Weekly WABL Wrap – Round 16

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

Here’s the Round 16 wrap-up of how all our teams went, including comments from coaches:

12-1 Girls – Marcia Dowling (sponsored by National Geotech)

Won against the Suns 64-51

Coach comments

The equal-second-placed Suns are always a great challenge and push us to work at our best. In the first half, our teamwork in offence meant the ball moved smoothly to the basket, and high-percentage finishing meant we built an unexpectedly big lead. The Suns didn’t give up, though, and came hard in the second half. Our rebounding in the second half needed to improve, and it did, allowing us to keep the margin in double-figures in the face of some hard running and great finishing from the Suns.
Rose Bacci attacked the basket with excellent success and yet still managed to defend the ball at the other end within seconds.
Izzy Nagamany, Olive Bird, and Zara Flynn were uber-reliable defenders and also dished out several assists between them. These girls were a menace to the Suns’ ball movement.
Mia Exeter and Maeve Whitehouse ran the floor hard, kept the pace up and shot well. Darcey Hill’s ball handling and control were excellent, as was Bella Nevill’s quick footwork.
Elsey Lohman White was a rocket, working at 100% at all times. Her steals, shot choices and on-ball defence were essential to our win.
We missed Josie Smith in this game due to injury. But her teammates still all benefited from her quiet encouragement throughout the game from the bench.

12-2 Girls – Paul Philpott (sponsored by Infinity Designed)

Lost to Willetton 51-57

Coach comments

Our awesome 12-2 girls continue to WOW us week after week. This was a close-margin game from the first to the last quarter, with our girls outscoring Willetton in the third and fourth. Our defense was clearly at a new level – we created many turnovers and, for lengthy periods, kept the ball in our frontcourt. A beautiful game to watch.
Whilst there were scores on everyone’s tickets today in the last game of the regular season, we saw an excellent performance from Zoe DeMorton. She was furiously focused this week, showing leadership in offense through wise positioning and kick-starting our passages towards the basket.
Similarly, Rachel Deering was a powerful force and influence with every ball she touched.

12-3 Girls – Khalid Elmi

Won against Lakeside Lightning 47-36

Coach comments

We had a very good game offensively – making great extra passes to one another. The girls worked hard as a team and that was reflected on the scoreboard.
Eloise Watts put up a whopping 23 pts taking control of our offense and attacking aggressively!
Starssi Van De Putte played exceptionally well! She worked hard defensively both on ball and in help.
Mina Bajin held it down for us as well by keeping composure, shooting at the right time and always making the right plays.
Sophia Elmi also scored her first bucket for the season! Good job girls!

12-1 Boys – Ofir Ben Dror (sponsored by Pivot Project Consulting)

Lost to Perry Lakes 58-76

Coach comments

After a few weeks of really good basketball, we went back a few steps, but that happens in sport. Our offense was still really competitive and the way we broke the opposition press with a relative ease was pleasing.
Ruari Day had one of his best offensive performances of this season, scoring from under the basket and from long range.
Harry Frame played a good individual defence that added to his great running offence.

12-2 Boys – Dom Pitchen (sponsored by Sushi Wawa)

Lost to Willetton White 54-68

Coach comments

The boys started the game extremely well, playing intensely and giving a very strong Willetton team a hard time. They matched them throughout the game and showed what they were all capable of. It was a great game to watch and coach, and it reflected how much the boys have improved this season.
Pio Sampiano had a great offensive performance and really energised the boys. He made an impact every time he was on the court. Good job Pio.
Talin McCullough was very solid on both sides of the court providing the boys with some tempo control and giving Willetton a hard time bringing the ball up. Great job Talin.
Harry Kingsbury was a beast inside fighting for every rebound possible and diving on loose balls, he made a major impact on the game. Well done Harry.

12-3 Boys – Craig Dropulich (sponsored by Profusion Planning)

Won 52-32 against Cockburn

Coach comments

A very pleasing game to go into finals on. This was 3 v 4 so it was going to test us. Our third and best win against the Cougars this season. Missing our big Rintaro for a second week our boys played quite well and adapted to the changes in rotations very well. The focus this week and until we play our last game is and will be defence. Defence wins games, good offence comes from great defence.
It was a slow start for us in this one, but our new trap was having a good effect on defence. All the boys were moving well on court, giving us options on offense. In the second quarter, we started to have the better of them and put scoreboard pressure on them to lead by 6 at the half.
The second half was a joy to watch. Our defensive intensity, pressure, and energy from all players and the bench were outstanding. We held them to 4 points, and I challenged my boys to do the same in the last. I had players on the bench not happy that we gave up 6 points for the quarter even after winning by 20. It was one of our best efforts this season and a great lead into the finals.
Aiden Morgan is dominating the trap defence we are running now. His speed and pressure are elite, and he is creating turnover after turnover from the opposition. He is making good passing decisions and finishing off layups very well.
Xavier Coombe has upped his defence, too, and is relishing the chase on defence to impact every opposition pass in their backcourt. Along with his outstanding ability to bring the ball up the court on offence against multiple opponents and distribute to teammates in better positions.
Andre Karpeh loves the change in our trap that allows him to show how hard it is to get the pass by him. His ability to get to a position on the inside of the trap and not concede a single foul is amazing. Andre just works hard on everything he’s told to do. Well done.

12-4 Boys – Wayne Dropulich (sponsored by Playa Coffee)

Lost to Mandurah 42-70

Coach comments

This week, we faced off against the Mandurah Magic in Mandurah, a team we’ve already defeated twice this season. Despite our previous victories, we anticipated a challenging match, especially since two of our key big men were unavailable for this game.
We started the game on a strong note, leading with a score of 9 – 7 at the end of the first quarter. However, Mandurah came back with impressive performances in the second and third quarters, outplaying us significantly. By the end of the third quarter, we found ourselves trailing with a score of 54-26.
In the final quarter, our team demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination, managing to fight back and equalize the quarter with a score of 16-16. This display of grit and character was commendable, even though the overall game was tough for us.
Looking ahead, we are eager for a chance at redemption. We will have the opportunity to face the Mandurah Magic once more in the finals this coming week, and we are determined to put up a stronger fight and improve on our performance.
Santiago Cortes was our standout performer and top scorer, impressively leading the team with a total of 8 points. His contributions were crucial throughout the game, showcasing his skill and determination on the field. Santi maintained a positive attitude and encouraged his teammates, even during challenging moments when we were down. His optimistic spirit and leadership were inspiring, helping to uplift the team’s morale and keep everyone motivated to push through.
Alex Litas showcased an impressive performance by scoring 7 points during the game. His contribution was not just limited to offense; he also gave his all-in defence throughout the entire day, demonstrating unwavering commitment and energy. His efforts on the defensive end were relentless, making a significant impact on the overall performance of the team.

14-1 Girls – Simon Daff (sponsored by Australian Financial Planners)

Won 65-61

Coach comments

With it being the last game before finals it was important to gather some momentum before finals. In what was another very physical, scrappy game where things didn’t seem to go our way, we still found a way to win. This team has been doing that all season. We struggled with turnovers in the backcourt, which kept the game close. But the one positive was our rebounding – it was a very dominant display. The game went into overtime – our first for the year, so in terms of mental preparation and toughness for finals, we couldn’t have asked for a better game to get us ready.
Jacinta Wladyka was again dominant. She always steps up right when we need her. She hit a big 3 late in the game to send the game into overtime. Just shows that in big moments she’s a big game player.
Lauren Jones had a good second half. When I needed another big to step up, she got right in there and grabbed some crucial rebounds. She never shied away from the aggression from other teams.
It was also nice to have Sally Dowling back in the lineup this week after a long lay off with injury. It was awesome for her to get a run in going into finals.

14-2 Girls – Reid Ballantine (sponsored by Fish Boss)

Lost to Redbacks Black 27-46

Coach comments

A brutal derby loss to our Redbacks (Black) friends who were fired up. They have a lot of talent and spirit, they never give up and they truly Rick Roll’d us this week. We got destroyed on rebounds and shot-watching and lost most contested balls to a hungrier team. While we didn’t play a great game this week, we will lick our wounds and focus on the positive, finishing second on the ladder and beating every team at least once this season. We know we can win our finals matchups if we give it our best.
Cyra Olowoyo played a diligent defensive game, disrupting some of their flow.
Saachi Ti’en played a solid game and was really reliable when she had the ball.
Harper Grace had great work ethic on court and remains hungry to improve on even the little things. I really appreciate her attitude.

14-3 Girls – Helen Pardini (sponsored by Access Hire)

Won against Redbacks Red 46-27

Coach comments

This game was our third derby of the season, presenting a good opportunity to measure our progress against a strong opponent who had come out on top in our two earlier encounters.
With the momentum of winning five out of our last six games, we approached this contest with renewed confidence and determination, and the girls delivered a fantastic four-quarter performance, leading at every change. The final scoreline doesn’t reflect that the game was a tight, hard-fought contest. Our defence held strong, allowing us to maintain and extend our lead with each challenge our friends threw at us. It wasn’t until late in the fourth quarter, when we went on an 11-0 run, that we locked away the win.
Overall, it was a fantastic team effort that showcased the growth and determination of the girls throughout the season. I couldn’t be prouder of how they have developed. After a tough start, they persevered, worked hard, and have been able to finish the season strong to head into finals in great form.
Molly Nicholas had a standout game on both ends of the court, contributing 18 points, 8 steals, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists. Her presence was felt everywhere.
Isabel Nesa was a force in defence with 6 steals and 15 rebounds, dominating the boards and running the floor well.
Mia Exeter, playing up an age group, continues to impress, making excellent reads on both offence and defence, finishing with 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

14-4 Girls – Rori Roberts (sponsored by Habitat Finance)

Won against Suns 30-27

Coach comments

Would it really be the end of our regular-season games without another comeback win? Being down 14 at halftime, we just had to chip away. A 14-4 third saw us back into the game and down 4. A 9-2 fourth saw us take the lead with 40 seconds to go, and our defence was able to hold without giving up any shots.
Darcy Brian played amazing defence, keeping her gab and moving her feet.
Saige Deeks protected the key way really well having multiple blocks.
Bianca Bajin was aggressive, bringing the ball up the court and getting 2 feet in the paint.
Isla Cowman was crucial in getting the ball up the court and setting up offence.
Jana Djurasovic was amazing on both offensive and defensive rebounds.
Allegra Care came on and played hard, she knew when to push and when to pull it out.
Stevie Brehaut was amazing on defence, slowing her players down and limiting them on the scoreboard.
Matilda Miles crushed the boards hard and made good passes.
Ally Taylor once again was great on trans defence getting back and stopping multiple lay ups.
Ava Kemp was aggressive on defence staying in front of her player.

14-1 Boys – Ben Hamilton (sponsored by Geist Consulting)

Won against Joondalup 72-53

Coach comments

Joondalup competed well during this game with some great ball movement and good outside shooting. When we lost our two bigs, there was a chance that the game was going to tighten up, but we never really gave them a chance to get going and in the end held them off in the second half for a comfortable 19-point win.
After two months out with a broken ankle, we were delighted to see Will Hemingway back on the court. I’m not sure Joondalup felt the same way, though, as he ran amok with 21 points at 77%, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in limited minutes. Huge credit to Will and his family for persevering with his rehab and continuing to support the team during a long period off. Welcome back, Will.
Seb Doyle was our centre at times during this game and was able to match it against much bigger opponents – controlling the boards and protecting the paint. His versatility was on full display, shutting down at one end and running the lanes at the other. Good, tough game Seb!
Erik Davies continues to build form, coming into the finals with a lot of minutes as our only recognised big. His physicality inside was great to see against an opponent who liked to push and shove, but Erik’s composure and patience paid off on his way to a great stat line that included 10 rebounds and 3 steals.
We were all disappointed to see Harrison Moyle roll an ankle early on during his 50th game. We wish him a quick recovery, hopefully picking up where he left things – which was looking ominous for the Wolves. Congratulations on 49.5 games with the Redback Harry!

14-2 Boys – Fletcher Clemmence (sponsored by Ponosh Vascular)

Lost to Redbacks Black 42-62

14-3 Boys – Brad Holyoak (sponsored by Westbeck Capital)

Won against Redbacks Red 62-42

Coach comments

We played a spirited Redbacks Red side who came to play.
We had a great game with our run-and-up tempo attacking trans offence, combined with our Nothing Easy defence, which created problems for them.
Nathan Jetajobe led all-comers in stats this week. He was a monster on the O boards and a handful when attacking the rim.
Vinnie Ryder was back to his confident best, running the ball, attacking the rim, and being a reliable defender who kept his players honest.
Zach Snell took a monster charge and took one for the team. Great job, keep up the good work.
Ollie Colangelo played his 50th game for Perth Redbacks this week. It was great to celebrate the milestone with a win.

14-4 Boys – Ethan Saliacus (sponsored by Skyward Roof Plumbing)

Lost to Lakeside 44-72

Coach comments

This was a tough game. The boys had a decent first half and it was only an eight-point margin at half-time. But turnovers and some 50/50 tips that led to easy layups for the other team really hurt us in this game. It wasn’t so much their pressure as our own silly mistakes that made the margin what it was.
Jacob Fode was solid all game attacking the basket and gave us some much-needed offensive punch
Leo Burton came into the starting lineup and gave energy and offensive rebounds
Congrats to Jayden Austin and Luke Petrovic. They both played their 50th game for Perth Redbacks in this game.

16-1 Girls – Sam Fox (sponsored by Sushi Wawa)

Won against Lakeside 84-70

Coach comments

Though we came out a little slow, this was a great team effort where we made good in-game adjustments and got a solid win. Lakeside brought all the intensity they could muster and sped us up. Once we got back to our style and controlled the pace, we took control of the game. Dealing with a hungry, driven team was a great way to finish the regular season and prepare for finals.
Mafa Tuialii continues to grow as our starting point guard and as a defensive leader. She balanced initiating the O with testing the D herself and made some big plays.
Salma Rahmadavi dealt with some very physical pressure and responded in key moments, knocking down a big three and getting to the line.
Lailah Tasker was aggressive in getting to the paint and made some grey in-game adjustments.

16-2 Girls – Vance Karimi (sponsored by Packaging Perth)

Lost to Redbacks Black 39-72

Coach comments

This week the girls were up against our own Redbacks team in a tough derby to finish off the regular season. It was another hugely emotional roller coaster. It was a slow first quarter, but we were really great in the second. We doubled down in defence, chased back in transition, protected our paint and closed out on the outside shots. Unfortunately we couldn’t keep that intensity going in the second half, filled with tough physical play and emotional waves. We had amazing vibes from the bench right to the end.
Paige Wigmore hit her 50th game this week and was great in defence, covering the top of the paint and dropping for low coverage. She read the defensive rebounds and used her escape dribble well when she was under pressure after offensive rebounds.
Charlotte Dillon’s bullet passes carved the court, and she had a really good vision to find her teammates. She attacked the gaps with the ball to gain an advantage, drew players, and made good decisions.
Chelsea Ferris worked hard in defence to contest passes and transitioned wide with great pace. She was all over the court, stretching herself where she could to get touches and jump on loose balls.
Sam Morgan was great with her quick communication to set up her teammates in offensive transition. She boxed out, found the rebound and immediately pushed the ball up ahead for a great offensive transition play.
Charlie Foster was great in the mid-court, both with the ball and in defence. She hunted back in transition defence to get a touch and stop layups.
Mya Slee did so well to push hard in transition. She applied great pressure in defence to cause multiple turnovers in the backcourt. She was strong, bumping her cutters to apply so much pressure.
Bella Kahl was strong in defence to deny second opportunities and chased back in transition defence. She found second opportunities for herself in the paint and finished well.
Sienna Care pushed hard in transition by passing ahead and was patient to setup into our action. She chased back hard in transition defence.
Izzy Swann did well to draw multiple players and dish off when she saw the opportunity. She pushed hard in transition offence when she saw the advantage.
Liv Weddikkara was a vocal champion. She attacked the gaps with her dribble and created well-timed advantages.

16-3 Girls – Dave Ogden (sponsored by Kai Rho Consulting)

Won against Redbacks Red 72-39

Coach comments

We completed our season with a win at Vic Park. The girls set a new standard in our motion offence with some great ball movement.
The concepts we have been working on in the second half of the year are starting to come together, and the whole group is starting to understand the reads and execution within the game better. The girls finished a commendable third and are the best defensive team in our grade on points against measure, which is not surprising if you see them scrimmaging at training!
Scarlett Hill top scored with 17 and gave us great run in transition.
Ani Farrant was given control of the team as a standalone point guard and did a great job showcasing skill on the ball and a high workrate to pressure the ball when we did not have it.
Lottie Ballantine came into the starting lineup to give us some tactical structure and fulfilled her role perfectly. Smart movement off the ball and was a predictable presence in the keyway to her teammates.

16-4 Girls – Marcia Dowling (sponsored by Professional Web Solutions)

Won against Cockburn Blue 64-57

Coach comments

After slipping out of the 8 last week, the girls felt many emotions. We followed that by facing up against the third-top team. Cougar Blue got us by 19 points in Round 3.
Today the game began with such hope, passion, bond, joy, intensity and team spirit. After holding the Cougars very close up to the half, the hope and bond grew. News at three-quarter time that our lovely Trinity had just won gold in her State Championships Walking event boosted our energy immensely. Pure fight and dedication to team play resulted in us being back in the finals after today’s 7-point win
All the girls had one of their own individual best games today, which was fantastic as it drove the team spirit, too.
Claudia Zell boxed out strongly against girls bigger than her and won the battles well.
Mac Tugwell also protected our ball and basket with intensity
Emily Flynn was a hot shot and driver today, making fantastic shot choices.
So too, Cherie Zak shone in fast transitioning and made great shots.

16-1 Boys – Mitch Jesson (sponsored by DLA Piper)

Lost to Warwick 65-71

Coach comments

Hopefully, this was the loss we had to have before the finals. We last lost in Round 1 so were on a 14-0 run before dropping this one to the Senators. Basketball likes to remind teams that they are perhaps not as good as they think. This game was also a good reminder for us that you can only control what you can control — hard work, running, and having a can-do attitude.
In this game, we led most of the way and played good basketball for the most part, but left the door open for Warwick in the fourth, and they made the most of their opportunities in the final few minutes.
We were missing Julien Richardson this week due to illness and look forward to having him back next week.
Ewan Maclean is our running man. He leads fast breaks and works hard on transition defence. His stat line from this game of 10 points (@56%), 3 assists, 2 boards, and 5 steals doesn’t really reflect his impact. It’s such a huge asset to be able to throw the ball into the open court in offensive transition knowing Ewan will both get to it and finish.
Jaden Exeter has grown as a leader this season, and whilst his scoring is important (averaging 13ppg), it’s all the intangibles and 1% actions that we love from him. In this game, he had 13 boards (game-high), 7 assists (game-high), 5 deflections (game-high) and 2 blocks (game-high), but it was his voice on defence, his voice in huddles and his leadership that we applaud the most this week.
Anthony Flores continues to personify team play, and I very much appreciate how hard he has worked to establish himself in our starting 5. Antz is always on the court in the last few minutes of a game as we love his control and basketball smarts. In this game, Antz actually called the play for the game-tying shot. Having a player who hustles, bleeds red and black and knows the game inside and out is a wonderful asset.
Huge congrats to Jenson Harders who played his 50th WABL game for Redbacks in this one. He contributed strongly with 5 boards, 3 assists, 4 deflections and a steal

16-2 Boys – Dan Cartwright (sponsored by Triple Seven)

Won against Willetton 107-67

Coach comments

We finished the regular season with a home game against Willetton. A win would sew up the top spot and give us the nicest possible run in the finals. After a bit of a slow start where the intensity was missing and the rebound count not as we’d like, Riley Thill got the team going with his energetic play and offensive rebounding, with the team turning a 22-22 quarter-time score into a 50-36 lead. As the second half unfolded, the boys started playing more like we’d come to expect, and the scoreboard began ticking over as the rebound count began to look more respectable. The 107-67 final score was a good reflection of our solid play after halftime.
Jalen Dunstan continued his outstanding form with 29 points (at 70%) and 16 rebounds.
Riley Thill was very influential, posting 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Koby Kalebic had a solid all-round game with 21 points (which included four 3’s), 9 rebounds and 8 assists.

16-3 Boys – Francis Crawshaw (sponsored by Teqar IT Consulting)

Won against Willetton 74-56

16-4 Boys – Cheyne Kerp (sponsored by Perth Safety Deposit Boxes)

Lost to Cockburn 69-75

Coach comments

I couldn’t be more prouder of how the boys ended the season. There is so much upside to this group. Lately, maturity in the face of adversity have been shown. Down 16 halfway through the fourth, the boys recollected and outscored the opposition 21-10 for the remaining quarter.
We have pushed all top 3 teams over the last 4 weeks, losing by 4,5 and 6, respectively.
Where we’ve ended up on the ladder doesn’t reflect their growth over the last two months.
Shout out to all the boys again. Their grit, fight, and refusal to back down from the challenges over the last few weeks have been the best I’ve seen, and I’m thankful to be part of it.
Jake Chew played awesome, his intensity on D helped create turnovers and his offensive creation was great.
Tace Rankin also had a big game knocking down 20pts including 3 x 3’s.
Also a BIG THANK YOU to my Assistant Jason and Manager Michelle.
Thumbs up, for ALL the help (inc discussions/chats) you gave during the season it’s greatly appreciated.
The time and effort put in week in and week out is a lot, and considering it’s voluntary, it doesn’t go unnoticed by those who understand it.

18-1 Girls – Kelly Webb (sponsored by Aussie Fencing)

Lost to Lakeside 72-85

Coach comments

The girls were in the correct mindset and tackled the game with remarkable intensity from start to finish. However, Lakeside’s consistent scoring and our inability to get back in defense on different occasions created the point difference which gave the win away.
Mikayla Deshon led the team with great fervour and contributed largely to the scoreboard (31pts).
Matilda Thomson was outstanding, with great composure and smart decision-making from start to finish.
The whole group were a real threat on defence today, which was amazing to watch. They impacted the opponent’s offence at various stages.

18-2 Girls – Steve Herring (sponsored by MD Building Maintenance)

Lost to Eastern Suns 62-67

Coach comments

We had another cracking start to the game that really threw the opposition off balance. It really showed the team’s growth and improvement over the season. However, the Suns were just that little better on home turf and chipped away the early lead to finish in front at the end. Nevertheless, it was a commendable effort, as we have definitely closed the gap from the last time we met. We will get them in the finals if we meet again.
The commendable efforts need to go to the three players who took specific roles during the game. Stephanie Hunt, Lilliana Flynn and Jess Kerp all placed effective pressure on critical areas. Grace Almond also deserves a mention after another solid and reliable game.

18-3 Girls – Andy Zell (sponsored by High Octane Automotive Services)

Lost to Cockburn 37-89

Coach comments

For our final game of the season, we played away against a very strong Cockburn 18-2 team. This is a team near the top of our division and will be competing strongly in finals.
We started off well, pushing Cockburn into difficult shots and playing well against their press. However, as the game went on, Cockburn’s outside shooters were able to make inroads against us, regularly hitting threes from difficult positions. We also struggled to rebound strongly in the first quarter, giving Cockburn multiple offensive chances. We also turned the ball over against their strong full-court denial defence.
While it was a tough game for our girls, they kept up their energy and enthusiasm to the very end. We conducted ourselves well, in the face of some challenging behaviour from the opposition.
I’m so proud of the team’s effort this season.
Hannah Honczarenko capped off a great WABL season by starting this week, rebounding and defending well, and scoring the most points with 14.
Yusra Handule also finished her season strongly, coming off the bench to provide rebound support and scoring 12 points.
Meiling Wang’s running and effort was excellent. She’s building her confidence as a point guard, learning how to run an offence and confidently bringing the ball up the court through pressure.

18-1 Boys – Andrew Logan

Won against Slammers 100-91

Coach comments

It was a solid hit out for the boys. It was a tight first half, with both teams scoring runs. After making some adjustments at the main break, the boys controlled the second half, extending the lead to 19 before conceding some late baskets. It was a good effort against the top side and a nice prep heading into finals.
A shoutout to the whole team. Everyone competed hard and had an impact on the game. Super proud of the boys and their growth over the season.

18-2 Boys – Marshall Robinson (sponsored by Integrity Fencing and Gates)

Lost to Mandurah 79-93

Coach comments

Great effort from the boys. The team really bought into the effort defensively and worked as a team.
James Reid was dependable again, with the ball in hand, making great decisions about reading defence and shooting.
Tom Jaramillo had his best game all year, and so did Tom Wilson-Brown. He really stepped up and applied our team’s defence with some great steals and pressure acts.

18-3 Boys – Louis Timms (sponsored by Icon Plumbing Solutions)

Won against East Perth 74-71

Coach comments

The Eagles have a talented roster that pushes the ball and puts pressure on the defense to get back. We started off the game pretty even offensively. However, our defence was allowing too many quick transition baskets. I thought the boys did a very good job at adjusting and dealing with their ball handlers. Once we were able to dictate that East Perth play in the half-court, we were able to play to our strengths defensively by getting into passing lanes, which forced turnovers and caused disruption. East Perth did not go away, though, and pushed us to the wire. This will be an exciting finals matchup if we face off again.
Jack Ryder was brilliant on both ends of the court. His mental readiness for the game was obvious, enabling him to immediately impact the game coming off the bench. He finished with 16 points and a handful of rebounds to go with it.
Ben Galvin was excellent defensively with 4 or 5 blocks and showed his athleticism by running the floor in transition to capitalize on steals out of our defense.
Cuba Brian and Zac Anfuso both had another impactful game providing ball pressure against their best guard which was a big factor in the win. Congrats to Cuba as well for this game being his 100th for Perth Redbacks. Great achievement.

18-4 Boys – Nick D’Elia (sponsored by Mortgage Choice – Emma Tyler)

Won against Slammers 79-76

Coach comments

This week, we played Bunbury, who we will also play next week in the first round of finals.
We started off the game in an aggressive trap which rattled their ball handlers, led to fast break points for us and gave us an early lead. However, we were a little bit sloppy on offence in half-court sets and couldn’t pull away.
Our half-court defence also wasn’t as strong as it could be and eventually, they started to chip away at our lead.
Some long threes saw them take the lead, but we kept our heads and dug deep with some big-time defensive plays, blocks and rebounding from Zadyn Thomas, Zayde Parriman and Curt Carroll. In the end, we narrowly won a game that shouldn’t have been close

21-1 Girls – John Care’ (sponsored by Fine Food WA)

Lost to Warwick 65-77

Coach comment

This was a game we wanted to win to close out the season, and it was within our control to win, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.
We had a good start, always within 10 points of Warwick, but as the game progressed, Warwick’s hunger grew ever more than ours, and the fourth quarter is where the game turned. Warwick’s defensive pressure, hunger, and efforts were just that much more than ours, which gave them the momentum to win the game.
Unfortunately, this is not how we wanted to close out the season, but nevertheless, it was a season of growth, progress, and some really good wins.

20-1 Boys – Graham Jones (sponsored by Bendigo Bank Community Bank North Perth)

Won against Lakeside Lightning 82-69

20-2 Boys – James Elder (sponsored by Bendigo Bank Community Bank North Perth)

Lost to Mandurah Magic Red 77-94

Coach comments

The game was pretty even up until the last quarter when Magic capitalised on a few too many turnovers from our guys. Despite the loss, this was a decent effort by our team to finish off what has been a difficult season at times.
It was good to see Riley Ford as our top scorer this week, and Harry Cuerden had his best game of the season.
Thanks to Mikka Kelly for filling in this week due to our low numbers.
Well done to all of our guys for continuing to believe in themselves – we repeatedly showed this season that we were good enough to match the top teams if we maintained concentration and kept our structure in games.