All of our “Player of the Game” superstars will receive a FREE PIZZA from our friends at Domino’s Kalamunda – Thanks Guys!
Players of the Round:
Holly Marsh (U16 Girls) –Holly Marsh was incredible once again, finishing with 25 points, 15 rebounds, and six steals. Her relentless effort on both ends of the court is what makes her such a valuable player. She consistently leads the charge back on defense, crashes the boards to win rebounds, and takes on significant offensive responsibilities for the team. Her hard work and dedication truly set the tone for our performance. Great job Holly!!
Theo Birks (U12 Boys) – Theo played an outstanding game – he seemed to be everywhere, playing a pivotal role in the team defensive scheme, coming up with some huge rebounds in the second half and hitting clutch buckets to keep the offensive fightback going. The way he iced the clock and nailed his two free throws to seal the win showed his basketball IQ has reached another level. Well done Theo!
U12 Girls Black
Sponsored by: Clever Fox Marketing
Coach: Lizzie Falconbridge
Won against Perry Lakes Hawks (39 – 36)
U12 Girls Orange
Sponsored by: Diesel’s Mobile Mechanics
Coach: Bonnie Batista
Won against South West Slammers (35 – 27)
Coaches notes
The game finally went our way this week, taking home the win but the better win for us coaches was watching the girls’ basketball IQ improve. The girls are starting to understand the importance of passing forward and taking the right shots, and our improvement is starting to show. Although we did have some slight challenges, the girls quickly responded to my instructions and went back to our strong team basketball. I couldn’t be prouder of these girls because no matter what the outcome is, they always keep their heads up, ready to learn. I am looking forward to watching these girls continue to grow and strengthen as a team. Good win this week girls!! You certainly deserved it!
Player of the game
Sarah! Sarah is constantly open in the right spots every week and this week we were able to find her time after time for some great shots! Sarah always gives me 100% of her effort no matter the environment she is in! In the first few games, Sarah wasn’t so confident, but this game Sarah dribbled and took some good drives to the basket! You’re a star, Sarah!!
U12 Girls White
Coach: Bianca Powell
Won against Perry Lakes Hawks (31 – 14)
Coaches notes
Started off touch and go, but as the game progressed the girls pulled together and finished off strong – extremely proud of these girls , great on ball defense always leads to a competitive and exciting game and each week they keep bringing it to the court. Love watching the growth and potential these girls bring each week.
Great game girls – keep it up, you’re all amazing
Player of the game
Alexis King
Each week this players game becomes stronger and stronger – Her determination and drive in the game each week is an absolute pleasure to be apart of. Her on ball defense delivers her steal after steal and her drive to the baskets with each steal is a big part of the teams success. Keep it up Lexi , you are amazing
U12 Boys Black
Sponsored by: Rover Tech
Coach: Lizzie Falconbridge
Loss against Lakeside Lightning (49 – 63)
Coaches notes
We had a great start to the game, getting stops and converting baskets at the other end. Spencer Massam was dominating early converting defense to easy baskets, but the game slowly started turning just before quarter time. Some lapses in concentration allowed some easy baskets and Lakeside were starting to get offensive boards and converting second chance points. The offensive rebounding continued into the second quarter, then they started trapping us at halfcourt which turned us over a few times. Scores were level at halftime, but the momentum was well and truly with Lakeside. This continued into the third quarter, and early in the fourth the Lakeside lead had ballooned to 20. Three three-pointers from Preston Handgraaf in the last 5 minutes of the game brought the margin back, but we never threatened in the second half. We have some lessons to learn from this game. Defensive rebounds are very important and can turn a game. Heads should always be up bring the ball up the court, looking for that defensive trap and planning our next pass. Also, slowing the game down when we feel we are losing control, not trying to make risky plays to get back into the game.
Player of the game
For a huge rebounding and defensive effort, Ashton Smith is our player of the game this round. Ashton is starting to show some athleticism to go with his size and strength underneath the basket. He also chipped in 8 points.
U12 Boys Orange
Coach: Nathan La Cava
Won against Perth Redbacks (59 – 43)
Coaches notes
Our fast, high-energy starts are continuing to pay dividends. With solid defense and effective ball movement, we finished the first quarter up 19–3 and maintained that margin for a strong 16-point win.
A big shoutout to our starting five—Tane Broadwith (22 pts), Nate Farrier (18 pts), AJ Brar (11 pts), Zac Daly (8 pts), and Zac Qian—who once again set the tone. Their reliable pressure defense continues to fuel our offensive rhythm.
We were well supported by the bench, with every player making a positive impact on the game, especially on the defensive end. Munashe Rukodzi is fast becoming a relentless presence, throwing himself into every contest and creating opportunities with his hustle and energy.
Jeremiah James, Isaac Edwards, and Kevin Zhang also provided dependable defense and were key in transitioning the ball up the court smoothly.
While we’re happy with the win, consistency remains a focus. When we run the floor and move the ball, we are tough to beat. However, we tend to lose discipline when we build a lead—something we need to improve.
Rebounding remains a priority. We narrowly lost the count 27–28, which is a solid effort, but it’s an area we’ll continue to target as the season progresses.
Player of the game
It was a hard one this week, as both Tane Broadwith & Nate Farrier both had solid games and maintained quality consistency all game.
Tane, provided awesome energy & a can do attitude which was the spark we needed in the 2nd half to drive home the win, and it was for this that I couldn’t see past awarding Tane with Player of the Game . Well done Tane!
U12 Boys White
Sponsored by: Alliance Engineering Consultants Pty Ltd
Coach: Terrence Murdoch
Won against Willetton Tigers (55 – 50)
Coaches notes
This week the boys put together a statement win – our first at home this season, overcoming a large half-time deficit, to come home with a 57-50 victory over Willetton. The two major focus areas at training were our half-court no middle defense, and our outlet passing to kick off offensive transition, and both elements of our game were on display, particularly in the second half.
The first quarter was evenly matched with both teams seeing leads. In the second quarter, the Tigers elevated their defensive pressure, suffocating our transition game, putting us in a 15 point hole at half time.
The boys came out of half time with an impressive sense of focus and determination, consistently executing the fundamentals that we have emphasised at training; ball-side positioning, help side defense, closing out to shooters and boxing out. When the Tigers penetrated the keyway, they were met with tough interior D, with several blocks being recorded. This, combined with effective back-court pressure, proved too much for Willetton to handle. The boys showed grit, resilience, maturity and a hunger to win in an impressive display of team basketball – which should serve as a blueprint for themselves to carry forward for the rest of the season.
Player of the game
There were a number of standout performances in this one. Special mentions to Stellan Edowai, for an outstanding game on both ends, Carter Murdoch for adding a mid-range game to his improved interior play, and Arona Gopolang for an intense and poised effort at the point.
The player of the game was Theo Birks. Theo played an outstanding game – he seemed to be everywhere, playing a pivotal role in the team defensive scheme, coming up with some huge rebounds in the second half and hitting clutch buckets to keep the offensive fightback going. The way he iced the clock and nailed his two free throws to seal the win showed his basketball IQ has reached another level. Well done Theo!
U12 Boys Blue
Sponsored by: Maintain
Coach: Dean Simmons
Loss against South West Slammers (36 – 65)
Coaches notes
The score does not reflect the effort these boys put in, we were off to a promising start with decent energy once again showing what we’re capable of when fighting for every shot with Jaxon producing remarkable defense we took the lead & held it in the 1st even with Slammers making a excruciating 3 on the buzzer. The 2nd starts and it’s like we were still chewing on that 3 pointer, there was a complete adrenaline dump, a couple bad passes and lack of game plan structure found us chasing our tails making it easy for Slammers to capitalize on easy steals. There were a few potential looks but unfortunately hesitation got the better of us, another lesson for future to commit to our decision.
The 3rd our priority was defense, we succeeded especially with Amir once again kicking it up a gear influencing his teammates to also grab more boards. Although our defense was strong, the Slammers game plan of throw and hope was luckily effective while it felt like we couldn’t even buy a bucket, our shots were not sinking though our steals were on point. The 4th was to stick to our defensive approach and set out our own goals, we didn’t quite meet the criteria but once again we don’t stop till the end, that’s one of the many qualities of this team.
Player of the game
Isaac park
A tough choice this time and a few candidates! However watching Isaacs confidence grow comes weekly, he’s great at setting a pace and this game saw him better his skillset with deadly steals and pinpoint accuracy attacking the basket and trusting his jump shot. He never stops trying and gives his all every game. He often comes out of nowhere and is the most effective. As your aggression grows you are a constant force to be reckoned with and we are just scratching the surface! Well earned champion!
U14 Girls Black
Sponsored by: Midland Mitsubishi
Coach: Lawrence West
Loss against Mandurah Magic (44 – 54)
Coaches notes
A slow start saw us trailing by 13 at the end of the first quarter, but the group responded well in the second, closing the gap to just 4 points at the half. The second half was a grind, with both teams trading momentum before Mandurah managed to pull away in the fourth.
Our field goal and free throw percentages let us down this week. No matter how strong our defense is, we need to be able to convert on the other end.
Coming up short two weeks in a row is tough, but I’m proud of our group’s resilience and our ability to stay united. There were stretches where we were clearly the dominant team, and those moments are a great reminder of what we’re capable of.
Week by week we’re growing together, and we’re looking forward to a couple of home games in a row to continue building that momentum.
Player of the game
Isobel Wood – In a game where we struggled to shoot the ball as a group, Bel stepped up and did just about everything else to perfection.
She pulled down 9 rebounds, handed out 5 assists, and came up with 4 steals, constantly putting herself in the right positions to help the team.
Her energy, composure and willingness to do the hard work stood out. A great all-round performance that kept us in the contest. Awesome effort, Bel!
U14 Girls Orange
Sponsored by: KTRANS
Coach: Zac Belton
Won against Perth Redbacks (40 – 31)
Coaches notes
We knew coming into this game that Redbacks were capable of beating us, we went toe to toe with them for the first half of basketball. We settled and refocused and put the defensive pressure on to pull away and never looked back!
Player of the game
May Cooper – she was so effective throughout the entire game, making great reads and some highlighted defensive plays! Her play as of late has been awesome to see! Well done to May!
U14 Girls White
Sponsored by: Pat Rando Homes
Coach: Adam Chambers
Loss against Rockingham Flames (34 – 59)
Coaches notes
Heading into Rockingham, we knew this would be a real test—and it was.
We came out strong in Q1, with great full-court pressure, sharp ball movement and strong rebounding—exactly what we’d focused on. The girls executed well, earning a 12–6 lead.
Q2 was a turning point. Rockingham applied heavy pressure and we struggled to respond. Poor shot selection, rushed passing, and too many turnovers cost us dearly. We allowed 10 unanswered points to close the half and lost the quarter 6–24.
Q3 started the same way, with Rockingham scoring the first 8 points. We battled hard in a very physical quarter, but lacked consistent second and third efforts and couldn’t convert under pressure, going down 10–16.
Q4 followed a similar pattern. We never stopped competing, but couldn’t regain momentum, finishing the quarter 6–13.
While the result was disappointing, we’ll take some positives. The team showed resilience and we had a strong Q1 to build from. Ruby top scored with 7, Indigo added 6, and Amelia 5.
We’ll reset, regroup, and be better next week.
Player of the game
Player of the Round goes to Ruby Chang, who gives 100 percent every week. Her relentless effort at both ends of the court and never-give-up attitude stood out once again. She top scored and fought until the final buzzer with unmatched determination. Special mention goes to Indigo Anderson for her tireless work across the court, and to Amelia Soka, whose strong start gave the team early momentum. Hopefully next week we can build on this and play a full game at our true potential.
U14 Girls Blue
Sponsored by: DCI Group
Coach: Kym Buckingham
Loss against Perth Redbacks (29 – 36)
Coaches notes
This week was a tale of two halves. The girls struggled to begin with against what was a very accurate shooting team and while we out rebounded them and defended strong, we just couldn’t get our shots to sink. This resulted in us heading into the halftime break trailing by 15. We challenged the girls at halftime not to think about the score but to focus on playing our own game and let the rest take care of itself. As a result the girls looked like a totally different team coming out of the break. They looked for their teammates, made smart decisions with the ball and were dropping their shots. They continued to play strong defense and rebound winning both on the offensive and defensive ends! The turn around from the first half was amazing and felt like a win in itself. Unfortunately during the first half the damage was done and we went down, but super proud of the ways the girls handled themselves in a trying situation.
Player of the game
Annie is a our secret weapon. Don’t let her size her fool you as she plays like someone twice her size. Her defense and attack at the basket is always spot on and she isn’t afraid to get in there with the talls, often out rebounding others. Teams often underestimate her and get caught out by this little pocket rocket.
U14 Boys Black
Coach: Declan Kinsella
Won against Perry Lakes Hawks (80 – 64)
Coaches notes
On Sunday morning, we delivered a composed and systematic performance to claim an 80-64 win over Perry Lakes. From the outset, we set the tone with disciplined execution on both ends of the floor, maintaining control of the tempo and dictating the flow of the game. Offensively, we moved the ball with intent, created quality scoring opportunities, and showed great composure under pressure. Our defensive structure was equally impressive — we stayed connected, communicated well, and made it difficult for Perry Lakes to find any rhythm. It was a complete team effort built on focus, consistency, and trust in our system — a strong and professional showing to cap off the weekend.
Player of the game
This weeks player of the game was Dominique Nazario. It was a big scoring performance from Dominique putting up 20 points, but the thing that sealed the deal was his rebounding. Dominique walked away from the game with 15 rebounds, a big improvement from the past few weeks, and the catalyst for our transition offence.
U14 Boys Orange
Coach: Ben Marks
Loss against South West Slammers (58 – 57)
Coaches notes
Heart breaking game for the boys this week, they really deserved the win for their efforts. The way we responded to being down by double digits in the first quarter to being 9 points in front by the half was a great sign moving further into the season. It came from pure defensive effort and running hard for our teammates in transition, creating opportunities early in the offense. We continued to focus on getting the ball inside from post up’s and give and go actions which were mainly effective but some lapses in decision making ultimately let our opponent back into the match and they capitalized by converting our turnovers.
Some clutch free throw shooting kept us close, and we had an opportunity to win with just 4 seconds on the clock with Cohen getting a clean look at it. Unfortunately, it did not drop, and we lost by 1 point. Some real positives to take into next week as well as focusing on taking care of the ball and our spacing in transition.
Player of the game
The player of the round this week is Jason. He has really started to become a focal point of our offense as his finishing around the basket is really coming along as his ability to give constant effort defensively, not taking any plays off. His consistent improvement is key to our success moving forward and having two double figure scoring games in the last two weeks is a good sign. Well done, Jason.
U14 Boys White
Coach: Dave Gan
Won against Perry Lakes Hawks (46 – 37)
Coaches notes
We travelled to Bendat to take on a Hawks team known for their speed, pace, and love of the 3 ball. Having watched them the week before we had a side quest for Christian to keep their little guard at bay. He did a fantastic job keeping him to 4 points and limiting his impact to almost nothing.
It was one of those games where, for whatever reason, our energy just wasn’t there from the start. Our offensive game plan didn’t quite click as intended, but we still managed to find scoring opportunities across the board, with a good spread of contributions from both our wings and our bigs.
Notable Players
Kian 4pts 4 reb 4 steals 100%FG
Austin 8pts 4 rebs 44%FG
Brodie 9Pts 8 Rebs 57.1%FG
Damon double double 10pts 10 reb 4 assit 40%FG
Player of the game
Damon has had a solid start to the season, now having his 2nd double double and an 18pt game on 80% FG. Previously he’s been our most consistent scorer and rebounder to date. This will be his first Player of the Game award and well deserved after such a strong start. As the expectations get higher it’s even harder to get such an award. Well done Damon
U14 Boys Blue
Sponsored by: SW Hart & Co
Coach: Sebastian Irving
Loss against Mandurah Magic (52 – 61)
Coaches notes
We started the first quarter pretty sluggish, managed to bring it back to one point by the end of the quarter through creating turnovers and running in transition. Mandurah pushed it out a bit more by halftime but we continued to fight and come back from surges. A back and forth 4th quarter saw the lead pushed out an extra point. The boys showed some real resilience in the last period but it was too little too late.
Player of the game
Player of the round is Lukas Jones. Lukas has been playing consistently well throughout the start of the season, but was an impact player this weekend. Scored 13 points and as always dominant on the boards. Showed his motor and played with 100% the whole game.
U16 Girls Black
Sponsored by: Njamal People’s Trust
Coach: Ricardo Batista
Loss against Hills Raiders (75 – 86)
Coaches notes
Despite the loss, our overall statistical performance suggests we had the potential to win. We shot only 2 from 23 from three-point range and finished with an overall shooting percentage of 33%, which simply won’t secure a victory. We need to develop stronger mental fortitude when the game is on the line. It’s encouraging to see that, despite learning new structures, offenses, and defenses, the team was still able to put up a solid number of points. We’ll regroup this week to refine our strategies and continue working hard on our defensive positioning and fitness.
Player of the game
Holly Marsh was incredible once again, finishing with 25 points, 15 rebounds, and six steals. Her relentless effort on both ends of the court is what makes her such a valuable player. She consistently leads the charge back on defense, crashes the boards to win rebounds, and takes on significant offensive responsibilities for the team. Her hard work and dedication truly set the tone for our performance. Great job Holly!!
U16 Girls Orange
Sponsored by: SG Enviro
Coach: Daniel Heyman
Won against Perth Redbacks (65 – 60)
Coaches notes
Playing the undefeated Redbacks, we knew we’d be up for a challenge. The first quarter was a tightly fought contest, with both teams exchanging buckets until the last couple of minutes where the Redbacks strung together baskets, taking a 4 point lead into the first break. Though just 4 points down, we’d seen this situation before. History had been that we fall behind and struggle to fight our way back.
The second quarter only got worse, with Perth extending their lead to 9 in under 4 minutes. The mental struggle of staying positive and sticking to a gameplan has been our achilles heel. To the girls’ credit, they showed the necessary resolve and played to advantage, finding quality shots around the hoop. We went on a 12 – 0 run, seizing the lead. From that point on, we found belief and stayed true to our plan, scrapping and playing for one-another.
In the last couple of minutes, we played the clock and possession game with poise and maturity, securing our third win of the season. The girls showed growth in their ability to withstand adversity, mustering the will to compete and execute together.
Player of the game
Leah Darroch: When challenged, Leah stepped up, setting the bar for the rest of the team. She led the way with key defensive possessions and rebounds, dragging us out of trouble. Without Leah’s leadership and grit, I’m not sure we would’ve mentally overcome our opponent. Leah exemplified the courage, commitment and execution needed to get us over the line. Amazing work, Leah.
U16 Girls White
Sponsored by: First Generation
Coach: Rae D’Sylva
Loss against Lakeside Lightning (56 – 77)
U16 Girls Blue
Sponsored by: Lamp Accounting
Coach: John Shea
Loss against East Perth Eagles (34 – 35)
Coaches notes
A heart breaking loss, only going down in the dying seconds after winning the first 3 quarters. The team really deserved a better result but were unable to close it out.
Player of the game
Kirsten Ngui She was our top scorer with 10 points and had several steals.
U16 Boys Black
Coach: Bruno Kongawoin
Won against Hills Raiders (84 – 80)
Coaches notes
After dropping two straight games to the Hills Raiders in recent matchups, it was great to see the boys bounce back and reclaim one.
Our defensive versatility continues to be a cornerstone of our success generating multiple turnovers and converting them into valuable fast-break opportunities.
That said, our front-court execution still needs significant improvement. Despite out-rebounding the Raiders on both ends, we gave up 18 offensive boards. On a positive note, we also recorded our lowest turnover count of the season with 22.
Ryker Phillips composure and presence gave us the momentum we needed with 14 points and 7 rebounds in the first quarter. He went on to secure another well-earned double-double, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Tadiwa Kukodzi had another superb performance with a massive 18 points in the second half to lead all scorers with 29 points including a perfect 6 for 6 from the stripes. Tadi was supported by Prince Balila and Raymond Tafira contributing 11 points each.
Our attention to details remains lacking. As we look towards facing the Cockburn Cougars this round, we need to continue to grow in our front-court coverage, versatility and most importantly our finishes.
Player of the game
Tadiwa Kukodzi delivered yet another standout performance, showcasing both skill and heart in a dominant all-around game. Tadi was relentless and a menace on both ends of the court, leading all scorers with an impressive 29 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists.
What continues to set Tadi apart is his unwavering commitment to giving his all; leaving everything on the floor, every single game. That kind of passion is contagious, and I’m excited for the day when his example becomes the standard across the whole squad.
Keep grinding, Tadi. The fire you bring is special, and it’s lighting the way forward for this team.
U16 Boys Orange
Sponsored: #RISETOGETHER
Coach: Chris Clyne
Won against Cockburn Cougars (71 – 60)
Coaches notes
Slow start to the game saw both teams struggle to get into a rhythm at the offensive end of the floor. A big corner 3 from Mat Berkhout just on the half-time buzzer took us into the main break with some momentum and a 2pt lead. A change in defense in the 3rd quarter allowed us to get some transition baskets and stretch the lead out to 12pts. Final quarter saw the boys hold on to their lead and come out 11pt victors.
Player of the game
Cal Kwe – Whenever injected into the game, Cal’s defensive pressure was immense. Whether it was pressuring the ball carrier or getting his hand in passing lanes. Cal’s effort and intensity on defense had a strong impact on the rest of the teams defensive output.
U16 Boys White
Coach: Derek Quayle
Won against Joondalup Wolves (95 – 71)
Coaches notes
This was a game where we had to grind it out from start to finish but the boys were able to stick to task and win every quarter to come away with the win. The first quarter was pretty tight and was good to see us finish a quarter strong (as that has been a weak point for us this season). We ended the quarter on a 8-2 run to finish up 22-14.
The second quarter was a lot tougher with Joondalup fighting back and getting a lot of transition baskets. We were able to steady and the middle part of this quarter we were able to go on another run, this time being 10-2 which forced the opposition to call a timeout. Unfortunately we were not able to continue to press the advantage after the timeout allowing them to outscore us for the rest of the quarter 10-14.
We improved after the main break to continue grinding away and slowly increasing our lead. Heading in to the final quarter we had a lead of 17 with the score at 70-53. The fourth quarter was another grind but we were able to continue to push and win that quarter as well 25-18.
Overall it was great to get the win to take our season to 4-0, but we still have a lot to work on as Joondalup exposed aspects of our transition defense today.
Player of the game
Ben Milczuk gets the player of the game today. He top scored with 19 points and anchored our defense all game.
U16 Boys Blue
Sponsored by: GJ Demo Pty Ltd
Coach: Joel Warner
Loss against Rockingham Flames (59 – 74)
Coaches notes
Coach James & I did our homework on the high scoring, undefeated Flames Team that we encountered. As a group, the take-away is that we took a HUGE step forward in our season. At one stage we’d dug ourselves a 24-point hole to climb out of, but with structural changes, grit, better match-ups, & a desire to win the loose balls, we managed to get the deficit back to 5. Our momentum run changed the course of play, & as we battled back, the game took a physical turn. We didn’t have the size & strength to play that sort of game, & it got away from us. The pattern of the season so far is size. In our three games so far, we’re a small Team comparatively, therefore what we lack in size we need to make up with better structure, better decision making & determination. On Sunday we had two of those three ingredients for success. We will therefore work on our decision making to give ourselves more ball volume, better ball movement & creating more scoring opportunities. Rockingham beat an opponent earlier in the season by 82 points. Interesting score-line to note, however for the Suns Blue Team – we accept & welcome these challenges. We showed what we could do in Q2 & Q3 & the boys left the stadium, heads held reasonably high, despite the loss.
Player of the game
Sometimes in basketball, there are individual battles within the bigger Team battle, & on Sunday, Ethan found himself in one. I’m pleased to share how well he handled his. Despite challenges, Ethan stayed composed, lifted his teammates, & didn’t back down. While his season may not have started as he hoped, Ethan shone in this game. Players are motivated differently, & though he may not say it, I believe Ethan wanted to show Suns Blue he wouldn’t be pushed around on Sunday. I look forward to seeing Ethan grow in dependability & leadership. Great outing, Ethan.
U18 Girls Black
Sponsored by: Bambii B
Coach: Zac Belton
Won against Perry Lakes Hawks (69 – 62)
Coaches notes
The last time we played this team, they beat us convincingly at State Champs, we knew they are strong all round. Our emphasis for this game was our defense, an area we are currently building on and put our new philosophy to practice – we definitely saw glimpses of improvement and I’m excited to see how we adjust in the next game.
Player of the game
Kaia Rukuata for her effort on the boards and finishes around the rim, she was the difference maker for us!
U18 Girls Orange
Sponsored by: Parker Crofts & Co
Coach: Simon Calvert
Loss against Joondalup Wolves (45 – 67)
Coaches notes
Having previously faced this Joondalup team at both State Champs and during Grading, we knew we were in for a tough, physical contest. Our focus heading into the game was to play with more composure and patience, and I believe we did a much better job of that. Offensively, we showed some of our best ball movement of the season, and I felt our defense also stepped up against an active Wolves attack. True to our season so far, we again played a strong first half to be within 6 points at halftime but struggled to maintain that intensity in the second half. A key improvement this week though was our ability to prevent any major scoring runs during the game – something that has hurt us in previous games. If we continue to work hard and play the right way, I’m confident that good results will follow. Well done girls.
Player of the game
Jess Prior is our player of the round. Jess brings incredible value to our team and showcased her versatility in this game, contributing across the board with scoring, rebounding and tough defense. She’s a fantastic teammate, and it was great to see her deliver her best performance of the season so far. Well done Jess!
U18 Boys Black
Sponsored by: Auto One Kalamunda
Coaches: Brock & Dyson Lowe
Loss against Perry Lakes Hawks (118 – 120)
Coaches notes
Boys came out humming in this game which was what we emphasised at training.
Was an awesome game to be a part of leading most of the way before some key foul outs saw us heading to OT, where we unfortunately ran out of legs and lost by 2 in a Sunday morning heartbreaker.
Notable mentions
Jackson McClure
– a real rim protector with a handful of blocks and consistently playing out of position and keeping us competitive in OT.
Marley Sam – can’t let a 35 point game go unnoticed, a true offensive display in the 3rd qtr had everyone in awe.
Player of the game
Scoring an effortless 27 and was special to watch. The way this boy attacks rebounds and goes about the game is just different. An athletic freak who just gives 110% effort each week. I couldn’t be prouder of this guy and he gets the recognition he deserves.
Lachy McGlade
The Ace of Spade
Suns Fade
Hawks by 2
U18 Boys Orange
Sponsored: #RISINGSUNS
Coach: Ron Flores
Loss against East Perth Eagles (76 – 81)
Coaches notes
Started slowly, falling behind 10-16 by the end of the 1st quarter, turnovers and fouls proved costly. East Perth Red capitalized with efficient scoring, as our defenders had challenges containing the penetration of the East Perth Red guards forcing us to into over helping or being late in rotations and allowing them to find open players in receiver spots. At the ¼ time break some honest conversation about the pride we take in our defensive effort, coupled with some strategical changes, saw us go on a run and hold East Perth Red to 8 points in the 2nd quarter to take a halftime lead of 38-28. Unfortunately we lost Anthony Flores to injury early in that term which would prove telling later in the game. The 3rd quarter we were thoroughly outplayed by East Perth, they were active forcing a number of turnovers (8 PFTO) and a number of offensive boards (13 2CP) whilst monstering us on the glass 20-3 for the quarter and outscoring us 31-18 to take slight 59-56 lead into the three quarter time break. The final quarter turned into a battle of resilience, both teams traded basket for basket, stop for stop, however a late surge of scoring from the East Perth Red team and a few defensive lapses in the final minutes, proved costly for the Suns.
Player of the game
We had really solid contributions across the board from the team this week which was a great result, but the Player of this round is Cooper Hewer. He was an honest performer all day across all aspects of the game, there has been a significant improvement in the defensive side of the game that is starting to compliment he’s offensive game and really turn him into a two way player.
U18 Boys White
Coach: Rob Rees
Loss against Cockburn Cougars (80 – 85)
U18 Boys Blue
Sponsored by: QDC
Coach: Doug Bainbridge
Won against Lakeside Lightning (72 – 66)
Coaches notes
A really great win at home against a tough Lakeside team. The boys responded well and completely turned around our poor first quarter from last week. Our pressure and intensity in the first ten minutes set us up for the game as we finished the quarter 23-8. Credit to Lakeside though as they fought hard for the rest of the game slightly narrowing the margin each quarter as we held on to win by 6 points.
It was fantastic to watch the team take the lessons from last weeks game and apply them so well this week. We rarely turned the ball over in the back court and navigated their press with ease. We knew that they were going to be a hard running transition team so the boys took good shots and pressured the ball the entire game giving Lakeside their lowest score of the season. Our half court defense in particular was a real highlight this week with our communication standard very high and our physicality not allowing any paint touches.
We moved the ball around exceptionally well this week with 4 players into double figures and every player hitting the score board.
Player of the game
Our player of the week this week is Lucas Aird. Lucas went 100% from the field and punished Lakesides transition defense scoring 11 of his 16 points in the first quarter alone. It was great to see the hard work Lucas does off the ball every week translate into scoreboard pressure and his leadership in the first quarter was outstanding. Well done Lucas!
U20 Boys Black
Sponsored by: CSI Mining Services
Coach: Bailey Ferguson
Loss against Joondalup Wolves (87 – 94)
U20 Boys Orange
Sponsored by: ComWiz Computers
Coach: Rae D’Sylva
Won against South West Slammers (96 – 75)
U21 Girls Black
Sponsored by: Stott Hoare
Coach: Charlie Smart
Loss against Hills Raiders (65 – 86)
Coaches notes
After another very slow start which saw habitual basketball overshadow teamwork and saw us down by as much as 30 points. A reset and change of game plan saw the girls band together. They shifted their frustrations into positives.
Holding steady for the remainder of the game often saw Raiders out matched as we changed pace and forced turnovers resulting in some very exciting basketball. They fought hard both ends of the court and refused to back down, strengthening in the third and winning the forth.
All in all a good game against top of the table team.
Player of the game
Skye – Skye had her strongest outing this season. Her confidence grew as the game went on. She ran from rim to rim, intercepting, picking Raiders pockets and had a couple of great blocks. It was so good to see Skye working hard in defense and helping her teammates both ends of the court. Skye finished with a strong 20 points. Great work!
Well done to all teams and we look forward to round 5!