Weekly WABL Wrap – Round 11

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

Here’s the Round 11 wrap-up of how all our teams went, including comments from coaches:

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

Won against Rockingham 43-42

Coach comments

Rockingham in Rockingham is always tough. And with this game being first vs equal second, we knew it would be challenging. We started well, but Rockingham fought back with great pressure, rebounding and finishing. We got to the line a lot but couldn’t convert and were also struggling to get shots from the field to fall at our normal rate. This saw Rockingham get out to a lead of 11 at one point. At three-quarter-time, we were still down 8. We brought the margin to within 3-4 several times in the fourth quarter, but with 90 seconds to go, found ourselves down by 8 again.
Inspiringly, the girls just refused to give up and showed what can happen when you commit to playing all the way to the last second. Some amazing ball pressure created steals, and *finally* we were able to finish shots we’d been missing all game. An incredible 9-0 run saw us squeak through for a win that was a testament to teammanship, good choices, and execution under pressure.
Mia Exeter had a big last 90 seconds with two steals, an offensive board, an assist and 6 points. I was most proud of the amazing control she showed on a weaving full-court drive to score the game-winning basket with 1.7s left. Weeks of reminding her to “breathe” while in full flight all came together there! She finished the game with a triple-double: 20 points, 13 rebounds and 10 steals.
Darcey Hill scored two quick baskets early in the fourth to bring us within 4 points and keep our belief levels high. Her defence was outstanding with 7 steals. She was also huge on the boards with 11 rebounds including the defensive board and pass that led to the game-winning basket.
Elsey Lohman White carried the ball for us beautifully, navigating Rockingham’s press with speed and skill. She was also outstanding defensively, using her anticipation to pick off 7 steals.
Izzy Nagamany was fantastic at the free-throw line, converting 3/4. Defensively, she had two critical deflections and a steal, one of which led to a much-needed basket in the final three minutes of the game.
Rose Bacci’s defence was a masterclass. As always, her ability to use her feet to stay in front of her player and keep her hands out was brilliant. She also took a huge charge in the third quarter to inspire her teammates.
All in all, though, this was yet another great team win from a brilliant bunch of girls.

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

Lost to Cockburn 10-45

Coach comments

Despite today’s challenge, the key message was all about enjoying basketball with our girls, putting aside the stress, and finding the good in everything they do. Job well done, girls. We learnt today that when we focussed on our strengths, we played better and felt better about our individual and team achievements. Whilst trailing the first three quarters, in the last, we matched the Cougars with both our team spirit and score.
Emily Cakar was outstanding today, with her keen defence and limiting her usual foul count. Well done, Emily.
Zoe De Morton played a major role today in helping get the ball up the court despite the strong pressure from the Cougars. We love the way you continue to surprise us, Zoe.

12-3 Girls – Khalid Elmi

No coach comments submitted

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

Lost to Rockingham 80-67

Coach comments

Once again, one quarter determined the outcome of the game.
Rockingham started strong and finished the first quarter with a 13-point lead, which was the game’s final margin.
Our offense keeps getting better with quick passes, and the ability to find the right player to finish was on point.
5 out of the 8 players that were playing scored double-digit figures, and all players appeared on the scoreboard.
However, there is still a lot to work on on the defensive side.
James Price had a brilliant game with pressure on the ball that created turnovers and very accurate shooting from long and layups.
Jimmy Holzheimer was very good at getting open inside the key and converting passes into baskets.

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

Won against Perry Lakes White 56-51

Coach comments

Our intensity was low at the start of this game, but once we got going, we picked up the physicality, dominated the rebounds and moved the ball around efficiently and effectively to find open shots.
Harrison Kingsbury was an absolute monster on the rebounds. He hit bodies and chased down boards at every opportunity. He also made great attacks on the ring. Great job, H.
Denim Hamilton was another monster on the rebounds. He was a strong defensive presence in the keyway. Offensively, he did well, running pick-and-rolls and playing in the post. Good job, Denim.
Tyler Carter was a great presence all around today. He controlled the offence very well and was very good at hustling for odd-bouncing rebounds and pressuring the ball. Great job, Ty.

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

Won against East Perth 77-66

Coach comments

The boys played some of their best teamwork basketball right from the beginning, starting the game up 8 to 0. Everyone was sharing the ball around, and the passing was fantastic. The game became tougher over time with many fouls and with most players on 3 or 4 fouls as early as the 3rd quarter. The boys showed a lot of patience and calmness when responding to foul calls and continued to play with intensity, putting the other team under constant pressure. We started the 4th quarter on fire, as we do most games, getting up by 18 points and coasted to the end to win by 11. All the players had a great game and are starting to play to a higher level from the time they spend practicing.
Aiden Morgan had a breakout game, coming onto the court with a pass-first mindset, which gave him a career-high 16 points. Aidan came into this game with a brilliant mindset and nothing seemed to bother him, even after getting 4 fouls.
Jack McKibbin played an amazing game as one of the most versatile players on the court, rotating through positions 1-5. Jack puts a lot of pressure on defence and forces the other team to turn the ball over, he got unlucky to pick up 4 fouls early but regardless still played an amazing game also scoring a career high 6 points.

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

Won against Hills Raiders Grey 52-35

Coach comments

With Hills Raiders Grey being the bottom-ranked team in our division, we took the opportunity to try some new things in this game, in particular – giving the boys permission to shoot freely from three-point-land.
We had a great start in this game, leading 15 to 3 at quarter time, including two early 3-pointers by Franklin Etter. We let our defensive pressure drop after the first quarter, and by halftime, the score was 27 to 14, and by three-quarter time, the score had narrowed to 35 to 25, giving the Raiders hope and momentum into the third quarter. In the end though, we were never really challenged and were able to run out comfortable winners
During the game, Miles McColl and Santi Cortes both made a 3-point shot each and Frankie made 2, contributing significantly to our score. As a result of the 3 points made today, out of the 12 players in the division who have made a 3-point shot for the season, 6 are from our team. Even more impressively, we have 4 of the 6 multiple 3-point shooters in the division, showcasing the exceptional shooting skills of our players.
Overall, it was a fun and exciting game that highlighted the talents and skills of our team, and we are proud of the boys’ performance and their ability to enjoy the game while demonstrating great sportsmanship.
Franklin Etter had an impressive performance, contributing significantly to the game with a total of 13 points. His scoring included two crucial 3-pointers that added momentum to the team’s efforts. In addition to his scoring, Frankie was a dominant force on the boards, securing 11 rebounds. His overall play was instrumental in both offensive and defensive phases, highlighting his well-rounded skills and importance to the team’s success.
Miles McColl had a solid game, showcasing his skills on both ends of the court. He scored a total of 7 points, which included a well-timed 3-pointer that energised the team. Additionally, Miles dominated the boards with an impressive 11 rebounds, contributing significantly to his team’s overall performance and ensuring they had multiple opportunities for second-chance points.

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

Lost to Slammers 34-31

Coach comments

This was a very good mental test for the girls. The game was very physical, with very few fouls being called. Due to the nature of this game and with the Bunbury talls, it stopped us playing the way we wanted to play. We were 8 down with 5 mins to go and almost snatched the win. The girls will learn a lot from this game.
Jacinta Wladyka again stepped up. Kept attacking the basket despite frustration about how the game was played. She got through it, had a great last quarter, and hit some big shots.
Hayley Hill battled hard all day. She took some big knocks but never backed down. With us losing bigs the last few weeks, she has had to step up and play well above her height. Good job
Chelsea Karsum also never stopped trying in this game. Grabbing rebounds against taller players and played with an energy and intensity that is now being channelled the right way in games. Very proud of her.
Huge congrats to Olivia Birsa who played her 50th WABL game for Redbacks today.

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

Won against East Perth 63-45

Coach comments

Got em good!! After a tough loss to the Eagles early in the season, it was great to see the girls flex it for the win in a much tidier game. Although it was tight at times, we felt in control, and it was great to see the team break away in Q4 with a 21-5 run. With many players pushing through extra minutes in a smaller line-up of 8, it was great to see them play the game out to the end with full energy.
Thank you to Ava Kemp for playing up with us this week. She integrated in smoothly and did a great job.
Teah James aka ‘Westbrook’ played with great confidence today. Teah dominated in iso today and we just got her the ball in space and let her cook! She enjoyed 24 points and 8 rebounds and was instrumental in initiating offense for the whole team. She showed brilliant composure, controlling the tempo, talking to get our spacing set up and executing our offence. When the Eagles double-teamed her, Teah enjoyed being a decoy to create other opportunities.
We never get tired of Saachi Ti’en draining the game’s first bucket. She is on a roll and also played some great basketball again today, scoring a number of times off inbound plays and playing much tighter denial defence, which helped generate steals.
Soniya Karimi played another belter. She always works the hardest and gives everything she has. Soniya is a great leader on court and is great at initiating our offensive options.
Ella Fair played her 50th game today and is one of our most consistent players, generating steals and buckets every week and being a model of team spirit. Great job Ella
Audrey Toussaint had a bigger presence in today’s game and is building great momentum, winning more of the ball and finishing neatly. A few great steals and buckets today.

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

Won against Mandurah Black 33-31

Coach comments

We had a challenge ahead of us this week, being down on numbers and coming up against a team we’d previously lost to in overtime.
Our focus was to stop their transition, defend the paint, hunt rebounds to limit second-chance points, and keep them to 30 points or under.
The girls did a fantastic job on both ends, making great reads off good spacing and movement on offence, we scored quick points in transition and held Mandurah to just 10 points in the first half, going into halftime up by 6.
In the third quarter, the girls continued to work hard defensively, disrupting Mandurah’s transition and extending our lead to 8 going into the final term.
We knew the fourth quarter would be a hard-fought battle, and the girls did a great job withstanding Mandurah’s full-court pressure, defending the paint for no easy scores, and pulling down crucial rebounds to hold on for the win.
It was a whole team effort, with each of the girls contributing and working together well.
Robyn Saw played her role well, providing a strong defensive presence in the paint.
A special mention goes to Saige Deeks, who stepped in this week for us and was a huge help with her defensive pressure in the paint, stopping a lot of scores.

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

Lost to Lakeside 26-45

Coach comment

Coming up against the top undefeated team, we knew it would be tough. We held our own in the first half to be down only 2 at halftime. Lakeside came out super aggressive in the third quarter to build an 8-point lead that we couldn’t quite break. The girls played their hearts out for the whole game, and I couldn’t be prouder of their efforts
Jana Djurasovic played an amazing game, rebounding the ball, running the floor and finishing under pressure.
Winnie Devitt’s defence today was great. She got multiple steals on inbounds, allowing us to score easy baskets.

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

Won against Willetton Blue 67-61

Coach comments

This week, we played short-staffed against second-on-the-ladder Willetton Blue. Our plan was to come out fast with our normal transition game and then settle into a slower half-court game after our first rotation. This strategy worked well and allowed us to get a quick 10-point advantage, which we never conceded throughout the match.
Willetton are a tall team and a good match up for us. They beat us on the rebounds and were also able to capitalise on our poor half-court defence, both of which are disappointing given our recent focus in these areas.
Ultimately our composure under pressure, transition, and some great individual performances were enough to get us across the line against a good opposition.
Toby Deshon and Zeke Brian were our only recognised guards and did an admirable job controlling the tempo and advancing the ball. They were rarely under pressure despite a full-court defence that persisted much of the game and were able to apply their own defensive pressure on a capable Willetton back court. It was great to see both players attacking on offence and finding great options for their team mates.
Nate Cass rotated between guard, wing and big and proved impossible to stop in each of those positions. He was red-hot for most of the game, scoring a game-high 31 points at 64%. More importantly, his footwork, help positioning and speed on defence continues to improve which increases his value on the court.
We would not have won this game without the solid contributions from Christian Roberts and Lucas Vojkovic who filled in for us from the 14-2s and more than held their own. Well done and thank you Christian and Lucas.

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

Won against Rockingham 66-61

Coach comments

Really proud of the boys. We looked a lot stronger than last time when we lost by 24. In this game, we felt in control the whole time. Defensively, the intensity really stepped up for our team.
I had a couple of boys out, and train-on Tom Coppard was massive, with a career-high 8 points! I couldn’t have been prouder of the improvement in Tom game this year. He’s not played WABL before and was selected as a train on. His commitment has been unwavering – showing up to all trainings and games. When give the opportunity this week he stepped up providing valuable minutes.
I feel like I’ve been shouting out Elliot Birch a lot recently. In this game, I challenged him to guard their best player in the second half and he stepped up and we went on a run due to his defensive efforts.

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

Won against Mandurah 40-32

Coach comments

We took the trip down to Mandurah and had our road trip quiz, which seemed to be a winner. In a low-scoring affair and playing against an unusual defensive set for our age group, we battled hard and came away 8-point winners. We will all enjoy our break and holidays and look forward to returning fresh and recharged.
Vincent Ryder came to play on both ends of the court.
Thomas Smith battled hard.
Assistant Coach Tom Holyoak stood up for his sick coach, took the helm, and coached alone when I had to take time away from the bench during the game.

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

Lost to Mandurah 25-51

Coach comments (Rhys Fode)

We played in Mandurah early.
The game started off challenging for us, with Mandurah taking the lead early on. Their press was tough to handle, and we struggled to find our rhythm. Despite our efforts, Mandurah seemed to be hitting every shot, making it difficult for us to keep up, even hitting a long 3 on the buzzer. Our shots and layups kept just missing.
However, I was proud to see our team’s resilience in the second half. We played much more competitively and managed to outscore Mandurah in the second half. It was great to witness the improvement and determination from all of our boys.
As a team, we are starting to understand the importance of playing together and executing our plays effectively, plus moving the ball faster to break the press break. There were many positive signs during the game, and I believe that with continued hard work and dedication, we can achieve even better results next game.
I want to commend each and every one of our boys for never giving up until the very end and supporting each other

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

Won against Perry Lakes 72-62

Coach comments

This was one of two teams we had yet to beat in our division, and we knew it was an important one. We came out firing and built an early lead, but the Hawks applied constant pressure that challenged us at times. I was super proud of how we responded to a tough, see-sawing battle. In the fourth, we took control. It was a great effort, and our whole unit contributed to it.
Salma Rahmadavi has been working incredibly hard and got her first start of the season as a result. She hit a 3 on the first possession of the game, went on to finish with 9 points, and played some fantastic defence.
Our centres – Madi Makavilitogia, Grace Butcher and Niamh Murphy – gave huge efforts against some very long Hawks. Their toughness and commitment to tagging on rebounds helped us decisively win the rebound count for the first time this season.
Mafa Tuialii battled through a cold and led us at the point position. Mafa has grown in this role throughout the season and has embraced the responsibilities that come with it. She finished with 16 points and 10 boards.

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

Lost to Rockingham 24-62

Coach comments

This week was a tough game. We started slow, and while we picked up the pace towards the end, we really struggled to play our game style. The girls were unfortunate, with very few shots landing this week from the perimeter, even when uncontested. We were challenged with Rockingham’s set defence most of the game and couldn’t take advantage in transition offence. It was fantastic to hear our bench so loud and supportive all game.
Sam Morgan did an amazing job tagging one of the Flames’ strong offensive scorers. Sam was so physical, aggressively bumping the player on her cuts, boxing her hard outside the key, and continuing to battle hard to hold her player boxed out before some great rebounding. It was special to see the two of them laugh it off after the game and show competition maturity.
Liv Weddikarra was great in defence, staying low and big, contesting shots and passes and always loud on and off the court. She took the feedback from last week and attacked the paint with intent, driving hard into gaps.
Charlie Foster protected the ball in our transition offense, pushing the pace to give us opportunities. She chased back so hard in transition defence to stop the run and did everything she could to stop easy layups.

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

Won against Eastern Suns 53-33

Coach comments

The girls had an early game away from home. The Suns were determined to play well at home and gave us a really competitive game that defied the ladder positions of the sides.
In a defensive game, the girls finished strongly with a 25-9 last quarter to win by 20 and finish what has been a strong 3 weeks.
We have shown the capacity to win with different ways and have been able to produce some dominant basketball.
I hope all our players and parents enjoy a Sunday off and thank everyone for their dedication and commitment to train over the holidays as we enter what will be an exciting end to the season for this group.

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

Won against Hill Raiders Green 49-30

Coach comments

We really wanted this win, and it inspired some visually beautiful teamwork. Watching the ball pass down the court and stay in front of the Hills defenders was like a flowing ribbon – something we’ve worked quite hard on. The girls have always had great one-on-one defence, but today, their footwork and speed were fantastic. Hills fought hard on the scoreboard in the final quarter, but we maintained our first quarter lead all the way to the end.
Nadia Slee had more than 7 steals and great speed in transition.
So, too, did Macaela Tugwell shine today, posting consistently with strength and determination.
Maddie McKibbin was a firework down the left side and made some good choices.
But our best player today overall was the team!!

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

Won against Joondalup 107-76

Coach comments

As a team, we’re focusing on consistency of performance, and Sunday was a day when we were switched on for most of the game.
Our turnovers were low, and once again, our bigs worked really hard to create opportunities down the court. When our teamwork is on, it reminds me of why I love basketball, as we can run the court without the ball hitting the floor.
Jenson Harders just played good old-fashioned, hard-nosed defense. He put pressure on the ball without fouling, and his 5 offensive boards were competitive under-the-basket rebounds. 6 points at 75%, 8 boards and 2 steals – a great game.
Flynn Hamilton’s work rate returned to top gear on Sunday, and he was again constantly being asked to two-way run for us. Flynn finished with 18 points (@ 50%), 14 boards, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks in what was an excellent all-around effort.
Cooper Hewer just had one of those games you dream about having in the drinks break at pre-season. 31 points (@48%), 8 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal and only 1 turnover. It was a game where Coop’s teammates can take a lot of credit for throwing some wonderful assists.
Jaden Exeter sat this one out with the U16 Australian Junior Championships starting next week. We wish him all the best in Bendigo.

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

Won against Rockingham 94-76

Coach comments

This was a second-versus-third clash, and a tough, physical encounter was expected. Our boys exploded out of the blocks and raced out to a 15-0 lead on the back of slick offense and ball movement, coupled with intense defense and supreme rebounding. Some solid three-point shooting from Rockingham helped stem the flow, but our boys established what turned out to be a match-winning 17-point lead by the first change.
The final three quarters were much tighter as Rockingham turned up the physicality. To our boys’ credit, we lifted our intensity and toughness and withstood everything Rockingham could throw at us. The great thing about this team is the depth of the squad.
Hunter Mettam, Cooper Poustie, and Seina Pirmonady’s tenacious and disruptive on-ball defense makes life very difficult for the opposition guards.
Jalen Dunstan (12 rebounds), Harvey Wishart (12), Tom Lindegger (13) and Flynn Weston (7) took care of the defensive glass, denying our opposition second-chance points.
Riley Thill can always be relied upon to keep the opposition’s leading scorers in check, playing tough physical D and then testing his opponent at the other end of the floor. Once he gets the ball in the paint, he’s a handful for anyone in this league.
Anthony Laurie, as always, showed sheer determination and will to compete.
Game highlights included:
- A three-point buzzer beater at quarter time from Cooper Poustie
- Hunter Mettam and Seina Pirmorady drawing offensive charges with their outstanding footwork and will to stay in front
- Another double-double for Jalen Dunstan
- A game-high 27 points from Koby Kalebic, including 14 in the first quarter.
- A massive 62-36 win on the boards.
- Moving into first place on the ladder and extending our winning streak to 7 games.

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

No coach comments submitted

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

Lost to Perry Lakes 64-101

Coach comments

This was a game the boys should’ve come away with a win but unfortunately we didn’t.
We couldn’t match the intensity and effort the Hawks brought, and it led to our highest turnover count for the season. It was also the second game in the season where we didn’t take more shots than the opposition.
Big learning curve on playing violent D, being composed with the ball for the boys and how to sustain it all game.
Louis Daniel tried hard all day leading the team in scoring with 20 points.
Charlie Norrish’s effort in grabbing steals or jump ball situations was pleasing to see.

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

Lost to Perry Lakes Hawks 58-91

Coach comments

The first time we played this team, we lost by 80. So this was a significant improvement against the league leaders in our division.
Jenna Jackson (11pts) was very switched on and had a great performance leading the team.
Chloe Atkinson (13pts) outdid herself both defensively and offensively.
Miki Deshon (12 pts) did an amazing job setting the pace offensively and was very active in defence with several steals.

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

Won against Lakeside 59-54

Coach comments (Rob Pyne)

After Lakeside jumped out of the blocks and took a 15-to-3 lead early in the first, we settled and stepped up our defensive pressure with some half-court traps.
Our team was ready to adapt to changing circumstances as the opposition coach called timeouts to help their team deal with our half-court pressure. We ran multiple versions of a full-court press with great success.
This was a genuine team effort, with everyone responding to the call for a committed effort on defence, which was our big focus this week.
Harriet Woods had an outstanding shooting game, hitting 6 of 10 from the field including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.
Matilda Wyatt really committed to our full-court pressure and topped our steals tally with 4 for the game.
While playing on a sore ankle, Grace Almond had another strong all-round game with 6 points, 5 rebounds and an Assist to Turnover ratio of 3.0.
Amina Handule limited Lakeside’s second-chance points, with 10 of her 12 rebounds on the defensive end.

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

No coach comments submitted.

18-1 Boys – Andrew Logan

Won against Joondalup 121-54

Coach comments (Mack Tanner)

The boys started the game with amazing energy, winning the first quarter 34-9. With Head Coach Andrew away, everyone on the team stepped up. We did an amazing job keeping our energy high throughout the game, showing our dominance and dedication to each other, especially with an 8-man lineup. I am very proud of these young men.
Big shout out to Noah Rees-Turner for really stepping up as a leader on the court, even with some hard calls against him in the first half. He had to sit out the 3rd quarter as he was on 4 fouls before halftime. He showed how a true leader acts in tough situations by continuing to be supportive off the bench for the entire 3rd quarter and playing the majority of the 4th with intensity.
Jude Garbenis had another amazing game, scoring 20+ points and leading our offence with poise and control when things went wrong.
The same goes for David Moore, who also had a 20-point game, leading our offence with constant pressure and aggression in fast break opportunities.
All 8 players put their bodies on the line and deserve a shout-out for their defensive efforts.

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

Lost to Senators Green 90-63

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

Won against Willetton 60-56

Coach comments

Willetton had a very good first half, showing off their quick transition into easy scores. They were also effective in some of the initial zone play phases.
Our boys’ ability to make adjustments at half-time was as good as it’s been all season, and their defensive intensity in the second half was a major contributor to the eventual win.
Zac Anfuso showed intelligence and poise in the game proving that his ability to play the point and shoot the ball is quickly developing.
Hamish Gibson and Michael Ryan were both impactful on both ends of the floor.
The standouts offensively for the game were Cuba Brian and Jay Hazel, with 17 points each.
Esiayo Alegbe was impressive in his second game of Wabl and showed a lot of potential going forward.

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

Won against Lakeside

Coach comments

This week we were a little undermanned with a few players out due to holidays and sickness. We still came out of the gate strong scoring at will, but so did our opponents.
The first quarter was super high scoring by both teams – amazing to watch to be honest.
In the second quarter, we figured out their offense, but fouls started to become a problem. At half time it was a pretty even game; however in the 3rd and 4th we pulled away.
Great shooting from Jack D’Amico and Noah Baker spearheaded our offense while poise from Deegan Castle and Curt Carroll kept us in control of the game.
It was a great game to win away from home

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

Won against Lakeside 80-62

Coach comments

We started well against Lakeside this week, with good decision-making and execution enabling us to have a good lead. Lakeside, however, continued to fight back, which meant it was always with 1-4 points in each of the first 3 quarters. It came down to applying a strong fourth quarter to win the game, in which the girls applied great pressure in defence and executed well in offense, making great shots and attacking the ring.
We managed to finish with a massive 4th qtr. scoring 36 to 11 points to help secure the win.
Rori Roberts scored 21 points and knocked down 4 x 3 point shots in succession in the fourth.
Hannah Saliacus also contributed 21 points, attacking the basket and working hard to get the rebounds.

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

Lost to Perry Lakes 95-124

Coach comments

We entered the match with optimism, but a habit we thought we had overcome—starting slow—resurfaced. Unfortunately, we lost the first quarter by 18 points, setting us up for an uphill battle for the remainder of the game. Despite our efforts, we only managed to win one out of the four quarters.
On the offensive end, however, we saw significant positives. The team moved the ball exceptionally well at times, showing great execution and creating open looks from behind the arc. The ball movement was fluid, and our players took advantage of the opportunities, resulting in one of our best offensive displays this season.
While the defensive performance left much to be desired, allowing the opposition to exploit gaps and capitalize on our mistakes with numerous second-chance points, the offensive side of our game was a different story. The precision and teamwork in our offensive plays were commendable, offering a glimpse of what we can achieve.
Key Takeaways
- Offensive Execution: Our offense was a highlight, with players demonstrating excellent ball movement and creating high-quality shots. This is a positive sign that our offensive strategies are starting to click and can be a foundation for future games.
- Defensive Struggles: Conversely, our defensive performance was the weakest point, allowing too many easy baskets and failing to maintain the intensity needed to stop the opposition. This area will need focused attention in upcoming practices.
- Resilience: Despite the early setback, the team showed patches of exceptional resilience and fought hard throughout the game, bringing the score to within 15pts on ocassion. Winning one quarter and maintaining high energy levels on offense are indicators of our potential.
Moving forward … while the loss is bitter, the signs of our offensive capabilities are promising. We need to channel the same energy and precision into our defense to become a more balanced and formidable team. The key will be to start strong, maintain consistent intensity, and ensure our defensive strategies are as well-executed as our offensive plays.
Aiden Cannington had one of his best all-around performances of the season. He attacked the basket aggressively, finding the open man numerous times and demonstrating his ability to both score and facilitate. His playmaking was instrumental in our offensive success.
Wade Bonhomme showcased the scoring versatility we always knew he possessed. He was particularly effective from beyond the arc, hitting several crucial baskets that kept us in the game. His shooting display was a key highlight of our offensive strategy.
Akira Rowe-Fox initiated some of our best offensive episodes by driving to the basket with purpose. His ability to collapse the defence and then kick out to find the open man was exactly what we needed to create high-quality scoring opportunities.
Coming back from an injury, Declan Pyne started to show us what we had been missing, especially on the defensive end. He boxed out well and secured critical defensive rebounds, providing the team with much-needed stability and defensive strength.

20-2 Boys – Dario Povia (sponsored by Bendigo Bank Community Bank North Perth)

Lost to Hills Raiders 100-109

Coach comments

We travelled to Mundaring this week with only 7 players, so defensive discipline was a pre-game message in order to minimise foul trouble on key players. Despite our best efforts we still had 3 players on 4 fouls heading into the last quarter. Due to the requirement of a more cautious approach in our defensive pressure in the last, we were unable to stem the flow of opposition scoring and unfortunately the game slipped away.
Riley Ford and Ollie Hill were both solid on defense again this week
Ali Hartmann and Max Millard played well at both ends
Hamish Elder was dominant offensively.