Women Finish Season on a High as Men Turn Attention to Finals
The Eastern Suns closed out the 2026 NBL1 West regular season on Friday night with a trip to Willetton Basketball Stadium to take on the Tigers.
The women finished their campaign in style with an impressive road victory, while the men were unable to overcome Willetton despite a spirited performance. With the regular season now complete, the men’s focus shifts to this weekend’s elimination final against the Perry Lakes Hawks.
WOMEN
The Suns women finished their 2026 campaign on the perfect note, defeating the Tigers 94–75 in an outstanding team performance.
After a tightly contested opening quarter, the Suns took control before halftime, building momentum through the second term. They then produced a dominant third quarter, scoring 31 points to create separation before closing out the game with another strong final period.
Gabriela Bronson led the Suns with 25 points, 4 assists and a steal in another outstanding all-round display.
Trista Hull capped off a remarkable regular season with one of the performances of the year, recording an incredible 26-point, 26-rebound double-double while adding 5 assists, 2 steals and a block. Her dominance at both ends of the floor proved instrumental in the Suns’ final victory of the season.
Alyssa Bowen added 13 points and 4 rebounds, while Denae Civich contributed 13 points, 4 assists and a steal as the Suns shared the offensive load.
The result was a fitting reward for a group that continued to grow throughout the season, finishing the year with an impressive road performance.
MEN
The Suns men fell 86–98 to Willetton in their final regular season outing.
The contest remained close throughout the opening three quarters, with neither side able to establish a significant advantage. Willetton found another level in the final term, pulling away late to claim the victory.
Marley Sam led the Suns with 14 points, while adding 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in another composed all-around performance.
Lewis Thomas was a force inside, finishing with a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds to go with 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks.
Joe Cook-Green continued his strong form with 13 points and 9 assists, helping orchestrate the Suns’ offence throughout the evening.
While the result didn’t fall the Suns’ way, the focus now shifts to finals basketball, with the club preparing for its first NBL1 West Finals appearance since 2019.
The regular season has drawn to a close with plenty to celebrate. The women’s side finished on a high with a commanding victory to cap off a season of growth and resilience, while the men’s group now turns its full attention to the postseason. Having secured the club’s first finals berth since 2019, the Suns will head into this weekend’s elimination final against Perry Lakes eager to continue their journey and keep their season alive.
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