure led to many mistakes from them and many easy scores for our team. Aiden executed his offense perfectly today. He knew when to screen, move off the ball and hit the bigs at the right time.
Alex Litas was ferocious today, his defence was impeccable as he timed each of his attempts to steal perfectly, either getting the easy tap on the ball to assist his team with an easy layup, or ripping the ball straight out of the opposition’s hands many times to earn a tough steal.

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

Lost to Willetton 69-84

Coach comments

The boys played an amazing first half, making great cuts and finding each other for open shots. Their effort on the rebounds and defence was really high. Unfortunately, we lost some momentum in the third quarter and the game slipped away but the boys did very well to continue fighting and making an effort to get back into the game. The boys should be very happy with their efforts.
Levi Giglia was a strong presence on both ends of the court, his defensive energy forced turnovers and led to easy baskets. Levi’s offensive movement found him lots of easy shots and his passing allowed for the boys to push the pace and find easy looks at the basket. Well done Levi.
Fionn Healy’s defensive presence was a massive impact slowing down fast breaks and pressuring the ball to force turnovers, offensively Fionn, did well to find his open teammates and create shots for him self. Good job Fionn.

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

Won against Cockburn White 61-55

Coach comments

We secured a hard-fought victory in a tightly contested matchup marked by multiple lead changes and a strong second-half surge.
Our boys opened with energy, trading baskets early before taking a slight 10–7 lead into the second quarter. Hudson McClintock and Miles Southwell led the way with efficient scoring, while Baxter Miles added important inside baskets.
Despite our lead, the Cougars responded strongly in the second, briefly overtaking us 19–25 late in the quarter. However, steady contributions from Miles and Jesse Freeman kept the Redbacks within reach at halftime.
The third quarter was a turning point, as we ramped up our defensive pressure and went on a scoring run led by Hudson, who dominated with multiple field goals and free throws. We outscored the Cougars 22–11 in the quarter to reclaim momentum, entering the final period up 41–36.
In the fourth, Cayden Wedge and Cody Ashworth extended the lead with quick baskets, and contributions from Barnaby Alman and Quinn Connell helped hold off a Cougars comeback. Miles sealed the game with a late basket and a free throw, securing the win.
Hudson McClintock had a standout all-around performance. He was a constant threat on both ends of the floor. He finished with a game-high 4 assists while scoring efficiently on 50% shooting from the field. He was perfect from the line (100% free throws) and came alive in the second half, scoring 12 of his points across the third and fourth quarters to help break the game open.
Miles Southwell was a dominant presence throughout, with a game-high 11 rebounds and impressive 58% shooting from the field. He added crucial second-chance points and defensive boards to control the tempo and finished with 2-of-3 from the free throw line. His steady scoring across all four quarters and impact on the glass were key to the Redbacks’ comeback.

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

Lost to East Perth 14-100

Coach comments

The boys fought hard against a very well-drilled East Perth team, which ran a very rigid zone trap. Despite constant pressure, we did well to adjust to many different adjustments in our press break. The boys did well to listen and implement changes quickly.
Alfie Marshall had his best game of the season- he was more mobile on his feet, more aggressive on rebounds, and was a much bigger presence in the paint for us.
Marko Delić did well against the press, advancing the ball quickly and covering distance with long passes up the floor.

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

Won against Mandurah 47-30

Coach comments

Heading into Round 6, we knew Mandurah had a similar start to the season as us, and while we were confident, we understood the importance of not underestimating them. The girls rose to the occasion with a solid performance.
It was great to see the players beginning to implement our offensive structures more effectively, making great reads that led to improved ball movement and quality scoring opportunities.
Defensively, we maintained strong pressure throughout the game, particularly in the second half, where we held Mandurah to just 8 points. Our defence created numerous chances in transition, which we capitalised on.
Overall, it was a strong team performance, and it’s great to see our hard work and teamwork starting to come together and reflect in our play on the court.
Molly Nicholas impressed once again with her composure and leadership at the point, controlling the tempo and consistently finding her teammates in great positions. Her decision-making was key to our offensive flow. She finished the game with 7 well-earned assists.
Siena Mouttet delivered another strong performance at both ends of the court, contributing 12 points through smart offensive reads, while dominating defensively with 8 blocks and 14 rebounds.
Darcey Hill brought relentless hustle on defence, forcing key stops and helping spark many of our fast-break opportunities.

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

Lost to Lakeside 21-83

Coach comments

This was a bottom vs top clash and we witnessed first hand why Lakeside are on top. Defensive intensity saw them win clean steals, transition speed made them even more dangerous and clean finishing was icing on the cake. This was a hard game and we were under pressure from start to finish. We still fought it out in good spirits.
Skye Brodie has great natural instincts and continues to improve in her first season. She claimed 9 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks.
Shout out to our small guards who bravely took body hits and some clotheslines all game, Bianca Bajin and Elsey Lohman white both flew across the floor taking face on charges and Allegra Care’ got court up in a rough tangle taking her out of the game.
Isla Cowman was one of most reliable getting the ball safely up court and had good composure to initiate good offence.

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

Won against Rockingham 54-49

Coach comments

What a heart stopper this was. We knew coming in this would be a tough game but the girls were up for the task.
Getting down early in the first quarter by at least 10 points, the girls kept their heads up and fought hard to have a 14-5 second quarter to be down only by 1 at half time.
We were then able to level the game by three-quarter-time. Which set us up for the fourth.
We came out ready, going on an 11-0 run to start the 4th. Rockingham gave us a run for the finish slowly trying to get back into it but we were able to hold on and get a big win.
All the girls should hold their heads high after this win.
Izzy Nagamany hit 2 very big 3s to start the 4th quarter and played very good solid defence.
Kate McKern was excellent on the boards and going up strong to finish with 11 points.

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

Won against East Perth Red 45-24

Coach comments

The girls came out ready to play, being super aggressive, attacking the ring hard and playing some solid team defence.
East Perth started to punch back, but the girls held their own and kept fighting till the end.
Maeve Whitehouse was ready to play from the jump, attacking the ring and finishing strong, finishing with 10 points plus playing amazing man-to-man defence.
Matilda Thompson had an amazing rebounding game. She was able to pull down the rebound and lead the break down the floor making some amazing passes to her teammates.
Jade Macpherson put 10 points on the board, shooting the ball when she was open.

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

Lost to Joondalup 47-86

Coach comments

A tough game against a very strong Wolves team, who are preparing for the U14 Club Championships. Their pressure defence forced us into numerous passing turnovers, which they capitalised on with easy transition baskets.
Despite the challenge, our boys dug deep in the fourth quarter, showing great resilience and energy. We only lost the final quarter 17–20, a clear sign that we can compete with the top teams when we bring the right intensity and focus.
Plenty to take away from this one as we continue to grow and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Caelan Howell has embraced the 5-out breakdown system, showing real confidence playing on the perimeter—confidence in shooting the 3pt shot and attacking off the dribble.

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

Lost to Slammers 62-66

Coach comments

We went down to Harvey for a game in a lovely country gym (which looks a lot like court 2 at Vic Park). We unfortunately left town with only takeaway coffees, as we fell 4 points short of victory. We competed all game, just acknowledging again that team defensive principles is our key focus. Also well done to Tom Smith for a team high 20 points.
Ted Jarlett was an excellent in the paint defender and really adapted his game, making a number of key assists and constantly being an option for press breaking.
Leo Burton played a really solid game, often picking up the most dangerous offensive player. The play that I’m sure we will all remember is Leo’s half-time buzzer-beater from a long way out. When the opposition fans gasp and clap – you know it was a good shot.
Benji Halley was a dangerous defender all day and sparked a lot of transition run with his steals and deflections. Love the competitive nature.

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

Lost to East Perth 57-64

Coach comments

Arguably our biggest test of the season to date and the boys fought out the game and were within a bucket a minute out.
In what has been a focus of ours, we won both the offensive rebound count and turnover battle and showed we could compete against the best teams.
Ultimately, some poor finishing and some sloppy turnovers beat us late, but the boys are improving and starting to understand the demands of the grade.
Ned Tierney top-scored for us and had a couple of key defensive moments late. He has shown he is starting to see the gaps against the more organised defences and always gives his all when on court.
Seth Cass had a handy 10 points and is another who is starting to see where quality shots can come from. He showed the way with the little floater at the top of the key and executed the shot with great efficiency.
Talin McCullough continues to show improvement in his 3-point shot with another corner 3, and is a player I rely on within our team structures who can always be trusted to play his role effectively and works very hard defensively.
Victor Muyna got fouled out and was a little upset about the fouls, but his work defending one-on-one is elite and will always draw the attention of the referees. His last two weeks have set a standard for how to close out and get over and fill helpside spots.

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

Won against Slammers 78-49

Coach comments

Things were close in the first half as we weren’t playing our best. But we came out firing in the second half, only letting them score 4 points in the third quarter, which helped us gain a substantial lead and go on to win the game convincingly.
Lenny Brown had a breakout game, which we always knew he was capable of. He played aggressively on offence and defence and got on the boards.
Josh Koy also had a great game, getting on the boards and playing tough on defence.

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

Won against Kalamunda 90-52

Coach comments

It took us some time to establish our offensive principles and demonstrate the discipline we’ve shown in training. Once we ran our sets and moved the ball, we found open shots and knocked them down. Defensively, we had a few lapses in judgment and flattered the opposition more than we should have. Still a good hit out ,but the girls know they can play much better.
It was good to see Scarlett Hill get her confidence back on court.
Abigail Leslie had a good hit-out with great defence and shot-making.
Jamima Jacob has really hit some good form these last few weeks with another double-double to the team’s effort.

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

Lost to Willetton 32-57

Coach comments

It was a tough week for us. We carried some really good momentum from last week and started the game very well. About midway through the first quarter, Willetton adjusted and played with more intensity and physicality, and we struggled to match it.
Our defence has been really consistent all year, and today was no exception, but we really struggle offensively with poor turnovers and a lack of composure.
It was a good learning curve for the girls playing the top team and knowing where we need to get to.
Olivia Birsa battled hard all game. In a game where we struggled to score, she was always a threat and spaced the floor really well. She understands our structures and is always disciplined with her play.
Ellie Pike continues to provide the aggression and defensive intensity. She had a great first quarter which helped us get the jump on them early. Plays with a level of maturity for her age hence why she is captain.

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

Lost to 16-4 Redbacks 64-81

Coach comments

This weekend we had our Derby! The girls were pretty hyped for this game and definitely gave it their all. The game was filled with many emotions and ups and downs. Unfortunately, we were unable to walk away with a win, but the girls fought till the end and didn’t drop their heads.
Lauren Jones attacked the paint strongly and with a lot of aggression, scoring 14 points. Lauren brought intensity and energy to the court, pouncing on all loose balls.
Ella Fair, as always, had a thirst for the ball, playing with intent and 100% effort! Ella is always ball-hungry and works hard to get the ball back.

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

Won against 16-3 Redbacks

Coach comments

Redbacks v Redbacks will always be a good game. All the girls are friends, and everyone wants to win. The girls, for the first time this season, went out and played all four quarters. It was a very close game up until the last 5 minutes, where it could have gone either way. Maia, Soni, and Eloise, taking their outside shots whether they went in or not, is something we have been asking for all season. Seeing it finally happen, along with some of them dropping, was a good confidence booster for those girls. We’re hoping that after today they realise they are deserving of a top 4 spot.
In defence, I spontaneously asked Maia Leckey and Soni Karimi to do something they hadn’t done before, and they killed it
Emily Rizkalla – this was the first game that a few plays clicked for her and she was able to execute what we were asking

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

Lost to Rockingham 76-89

Coach comments

We started the game with an 11-0 run, Rockingham took a timeout, stopped our momentum, and struggled to regain it until the third quarter, where we went into a lead again.
We got a lot of open looks but failed to convert, and then Rockingham went on a run at the end to close the game out.
Nate Cass got a double-double and worked hard on the boards for 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Asher Munjodzi worked hard all game again, finishing with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals.

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

Lost to Perry Lakes 61-75

Coach comments

We had lots of really good looks early, and the boys are working through understanding that they can compete even when execution doesn’t quite come through. We played well for most of the first and second quarters offensively.
In the second half, we played much better; however, we weren’t able to get the timely stops we needed to bridge the gap.
Xavier Allison was in almost every possession when he was on court. Defensively causing havoc, getting deflections, steals and rebounds, then offensively attacking the basket, putting pressure on their defence.
Dylan Jardine is finding his feet and was energetic on both ends of the floor, getting timely rebounds, blocks and baskets.
Toby Schultz worked hard defensively, put pressure on their guards and gave Toby confidence to attack downhill.

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

Won against East Perth 98-89

Coach comments

After a rough start, we regrouped and surged ahead in the second quarter, taking control of the game with a dominant stretch that set the tone for the remainder of the game. While we’re always pleased to come away with a win, this game offered plenty of valuable lessons and highlighted several areas where we can continue to grow and improve as a team.
In his first regular-season appearance following a long-term injury sustained during grading, Tex Tierney made an immediate impact. Fearless on offense, he poured in an impressive 23 points, including three triples, and provided a spark that lifted the team.
Zeke Brian also delivered a strong all-around performance. He showcased his touch with some smooth floaters in the lane and filled the stat sheet with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, demonstrating his versatility and presence on both ends of the floor.

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

BYE

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

Lost to Cockburn 49-92

Coach comments

Cougars are the team to beat right now, and they bring a league-leading physical intensity. We had a rough start in response. However, we made adjustments and, in the third and fourth quarters, took care of the ball much more effectively. I’m proud of the commitment and resilience of this team. After three tough weeks of playing the top teams, we’re looking to bounce back as a unit.
Grace Almond played with intelligence and aggression throughout the game, leading us in points and applying our principles on offence.
Leeshar Tuialli stayed aggressive and locked in all game, getting to her spots in O and fighting hard on D.
Madison Makavilitogia has been out all season due to injury, but is still finding ways to bring her leadership from the bench. She deserves a huge shoutout.

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

Lost to Senators 66-80

Coach comments

Our 7 available players put in an amazing effort this week. The game was fast-paced and exciting against one of the highest-scoring and fastest-transitioning teams in our league. It’s not often in this league that an opponent will have eight different players scoring from beyond the arc. Level at quarter time and just two points down at the half, some fatigued finishing in the third quarter and a few lapses on transition D were all that allowed Senators to build what turned out to be a match-winning buffer. The way the girls fought hard to win by 5 points in the fourth quarter, despite the tiring game, was really impressive. Some of our passing and off-ball movement was fantastic, and third quarter aside, our inside finishing was the best we’ve seen so far. Commitment on the offensive boards and the reward of second-chance points were also good to see.
All players put in a tremendous effort and could be mentioned, but Jess Kerp returned from illness and had a massive impact, finishing with 7/10 from the field and applying solid defensive pressure. We were +11 with her on the court, and no one was louder from the bench.
Millie Stancil contributed in every aspect, with steals, assists, rebounds and high percentage finishing.
Matilda Wyatt, as always, was particularly strong on the offensive boards and off-ball positioning, converting a lot of offensive sets.
Arabella Kahl was also strong on the offensive boards and took advantage with welcomed second-chance points.

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

Lost to Perry Lakes 30-56

Coach comments

The Hawks outplayed us from the whistle. They were no more skilled, but their passing accuracy was well above ours tin his game.
When we ran the game on our terms, followed our plans and finished well, we were very competitive. At one point, all nine girls were tired, but they boosted the players going back on court with continuous cheering and help.
Liv Weddikara (who was unable to play due to injury) is such a vital element of our team. She was our most valuable player today, from the bench, supporting, encouraging and helping.
Huge congrats to Sienna Care, who played her 100th game for Perth Redbacks WABL in this game.

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

Won against Rockingham 104-82

Coach comments

We were very good in this game, all the way up to the last 5 minutes when we relaxed. That said, we only had seven players again today, so overall it was a good effort.
We shot particularly well from beyond the arc today – knocking down 18 threes @ 40%.
Cuba Brian contributed 6 of these on his way to a game-high 24 points.
Zayde Parriman, in his 50th game for Redbacks, dropped in 23 points.
Jaden Exeter was solid at both ends with a double-double of 10 rebounds and 14 points (inc 4/9 from three) to go with 4 blocks.
Michael Ryan celebrated his 100th game for Redbacks with 13 rebounds, 11 points … and the most casual full-court basket ever.

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

Lost to Senators 61-76

Coach comments

We started the game strong, getting Deegan Castle a few early buckets in what quickly became a fast-paced contest, with both teams scoring in transition. However, their half-court press put us under pressure, leading to some unforced errors that set us back. The tight officiating also proved challenging, with Hamza finding himself in early foul trouble.
Despite the setbacks, we kept pushing the ball. However, in our half-court sets, the offense felt rushed and struggled to flow smoothly. While we had flashes of strong play that kept us in the game, our outside shots weren’t falling consistently, making it difficult to establish control.
By the third quarter, Sam Peirce and Gabe Fode stepped up defensively, keeping things competitive. Unfortunately, turnovers and missed layups made it tough to gain the lead, leaving us playing catch-up throughout.

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

Lost to East Perth 68-80

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

Lost to Lakeside 77-95

Coach comments

This week, we knew we were up against the top team, and it would be a challenge. In the first quarter, we started well with a 10-point lead. However, both teams had challenging calls that resulted in early foul trouble and heading into the remainder of the game, there was frustration on both sides with 26 fouls each. Lakeside played a solid team game with good actions off their offence. They led throughout all quarters. We closed the gap in quarter 3 after working on slowing our offence, but with 5 players in foul trouble and an injury, we couldn’t close the gap and lost by 18 points.
The learning from this game is that the mental game can be rattled by challenging calls, team offence composure, rushed and defending a strong offensive team, which can all contribute to the score, are all areas to reflect on.
Overall, great to play a team 3 team that was strong competitor to learn from.
Max Murray did an awesome job on offence and defence rebounds against tall opponents, adding 18 pts to the team score and delivering a strong defence.
Mark Sunkar took on a tough challenge to match up against a strong offensive opponent and as always Mark gave a strong defence.
Jimmy and Novak played a great game against Lakeside bigs, in a physical matchup in the paint and contributing to the teams total.

21-1 Girls – John Care’

Lost to Hills Raiders 70-78

Coach comments

Going in, we had nothing to lose playing the top of the ladder team, who haven’t lost a game this season.
The girls hit the ground running, playing hard and executing really well to lead up until half time.
The second half became harder, and we got a little caught out with our energy and with their zone defence turning over the ball, but the girls fought till the end in an amazing effort.
Jenna Jackson played a vital role in running the point, controlling the tempo, and contributing 19 points.
Tiana Alger played a great role in her defensive pressure, cutting off lanes and denying Hills players from getting the ball. Also, hitting a couple of crucial 3-point shots to keep the gap close.

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

Won against Cockburn Cougars 108-74

Coach comments

We looked switched on early and competed hard. I thought this was our best game of the season. The boys played with a tough defensive mindset, cutting off passing lanes, being physical off the ball, rebounding as a team, and causing turnovers regularly in the second half. Offensively, we played for each other, resulting in a balanced scoring spread across the team.
Tavian Griffiths was dominant on both ends of the floor. With T’s fitness increasing, it’s allowing us to leave him on the floor for longer stretches. Great to see him working hard on both ends.
Hamish Elder was excellent, playing physical D, picking off loose passes and getting out and dominating our transition offence.
Cooper Deshon played hard on both ends, finishing with 27 points. His shot selection was first-rate, taking them when they were there and finding teammates when they weren’t.

20-2 Boys – John Foley

Won against Slammers 114-83

Coach comments

We started the game smoothly and efficiently, capitalising on offensive transition opportunities right from the tip. Josh and Noah put in some impressive work in the paint—despite a few missed calls that caused some frustration, they stayed composed and continued battling against bigger bodies.
Momentum dipped slightly in the second quarter as we dropped our heads a bit, allowing the opposition to claw their way back into it. But everything shifted late in the third. After a bit of a scuffle sparked some fire, the boys locked in and never looked back.
The final quarter was all about unity and team basketball. All nine players had touches, the bench was loud, energy was high, and we dominated the last 6–8 minutes of play. It was the kind of basketball that shows who we are—committed, connected, and relentless.
Alex Tinlin had a monster game attacking the paint, committing himself to every rebound opportunity. He really kept us in the game physically and mentally.
Benji Berardis adjusted very well to the game and kept our transition offense moving, and kept the energy up on the bench.
Ethan Harders absolutely dominated alongside James Reid in our full-court defence. It was a point guard’s worst nightmare trying to bring the ball up against Ethan and James.