IT is hard to see the National Basketball League (NBL)1 West competition get a case of the second-year blues. The league kicked off last year in its inagural season, after 32 years going as the State Basketball League (SBL). There was plenty of exciting action throughout 2021, with exciting contests and big seasons both at an individual and team level in the men’s and women’s competition. The upcoming season should produce something similar, with all sides well and truly settled at the level of competition.
Season 2021 saw the two strongest sides claim their respective titles in a deserving manner. In the men’s competition, the title was taken out by the Perry Lakes Hawks, who dominated the home and away season to finish with a record of 18-4. They backed it up in the finals too, cruising through each of their finals matchups, with the smallest margin coming in the big dance, where they claimed a 10-point triumph over the Rockingham Flames. It is hard to go past the Hawks as the competition favourite heading into the 2022 season, but there will be a number of contenDers looking to dethrone last year’s champs.
In the women’s competition, the Willetton Tigers owned the competition for much of the year and it culminated in a championship at the end of the season. The Tigers were dominant in the home and away season, with a record of 15-3, but it wasn’t as one sided as the men’s competition. The Joondalup Wolves matched their record with 15 wins, and it all came together in a blockbuster grand final. Willetton emerged as 11-point winners and the maiden champions. There is no doubt that the Tigers are a strong chance to back it up again in 2022, but the Wolves and a number of other sides will be hot on their tail.
Round 1 kicks off on Friday night, with a number of cracking contests on the cards across the two competitions. None will gather more excitement than the women’s grand final rematch between the Tigers and the Wolves. They were the benchmark for the 2021 season, and the Wolves will be out for revenge after a tough loss in last year’s decider. The Hawks will get the opportunity to defend their title on Friday night when they take on the Senators.
Check out the full fixture below:
Round 1 Fixture
Men’s
Cockburn Cougars vs East Perth Eagles, Friday April 8 @ 8:30pm, Wally Hagan Stadium
Eastern Suns vs Perth Redbacks, Friday April 8 @ 8:30pm, Ray Owen Sports Centre
Perry Lakes Hawks vs Warwick Senators, Friday April 8 @ 8:30pm, Bendat Basketball Centre
Goldfields Giants vs Lakeside Lightning, Saturday April 9 @ 5:30pm, Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium
South West Slammers vs Geraldton Buccaneers, Saturday April 9 @ 7:00pm, Eaton Rec Centre
Willetton Tigers vs Joondalup Wolves, Saturday April 9 @ 7:00pm, Willetton Basketball Stadium
Rockingham Flames vs Mandurah Magic, Saturday April 9 @ 8:00pm, Mike Barnett Sports Complex
Mandurah Magic vs Geraldton Buccaneers, Sunday April 10 @ 12:00pm, Mandurah Aquatic and Rec Centre
Perth Redbacks vs South West Slammers, Sunday April 10 @ 2:00pm, Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre
Women’s
Cockburn Cougars vs East Perth Eagles, Friday April 8 @ 6:30pm Wally Hagan Stadium
Eastern Suns vs Perth Redbacks, Friday April 8 @ 6:30pm, Ray Owen Sports Centre
Perry Lakes Hawks vs Warwick Senators, Friday April 8 @ 6:30pm, Bendat Basketball Centre
Willetton Tigers vs Joondalup Wolves, Saturday April 8 @ 5:00pm, Willetton Basketball Stadium
Rockingham Flames vs Mandurah Magic, Saturday April 9 @ 6:00pm, Mike Barnett Sports Complex
Goldfields Giants vs Lakeside Lightning, Saturday April 9 @ 7:30pm, Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium
Perth Redbacks vs South West Slammers, Sunday April 10 @ 12:00pm, Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre
Perth on the prowl in opening preseason clash
IT was an excellent start to the National Basketball League (NBL) preseason ahead of the 2024/25 fixture for the Perth Wildcats, defeating the NBL1 West Select Team in the first of two clashes between the sides over the weekend. The first match came on Friday night at the redeveloped Morley Recreation Centre, and would showcase […]
Murray brings the Magic to steer Mandurah to title
MANDURAH Magic import Joel Murray staked his claim as one of the best National Basketball League (NBL)1 players in the country, leading his side to the West Men’s championship after defeating the Willetton Tigers in a thriller. Heading into Saturday night’s game at RAC Arena, both the Magic and the Tigers had to grind out […]
NBL1 champions crowned around the country
OVER the weekend, most National Basketball League (NBL)1 competitions wrapped up their 2024 fixtures with some gripping grand final matches taking place across the men’s and women’s competition. It has been an enthralling season for each of the divisions, and it resulted in a collection of close deciders that reflected the close nature of the […]
Murray masterclass gets Mandurah to Grand Final
THEY say the best players stand up on the big stage, and 2024 National Basketball League (NBL)1 West Men’s MVP Joel Murray did exactly that, dragging his Mandurah Magic to the grand final with a win over the Joondalup Wolves. Sunday afternoon’s preliminary final at HBF Arena Joondalup was shaping up as a classic, with […]
Magnificent Marshall moves Tigers to big dance
A CAREER-BEST performance from Marshall Nelson has given the Willetton Tigers a spot in the National Basketball League (NBL1) West Men’s Grand Final, after defeating the Rockingham Flames in a thriller on Thursday night. With a spot in the big dance on the line, Thursday’s clash at Willetton Basketball Stadium had plenty of hype coming […]
Parsons powerful as Giants eclipse Suns
AN emphatic performance from De’Sean Parsons was the spark that helped the Goldfield Giants defeat the Eastern Suns by eight points as the two sides went head to head at Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium on Saturday night. Round 15 of the 2024 National Basketball League (NBL)1 West Men’s season took place over the weekend, and […]
NBL1 West Players of the Week – Round 12
TWO Most Valuable Player (MVP) candidates delivered outstanding performances in Round 12 of the 2024 National Basketball League (NBL)1 West competition over the weekend. The 12th round of the fixture saw 16 games take place across the men’s and women’s divisions, with plenty of standout showings coming from these matches. Although there were a few […]
NBL1 West Players of the Week – Round 11
THE National Basketball League (NBL)1 action continued out west over the weekend, with Round 11 seeing some massive numbers posted from both a team and individual standpoint. With the end of the fixture suddenly approaching at a rapid pace, the teams in contention for a finals spot are starting to find each match is carrying […]
NBL1 West Players of the Week – Round 11
THERE were some massive numbers posted in Round 11 of the National Basketball (NBL)1 West competition, which took place over the weekend. With finals now just seven weeks away, the race for the finals is getting tighter by the week, with most sides still in contention for a postseason appearance as the competition remains balanced […]
