Weekly WABL Wrap – Round 14 – 10 August 2025

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

Here’s the Round 14 wrap-up of how all our teams went, including comments from coaches:

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

Lost against Eastern Suns 16-46

Coach comments

• A tough game that began on a positive note with some good early looks, but we were unable to put any real scoreboard pressure on the Suns. We struggled at times with their backcourt pressure, which led to turnovers deep in our backcourt and gave us little chance to contest or challenge them in transition.
• To the girls’ credit, a strong fourth saw us only lose the quarter by 3 points, showing we have the potential to match teams in this division — the challenge now is sustaining that level for longer stretches.

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

Won against Suns 33-24

Coach comments

• The team came out strong right from the first whistle, with every girl playing a crucial role in our success. Their impact on the court made substitutions a challenge, as each player proved to be an invaluable asset!!
• Week by week, these girls continue to grow, and this game was a clear display of their dedication to the sport and their fierce determination to claim victory over the mighty Suns 💪🏻
• My shorties — Zoe, Indi, Caitlyn, and Millie — were absolute fearless demons on court, relentlessly forcing turnovers, creating space in offence, and applying intense pressure on any player with the ball. Their energy was unmatched, and their positivity never wavered from the first whistle to the last.
• My bigs — Anya and Kit-Kat — were true forces to be reckoned with. They brought the ball up the court with such power and intensity that I’d hate to be the one defending them. On top of that, they dominated the boards, pulling down rebounds left, right, and centre at both ends.
• My forwards — Emily, Erin, Jemima, and Claire — were passing masters and long-range shooting pros. They consistently put pressure on the Suns’ tall players and worked seamlessly with the shorties to keep those turnovers coming.
• This was an outstanding performance from every single girl, making it nearly impossible to choose the starting five for next week!!

12-3 Girls – Paul Philpott

Won against Lakeside 30-29

Coach comments

• We continue our run of close games with narrow quarter-by-quarter margins and again raising the heart rates of all our Redback supporters on our bench. Trailing in the final quarter by 4 points with a minute remaining, we demonstrated that the team on top of the mountain didn’t just fall there! Today, we did not throw in the towel but used it to wipe the sweat from our faces and got on with the business of collectively working tirelessly to become triumphant.
• Ellie Barrett brought her best game of the season today. Ellie was in the perfect place on the court at the perfect times during inbound plays.
• Similarly, Jessica Ryan was a tower of strength today at both ends pulling out her inner beast, wresting for loose balls and upsetting Lakeside all game.
• Today the dynamic duo of Hazel McElvenny and Ava Socratous demonstrated that the court is where hard work and collaboration meets opportunity, allowing them to be our highest scorers for the game. With Ava bringing us within 1 point and Lakeside retaliating, Hazel then responded herself bringing us back within range. With 8 seconds to go we witnessed a mighty dagger from Ava to seal the win by 1 point.
• Well done to all our amazing and talented Redback girls for their ongoing belief that nothing great was ever achieved without heart and enthusiasm. Bring on the finals we say!

12-4 Girls – Dave Power

Lost against East Perth 21-44

Coach comments

• Both teams were down players due to illness. All the girls competed well from both teams.
• Our girls defended really well and forced East Perth to take tough shots, and credit to them, they knocked them down.
• This was our best offensive game against the ladder leaders and we have been able to reduce the margin each game. Great job ladies!
• Wanda Power and Maneeha Saad were disruptive on defence and aggressive on offence, handling the ball and looking to find teammates open shots with good passing.
• Niyala Sakala was a rebounding machine and controlled the paint both ends of the floor.

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

Won against Warwick Senators 56-55

Coach comments

• The game against Warwick was a difficult one and tested our boys to learn how to adapt quickly against a strong transition offense and intensity of such a close game. The boys fought hard from the get go, although falling behind in the 1st quarter the boys didn’t let that hinder how they played their game and continued to fight hard on rebounds and loose balls and show how much they wanted this win, and when the team went down by 10 with 4 minutes remaining they went on a spectacular run of 13-2 with 2 buckets in the dying seconds of the game to put us in the lead to win by 1.
• Rintaro Haginiwa fought a very physical game all over the court and is displaying great signs of improvement to his confidence and his shooting. Rintaro was amazing down low on offense and defence, making the box out his number one priority with other players rarely able to get a rebound against him. He also has shown how dominant he can be off the dribble, with no defenders able to stop him when he’s set on driving.
• Andre Karpeh did everything I asked of him today, he was impactful offensively hitting his shots and free throws, and played great team defence and team basketball when he was out on the court.

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

Lost against Eastern Suns White 63-65

Coach comments

• The boys did very well to match it with the Suns to start the game. They came out with intensity and physicality that set the tempo for the game. The boys got down by as much as 10 but did well to fight back and get into the game, and unfortunately, lost to a buzzer-beater. The boys should be very proud of their effort as it really demonstrated what they are capable of. Well done, everyone.
• Ryan Karaki was a key contributor on the offensive end; his efforts to get second-chance points and make strong drives to the basket allowed us to stay competitive and set the tone for physicality and intensity.
• Defensively, Ryan played with strong pressure on the ball and effectively communicated with his teammates. Good job Ryan.
• Thomas Stephenson was excellent on both ends of the court. His leadership on the defensive end and the effort he put into shutting down his defensive assignment were a major part of the success of our defence in the game. Offensively Tommy’s strong drives and shooting allowed for him to be an offensive leader and help us to space the court well. Great job Tommy.

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

Lost against Slammers 49-50

Coach comments

• We opened strong in the first quarter, with Hudson McClintock setting the tone early, scoring our first two baskets to give us a 4–0 lead. Kasper Jeromson got on the board soon after, and we closed the term with Cayden Wedge hitting a bucket to give us an 8–6 edge at the break.
• The second quarter turned into a grind. The Slammers hit a small run to take the lead, and while Hudson and Cayden both hit free throws to level it late, they kept answering back. Louis Griffiths tied it at 16–16 just before halftime, and it was clear we were in for a battle.
• The third quarter was a seesaw—Miles Southwell scored first, but the Slammers responded quickly and often. We clawed back each time, with Hudson, Miles, and Baxter Miles hitting key points, and Kasper cutting the deficit late. Still, they managed to hold a narrow lead heading into the fourth.
• The last quarter was pure drama. Down 33–40 early, the boys dug in—Kasper hit, Baxter tied it at 40–40, and Hudson gave us a late lead. Every time we looked like sealing it, the Slammers found an answer, and the last two minutes were a rollercoaster. Hudson scored twice in the final minutes, Miles added another, but with the game in our hands and ahead by 1 point with seconds remaining the Slammers hit their last shot to go ahead and win by 1.
• It’s a tough loss, especially after the fight we showed to get back into it, but I’m proud of the composure and grit the boys displayed. We’ll take the lessons, keep building, and be ready to finish stronger next week.
• Cayden Wedge was a defensive force from start to finish, using his sharp anticipation to constantly disrupt the Slammers’ offence. He racked up an incredible 12 steals, reading the play beautifully and intercepting passes before they had a chance to develop. On offence, Cayden contributed 9 points, attacking with confidence and turning many of his steals into quick scoring opportunities. He was also strong on the glass, pulling down 7 rebounds and ensuring we maintained possession in key moments. A relentless, high-impact performance that set the tone defensively for the entire team.
• Kasper Jeromson brought relentless energy on both ends of the floor, making life difficult for the Slammers with his constant pressure defence. He put pressure on the ball, forced turnovers, and disrupted their offensive flow all game. On the scoreboard, Kasper added 7 well-earned points, attacking the basket with determination and finishing strongly. His hustle and defensive intensity were key in keeping the momentum on our side.

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

Lost against Perry Lakes Hawks 59-40

Coach comments

• This was by far our best game of the season. Discipline in our press break, speed of ball movement, and awareness off the ball created a 30-point swing from the last time we played Perry Lakes. The boys did very well to adjust on the fly as we made small adaptations to our press break.
• Otis Tierney and Kedar McCollough always find themselves at the right place at the right time. They helped to create a lot of long court opportunities.
• Hunter Gunnis and Marko Delic’s coordination and strength allowed many long passes to beat the Hawks’ early pressure and created many fast breaks.
• Bradley Vinac’s transformation into a true floor general has been impressive in the second half of the season. Making good decisions, directing teammates, and good shot selection have been welcome changes.
• Alex Kirou played a game full of adjustments that saw him in all sorts of situations and positions and did well to listen and adapt in his role.
• All boys played a massive role in helping us to a great result!

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

Lost against Willetton Blue 30-57

Coach comments

• This week was always going to be a challenge, facing the top team and being three players down due to illness.
• The girls did a fantastic job of holding Willetton for the first three quarters. It always felt like we were within striking distance and we finished the third only 12 points in arrears. Our defence stood tall, we rebounded strongly to limit Willetton’s second chance points and created some great looks at the basket. We were just unlucky that more shots didn’t fall.
• Our third quarter was our standout, holding Willetton to just 6 points while adding 12 of our own. Unfortunately, fatigue crept in during the fourth. We gave them too much space on the perimeter, and they took advantage to close out the game.
• A huge thank you to Rose, Bella and Lily for stepping up into our team this week – each of you held your own and made valuable contributions.
• Saige Deeks was a rock in defence alongside Siena Mouttet, both protecting the paint and pulling down strong rebounds while also creating offensive opportunities. Saige finished with 7 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Siena added 4 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and a block.
• Mia Exeter had a great all-around game, hustling hard on defence and finding her shots in offence, finishing with 11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks.
• Molly Nicholas, Darcey Hill and Alida Barmentloo all worked hard to break the full court pressure and hustled tirelessly in defence. Molly recorded 6 points with 4 steals, Darcey grabbed 5 rebounds, and Alida added 3 key rebounds.

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

Lost against Perry Lakes Blue 48-69

Coach comments

• Another well-fought game. Sadly, a loose first quarter with too many defensive holes saw us down by as much as 18 early in the second, but we adjusted several times and found our fight. This week, the team did a really good job of responding to the coaching and adjusting our play during the game. We found a way to stop their threatening players and became dangerous in our own way, winning the 2nd and 3rd quarters and being within 7 points at 3 quarter time. Hawks flexed harder in Q4 and built a gap to 21, but we were happy to be in the fight, and to halve the margin from when we last played Hawks (42-point loss).
• Elsey Lohman White, in her 50th WABL game for Redbacks, found her mojo and was super smooth today, making good decisions to keep our offence flowing and finding great gaps to score her own 11 points.
• Isla Cowman also played smart to keep the offence flowing, was effective on our inbound plays and also sparkled with neat 3 on her way to 9 points. Her defensive game and special role switching into split line in the second half was a game changer, with 4 defensive stops in a row helping us own Q3.
• Alyssa Rullo has some great momentum and hit some clean buckets today for 14 points.
• Lily Butler also has similar great momentum and grabbed another 14 rebounds today.
• Eva Blyth has been consistently strong and her team play is outstanding, she fights for the ball, makes great passes and screens and just keeps working hard, so nice to see her enjoy her first 3 today 🙂

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

Lost against Lakeside 49-55

Coach comments

• A tough loss, we were able to stay with Lakeside for the majority of the game. They managed to get up by nine a few times, but we were able to bring it back. The girls kept fighting to the end and never gave up.
• Rose Bacci was back to her old self, shooting the ball with confidence and playing amazing on ball defence and stopping multiple fast break lay-ups by running hard. Rose finished the game with 12 points, 4 deflections, 2 steals.
• Izzy Nagamany was in the lanes, disrupting many passers. She finished with 3 steals.

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

Lost against Perry Lakes 37-65

Coach comments

• Perry Lakes are a strong top-of-the-ladder team, but we came out fighting from the start and made every decision harder for them to make.
• Defensively, we stopped the ball early and did a good job of keeping intensity up on the ball, while keeping our hands out. We got multiple intercepts, after taking advantage of the rushed pass, with everyone playing full-court defence.
• Offensively, we made some great decisions, passing up good shots for great shots, and moving the ball quickly up, and around the court.
• We had big energy on the bench which led to some great minutes of play where we shortened the margin at times.
• We were focused on boxing out our players, and the whole team crashed rebounds.
• Sophie Nichols had a strong scoring game, but what impressed me the most was her positivity and resilience when things got hard.
• Eloise Watts and Madeleine Marshall were strong all game, pulling in much-needed rebounds.
• Zoe Bartucciotto continues to find open space and make good decisions.
• Zara Flynn’s confidence has skyrocketed this season, as she has become an aggressive offensive threat, fierce rebounder, and loud teammate.

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

Lost against East Perth Eagles 57-90

Coach comments

• After a strong first half where we really pushed the Eagles, we struggled through another tough third quarter. We were unable to keep them off the offensive glass, which gave them multiple shot opportunities on too many possessions.
• We opened the game well, moving the ball and finding open shooters to knock down several big threes. We also closed the game on a solid note, only dropping the fourth quarter by four points, but unfortunately, the damage was done in the third quarter.

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

Lost against Perry Lakes 48-52

Coach comments

• We lost a close one to Perry Lakes by 4 points in a game that swung on some really good outside shooting by the Hawks in the last quarter.
• The game stats are so close between the teams – each won 2 quarters and we tied on rebounds, steals, assists & free throws. We won the turnover account for the 2nd week in a row, and our transition game was +14. The Hawks were more efficient in scoring by a few % and in the end that was the difference.
• We’re building for finals, and I just feel every week we’re improving with different boys stepping up. The plan is to make some noise in the postseason – we’re capable, we just have to put it all together.
• Benji Hayley has been our 3-point shooting threat all year, and other teams know this and are making it harder for him to get good looks. Benji scored 11 points through absolute hard running, and he scored half of our team’s transition points. Props to our rebounders who threw a lot of great balls out in front of our speed demon.
• Jayden Austin and Noah Mucjanko were a defensive duo that just tagged in and out of the game and held the Hawks’ leading scorer to 7 points. It was a beautiful sight, with body on the line stuff (Jayden literally bleeding for the team).

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

Lost against Eastern Suns 3 56-54

Coach comments

• We met a committed Suns side that started the game much stronger than us. We gave up a double-digit lead in the first 4 minutes and played catch-up for the rest of the game.
• To the boys’ credit, we came from 10 down at HT to take the lead with approximately 90 seconds to go in the game, but ultimately came up short.
• It was not our day in the end, but the whole squad got an equal opportunity to play in the first half, and we had a look at a couple of players, playing the opposition starters and looked at some different lineups with the view to finals.
• Noah O had a standout 12 steals and was also our highest scorer and led the team in assists. He works very hard and is finding balance in his pass/shoot decisions.
• J Zhu hit a couple of 3s and showed lots of hustle on the defensive side of the ball, and continues to settle into the team as our nominated train on.
• Victor M shows the way with finishing his work. He shoots very efficiently and also puts his body on the line for his team.
• All in all, it was a good opportunity for our entire squad, and we were honest in defeat.

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

Lost against Eastern Suns 65-97

Coach comments

• Even though the score line isn’t pretty to look at, it doesn’t really represent the game. I thought the boys really competed against another much taller and older team and focused on what we needed to do to get good looks at the basket. This showed with us putting on 65points. If we cleaned up a few passages of turnovers and poor decisions we would’ve really gave them a game to think about and the score wouldn’t be as blown out.
• Tyler had a huge game in all positions on the court as he played guard, played big and delivered in both spots with great composure and basketball IQ – knowing when to cut and knowing when to take it to the basket or shoot. On defence, he was really a standout, getting numerous steals, blocks and walling up on much bigger opponents.
• Eli is hard to go past as he had a huge game also, getting to the basket and finding his teammates for good shots. He provided a much-needed breaker spot in the press breaker we had learnt this past week at training and he immediately got it and was doing it all game. On defence he was in lane and gave much-needed pressure up the court which resulted in some points.

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

Lost against Southwest Slammers

Coach comments

• We were very tight in this game and struggled to score the ball due to going a bit individual. When we moved the ball, set good screens for each other, played good defence, and then secured the ball well, we had positive results.
• It was also a very physical game where it felt the opposition could do whatever they wanted, so that made things hard too.
• Grace, Annie and Ella played to our pillars today.

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

Lost against Warwick Senators 51-59

Coach comments

• Playing the top 2 teams the last 2 weeks was always going to be a challenge. Again this week, the girls showed remarkable improvement from the last time we played them. To be within 2 points in the 4th quarter and forcing them into panicking and playing a zone for the entire 4th quarter was a big win for us. At the end of the day, they hit their free throws and we didn’t. And in a game that close, it can make all the difference.
• Ellie Pike once again led from the front as captain. Her intensity and energy is infectious and it just always lifts the team. The great thing about her energy is that she’s being rewarded on the scoreboard and becoming a consistent contributor at that end of the floor.
• Olivia Birsa once again came off the bench and played important minutes. She is being more aggressive but also plays really smart. She looks after the ball well and doesn’t overcomplicate things.
• Alessia Wladyka is growing in confidence every week. She plays within herself and always makes the right play. But it’s so nice seeing her be more aggressive and looking for her own shot more.

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

Won against Perry Lakes Hawks Blue 64-61

Coach comments

• This weekend’s game was an amazing one. The girls started off really strong. The game was a roller coaster just like the others. From being up by 20 points to suddenly a one-point game, the girls kept their cool, executed well and never gave up. Great game played by each and every one of them!!
• Hayley Hill played an incredible game as always. She attacked the basket with determination. Hayley always leaves it all out on the court and never fails to give everything she has.
• Madison McKibbin, once again, made a big impact on the scoreboard with 20 points. Madison’s development has been great to see. Her decision-making and confidence has excelled which helps her make easy buckets and draw fouls!

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

Lost against Hawks 43-90

Coach comments

• Tough loss for the girls. They ended up having a bit of fun playing in different positions, and learning to slow the ball down.
• Nora Ostermeyer was great today – great defence and being loud on the court
• We told Team James exactly what we wanted from her before the game, and she did exactly that.

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

Lost to Slammers 63-69

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

Won against Warwick 70-64

Coach comments

• We added another feather to our adversity cap this game with only 8 available players and navigating early foul trouble for half the team. After a narrow margin in our favour in the first half, we went into the 4th down 3.
• We were able to communicate well on defence and execute offensively to win the quarter 24-15 and sneak out of Warwick with a hard-fought win.
• Great team effort!
• Arman Demir was an absolute workhorse and rebounded extremely well against a much bigger Warwick front line.
• Tace Rankin and Isaac Fode played with poise and were able to get to the paint and knock shots down when we needed them.
• Huge congrats to Lucas Le, who played his 50th WABL game for Perth Redbacks in this game.

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

Won against Eastern Suns 75-61

Coach comments

• Another outstanding defensive performance from our team. The boys locked in on their assignments and maintained relentless pressure all game. Apart from a brief lapse in the third quarter, we controlled the tempo for most of the match and had a great balance of scoring across the team.
• Matthew Lucano’s leadership as our court general was on full display. While he often focuses on creating for others, today he struck the perfect balance between passing and attacking the rim. He finished with an impressive double-double: 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists.
• Jordan Ong delivered a standout game, expertly protecting the paint on defence while stretching the floor and crashing the boards on offense. He posted 15 points at 70% from the field, including a three.
• Kobe Peppin was also sharp, knocking down 11 points at 80% from the field and draining two threes.
• They say if you win the rebound count, you win the game — and despite being undersized, we dominated the boards. The tale of the game was our point guards leading the charge on the boards, with all three hitting double digits: Matthew (11), Christian (11), and Zeke (10). That effort set the tone for the win.

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

Won against Lakeside 70-66

Coach comments

• The boys came out set to avenge an early-season loss in Lakeside, but struggled to score in Q1 on their home floor, digging themselves a 11-point hole early. Showing great resilience, we fought back in Q2 to take a 1-point lead into halftime. Our rebounding (32 offensive rebounds) and defensive pressure (18 steals, 24 points off turnovers) allowed us to play a Lightning team currently sitting 3rd on the ladder fairly even the rest of the way, pulling out a gutsy 4-point win in the final quarter.
• In their typical unselfish style of play, the boys moved the ball well on offense, assisting on 18 of our 29 made field goals! I am so proud of their effort and excited to see this carry over into Finals.
• Ethan (EJ) Cooper made his return from holiday, leading the way with 30 points, 7 steals and 5 deflections.
• Parker Dunstan earned a “double/double” with 13 points and 16 rebounds (9 O boards)
• Will Holzheimer (8 pts, 10 rebs) and Tom Burnett (7 pts, 12 rebs) were both in “double/double” territory, both making big contributions on the boards.

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

Won against Perry Lakes Hawks 73-68

Coach comments

• This was the game we’ve been waiting to put together all season. We played with toughness and a competitive attitude, we brought intense pressure on D (especially in the second half), and we brought an excellent mix of execution and free-flowing attack on offence. When the Hawks went on runs, we responded, and when we got up after some lights-out shooting (season high 10 x 3’s), we were composed in our end-of-game scenarios. Everyone contributed in big ways, and this game speaks to a lot of growth and who we are as a team.
• Matilda Pyne was super creative on O, shooting her first (of 2) 3’s from behind a screen and taking people off the dribble at will. She also brought team-leading toughness, initiating contact and ripping the ball whenever the Hawks reached or tried to tie up.
• Harriet Woods, Leeshar and Lemafa Tuialli led us in scoring with 19, 16 and 13 respectively and combined for 8 threes (3, 2, 3). They were each locked in on the defensive end too.
• Theory Snooks-Holding played big minutes and carried key defensive assignments against their bigs. She was clearly gassed at points but managed to ice the game with 2 clutch free throws that gave us a 2-possession advantage.

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

Lost against Wolves Green 33-65

Coach comments

• Really proud of the effort from every player this week. Going in missing some personnel against the top team was a great challenge, and the team did a fantastic job competing throughout, showing some of the solid improvement they’ve made over the year. Joondalup are undefeated for a reaso,n and the pressure they applied on defence made it hard for us to find our offensive rhythm and score, but provided an excellent learning opportunity and was great preparation as finals approach.
• Defensively, the team played very well, coordinating well as a group to mostly deny easy scoring opportunities. Holding the opposition to 25 points below their season average was a great effort.
• Rebounding intensity was also there, and we’ll want to maintain that in the weeks to come.
• For the sheer effort and willingness to persevere, every player deserves a mention this week.
• Niamh Murphy played a great game. Her effort on the boards was huge, and she consistently put herself in the right positions offensively and defensively, staying positive and focused throughout.
• Tilly Wyatt is always full of energy and positivity on the court and the bench and this week was no exception. Her intensity on defence, offensive positioning and rebounding are all pluses for the side as she continues to have a great season.
• Mya Slee stepped up to help the team out and she did brilliantly as we knew she would. She ran hard off the ball at both ends of the floor, battled hard under the basket and showed some nice composure in ball advancement and finishing when the opportunity arose. Very glad to have you on board Mya.

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

Lost against Hills Raiders 47-57

Coach comments

• With a very unsettling start due to a technical fault, the girls rallied well, and their defence was excellent. A low-scoring first quarter was the result. Catching up frequently, the Hills’ three-point shooting was just too accurate, and they just kept the lead. Every girl gave as much as they could, and we really broke through our season’s third quarter “slumpiness” and showed Hills what tough competition we can be.
• Meiling and Ella Baxter ran and ran. They showed resilience and persistence against heavy contact.
• Paige Wigmore was excellent under the basket, particularly in using her rebounds for put backs. Every girl gave 100% today, and teamwork was solid.

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

Lost against Slammers 101-106 (OT)

Coach comments

• A high-quality overtime game worthy of the top two teams in the division. Unfortunately, we came up short, but we will take a lot of learnings from this game. The boys played incredibly hard as usual, and we will be better for this game in the future.
• Jaden Exeter had a very strong game and led us with 21 points to go with 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks.
• Ben Galvin was close behind with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
• Hamish was his usual leader of our energy and defence while also knocking down 4/9 from three.
• Shout out to Zayde, who had 16 points before missing the end of the game and overtime after rolling his ankle.

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

Lost against Joondalup Wolves 83-80

Coach comments

• We opened the game with strong energy and execution, especially in our zone defence. Despite being short on numbers and managing early foul trouble, we did an excellent job containing their offense. Our rebounding was solid, and we consistently contested shots, making it challenging for them to find rhythm or easy scoring opportunities.
• Offensively, we showed promising signs. Hamza got going early, setting the tone, and Ty was impactful with aggressive drives to the basket. That momentum helped us build a solid lead heading into halftime.
• However, in the third and fourth quarters, cracks began to appear—likely due to fatigue. Our shot selection and conversion dropped off, and defensive intensity started to wane. Unfortunately, this opened the door for a late rally from the opposition, and they capitalised in the final minutes to snatch the win.
• It was a disappointing finish, but also a valuable learning experience. We’ll take the lessons forward and come back sharper next time.

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

Lost to Suns 86-89

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

Won against Hills Grey 54-86

Coach comments

• The team was determined to get another win against the Hills 2 team, especially knowing that they had the division’s top scorer at 40 points a game.
• We set our defence strategy and all locked in, face guarding matchup to Hills big – their top scorer. Jimmy took that challenge and smashed it, limiting him to 13 points.
• 1st quarter, we came out with intense man-to-man full-court pressure and made an impact with a lead.
• 2nd quarter was a strong defensive quarter, we saw the opposition tiring and we took advantage of turnovers and amazing assists to our bigs. We took the quarter 29 vs 11.
• Heading into the 3rd quarter, we knew we had to maintain our intensity and defensive strategy as we started. Focusing on good ball movement in offense, we remained with a strong lead at 26pts.
• 4th quarter bench energy played a key role in keeping intensity in full-court man-to-man defence, which came through with a 32-point win.
• One of the best games yet, displaying incredible teamwork, application of strategy, consistency, intensity and great basketball!
• With the last game for the season next week, this game is a great reflection on how far the team has come as a united group of individuals, that set out to achieve goals individually and as a team – super impressed and proud.
• Jimmy was impressive, both in defence and offence. We gave him the key job of our strategy, and he executed with full dedication in every quarter of the game. Limiting the top scorer to 13 points was a big job and won us the game. Jimmy had an incredible game, not only on defence, but also as one of the top scorers, with strong rebounding and two 3-pointers.
• Quincy’s intensity in defence and his read of the ball is always a treat to watch. His speed and intensity are impressive throughout the game. With early foul trouble, he was able to put aside and stay focused on the team and his game.
• Max and Tom had an excellent game on the boards and reading the assists to finish at the rim, adding a total of 34pts to our total. Fantastic teamwork, Max and Tom!

21-1 Girls – John Care’

Lost to Perry Lakes 64-85

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

Won against Joondalup Wolves 72-65

Coach comments

• Good win for the boys. It was a tight contest for the majority of the game. The boys kept their heads in trying circumstances.
• Alex Pardini had his best outing of the season playing hard defence and making solid and quick decisions on the offensive end.
• Aiden Foley continues to bring effort and intensity week in week out. Aiden set the tone on the defensive end and got going offensively in the second half.

20-2 Boys – John Foley

Lost against East Perth 74-100

Coach comments

• The game was largely dominated by the Eagles, who shot the ball incredibly well and made it difficult for us to find rhythm offensively. Despite some solid defensive efforts throughout the match, the Eagles seemed to hit everything—even when closely contested.
• We kept it competitive early, trailing by just 6 points at the end of the first quarter. However, quarters two and three were all Eagles, as they extended their lead with relentless accuracy.
• In the fourth quarter, we regrouped and came together as a team, showing resilience and finishing strong. We outscored the Eagles 26–19 in the final period—a positive takeaway to build on.
• Josh Welsh had a great game after recovering from his wisdom teeth surgery, scoring 16 points and finishing strong around the rim and grabbing some needed rebounds.
• Alex Tinlin had a solid game with some great strong driving to the basket, scoring 12 point
• Ethan and Noah both also contributed to our tally, scoring 13 and 11 points.