SOUTH West Slammers could be in for a long season if Round 1 of the National Basketball League (NBL)1 West results are anything to go by, suffering two 50-plus-point losses in the women’s competition over the weekend, whilst also going down in the men’s league. We recap all the action across both divisions below.

WOMEN’S:

Joondalup Wolves (76) def. East Perth Eagles (55)

Joondalup Wolves never looked like losing against East Perth Eagles, winning all four quarters and taking complete control in the first half. The Wolves raced out to a 18-point half-time lead, and whilst the Eagles tightened up in the second half, they could not claw their way back, doing down by 21 points, 55-76. Neseya Parker-Williams knocked down 17 points, six rebounds and two steals in the Wolves’ win, teaming up well with Chelsea Belcher (16 points, three rebounds and three steals). Amy Kidner (10 points, six rebounds), Amber Land (10 points, nine rebounds, three assists and four steals) and Georgia Denehey (nine points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks) were others who stood out for the home team. The Eagles relied on Mary Teresa Goulding who put up 19 points, eight rebounds and three steals in the loss, with Cameron Flynn (seven points, three rebounds) the next highest scorer.

Mandurah Magic (100) def. South West Slammers (49)

Mandurah Magic showed no mercy on their way to a triple-figure score against the Slammers, piling on 100-49 in a massive Round 1 win. The Magic scored as least 20 points in every quarter, and did keep the Slammers to 32 points by the final break, before the visitors kept at it to score their highest quarter score of 17 in the final term. Emma Klasztorny racked up a double-double of 29 points – 75 per cent from the field – and 10 rebounds, as well as four assists and a steal. Bronte Corke (22 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals) was great, but Carly Boag‘s 14 points and 20 rebounds took the cake above all else, also amassing seven assists, three steals and two blocks in a complete performance for the Magic. Casey Mihovilovich (11 points, six rebounds and six assists) and Rachel Pettit (12 points, six rebounds and three assists) were other individual efforts of note. For the Slammers, Adele East (17 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals) was the key contributor with Zaya Lilly Black adding 13 points.

Cockburn Cougars (85) def. Rockingham Flames (78)

Cockburn Cougars have steadied in the final term to hold off a determined Rockingham Flames by seven points in front of home fans. The Cougars led by six points at quarter time and eight at the main break, with the Flames clawing back to within four at the last change, with the home team then able to stand up under pressure, win the last term 14-11, and win 85-78. Jessie Edwards was impressive with 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists to lead the way for the winners, as Haylee De Sousa (18 points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals) and Molly Matthews (16 points, six rebounds) also had some big individual efforts. For the Flames, it was a two-person shooting spree as Alexandra Ciabattoni (32 points, three rebounds and two steals) and Tayah Burrows (22 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals) shared some big numbers, and Christina Boag (12 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals) also contributed strongly despite the loss.

Warwick Senators (78) def. by Perth Redbacks (95)

Perth Redbacks got the job done against the Senators in the last Friday night fixture, winning by 17 points with a commanding four-quarter performance. Whilst the Senators never looked out of it, the Redbacks did win every term, and the third quarter of 25-18 was the key difference between the sides in the 95-78 victory. Makailah Dyer led the way for the Redbacks with an enormous double-double of 30 points – including four of eight from long range – 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Maddison Allen was also huge off the boards with 11 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocks, while Denielle Ashworth (19 points), Briana Bailey (14 points, five rebounds and four assists) and Shenae Hartree (11 points, nine rebounds) also stood up in the win. Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard top-scored for the Senators with 21 points, while Stacey Barr (19 points, eight rebounds and three assists), Chloe Forster (18 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals) and Tayla Hepburn (14 points, eight rebounds) were other standouts in the loss.

South West Slammers (52) def. by Warwick Senators (102)

The Senators bounced back from the Friday night loss to post a huge 50-point win over the Slammers. The Senators scored at least 22 points in every term, including 57 in the first half, and outscoring the home side 52-18 in the middle two quarters. The result never looked in doubt as the Senators balanced the ledger in Round 1 with the big 102-52 victory. Hoycard was again influential with 29 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals, nailing all four of her three-point attempts. Barr (24 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals), Hepburn (19 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals) and Forster (12 points, five rebounds and five assists) were instrumental, as the team dominated the assist count 31-8 and Nicole Jorre de St Jorre picking up the 10 assists to out-assist the opposition team. Karinda Farrant was the top points scorer for the Slammers with 14 points, six rebounds and two steals in less than 18 minutes, while East (11 points) and Black (nine points, three assists) were again amongst the better scorers.

MEN’S:

Joondalup Wolves (98) def. East Perth Eagles (57)

Opening the season with a big win, Joondalup Wolves proved far too strong for East Perth Eagles, winning all four terms on their way to a 41-point victory. The Wolves scored at least 21 points in every term, then restricted the Eagles to just 23 points in the second half, piling on 42 themselves as they raced to a 98-57 win. Lochlan Cummings was outstanding with 30 points, six assists and four rebounds, one of five players to hit double-figure points for the Wolves. Seb Salinas (11 points, seven rebounds), Sioeli Vaiangina (14 points, five rebounds), Jacob Formosa (14 points, four rebounds and five steals) and Robert Huntington (10 points, five rebounds) all shared the load on the scoring and rebounding front. Kieran Berry was the sole double-figure scorer for the Eagles with 11 points, while Andrej Donlagic (six points, eight rebounds and four assists) was a notable standout in the loss.

Mandurah Magic (89) def. South West Slammers (67)

Mandurah Magic won their first game of the weekend with a handy 22-point win on Friday night against South West Slammers. The Magic led by eight points at he first break, and while the Slammers cut the deficit to within five at half-time, the Magic wen on with it, scoring 45-28 in the second half to run away with the 89-67 victory. Fred Williams (19 points, three rebounds and two assists) and Ben Smith (18 points, three rebounds) both stood out from a scoring perspective, while Xavier Garnett-Shaw (13 points, six rebounds and two assists) and Riley Parker (nine points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals) also impressed. For the Slammers, Mitchell Keller (19 points, 14 rebounds and three steals) had a huge double-double, while Cory Richardson finished with the 12 points.

Cockburn Cougars (72) def. by Rockingham Flames (86)

Rockingham Flames came back from a five-point quarter time deficit to comfortably win the next three terms against Cockburn Cougars and head home with the win. The Flames trailed 16-21 at quarter time, but outscored their opponents by seven, five and seven points in the remaining three quarters to post a 14-point victory on the road, 86-72. Four players had some huge numbers from a scoring perspective, with Flames duo Callum Beard (17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks) and Cirkook Makuac Riak (15 points, 12 rebounds) both collecting double-doubles. Travis Durnin (18 points, eight rebounds) was not too far off them, while Ryan Godfrey top scored with 23 points despite only shooting at 33.3 per cent from the field. Gavin Field was a lone-hand for the Cougars, knocking down 30 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Nic Pozoglou had the 10 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals in the loss.

Warwick Senators (86) def. Perth Redbacks (52)

Warwick Senators won their first of two games over the weekend, up against Perth Redbacks thanks to a dominant first three quarters in their clash. The Senators outscored the Redbacks by six, seven and 11 points in the first three terms to run away with a 24-point lead at the final break. To the Redbacks credit they never gave in, reducing the final margin to t22 points, but the Senators were too strong and took out the win, 86-52. Caleb Davis had the most points with 18, as well as seven rebounds and four assists for the Senators, while Justin King (15 points, 14 rebounds) also stood up in the match with a double-double. Cody Ellis (15 points, four rebounds and two assists) and Corban Wroe (12 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals) were other standouts for the winners. The Redbacks had a couple of handy shooters on the night, with Louis Timms (14 points, five rebounds) and Tevin Jackson (11 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals) among the best.

South West Slammers (60) def. by Warwick Senators (96)

The Senators went back-to-back over the two days to hand the Slammers their second loss of the round, with a 36-point victory on the road. Taking control from the first tip-off, the Senators led by nine points at quarter time and doubled that by the half, and while the Slammers managed to reduce the damage a little in the third, were blown away in the final quarter 26-13 for a final scored of 96-60 in favour of the visitors. Davis had another night out with 35 points, 11 rebounds and four steals, shooting seven of a 11 from long-range. King (18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals) also impressed, while Jarrod Hodge (11 points, three rebounds) hit double-figure points. Ellis (six points, 12 rebounds three assists and three steals) and Ashley Litterick (seven points, five rebounds and four assists contributed in the victory. Rhys Barrett was the standout shooter for the Slammers with 19 points, three rebounds, four steals and two assists, while Keller (seven points, 10 rebounds) was again one of his side’s best in defeat.

East Perth Eagles (95) def. Mandurah Magic (89)

In a tight encounter, East Perth Eagles put in a much stronger performance than their first game to post a tight win over Mandurah Magic. The Eagles started strongly to lead by eight points at half-time, then opened the game up with a 31-18 third quarter to snuff out any chance of a Mandurah comeback. The Magic did their best to storm home with a 33-18 final quarter, but fell six points short in an 89-95 loss. Berry had an impressive outing with 27 points, six rebounds and four assists, teaming up well with Logan Thwaites (22 points, 14 rebounds and two steals. Matt Vinci (14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals) and Donlagic (11 points, seven rebounds and five steals) were both solid in the win. Williams again top scored with 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals, with the other usual suspects in Smith (16 points, seven rebounds and two blocks), Parker (14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals) and Garnett-Shaw (10 points four rebounds and two assists) all having a say on proceedings.

Goldfields Giants (89) def. by Perry Lakes Hawks (100)

In the first of two Saturday night battles between sides playing their first match of the weekend, Perry Lake Hawks came from six points down at quarter time to post an 11-point win over Goldfield Giants. The Giants led 26-20 at the first break, but the Hawks bounced back to turn the tables and head into half-time with a seven-point advantage themselves. They extended it out to 12 by the final break, and whilst the Giants cut back a point, it would not be enough with the Hawks getting up, 100-89. Andrew Ferguson (22 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks) and Cooper Hamilton (22 points, two rebounds) led the way for the Hawks, while Ben Purser (18 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals was one of the most prolific across the board on the night. For the Giants, Deng Kuany picked up a double-double in a standalone effort thanks to 24 points and 10 rebounds, with Damon Ballantyne (10 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals) also recording a double-double in the loss.

Willeton Tigers (96) def. Lakeside Lightning (87)

In the final game of the round, Willeton Tigers powered on in the third term to set themselves up for a nine-point win over Lakeside Lightning. The teams were level at quarter time and the Tigers up by one at the main break, the home team put the foot down with a 29-17 third term to race out to a 13-point advantage ahead of the last quarter. The Lightning picked up to cut it back to nine by the final buzzer, but it would not be enough as the Tigers got up, 96-87. Michael Vigor (22 points, 12 rebounds and two assists) was the standout), as Roosevelt Williams knocked down eight of nine from the field on his way to 21 points, six rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes on court. Damien Scott (21 points, six assists) was also impressive, and Connor Mincherton came close to a double-double with 10 points and nine assists. Corey Shervill (23 points, five steals and three rebounds) and Julius Bowie (22 points, four rebounds) were the two key scorers for the Lightning, while Jack Isenbarger (16 points three assists) and Jarrad Prue (13 rebounds) were also steadfast in the loss.