Weekly WABL Wrap – Round 9 – 22 June 2025

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

Here’s the Round 9 wrap-up of how all our teams went, including comments from coaches:

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

Lost against Cockburn 14-48

Coach comments

• The girls did a fantastic job on the defensive end, getting into the lanes and pressing with much hunger. However, Cockburn’s deft shooting made the difference in the score.
• Charlee and Eireann stepped up beautifully during the game, leading the team on the offensive end with Lillian being out.
• Madelyn, Evie and Lily’s energy and hustle benefited the team and provoked a couple of turnovers to our advantage.
• Mina, Madi and Cairee are amazing ball handlers who added well-deserved support to the crew.

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

Lost against Mandurah 19-47

Coach comments

• Although the scoreboard didn’t go our way in a 19-47 defeat, the game provided valuable learning opportunities and moments of growth for the girls.
• The entire team showed heart and hustle throughout, with strong effort on both ends of the court. Despite the result, we gained insight into areas for improvement, and the team remained resilient until the final whistle!!
• Losses like this, though tough, are part of the basketball journey and help build the foundation for future successes that are yet to come!!
• Claire was an absolute beast the entire time she was on court! She was defending like an absolute boss the entire game, defending players who were of a higher skill level but Claire didn’t care or let them get by her once !!
• Anya took a lot of contact like a champ the entire time she was on court! She rebounded consistently over players who were double her size and used her basketball IQ to her advantage by passing to players who are clearly open and taking shots when she is open and knows she can make them!

12-3 Girls – Paul Philpott

Won against Lakeside Lightning 46-35

Coach comments

• After a rechallenge from Round 4, we left for the day with a positive outcome and another beautiful day in the Redbacks neighbourhood! After trailing in the first half, our girls came alive with a dominant and fierce player-on-player defence, creating numerous turnovers and taking the lead by one point at halftime. Whilst Lakeside Lightning showed some flashes of spark in the second half, our girls dug deep, showing that nothing was given today, but rather everything was earned. Well done, girls. This was a wonderful showing that when we work together, we win together.
• Outstanding performance from Mabel Parkin today with her all-over-the-court defence, halting Lakeside transitions and creating many turnovers. Despite suffering a couple of nasty knocks from the opposition, Mabel picked herself up to produce her game of the season (so far).
• Similarly, Ava Socratous could not be missed on court with her incredible speed, mental and physical toughness, proving quite bothersome for Lakeside today.
• Elsa Callister was a galloping Brumby today, bursting out and initiating numerous fast breaks up the court, keeping the play on the offensive side.

12-4 Girls – Dave Power

Lost against East Perth 10-35

Coach comments

• Navigating a very physical first half, we were down 20 at the long break. The girls then came out in the second half ready for the physicality and had some great looks at the hoop while being more aggressive on defence. East Perth pressured the whole game, so we are excited about what converting some of our good looks may have given us in the second half. Solid defensive effort against the competition leaders. Great job, ladies!
• Niyala Sakala caused a lot of disruption defensively, grabbed lots of rebounds and was patient with the ball. East Perth rotated through 3 different players constantly to try to compete with Niyala for rebounds.
• Wanda Power is developing as a two-way player, playing tough defence on the ball and rim protection, while developing as a guard with poise under pressure, controlling the ball and good passes.

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

Won against South West Slammers 56 to 52

Coach comments

• A big game for us this week against Bunbury, who we have beaten this season, but were on a 6-game winning streak, having beaten every other team in our division. A very tight first quarter ended 12 all after a slow start from us and Bunbury missing a lot of close-range shots. Looked like a few nervous boys out there. In the second quarter, we fell behind by 4 points, then went on a 19-4 run for the remainder of the quarter, bringing energy and enthusiasm to the game. At halftime, we led by 7 and went back to be up by 12 in a minute. Bunbury cranked up the pressure on our ball handlers, and we turned over a few balls to let them back in, but finished the quarter with 3 scores from the paint by big Lenny to keep a 6-point lead. Bunbury made a charge in the last and even led by 1 with 2 minutes to play. We didn’t panic even though they are the best team in our comp in close games, having won half their games by 4 points or less. We got the ball to good looks for our bigs, and they did not let us down. Really happy with the game from the boys this week
• Leonard Hatch had an outstanding game off the bench and has caught up to the rest of the team in his first season of WABL. His positioning on the court is great and had 3 blocks at crucial times of the game. He moves well on offence and is always setting screens for his guards.
• Xavier Coombe had his best game of the season even while being under the weather this week. He was given clear instructions on how to play this week and did not disappoint. His outstanding ability to bring the ball up the court on offence against multiple opponents and make the right decisions when on to attack or pass was elite.

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

Won against Lakeside Lightning White 63-61

Coach comments

• The game started a bit frantically and sloppily, but the boys calmed down and started to make the right decisions, keeping the game close. In the second quarter, the boys’ defensive energy and execution were excellent, holding Lakeside to 8 points scored in that quarter and giving us the lead going into the second half. The third quarter did not have a strong start with multiple turnovers, allowing Lakeside to go on a small run. The boys proceeded to calm down after that and picked up their defensive pressure and offensive execution, finding good shots and getting themselves back into the game. The fourth quarter was a strong showing from both sides, but the defensive pressure, physicality on the rebounds and the boys’ ability to move the ball effectively on offence got them over the line and got them their first win of the season.
• Riley Kuan was a major factor in the game, getting multiple deflections, applying pressure on defence and trying his best to stay in front of his man. Offensively, Riley created opportunities for others to score as well as hitting big shots to keep the boys in the game. His overall energy in the game lifted the team and provided a boost when we needed it. Great job, Riley.
• Levi Giglia did well to facilitate the ball on fast breaks, making the right choice, finding the best option to score and cutting to the basket to keep the offence moving. His defensive energy was high, resulting in multiple steals, deflections, defensive rebounds, and forcing turnovers, which kept our defensive energy as a team rolling well. Great job, Levi.

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

Won against Lakeside 75-49

Coach comments

• We were incredibly proud of how the boys approached this week’s game. They were locked in from the start and committed to doing the little things right. From the tip-off, we brought intensity and structure, jumping out to a 6–0 lead within the first two minutes behind early baskets from Cayden Wedge and Miles Southwell. That fast start set the tone, and we continued to build pressure with a 10–1 run that put Lakeside on the back foot.
• By the end of the first quarter, we’d stretched the margin to 17–12, and it felt like we were in control, though we knew Lakeside had some scoring punch of their own. In the second quarter, our boys went on another surge, outscoring them 19–14 with key contributions from Cayden, Hudson, and Louis. At one point, we pushed the lead out to 34–23, thanks to Cayden’s constant attacking pressure and a pair of strong finishes from Hudson.
• The third quarter was a real highlight, not just in terms of scoreboard impact, but in the way we played as a unit. We locked down defensively, held Lakeside to just 11 points, and scored 21 of our own with big plays from Jesse, Cole, and Quinn. At the end of three quarters, we were up 55–35, and the game was starting to break open.
• In the fourth, we challenged the boys to not let up and they were up for the challenge. We went on a final 20–14 run to close the game out, with standout moments from Kasper and Baxter, and some composed finishing from Hudson and Jesse. It was great to see Kasper knock down a three-pointer at the buzzer to cap off a commanding 75–49 victory.
• What stood out today wasn’t just the scoring, it was the team-first attitude, the pressure and intensity on defense, and the way every player supported each other. Whether it was steals, rebounds or smart passes, we saw all the right habits on display.
• This was a great step forward, but we’re not done. We’ll celebrate the performance and then get back to work.
• Cayden Wedge delivered another powerhouse performance, leading from the front on both ends of the floor. He finished with 18 points, consistently finding ways to score through tough finishes in transition and composed play in the half-court. Defensively, Cayden was a menace, his 9 steals were a game high and a major disruptor to Lakeside’s rhythm. He added 3 deflections, also a game high, using his anticipation and quick hands to apply relentless pressure across all four quarters. It was a performance built on effort, discipline, and intensity. Cayden’s relentless defence set the tone for the team and was a key driver in turning defence into offence throughout the game.
• Kasper Jeromson made an impressive debut after being called up from the 4’s team to cover for the injured Cody Ashworth for the remainder of the season. Stepping into a new team can be challenging, but Kasper fit in seamlessly, bringing energy, effort, and a great attitude. He contributed 7 points (including a 3 at the end of the game) and 6 rebounds, showing his ability to both score and compete on the boards. On the defensive end, Kasper applied consistent pressure defence, helping disrupt the opposition’s ball movement and adding to the team’s intensity. It was a confident first outing that showed Kasper is more than ready to step up and contribute at this level.

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

Lost against Warwick Senators 34-41 (OT)

Coach comments

• What a comeback! After a relatively even first three quarters, Warwick started the fourth by building a 10-point lead. However, we closed out the game on a 10-0 run to force overtime. Unfortunately, a minute of lost focus saw us go down 6 to start OT, which we were never able to recover from. The ball movement was a standout. Our shot selection, defence off the ball, and our jump shooting were impressive as well in what was a real statement game from us.
• Lachie Bright had his best game yet. A 14-point double-double and composure in transition were massively important for us.
• Alfie Marshall showed some excellent promise on the defensive end. He had some great on-ball stands against a team of good, quick ball handlers.
• Rion Carter was the anchor of our end-of-game run. He controlled the boards, protected home, and served as our emotional leader down the stretch.
• Kedar McCollough impressed in his first game as a fully rostered player. The impact of his ball pressure and grit was massive for our first half.

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

Lost against Eastern suns 38-50

Coach comments

• Despite the 12-point loss to the Suns, there were many promising signs in a competitive match that saw us battling hard until the final whistle.
• We created a number of opportunities early in the first quarter but struggled to convert, finding ourselves trailing by 8 at the first break. In the second, it took us a few minutes to settle, but once we found our rhythm our intensity lifted. We fought our way back into the contest, winning the quarter and heading into halftime just 4 points down.
• We kept with the Suns early in the third and narrowed the margin to just 2 points. However, they responded with a late run and we entered the final term trailing by 11. The last quarter was evenly contested. We had chances to close the gap but again couldn’t quite capitalise on our opportunities.
• Ultimately, our shooting percentage and conceding 21 second-chance points were key factors in the result. We’ll continue working on finishing with more control and limiting the opposition’s second-chance efforts in the coming weeks.
• Still, there were plenty of positives to take away. The team showed resilience and heart throughout, especially during moments when our shots weren’t falling.
• Mia Exeter led by example on the defensive end. Her intensity helped spark our second-quarter run, and she finished with 9 rebounds, 6 deflections, 3 steals, and a block, a great all-around defensive effort.
• Alida Barmentloo made the most of her time on the floor with some strong drives, great defensive intensity, and composure under pressure. Her smart and controlled passing effectively broke the press and sparked excellent ball movement throughout the team.
• Saige Deeks had a strong two-way performance, setting quality screens, making smart reads in the pick-and-roll, and contributing defensively. She finished with 11 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block in a well-rounded game.

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

Lost against Mandurah 40-43

Coach comments

• Compared to the last game against Mandurah, we did a great job of locking in defensively at the start of the game, generating defensive stops and attacking early to dash ahead to a quick 11-2 lead, which was exciting.
• For the whole game, we did a great job impacting their first shot option with great shell defence and continuous help; however, Magic fought harder for rebounds and mopped up too many easy inside points with 2nd or 3rd chance put backs, and unfortunately, they wrestled their way back and came home stronger.
• Down by 5 with 2min to go, the team did a great job desperately wanting to win ball and win game and we had some great looks, but were unlucky.
• A great effort!
• (But we need to fight harder for rebounds.)
• Jana Djurasovic anchored our defence and had great positioning, continuously helping to double team the gaps and deny them access to keyway, and timing some clean blocks.
• Alyssa Rullo gave us some signature hard running in your face defence, and was super competitive in the battle at the tail end of the game, just straight up winning ball.
• Allegra Care had a strong game and at one point cooked them with a sizzling baseline drive and spin move bucket!

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

Won against Warwick 50-44

Coach comments

• We controlled the game from the start, having the ball down our half for most of the game. It was only a tough shooting day from us that allowed Warwick to stay in the game. The girls were able to stay together and pull away with a win at the end.
• We had 3 players finish with a double-double:
  • Isabella Nevill 10 points, 10 steals
  • Olive Bird 10 points, 13 rebounds
  • Kate McKern 14 points, 15 rebounds

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

Lost against Lakeside Lightning 35-70

Coach comments

• This was a tough game physically for us, but we pushed through contact and ended up with some great finishes.
• The loss came from a combination of us letting Lakeside control the pace and some good shots simply not dropping.
• We didn’t stop trying until the very last second, despite the score.
• The girls did well to keep their heads up through a lot of confusion on the score bench, especially with who had what fouls. Big thank you to Eloise’s family and our manager Magda for keeping everything moving forward.
• Jade Macpherson ran hard all game, getting into good positions. Jade’s positivity radiates around the group, and she has been communicating well both in defence and offense.
• Matilda Thompson crashed the boards hard today and got us some quick transitions off strong outlet passes. Tilly was rewarded with some good points off offensive rebounds.
• Ally Taylor controlled the ball well and got us moving more in the half-court. Ally took some hard hits but came back strong every time.

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

Lost against Willetton Tigers 39-87

Coach comments

• Another tough outing as we complete a challenging four-week stretch against the top four teams.
• After a strong first half — including holding Willetton to just 8 points in the second quarter — we were unable to maintain our intensity and execution after the break. For the third time in four weeks, we faced teams with bigger, stronger guards and wings, which made it difficult to hold space and generate consistent offensive flow.
• We’ve proven we can compete with the best in patches, but the next step for us is putting together a full four-quarter performance. That remains our focus as we continue to grow and find consistency.

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

Lost against Lakeside 80-66

Coach comments

• We headed down the freeway to play the undefeated Lakeside Lightning team with the expectation that we would stick to our game plan.
• We didn’t get the win; however, we were only down by 2 points at halftime and took the lead in the third quarter, turning a 4-point deficit into a 2-point lead. To their credit, Lakeside rallied in the last to post a solid win, with one Lakeside supporter approaching me to say that was one of the toughest games of the season.
• The team’s discipline was excellent. We had a 10-2 foul count against in the first half, and there was no victim mentality; we just tried to adjust to the way the game was being called and stayed motivated.
• Benji Halley was up for this game. Benji and Jayden Austin held the starting point guard to 2 points with some great defence. Benji also impacted the offensive end, scoring a team high 17 points on 5 of 9 shooting from deep, 3 boards, 3 assists and 2 steals. Easily Benji’s best game of the year, and he now sets a marker for the rest of the season.
• Noah Mucjanko is capable of changing the momentum of a game within 3 plays. As a guard-sized bottom age player – Noah has no right to get his hands on the ball in defence as often as he does. Noah makes steals, produces jump ball scenarios and has no fear in carrying the ball. Wonderful teammate.
• Jayden Austin was the other factor in our guard rotation onto Lakeside’s very good guard rotation. Jayden is the most selfless person in our team, and he’ll sacrifice for the team without thought. He works very hard in defence, commits fouls when he is helping others and is equally happy throwing assists as he is scoring. Jayden is an important piece of our puzzle moving into finals.

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

Won against South West Slammers 51-37

Coach comments

• Down in Bunbury, this was a really solid win coming off the back of the coach having a sick day from training and a few of the boys falling sick after our team photo.
• A great first quarter saw us get up 17-6 before the Slammers fought back in the second.
• In what has been our Achilles’ heel all season, the boys put together a determined third quarter, based on defensive effort, and set up our win.
• Noah Ouwendyk and Laurence Gil Yape led the way on the scoring front with 14 and 12, respectively. Both had good all-around games.
• Seth Cass showed how strong the defensive side of his game is when he locks in. He was influential in the second half and showed he could be a playmaker for us with some good passes in transition.
• Maz Tepania battled hard for boards and showed off his ball handling all game.

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

Lost against Rockingham 56-76

Coach comments

• This game was one of two halves, with us taking the first half and having a good lead at halftime, and Rockingham coming back to beat us in the second half. It was mostly bad habits creeping back into the game, but overall, I was happy with how we can easily beat the good teams when playing well.
• James Holzheimer was great in this game on both ends. He rebounded strongly against some taller opponents and made some good buckets inside. He also had great defence on the inside and outside.
• I thought Flynn Heggie’s energy on the court and off the court was great. He was playing with aggression and was hitting some fantastic 3s while also playing good defence on the outside.

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

Lost against Perry Lakes Hawks 46-80

Coach comments

• The girls came out flat and not ready to play today. We didn’t adhere to our structures or play with the grit we are accustomed to, and paid the price dearly.
• Positively, our frustration levels are high, and we’re ready to work hard and make amends for a bad game of basketball.
• Abby Leslie scored well with 14 points.
• Lottie Ballantine again had a solid game, both defensively and offensively, and played well within our structure.

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

Won against Cockburn Cougars 81-51

Coach comments

• This game was a tale of two halves. We struggled in the first with the pace of the game and second-guessed ourselves. In the second half, we got stops, which gave us confidence on the offensive end, and we played the way I know we are capable of.
• Ella Djurasovic continues her great form of the last month. Her rebounding and physical play have given her much confidence at the offensive end. She’s looking more and more settled every week.
• Astoria Burridge had arguably her best game of the season. Not only did she score the ball, but her ability to absorb pressure and make good decisions led to greater confidence and playing time.
• Cherie Zak continues to improve every week. Her ability to pressure the ball and have active hands led to a lot of fast-break opportunities.

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

Won against Cockburn Cougars 64-41

Coach comments

• The girls played a great game this weekend. Came out strong and eager for a win. They were consistent with their energy and effort, and it was a great game to watch. The girls’ growth from the beginning of the season is astounding
• Hayley Hill played through contact the entire game, making strong, good drives and persisting through frustrations! Hayley is always level-headed and always gives her all.
• Sasha Kuan also played a great game, controlling the tempo of the game as well as finishing strong at the basket
• Huge congrats to Lauren Jones who played her 50th WABL game for Perth Redbacks in this game.

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

Won against Mandurah

Coach comments

• A very physical game to which our girls stepped up, they played their own game and didn’t let the comments of the opposing team get to them. It was great to see them putting what we do in training into play.
• Audrey Toussaint was aggressive on defence.
• Emily Flynn stepped up again in the big position.
• Saachi T’ien showed great aggression in both offence and defence

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

Won against Cockburn Cougars 101-79

Coach comments

• Left off from where we were in the fourth quarter last week against the Hawks with high energy and pressure defence. This saw us kick off with a 32-14 first quarter.
• Our transition defence and offense were more consistent throughout the game. The rebound count was in favour of us as well, both guards and forwards crashing the boards.
• The most notable factor that contributed to the win was our ball movement, getting each other open shots.
• Nate Cass worked hard on the boards; his cutting was hard to contain, and he finished with 27 points.
• Travis Hunt got two feet in the paint, scoring and distributing the ball. He finished with 11 points.

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

Lost against Rockingham 59-73

Coach comments

• We entered this game without two of our most disruptive defenders due to illness and injury, so we knew we would need to lock in as a group to compete against the ladder leaders.
• For 3 and a bit quarters, we were in control of both sides of the ball and the game. Organised defence and poised offence, we looked really good.
• In the third quarter, we had a chance to stretch for a big lead with some excellent shot selection, and we weren’t able to execute finishing at the rim. Very happy with the options taken, a few more made shots would have given us a great position leading into the 4th.
• With a few fatigue turnovers, they were able to run away in the 4th.
• We showed our potential and weathered a very physical game. Top effort all round!
• Tace Rankin was aggressive defensively and that fed his offensive, attacking inside for some tough finishes and hitting some big shots outside finishing with 23.
• Isaac Fode kept defences guessing with some athletic finishes at the basket and a couple of timely big 3’s.
• Erik Davies continues to be highly efficient shooting the ball. Another 3 makes from 3 attempts, spacing the floor as a shooting big man, we hope to get more looks for Erik as the season progresses.

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

Won against Warwick Senators 76-70

Coach comments

• In a game where we trailed by 13 points at the end of the first quarter, we were forced to make constant tactical adjustments to stay in the contest. Full credit to the boys for staying locked in, listening, and executing — ultimately turning the tide and securing a fantastic win against a high-quality opponent.
• Toby Deshon delivered a composed and well-rounded performance, finishing with 6 points, 5 assists, and 8 rebounds. More importantly, he was a steady hand under pressure, protecting the ball and limiting turnovers at crucial moments.
• Harrison Moyle was a standout on both ends of the court. He anchored our interior defense with 9 rebounds, 3 deflections, and a block, while also providing a major offensive boost. His 23 points came at an efficient 68% shooting from the field, giving us the scoring punch we needed when the game was on the line.

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

Lost to Cockburn 53-66

Coach comments

• The boys played with a solid work rate throughout the contest versus a Cockburn team, with which we were evenly matched. After a solid first quarter where we outscored the Cougars 25-8, we struggled to score, tallying only 28 points for the remainder of the game. Our inability to find the goal made it possible for our opponent to creep back into the game and slowly overtake us until we looked up at the end of the game on the wrong side of a 13 margin.
• Parker Dunstan and Jacob Tan lead the way in the scoring column with 13 & 12 points, respectively. Eoin Foley really pushed the pace for us in his first start of the season, helping us get out to a great start.

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

Won against Eastern Suns 73-68

Coach comments

• We applied pressure from the outset and did a particularly good job of ripping the ball and attacking the paint, drawing fouls against the Suns’ two top players to put them under pressure. As the Suns collapsed into the paint, we began to find our shooters and hit 9 x 3’s in total (a very nice one from Harriet Woods in transition too). When the Suns rallied, we stayed composed and made some big plays. This was a great all-team win against a top 4 squad. I’m super proud of the effort, commitment, and competitive fire.
• Harriet Woods was locked in on both ends. She made some big defensive plays and was lights-out from deep, going 4 of 7 from 3. Hattie also made some key adjustments that we’d talked about in previous games and it was great to see. She led us with 16 points.
• Mafa Tuialli took two huge charges early against the Suns’ best player, and this set the commitment bar for our team. She finished with 11 points, 9 boards and a heap of defensive stats.
• Matilda Pyne has continued to grow in her play by making the simple, heads-up reads and maximising our offence when she’s on the court. She hit a huge 3 to seal our lead when the Suns were on a run.
• Leeshar Tuialli led us with huge minutes and excellent production, Lailah Tasker was excellent taking point and making plays, Grace Almond was hyper-aggressive in the paint finishing with 12 points, and Amina Handule brought excellent energy and commitment for key runs. Madison Makavilitogia and Steph Hunt (both on the injury list) kept our bench active and our focus locked.

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

Won against Lakeside Lightning 56-55

Coach comments

• This was an evenly contested game that culminated in an exciting finish with our go-ahead bucket scored with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock after coming from 9 points down halfway through the fourth.
• Those 9 points were probably the largest margin of a closely fought game where two sides of different styles were each able to gain momentum at different times.
• In the end, a surge in defensive intensity enabled our final run, marked by determination to fight to the end, along with incredible support from the sidelines.
• All players played their part in this game, contributing in different ways at different times.
• Our ‘bigs’ were quite dominant in the first half, and our fleet of ‘smalls’ finished the game off with high-pressure defence and confident playmaking.
• Special mention should go out to Lilly Flynn and Jess Kerp, who helped lift the intensity of our defence at a crucial time. And Arabella Kahl, who came off the bench to score the winning bucket in the final play of the game.

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

Lost against Joondalup Wolves 31-54

Coach comments

• A great-paced start and consistent teamwork throughout saw us win the second quarter. Once again, it was our inability to “finish” solid shot choices that let us down.
• Sam Morgan and Paige Wigmore protected the basket well together.
• Charli Foster ran the floor, helping consistently in defence and offence.

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

Won against Hill Raiders 107-42

Coach comments

• This was a really good 40-minute effort with 7 out of 8 players scoring in double figures.
• Jack Saliacus got us going early in the game and set a great tone. He finished with 16 points (on 8/12 shooting), 5 rebounds and 2 blocks.
• Hamish Gibson was excellent defensively with 2 deflections, 5 steals and 2 blocks.

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

Lost against Eagles 70-92

Coach comments

• We were short on numbers again this week, but thankfully, a few of the younger brothers stepped up and filled in. Heading into the game, my strategy was simple: if we could stay in it by the fourth quarter without foul trouble, we’d give ourselves a real shot at pulling off a win.
• I told the boys to slow the pace on offense and stick with a zone defence to limit fouls. But things didn’t quite go according to plan. We were still a bit rushed under pressure—taking quick shots that led to fast breaks and turnovers. Offensively, we managed to keep pace, but on the defensive end, it was a different story. Not many fouls were called, which allowed both teams to get away with hacking the ball carrier. That hurt us when we over-dribbled or forced drives into heavy defence but also helped a bit as we didn’t have to worry about getting fouled out early on.
• Hunter Mettam and JR knocked down some key shots, and Deegan Castle anchored the paint beautifully. Thanks to that, we stayed within striking distance. By the fourth, I told the boys to ramp up the defence and push the tempo. Unfortunately, things got tricky—Zadyn Thomas fouled out quickly, and from there we traded buckets for most of the quarter.
• With two minutes left, we were down by ten. Then—almost out of nowhere—we sparked a run: stringing together stops and converting on offense. In the blink of an eye, we cut it to just two points. It was an exciting comeback and a gutsy fight away from home, but we fell just short in the end.

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

Lost against East Perth Eagles 3s 92-70

Coach comments

• This was a competitive game throughout, however, our boys didn’t bring the intensity needed to win this game.
• Julien Richardson was big for us, scoring 18 points and hustling the whole game.
• Harvey Wishart had a great game with his career high in WABL with 17 points.

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

Won against East Perth 62 vs 75

Coach comments

• I will start by saying we were all incredibly proud of our win. Intensity, teamwork, defence, and a strong mental game proved that it can win against undefeated teams.
• Coming into this week’s game, we knew East Perth was the undefeated team, averaging 90 points a game, and they had their full bench. To win, we needed to play with a calm yet strong mental game and a solid defensive strategy. East Perth was bigger, athletic, and had a deep bench of scorers.
• In the first quarter, they came out strong offensively, 17 v 4. We struggled to convert our shots, but we applied intense defensive pressure. It showed as frustrations rose.
• Before heading into the second quarter, we regrouped and challenged the team to maintain the defensive intensity, bigs to set screens and get every rebound, no frustration with teammates (positive teamwork), and respect the referees; lastly, the bench energy was required.
• In the second quarter, we implemented and flipped the game. In the third quarter, we experienced team foul trouble, which led to easy free-throw points. In the fourth quarter, we had the game and, at times, rushed the ball, allowing the team to use the clock to slow our offence. Defensive intensity remained as we started. Lockie and Seb were fouled out mid-fourth quarter, all team keeping pressure on East Perth.
• It was a great win, consolidating what we have practised: basketball is a strategy of weaknesses and strengths, using them to team advantage.
• We won each of the final quarters by scores of 19-9, 27-21, and 25-15.
• The final result was that we kept East Perth to 62 points to take the win.
• Special thanks to Lucas and Mark, both injured but brought the support.
• Quincy Harahwa played with the intensity needed in offence and defence as a guard. Matching up in defence as one of our quickest players against East Perth guards. Quincy was key to our defensive win.
• East Perth knew from the start that Lockie Abbott was a top scorer, and they wanted to deny him the ball, putting their best guard to defend. Lockie played one of his best games – physical, mentally tough and led scoring in the game with 22pts and multiple assists.
• One of the highlights was the teamwork with Will and Quincy on defensive ball pressure, trapping and creating turnovers.
• Seb Tiwade had a strong defensive game, was a top rebounder, contributed to total points and had great on-and-off-the-bench energy.
• Will Bacci played a solid game both on offence and defence. His quickness on defence and intercepts was key to our defensive win. Will was our 2nd highest scorer with 15pts, inc 3×3’s.

21-1 Girls – John Care’

Lost against Warwick 52-85

Coach comments

• This was a tough, physical game from the start. We started quite slow but managed to pull back halfway through the first quarter. Unfortunately, Warwick hit their outside shots, making the gap harder to close, as they had to play catch-up. We went into the fourth with the goal of containing Warwick. We managed to win the quarter and show how well we can play even while the chips are down.
• Hannah Saliacus played a great game, doing things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. Defensively hunting rebounds, boxing out and giving it everything.
• Bgi congrats to Blaise Stancil who reached the incredible milestone of 150 WABL games for Perth Redbacks in this game. An amazing achievement.

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

Won against Eastern Suns 164-67

Coach comments

• Super proud of the boys. They played for each other and didn’t let up the whole game. Playing at the level of the opposition has been a struggle all season. To see them execute at a level above the opposition was a refreshing change.
• Hamish Elder had a day out – 59 points and moved the ball when there was a better option.
• Luke Ogden continues to make the right play and found his own points once the game had opened up.
• Riley Ford made a nice 3 to end the game

20-2 Boys – John Foley

BYE