Memorable Season Comes to an End in Front of Sell-Out Home Crowd
The Eastern Suns’ 2026 NBL1 West Men’s season came to a close on Saturday night, with Perry Lakes Hawks claiming an 87–57 victory in the Elimination Final at Ray Owen Sports Centre.
While the result wasn’t what the Suns had hoped for, the night featured a capacity crowd of 630 supporters packed every available seat and surrounded the court, creating one of the best atmospheres Ray Owen Sports Centre has seen in years.
The incredible support was a fitting as the Men’s teams appeared in their first NBL1 West Finals since 2019.
The Suns entered the contest looking to extend their season but came up against a Perry Lakes side that executed well throughout the night.
A tightly contested opening quarter saw the Hawks take a narrow lead before pulling away with a strong second period. Perry Lakes continued to build momentum after halftime and maintained control through the final quarter to book their place in the Semi Finals.
Joe Cook-Green once again led the Suns offensively, finishing with 14 points while continuing to battle until the final siren.
Veteran Reece Maxwell made an important contribution with 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal in what proved to be the final game of the Suns’ 2026 campaign.
Lewis Thomas worked tirelessly inside, collecting 8 rebounds and adding a block, while Marley Sam finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds after another outstanding season from the 17-year-old rising star.
Although the scoreboard didn’t favour the home side, the Suns never stopped competing, feeding off the energy from a packed Ray Owen Sports Centre until the final buzzer.
While the season ended earlier than hoped, the 2026 campaign will be remembered as a significant step forward.
The men’s group secured the teams first finals appearance since 2019, produced memorable wins throughout the year and re-established Ray Owen Sports Centre as one of the competition’s toughest and most passionate venues. Saturday night’s crowd of 630 supporters was a testament to the connection this team built with the community, with fans packing the venue and creating a finals atmosphere the club can be proud of.
To our players, coaches, volunteers, sponsors, members and supporters—thank you for making 2026 a season to remember. While the journey came to an end on Saturday night, the foundations have been laid for an exciting future, and the Suns will be determined to build on this year’s success when they return in 2027.
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