Weekly WABL Wrap – Round 8 – 15 June 2025

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

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

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

Lost against Perry Lakes 17-59

Coach comments

• Not the performance we hoped for today. Our drive and intention are there, but as soon as we hit the court, we freeze up a bit. We will focus on building our confidence and mental preparation for the upcoming games.

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

Won against Flames 33-32

Coach comments

• These girls love to keep me on my toes and not expecting what’s going to happen next… this game was a prime example of this!
• We had a slow start to the game in the first and second quarter, but we didn’t put our heads down from knowing what the final score of the game was, and it was going to be us on top.
• The game went into overtime… I swear those 3 minutes were the slowest 3 minutes of my life, but thankfully we landed on top where we belonged !!
• Every single one of the girls put so much effort into the game, and I couldn’t be a prouder coach!!
• I can’t think of 10 girls who didn’t deserve to win this game, given all the hard work they have and continue to put in week in and week out.
• Erin was on fire this game; she played with an intensity that I’ve never ever seen before in my coaching career ( and it was kinda scary). She was the definition of a fireball on court and just couldn’t be stopped or slowed for a minute !!
• Jem really came out of her shell this game and continues to shine! She’s consistently working to improve her game and it is paying off significantly!
• Zoe was the leader whenever she went on the court on Sunday. She consistently took on players double her size and was turning the ball over like it was her part-time job. The best part is that she did it with a smile on her face!

12-3 Girls – Paul Philpott

Won against Perth Redbacks 12-4 Girls 31-26

Coach comments

• Back for a rematch with our sister team, and what an exciting game with our fellow Redback girls demonstrating some fine basketball, with them matching us in the second quarter and outscoring us in the final. Everyone’s heart was pumping in expectation of another overtime game. However, our girls battled on with teamwork ensuring that every pass, every shot and every moment counted. Well done to all of our Redback girls.
• Today was a demonstration of what has been learnt so far this season.
• Ellie Barrett pounced straight out of the box with fierce excitement, showing great improvement in her passing and defence.
• Similarly, Jessica Ryan brought her great defensive game and strength under the ring today.

12-4 Girls – Dave Power

Lost against Redbacks 12-3 Girls 26-31

Coach comments

• Redbacks 3 raced out to a 2-14 lead in the first quarter. In the 2nd and 3rd quarters, we had a much better defensive effort, holding our own. We came home strong with a solid defensive effort and executing offensively, winning the 4th quarter 14-5. Team 3 had built a strong lead, and while we came close, the margin was a little out of our reach. This was a great game by both teams, they did Redbacks proud.
• Ella Jones and Maneeha Saad were able to convert offensively by being aggressive and attacking the basket.
• Wanda Power sparked the team defence with some big defensive efforts to keep us in the contest.
• The double bottom age guards Narayana Daley and Mahli Parsons are showing their future potential in the backcourt.
• Everyone made plays, top effort from the whole group.

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

Won against Hills Raiders 68-27

Coach comments

• We had a good win this week and were able to work on a few areas where we had lacked improvement from last week. Progressing our defensive play to a more physical and proactive approach, helping limit the number of keyway entries we allowed the opposition. Our game started off slowly, as the first quarter flew by, with us only up 8 to 4. From here, we got our game going, our rebounding was outstanding, we are putting pressure on opposition teams by boxing out more effectively each week. All players are working harder now when a shot goes up and we are seeing rewards on offensive points and defensive stops. For the rest of the game, we improved and pulled away by cranking up our defensive pressure. A very even game for all our players, but the two bigs stood out with great assists from teammates and great offensive rebounding and scoring of these.
• Leonard Hatch had a great game coming in off the bench for 17 points. He is such a good shot around the ring and moves well on offence, screening and catching assists from his teammates.
• Andre Karpeh had a great game, hitting his shots early and steadying the team. He fought for rebounds and loose balls really hard. His rebounding, defence and ball control were fantastic, and he always runs hard up and back. Great game, Andre.

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

Lost against Lakeside Lightning Purple 42- 87

Coach comments

• The boys started against this team better than last time but it was a still a bit frantic in the second quarter. They managed to match the tempo of the game, but then lost control again as we were rushing and allowing for easy turnovers. In the fourth quarter the boys started to slow down, take their time and did well to try to move the ball.
• Max Williams had a major impact for us. He used his size and strength in the keyway really well, dominating the rebounds and getting a lot of second-chance points. He did well defensively to contest shots and take hits to get stops. Well done Max.
• Gus Rafferty had a strong game. His ability to carry the ball and to find his teammates, as well as open shots opened up the court for us. Defensively, he is a high-intensity player and does well to stay in front of players, and if he got blown by he would always make an effort to recover. Well done Gus.

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

Won against Joondalup Wolves U12 Boys 4 51-56

Coach comments

• Our boys delivered a thrilling team performance to secure a hard-fought 56–51 win over the Joondalup Wolves, showing grit, composure, and some clutch plays down the stretch.
• The game started evenly, with both teams trading baskets early. Louis Griffiths got us on the board with two free throws, and Hudson McClintock followed with a strong drive for two. With our lead 6-5 halfway through the first quarter, Cayden Wedge ignited our offence with consecutive assists to Jesse Freeman, Baxter Miles and Quinn Connell. We closed the quarter on a 12–0 run to lead 16–5.
• Joondalup fought back with a string of mid-range shots, narrowing the gap to just five. But we responded well with defensive pressure, keeping the Wolves at bay, and we closed the half leading 27–19.
• Joondalup clawed back into the game with free throws and transition points, closing the margin to just three points late in the quarter. However, late scores by Cayden Wedge and Quinn Connell extended the lead, allowing us to keep our nose in front, leading 42–36 at the break.
• The Wolves came out determined in the last, tying the game 44–44 early in the fourth quarter. The game was in the balance midway through the last quarter, with our lead at 48–47. Then Hudson McClintock went into takeover mode, scoring three consecutive baskets in a stunning burst to seal the game. He added a fourth for good measure, finishing off an emphatic closing run and securing the 56–51 victory.
• Cayden Wedge finished with 7 points, while slightly below his usual scoring output, he more than made up for it with an outstanding all-around performance. His defensive hustle was relentless, racking up 9 steals and 5 deflections, constantly disrupting Joondalup’s offense and creating fast-break opportunities for the team. Cayden also showed great vision and unselfishness, dishing out 7 assists and playing a key role in keeping the offense flowing. It was a complete game from Cayden, proving once again that his impact goes far beyond the scoreboard. A true team-first performance.
• Barnaby Alman delivered a greatly improved performance, bringing a positive attitude and strong presence on the court. He was sharp on defense, racking up 3 steals, and showed great court vision with 2 assists to set up his teammates. Most impressively, Barnaby protected the ball exceptionally well, finishing the game with zero turnovers, a testament to his focus and decision-making. A composed and confident performance that reflects his growth and commitment to the team.

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

Lost against Mandurah Magic 67-24

Coach comments

• We spent the lead-up to this game talking about different types of success in basketball. My goal for the kids was for them to walk out of Mandurah feeling proud of how they played, which I believe they all achieved. We got down big in the first half, but we managed to win the third quarter – a great show of resilience. Overall, not a scoreboard win, but plenty of small wins all around.
• Kasper Jeromson had a great day out, always pushing the ball forward and getting to the hoop easily. Sadly, this was his last game for us, as Kas has been called up to Team 3. Congrats and good luck Kas!
• Lachlan Bright was another standout, stepping easily into a bigger role as a ball handler this week. He got the ball out of the backcourt fast and always looked to push the pace.

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

Lost against Joondalup Wolves 34-48

Coach comments

• It was another tough outing this week, but there were plenty of positives to take away. We came out strong with our pressure defence generating quality transition opportunities. Offensively, we showed patience and control, creating good looks and building an early lead. We closed out the first quarter up by 11.
• In the second quarter, we struggled to convert on the scoreboard, allowing the Wolves to claw their way back into the contest. By halftime we found ourselves trailing by two.
• The third quarter was tightly contested, but foul trouble in the fourth made things difficult for us. Combined with scoring challenges again in the fourth the Wolves were able to gain momentum and close out the game.
• A key area that hurt us was our free-throw shooting; we left 23 points at the line, which proved costly in such a close game.
• Despite the result, the girls demonstrated tremendous effort, played with resilience, and adapted well to the challenges presented to them. There’s a lot we will take from this performance as we continue to grow and improve.
• Siena Mouttet was a dominant presence in the paint, securing 13 rebounds and recording 4 blocks in a strong defensive showing.
• Paige Granato brought energy and intelligence to the game, making smart reads and playing with confidence and composure across all areas of the floor.
• Freya Whitehouse played with great control and was a strong defensive presence throughout the match.

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

Won against Rockingham Flames 47-42

Coach comments

• We broke the drought with a remarkable 5-point win against the Flames, who belted us by 31 just 7 weeks ago, so we are all pumped to have our first win!
• A lot less game watching and a lot more ball hunting this week made a big difference! Every player on the court had steals and a rebound.
• Skye Brodie and Jana Djurasovic are shaping up as a great duo in the paint, both walling up all game for defensive stops and 8 rebounds each. Skye went boss mode and blocked 3 shots in 10 seconds to get the team hyped.
• Eva Blyth has been so consistently strong each week and anchored the team strongly with 11 points, 7 rebounds and a will to win!
• Lily Butler started the party today, locked in on defence, she was hard to get past. 4 steals, 2 deflections, 5 rebounds, 5 points, 2 great assists and a smile on her face 🙂
• Isla Cowman took on her counterpart and well and truly won the Isla vs Isla battle. She completely contained the Flames’ dominant scorer. Isla was a magnet on her and took her out of the game. In offencse, Isla grabbed her own tidy 6 points and 3 assists, but outside of the stats, her decisions to generate offence, getting the ball rolling with some good screens unlocked opportunity for others to thrive.
• I loved this game for Bianca Bajin! Composed and efficient, finding space on the drive scoring a cheeky 9, and doing all the things, all without a single turnover. Great job B 🙂

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

Lost against Wolves 39-44

Coach comments

• Another tough one for the girls, but a game that shows we can keep up with one of the top 2 teams. Wolves controlled the game from the tip. We were able to go on multiple runs, but we just could not get over the bridge.
• Olive Bird had a fantastic game, driving hard, sending herself to the free throw line multiple times, and finishing with 11 points.
• Darcy Brian had a good shooting day, making 2 threes to help keep us in the game.

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

Lost against Mandurah Magic Black 34-55

Coach comments

• We had a great first half, chasing rebounds, pressuring the ball in transition and taking good offensive options.
• As Mandurah scored a few more buckets, we did drop our heads, but only for a minute, before the girls fought back for the rest of the game, showing good resilience through a lot of contact.
• Zoe Bartucciotto is always in the right position at both ends of the court. We can always count on Zoe to be in her help rotations defensively, and making crucial assists offensively, often passing up her own shots(sometimes to selflessly), for her teammates.
• Madeleine Marshall pulled in important rebounds all game, often through contact.
• Sabrina King ran the court well, making good pass/shoot decisions

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

Lost against Warwick Senators 47-94

Coach comments

• As we hit the three-quarter mark of a challenging stretch, having faced three of the top four teams in consecutive weeks, we’ve been tested.
• We started well against Warwick, playing with intent and applying early scoreboard pressure. However, we could not maintain that momentum beyond the first quarter for the second week in a row.
• This weekend, we face the third-placed team. It’s a chance to respond more consistently and build on the positive glimpses we’ve shown early in games.

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

Won against Rockingham Flames 73-62

Coach comments

• Back-to-back wins for the first time this season were a just reward for the work the team has put in on the training court.
• Rockingham beat us in Round 1, and it is always nice to reverse the result. The team has established a strong early rhythm, and we led by 15 points at halftime. We ended up winning by 11 points; however, there were many Rockingham fightbacks in the second half.
• As a coach, there is no greater joy than when the boys start to coach themselves on court. When you hear players calling out what defence we’re in and talking amongst themselves press breaker roles.
• After scoring 27 points in our previous game, the coaches challenged Tom Smith to create more for his teammates. I think a direct quote was ‘we’d rather you score 20 and throw a couple of assists’. In true Tom fashion he managed to score 21 and dish out a team high 5 assists (plus 7 boards).
• Ted Jarlett is really developing and working hard. Rockingham were really physical and Ted really took it all in his stride. Rebounded strongly, finished around the basket and was a focal point again on our press break. Ended with a double-double (10 points @72% and 11 boards).
• Loki Griffiths had a really impactful game, gaining more confidence with the highlight being a block that turned into a fast break starter. Loki was 1 point shy of a double-double (9 points @80% and 10 boards. Loki beat Ted in fouls 5 to 4.

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

Lost against Lakeside Lightning 37-50

Coach comments

• We played the top team in our division and showed the group is on the improve. We were up by one at half-time, but unfortunately, we could not keep up with them towards the back end of the third quarter. To the boys’ credit, they fought out the last quarter and showed for 3 of the 4 quarters that they can compete against the best in the grade.
• Laurence Gil Yape had an all-around game. He led our teams in points and rebounds and played hard on the defensive end all game. His court IQ is on the improve, and as he gets comfortable with WABL, he is set for a big second half of the year.
• Noah Ouwendyk led the team with 3 assists and also got on the scoreboard for 7. He is another who played an all-around game and is showing improvement in his pass/shoot decisions.
• James Price had a game-high 6 steals and at one stage was our basket defender against a much bigger player and won all his one-on-ones.
• Victor Muyna also had an equal game high of 11 and showed the way with his attack on lanes.

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

Lost against Lakeside 39-86

Coach comments

• This was a tough game from start to finish. We had patches of competing, but their quickness and pace really made it challenging for us to defend, and we seemed sluggish on both ends.
• James Holzheimer’s finishing under the basket improved this game as he took some floaters and layups with confidence and got some to fall in. His help defence, which is always excellent, really helped stop their scoring.
• Matt Price brought his usual quickness and pace, which led to opportunities to score. His on-ball defence was also great, especially against some players who were just as quick.

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

Won against Rockingham 62-46

Coach comments

• The girls played well enough to win this one. Our shooting conversion rate wasn’t good, but we had 100 attempts at the basket. If we had moved the ball more purposefully and rewarded the girls who played well with it, we could have scored 100 points on this team. Defensively, we did well and I’m proud of the players who sacrificed on the defensive end to get the win for the team.
• Annabelle Farrant and Lottie Ballantine were really strong performers for us.
• Chelsea Karsum and Summer Chalder did a good job off the bench scoring the basketball.

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

Won against Rockingham Flames 65-58

Coach comments

• We have taken a hit the last few weeks with some challenging games and a bout of flu running through the team, so it was nice to be at full strength today. It was also nice to get some belief and confidence back into the group. It was close at three-quarter time, but we found our mojo and aggression in the 4th to pull away with a win.
• Halle Griffiths had a very good game. She played hard and communicated well, making some very good decisions and rebounding hard all game. She is really starting to understand our structures.
• Cara Hayes was back to her best. She had a great fourth quarter and got back to being aggressive and physical, which helped get us back the lead and momentum.

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

Won against Mandurah Magic 52-36

Coach comments

• This weekend was a great game!!! The girls walked away with our first win in a while, which will definitely be good for them. They played as a team and played our game. They were switched on right from the word go and played an extremely good game! Magic never got in front, and the girls kept the energy through all 4 quarters!! Great game girls, super proud!!
• Nadia Slee has just come back from an injury. She stepped on court and it was like she never got injured, she scored within seconds of being on court. What an amazing first game back!!
• Daisy Dalla-Costa played an incredible game with 16 points. Daisy’s confidence skyrocketed this weekend, with amazing post work as well!

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

Lost to Suns 53-74

Coach comments

• The girls put up a good fight in the first half and managed to keep it pretty close, but unfortunately, we just couldn’t match their team chemistry.
• Shout out to Teah James and Eloise O’Shea, who both executed something we had asked in this game.

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

Lost against Perry Lakes Hawks 87-82

Coach comments

• Started off well with the first quarter. Lost our way during the 2nd and 3rd as Perry Lakes extended the pressure out to the half court with a trap. Turned the ball over few times, and they pushed the lead out to 30 points.
• The fourth quarter saw a massive effort from everyone to go on a 20 point run. We were proud of the way the team fought back, and brought the game back within 2 points before we ended up going down by 5.
• Riley Barmentloo finished with 24 points.
• James Galvin had 19.
• Jamie Cahill contributed well with his hard work on the defensive end, playing the whole last quarter.

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

Won against East Perth 97-65

Coach comments

• We went into the game with our adjustments from game 1 of the season highlighting the need for a better start defensively.
• We had one of our best starts defensively and finished up 18-13 in the first. In the second, we broke out offensively with some high-level, patient execution. We looked for the extra pass to go from a good to a great shot and went into the break up 52-35.
• Defensively holding East Perth to 15 points in each of the 3rd and 4th quarters was a huge team effort. East Perth have some good athletes and a good coach, so this was a fantastic team effort defensively and a game of very good decision-making with the ball.
• Toby Schultz and Toby Summers were getting after the ball carriers on defence and then offensively. Schultz was finishing through contact driving the lanes, while Summers weaving through the paint, controlled off 2 feet, found clean looks at the rim.
• Tace Rankin was hard to tag with his inside-outside game, making shots from every range.
• Team defence was the key, and everyone played their role defensively, with each player making big plays to protect our end.

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

Lost against Willetton Blue 50-67

Coach comments

• This top-of-the-table clash was a reality check — a reminder that if we want to go deep into finals, we need to improve every week and stay locked into our team system. We fell behind early as our shots wouldn’t drop, and we struggled under their pressure. Despite a few runs that got us within reach, we never quite threatened, and the margin eventually stretched out to a 17-point loss.
• Matthew Lucano stood up with his trademark poise and ability to consistently find the right teammate in scoring positions. His decision-making and control under pressure is a real luxury to have on the floor. He delivered exactly what we needed, finishing with 7 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 deflections and 4 steals.

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

Won against Hills Raiders Green 72-70

Coach comments

• We travelled to Mundaring knowing we would have a fight on our hands – and the boys responded well. After playing Q1 even (18-18), the two teams traded punches with our boys winning Q2 (23-10), and the Raiders clawing back, winning Q3 (23-15). This set the stage for an exciting Q4, which saw our boys pull through down the stretch with a big win.
• Parker Dunstan had a breakout game to lead the team with 24 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks.
• Ethan (EJ) Cooper (11pts) and Elliott Birch (10pts) contributed to the scoring effort which saw 9 out of the 10 boys get into the scoring column.
• Tom Burnett flirted with another “double-double” with 8 points and 12 big rebounds. Eoin Foley (8 pts, 3 assists) pushing the pace in Q2 helped us build an important 13-point advantage
• Christian Roberts saved us from disaster in Q3 with 5 massive offensive rebounds, modelling the “fight” that we needed to emulate to ultimately come out with the victory.

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

Lost against Joondalup Wolves 51 / 60

Coach comments

• We brought great effort in this game but it took a long time for our offense to get into a flow. We let the Wolves get up and, though we showed super commitment and got back under 10, it was too late. We are seeing some strong improvement in play and I’m super happy with the toughness and buy-in from players. The learning is happening and we just have to keep digging deep until it comes together.
• Matilda Pyne had a blinder, hitting 7/10 field goals including 2 made 3’s to lead us with 17 points.
• Mafa Tuialii has been a committed leader all season and in this game she made some excellent adjustments at half time to convert more scoring (racking up 13) and finishing on the defensive end with a team high 6 steals.

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

Lost against Perry Lakes Hawks Redbacks 42 – 67 Hawks

Coach comments

• Turnovers continue to be a problem for us, and this week turnovers and determined rebounding from a tall Hawks lineup enabled our opponents to get up twice as many shots as us. With that weight of extra opportunity, it was always going to be hard to win against this strong Hawks side. While players were disappointed with the result, there are some pleasing improvements in parts of our game. Most pleasing were the adjustments the players were able to make in our defence after quarter time. Our zone in particular was much improved since last time we played this team. Once set, this proved very difficult to penetrate and substantially limited Hawks’ scoring outside of transition play.
• Lilly Flynn’s effort levels never waned all game and she was as determined as ever in defence and in every contested situation.
• Arabella Kahl recorded a double-double with 11 boards and 13 points on over 50% shooting as she fought really hard alongside Indi Ballantine and Niamh Murphy against the Hawks’ talls.
• Alex Temby once again demonstrated strong commitment and concentration in helping to run our offensive structures.

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

Lost against Cockburn Cougars 77-37

Coach comments

• The girls started strongly and matched the Cougars’ intensity well. Passing was well executed, and rebounding was consistent.
• With some skilled 3-point shooters getting free, the Cougars crept ahead throughout the game. However, about 75% of their made buckets were highly contested and hard fought. Offensively, the girls really showed up today and at times ran the perfect zone offence with success.
• Ella Baxter was an outstanding guard today with quick decision-making and excellent shot choices.
• Charli Foster was there with her, always free and moving her defender constantly.
• Paige Wigmore’s rebounding and put-backs have been consistently successful. Paige and Sam Morgan mastered some aggressive boxing out with success.

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

Won against Perry Lakes 80-62

Coach comments

• Down three players due to illness and injury, we seemed a little disjointed for the first time in a while, but only giving up 62 points shows our defence was still at a high level.
• Jaden Exeter had another big game with 16 points and 17 rebounds
• Koby Kalebic led the game in scoring with 19 points.
• Big thanks to Hunter and JR, who helped out by playing up due to our low numbers.

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

Won against Hawks 91-68

Coach comments

• We came into this week’s matchup against Perry Lakes Hawks looking focused, but we got off to a slow start offensively. They jumped out to a small early lead, and from there, it was a back-and-forth shootout through most of the first quarter. Unfortunately, a few soft early fouls in the opening minutes disrupted our rhythm and put some key players in foul trouble.
• To manage that, I made the call to switch to a zone defence early in the second quarter—and that proved to be the turning point. The zone completely disrupted their offensive flow. They struggled to get clean looks, and we took full control of the boards. With stronger defensive stops, we began executing our sets more effectively.
• Momentum truly swung in our favour after a huge buzzer-beater off the glass from JR. That bucket ignited a dominant run where we grabbed a solid lead across the next two quarters. We leaned into our size advantage—Ty was a force inside, bullying defenders and leading the charge toward what looked like a season high in scoring.
• Defensively, we stayed locked in. The zone stifled them all game—they couldn’t crack it. While they managed a few threes, the damage was already done. We stayed aggressive in transition and even caught a bit of comic relief when the umpire accidentally set a perfect screen, opening the lane for Deegan to hammer home a monster dunk on the break.
• By the fourth quarter, the game was effectively in hand. We kept to our system, closed things out, and saw the game through with composure. A great team win built on smart adjustments, relentless defence, and dominance on the glass.
• Great offensive game from Ty and Deegan with 17 and 16 points respectively. They were great on both ends playing through illness

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

Won against Wolves 108-105

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

Lost against Mandurah Black 88-89

Coach comments

• Heading down to Mandurah for an away game gave us a few surprises we didn’t expect. We started with difficulty for some to get down the freeway due to an accident on the Narrows Bridge. This saw us start the game with not all players there. During the game, the scoreboard wasn’t working, so we had the joys of a small scoreboard we couldn’t see.
• Started the game with focusing on the game and getting a win. It was a tight first quarter right from the start. Each quarter, the game was neck to neck. There were times when we were up and when it swung the other way. In quarter 3, we changed defence to zone, then to press defence to put pressure on Mandurah. Unfortunately, in the 3rd quarter, we had some intercepts on passes and shots that didn’t convert. In the 4th quarter, it was tight right up to the end, resulting in a 1-point loss.
• Lockie Abbot had a fantastic game, showing his point guard leadership, vision on offence to work with the bigs and intensity defensively.
• Max Murray was our top scorer and worked hard on both ends of the court. His encouragement to his teammates was impressive.

21-1 Girls – John Care’

Lost to Willetton 44-60

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

Won against South West Slammers 113-89

Coach comments

• It was good to see some of the things we have been working on at training have an impact on the game. Although, maintaining our defensive intensity for longer stretches still needs improvement.
• Luke Ogden played a team-first game, making the right pass consistently and still racked up 20 points of his own. Great to see Luke expanding his game, making him a bigger threat on the floor.
• Aiden Foley -continues to be a menace on D, making the most of his steals and deflections. Offensively he got to the line, made his layups and hit some 3’s to round his game out nicely.

20-2 Boys – John Foley

Lost against Hills Raiders 84 to 59

Coach comments

• We came into the game with a clear plan against the Raiders, and credit to the boys — we executed it exactly as intended. Unfortunately, our shots just weren’t falling in the first quarter, and the Raiders capitalised on that, jumping out to a 10-point lead.
• In the second quarter, we stuck to our strategy, working hard on defence and maintaining great spacing on offence. The positive was that our shots started to drop, and we stayed competitive, only narrowly losing the quarter 18–22.
• The third quarter was one we’d all like to forget. We missed some easy opportunities around the basket, and our defensive rotations were too slow at times. We lost momentum and the quarter, going down 18–10.
• To the boys’ credit, they came out in the fourth with renewed energy and fight. We attacked the basket hard — maybe a bit too much at times — but our defence lifted, and we showed much better help-side awareness. Unfortunately, the push came too late, and we fell short in the final quarter, 20–17.
• Overall, while the result didn’t go our way, there were plenty of positives in how we stuck to the game plan and fought through adversity.
• Alex Pardini made some tough shots under pressure and was a constant threat, although there were still a few missed opportunities he’ll want back.
• Josh Welsh continued to be solid, finishing well around the rim and working hard on the boards.
• Benji Berardid gave the team a spark, knocking down some big threes that lifted the bench and the crowd.
• Noah Rees-Turner had a highlight moment with a strong two-handed dunk through contact.