All of our “Player of the Game” stars will be rewarded through the Grill’d Awesome Effort Award Program with a voucher for a FREE burger, thanks to our friends at Grill’d Midland!
Players of the Round:
Lahlita Pellicciotti (U14 Girls 2) – Player of the Round goes to Lahlita Pellicciotti for her calm and composed performance in such a tight game. While the pace of the game got rushed at times, Lahlita stayed under control and consistently made smart decisions with the ball. She had some great shot selection throughout the game, created strong outlet passes to our runners, and applied great defensive pressure all game. Her smart plays and composure were a huge part of helping the team come away with the win. Adding 10 points in a close game, whilst being face guarded shows the level Lahlita is playing at and her ability to still have an impact on the game is fantastic! Well done Lahlita!!
Val Luboya (U18 Boys Team 2) – Val delivers at a high level every week, but this round his impact stood out. His defensive pressure set the tone and his ability to shift momentum with big defensive plays was massive. Once again, his timing was exceptional, especially with his trademark chase-down blocks that continue to become a feature of his season. What stood out most wasn’t just the individual moments, it was the way he led through effort, energy and doing the team-first things that lift everyone around him.
U12 Girls Team 1
Sponsored by: Diesel’s Mobile Mechanics
Coach: Bonnie Batista
Won against Rockingham Flames (40 – 33)
U12 Girls Team 2
Sponsored by: Scardifields Smash Repairs
Coach: Stuart Perazzo
Won against Eastern Suns 3 (29 – 10)
Coaches notes
A fantastic effort from the girls, storming home for the win against their training mates in Team 3. It was a true team effort this week, with every girl on the court having a meaningful impact on the game. There was a clear focus on our defence, with our structure beginning to sink in. Our inbound play couldn’t be faulted. And, our patience in offence was obvious. A special shout out to Lily this week, who displayed a step-change in personal development, and Zoey who shot our teams first ever 3-pointer! (not something we will try for every week just yet Zoey, but you couldn’t ignore the hype from the crowd, what a shot!).
Player of the game
Our player of the round this week goes to Aaliyah Antoine. Aaliyah has been putting in some obvious effort over the past few weeks, particularly around building her self-confidence. Aaliyah has a powerful dribble and possesses physical strength, the challenge has been trying to unlock it. This week she brought the ball up the court successfully and contested some great rebounds. Keep heading in this direction Aaliyah, you have our full backing to take the game on. Well done!
U12 Girls Team 3
Sponsored by: RoverTech
Coach: Lizzie Falconbridge
Loss against Eastern Suns (10 – 29)
Coaches notes
Our very young and new U12 group showed plenty of promise in their game this week, starting strongly with 4 points in the first quarter and bringing aggressive defensive pressure early. Despite giving away height and speed against an older Suns side, the girls competed hard and matched it with an even second quarter. The other Suns team were able to pull away in the second half, but the effort and determination from our team never dropped. Super proud of the way the girls kept battling all game, with Kayla and Nadia both finishing with 4 points each! This young team is super promising and exciting and we can’t wait to see how they develop over the season.
Player of the game
Nadia earned Queen of the Court honors with her fierce defensive pressure, unstoppable energy, and relentless hustle. Every time the ball was loose, she was the first one diving for it, making life difficult for every opponent she faced. Her intensity never dropped, and her aggressive defense changed the momentum of the game time after time. Nadia played with heart, determination, and toughness, always ready to rip the ball away and spark her team with big defensive plays.
U12 Boys Team 1
Sponsored by: West Coast Civil
Coach: Aiden Clothier
Won against Perth Redbacks (83 – 51)
Coaches notes
We defended really well throughout the game, and our overall ability to force turnovers and get out in transition really fuelled our offence. Our defensive pressure created a lot of easy scoring opportunities, allowing us to build momentum and play with confidence. From there, we were able to knock down our outside shots consistently, which helped open the game up and keep the scoreboard ticking over.
One of the biggest positives from the game was our resilience. Whenever Redbacks went on a run and started building momentum, we were able to stay composed, trust each other, and respond with a run of our own. Instead of letting the pressure affect us, we regrouped defensively, stayed disciplined, and continued to play our style of basketball. That ability to handle momentum swings and respond as a team was a huge reason we were able to stay competitive throughout the game.
Player of the game
For this week’s Player of the Game, I have selected Levi Grey. Levi was outstanding all game, finishing with a team-high 30 points and scoring in a variety of ways. Whether it was strong finishes inside the key, knocking down outside shots, or attacking the rim through contact, Levi consistently found ways to score and apply pressure on the defence. A major highlight of his game was also his defensive intensity, with his ball pressure forcing multiple turnovers and mistakes. This was a real breakout performance from Levi, who has continued to improve and build confidence throughout the season, and it was great to see his hard work rewarded.
U12 Boys Team 2
Sponsored by: ME Freight Management
Coach: Alia Gard
Won against Warwick Senators (70 – 49)
Coaches notes
The boys started the game strong, we knew Warwick would come out firing and we needed to start the game with the same energy and the boys delivered.
The first quarter was a pretty even game and the boys kept up the intensity and didn’t crack under pressure.
The rest of the game the boys had great intensity and kept adding to our lead as the game went on.
Jax had an amazing defence game, he pushed hard the whole game and got a heap of steals, Kevin backed up Jax on defence and picked up the slack when Jax was on the bench, he also scored a very nice 3 pointer. Subeg led us in scoring and had a great all round game.
Player of the game
Our player of the game was Jonathan, he was a huge help to Darcy under the basket on defence and his offensive rebounding was a huge help to us in the game. He also had really good court vision and was making great passes to open space.
U12 Boys Team 3
Sponsored by: Maintain
Coach: Bianca Powell
Won against Perth Redbacks (98 – 34)
Coaches notes
A big focus for the boys in these games is continuing to learn what it means to be great team players. Ball movement, trusting one another, making the extra pass, creating the better drive and finding the best shot are all such important parts of a team’s success. Just as important is learning great sportsmanship — being confident players while remaining humble, supportive teammates and respectful competitors.
I’m incredibly proud of the development of this group so far. Every single one of these boys is coachable, eager to learn and continues to improve each week. Sundays have honestly become one of my favourite days because of the attitude and effort this team brings every game. Keep up the great work boys — the growth, teamwork and sportsmanship you’re showing is something to be very proud of.
Player of the game
Every game makes Player of the Week a tough choice because every one of you continues to improve and step up in different ways.
This week’s Player of the Week goes to Ryan. Ryan shows great sportsmanship and humility every time he steps on the court. No matter what role he’s given, he steps up without hesitation. This week he showed great court awareness, finding teammates, making the extra pass, rebounding strongly and attacking the ring when the opportunity was there. Great work Ryan — keep bringing that energy for your team!
U12 Boys Team 4
Sponsored by: RoverTech
Coach: Lizzie Falconbridge
Won against Perth Redbacks (48 – 45)
Coaches notes
The team delivered an outstanding performance, showing excellent teamwork in both defence and offence. Defensively, the intensity was high from start to finish, with every player applying pressure on the ball and working hard to disrupt the opposition. Strong communication, determination, and effort limited scoring opportunities and forced the opposition into difficult decisions throughout the game.
Offensively, the team played with great composure and control. Ball movement was patient and purposeful, creating quality scoring opportunities and allowing players to attack with confidence. The team did an excellent job of spreading the floor and drawing defenders away, creating space for strong cuts to the basket and maximizing scoring chances. Players made smart decisions, recognized gaps in the defense, and worked together to create opportunities.
The team supported one another, shared the ball well, and maintained a positive attitude throughout the game. Their strong defense, controlled offence, and teamwork made for an exciting game to watch. Every player contributed with great effort and determination, making it a fantastic performance and a rewarding game to coach.
Player of the game
Ashton Kirby earned Player of the Match with an outstanding team-focused performance. His ability to keep his head up while dribbling allowed him to deliver several crucial assists, creating valuable scoring opportunities for teammates. Defensively, he applied strong on-ball pressure, limiting the opposition’s ability to advance the ball and build momentum. Offensively, Ashton controlled the tempo well, slowing play when needed to ensure clean and effective possessions. A smart and composed player, he continually read the game, looked for the best options, and made decisions that benefited the team. His vision, unselfish play, and aggressive defense were key factors in the team’s success.
U14 Girls Team 1
Sponsored by: Black Hawk Industrial Supplies
Coach: Rick Batista
Loss against South West Slammers (42 – 49)
Coaches notes
Really proud of the growth from the girls this game. Coming into the week, Southwest Slammers sat 2nd on the ladder, and we knew this would be one of our toughest tests of the season. The girls took the game seriously right from the start.
One of the biggest positives was our ball security. Against one of the best teams in the league, we recorded our lowest turnover count yet with just 24 turnovers. Even better, many of those were now “positive turnovers” from trying to move the ball forward aggressively instead of playing hesitant basketball. That trust within the group keeps growing every week.
Our shooting percentage also jumped massively to 34.7% and our offensive spacing was much improved, creating better driving lanes for our guards. Defensively we also created more steals and pressure. We were beaten on the boards 60-36, something that’s always tough for a smaller team, but this group continues to make up for it with effort, toughness and heart.
Special mentions to Eunice (8 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals) and Harper, whose leadership and defensive intensity all game was outstanding. Proud of you girls. Keep building.
Player of the game
Player of the Game goes to Mariska Breadsell. Mariska finished with 6 pts, 6 assts, 2 rebs and 4 stls in a really strong all-round performance. After reviewing footage during the week and working on her finishing angles, it was great to see her show much better control attacking the basket. Most pleasing was her decision making, repeatedly making the right pass instead of forcing shots. Mariska with 6 assists herself, which is outstanding productivity for a wing considering our team only averages 9 assists per game.
Defensively, Mariska was outstanding, applying pressure, making strong contests and forcing bad passes throughout the game. Great work Misky, made coach proud
U14 Girls Team 2
Sponsored by: Belliss Custom Creations
Coach: Adam Chambers
Won against Rockingham Flames (36 – 35)
Coaches Notes
Our U14 girls showed incredible resilience this week, coming away with a thrilling 36-35 win. We started off slower than usual, but it was great to see the girls stay composed and fight their way back into the game. As always, our defensive pressure was a huge factor, even while having to navigate foul trouble against a side with plenty of taller players. In the end, our skill, teamwork, and determination got us over the line.
The final two minutes were some of the best pressure defence I’ve seen from this group, with the girls lifting to another level when they knew the game was on the line. Lexi came up huge with a clutch steal and an and1 play to tie the game, before calmly knocking down the free throw to give us the lead. From there, the whole team locked in defensively for the final 16 seconds and shut down the opposition’s last play to seal an amazing one point victory.
Lexi finished with 12 points, while Jerayah and Lahlita both added 10 points each in a fantastic team performance.
Player of the Game
Player of the Round goes to Lahlita Pellicciotti for her calm and composed performance in such a tight game. While the pace of the game got rushed at times, Lahlita stayed under control and consistently made smart decisions with the ball. She had some great shot selection throughout the game, created strong outlet passes to our runners, and applied great defensive pressure all game. Her smart plays and composure were a huge part of helping the team come away with the win. Adding 10 points in a close game, whilst being face guarded shows the level Lahlita is playing at and her ability to still have an impact on the game is fantastic! Well done Lahlita!!
U14 Girls Team 3
Sponsored by: Eddie Bosuen
Coach: Blake Marten
Won against Hills Raiders (44 – 36)
Coaches notes
After a lacklustre first quarter, the girls fought back, lifted their effort and took control for the rest of the game. Our ball movement in transition was a highlight with a lot of scoring opportunities coming from selfless passes ahead on the fastbreak. Our defence was solid, forcing a lot of turnovers due to the pressure we were putting on. Everyone contributed in one way or another and gave 100% and I am extremely proud of the girls.
Player of the game
Jojo Wu. Jojo was our top scorer with 11 points. She seemed to continuously find herself in good open space creating numerous scoring opportunities for herself. When she wasn’t free for a shot, Jojo did a good job of driving to draw defenders and dishes the ball off creating for her teammates. She also was in the lanes, putting pressure on creating loads of turnovers.
U14 Boys Team 1
Sponsored by: SWISH
Coach: Adrian Mok
Won against South West Slammers (102 – 54)
Coaches notes
It was very pleasing to see that, offensively, we were consistently on the same page, making the correct reads to either attack the basket or locate the open shooter. It was particularly encouraging to see the work and concepts emphasised during training reflected in our performance, highlighted by assisting on 30 of our 48 made field goals. We finished the game shooting 45/86 (52%) from inside the arc and 3/9 (33%) from beyond the arc.
Defensively, there are still areas requiring improvement, particularly our communication in transition and our closeouts on perimeter shooters, which contributed to conceding 54 points. Despite this, there were several positive aspects to our defensive effort, including recording 22 steals and forcing 35 turnovers, while committing only 17 turnovers ourselves. We had plenty of contributors this week but some notable mentions below:
Isaac Data – 18 pts, 5 boards and 6 steals.
Jason Chizelunwa – 24 pts (69%), 13 boards, 7 assists and 3 steals.
Frank Verco – 17 pts (50%)
Nathanael Hauraki – 22 pts (69%) and 5 boards.
Zane Skelton – 12 pts (50%), 9 boards, 5 assists and 1 steals.
Player of the game
This award goes to Cohen Green for his relentless effort on the defensive end and being a great teammate. Finished with 5 steals, 4 deflections and a massive 15 TO’s caused to set the tone defensively- whether he was picking off a pass, going for the double at the right time or simply bodying up his opposition forcing them to lose the ball.
He was open numerous times in the corner for an open shot but unfortunately the ball didn’t go his way. Instead of getting frustrated or putting his head down, he was cheering on his team after every made basket and got setup defensively straight away. From a coaching perspective, it is extremely pleasing to see the strong commitment to the team values.
U14 Boys Team 2
Coach: Ben Marks
Loss against Willetton Tigers (49 – 76)
Coaches notes
We came into this game with 2 out injured and 1 on holiday, so there was a short bench with plenty of court time available. Our focus was turning defense into offense, and we did a much better job this week, scoring our highest points total and had some impressive defensive performances. We did a much better job on the boards with Ashton having 11, Fletcher 9 and Freddie with 8 (including 6 offensive!) and had 16 steals as a team (Freddie and Preston with 4 each). A slow start and finish were the difference, with the score margin not a true reflection of the closeness of the game. All 8 players contributed on the scoreboard which was a sign of our improved ball movement from previous games, improved finishing at the basket would have seen the margin being a bit closer at the end of the game. Overall, an improved effort from the team which is all the coaches can ask for.
Player of the game
Player of the round this week was choosing between three standout performances from Preston (13 points and 4 steals), Kirath (9 points and 2 steals) and Freddie. This week it is awarded to Freddie who was an energetic force on both ends, with 6 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals. He also helped shut down Willetton’s most accomplished offensive player. Well done, Freddie, you really stepped up this week.
U14 Boys Team 3
Sponsored by: Alliance Engineering Consultants Pty Ltd
Coach: Sebastian Irving
Loss against East Perth Eagles (62 – 70)
Coaches notes
Played against the best team in the division this weekend, and the boys absolutely showed out. They rallied around each other and had one of the best games this season. Effort was at 100% all game and the offence was clicking in the half court. The eagles made it difficult to get the ball down the court, but the boys constantly adjusted and kept playing. Unfortunately the game just didn’t go our way, but the group has proved that they have the ability to perform against the best teams, now we look to improve.
Special mentions this week to Carter with 19 points and plenty of rebounds, and Harry with 13 in support
Player of the game
Stellan Edowai – Stellan had a fabulous performance this weekend. He played with constant energy all game, putting himself in the right spots on offence and defence. Stellan wasn’t the top scorer this weekend however he did still put up 9 tough points off a couple big and 1’s and well positioned half court buckets, along with a multitude of steals and rebounds. He helped set up his teammates in transition and in the half. Fantastic work Stel
U14 Boys Team 4
Sponsored by: Retravision
Coach: Nathan La Cava
Won against South West Slammers (69 – 63)
Coaches notes
Overtime win, with a 3pt buzzer beater to make a statement by Amir! Parents are dropping more blood pressure pills than a 3 fingered pharmacist this season. Each week it’s a battle to the end. The Slammers attacked relentlessly and our defence kept the game under control. Need a lift in intensity to put a defence stamp on our games.
Team effort on rebounding is something we need to find quickly, as that will be the key to opening up some leads in these close games.
Offensively we did move the ball well and consistently found good options. At times we were a little stagnant with player movement. We let go a small lead in the final minutes of the game with some poor discipline with the ball, but held our composure in the 3 mins of OT to grind out a win. Tough, hard, gritty game that we showed some real heart. Boys deserved that win. Coaching team could not be more proud of the work rate.
Player of the Game
A tough decision on our Player of The Game. Arona Gopolang with 21pts & Emmanuel Osei-Bonsu 13pts continue to consistently bring firepower each week, backed up with quality defense.
Eli Weetra, who has shown consistent improvement all season, delivered his best game yet. Eli is the type of player who would run through a brick wall, if asked, and would pick up speed prior to impact to make sure he didn’t leave a brick standing. Eli dropped 11 points, including a composed and crucial 2pts to send us into OT. His defence and rebounding efforts were relentless. It’s that work rate that wins games, and for you Eli Weetra the Grill’d burger of champs, as you are our Player of the Game!
U16 Girls Team 1
Sponsored by: Perth Hills Pilates
Coach: Lawrence West
Won against Warwick Senators (50 – 45)
Coaches notes
Some days it feels like everything is working against you, and this was one of those days. After a back and forth start, Warwick pushed out to a double digit lead in the 2nd quarter through some very physical basketball. There was a time not too long ago where that might have seen us collapse under the pressure, but today the girls rallied, pushed back and cut the margin to just 2 points by half time.
The 3rd quarter is quickly becoming our signature quarter. We came out with great intent, resulting in a 19 – 6 and gave ourselves just enough breathing room to survive a late Warwick push, with both teams looking exhausted after a long and physical contest.
I am proud of the way our group continues to find ways to be successful in challenging situations. We are responding with more calm, more poise and more belief when things are not going to plan. Our strength is our connection and our willingness to do whatever is required. A tough win, and well deserved.
Player of the Game
This was easily our toughest decision of the season, with a long coaches discussion needed to separate Sarah, Abi, Bel and Dani. All four had a critical impact and without any of them we would have been in trouble.
Sarah Aird gets the nod this week for her toughness on both sides of the ball, energy and big moment impact, finishing with 8 points, 3 steals and a team high plus/minus of 17.
Huge honourable mentions to Abi (13 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 8 deflections), Bel (4 rebounds, 4 steals, 11 deflections) and Dani (6 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals) in a seriously tough win.
U16 Girls Team 2
Sponsored by: SG Enviro
Coach: Daniel Heyman
Won against Willetton Tigers (64 – 55)
Coaches notes
After a rough game in round 4, we came out with a greater focus on our team defensive principles. Connected from the outset, we broke out to a 11 – 2 lead. We then let the Tigers go on an 11 – 0 run and get their noses in front. After some adjustments to our coverages, we retook the lead and controlled the rest of the game through aggressive play at both ends of the court.
Last week’s loss was a wake-up call to the level of effort and execution required to compete. Our team responded by showing outstanding teamwork and adaptability in overcoming a fighting Tigers team.
Player of the game
Emily Sunderland. Emily showed growth and poise in leading our team through some crucial moments in the second half of the game. Emily presented as a strong interior force, posting up in positions of advantage and playing with controlled aggression. Never rushed, she powered her way to a team-leading 14 points. Emily also impressed with her trademark highlight reel blocks!
Fantastic game, Emily!
U16 Girls Team 3
Sponsored by: Lamp Accounting
Coach: Scott Parker
Won against Eastern Suns 4 (50 – 44)
Coaches notes
This week saw the girls come away with a close win and it was great to be back on the winners list. At the same time, it can always be difficult to reconcile when the result comes against another Suns team, with both groups competing hard throughout the game.
A major focus for us has been creating pressure on the opposition, and we saw further improvement in this area again this week. The girls brought strong defensive intensity and worked hard to disrupt the opposition across the floor. We also placed a big emphasis on valuing possession and looking after the basketball, and the girls responded really well. Our improved ball security and decision making proved important in key moments and ultimately played a major role in securing the win.
Overall, it was another positive step forward for the group as we continue to build confidence, structure and consistency each week. Learning how to win was a big lesson we took from the end of this match, and understanding the composure the girls must show in important moments was extremely pleasing to see.
Player of the Game
Ilse Bongers. Another player new to WABL this year, Ilse continues to show great improvement week on week. Her athletic ability is outstanding and provides us with valuable opportunities in the front court, while also helping secure our back court defensively. Ilse responded extremely well to both instruction and our in-game adjustments, showing great composure and willingness to learn throughout the match. She also continues to develop her awareness of how to involve her teammates and create opportunities for others, which is fast becoming a real strength in her game.
U16 Girls Team 4
Sponsored by: NewTrend IT
Coach: Andy Zell
Loss against U16 Girls Team 3 (44 – 50)
U16 Boys Team 1
Sponsored by: VC Rigging
Coach: Brock Lowe
Loss against Willetton Tigers (49 – 128)
U16 Boys Team 2
Sponsored: GJ Demo Pty Ltd
Coach: Tyler Cameron
Won against East Perth Eagles (92 – 76)
U16 Boys Team 3
Sponsored by: #RISETOGETHER
Coach: Derek Quayle
Loss against Warwick Senators (65 – 69)
Coaches notes
A tough 65-69 loss, but plenty of positives to take away from a high-quality contest between two undefeated sides. It was a true back-and-forth battle all game, with us claiming the 1st and 3rd quarters while Warwick responded in the 2nd and 4th. In the end, a late run from Warwick proved the difference.
There was a lot to like in the way the group competed. We finished with 20 assists on 25 field goals, controlled the glass with 15 offensive rebounds, and brought strong defensive pressure with 11 steals and six blocks. The key difference came down to ball security and free-throw execution. Our 25 turnovers limited the impact of the extra possessions we created, while going 13-of-28 at the line left valuable points behind.
Kyan Moodley led the scoring with 16 points on 57% shooting while also collecting five steals. Austin Berkhout produced an all-around performance with 12 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. Damon Sidebottom was efficient inside with 10 points on 57% shooting and a block, while Alijah Acabado contributed 11 points with another balanced performance.
Player of the game
Austin Berkhout gets the player of the game this week with another double double performance. 12 points, 10 rebounds along with 2 steals and 2 blocks rounds out his day.
U16 Boys Team 4
Sponsored by: S W Hart & Co
Coach: Hayden & Nathan Bird
Loss against Cockburn Cougars (54 – 76)
U18 Girls Team 1
Sponsored by: Handmade by Amelia
Coach: Zac Belton
Won against Mandurah Magic (69 – 75)
Coaches Notes
For the past few weeks, we’ve placed more emphasis on getting things right on the defensive end, turnover proofing the team and getting more movement off ball. The progress is starting to show as we knocked off a Mandurah team that was undefeated and nearly everyone contributing on the scoreboard. This was a great win for us to build some momentum knowing that we are clearly able to challenge anyone on any given day.
Player of the Game
Charlotte Herbert who walked away from this game with a 31-point performance and easily 15+ rebounds, the shot selection and the aggression to hunt for rebounds was a huge reason we were able to play quick and effective today.
U18 Girls Team 2
Coach: Rae D’Sylva
Loss against Perth Redbacks (45 – 50)
Coaches notes
This week was a game where we never got out of first gear on offence and it showed on the scoreboard where we managed to put up 45 points for the game. The girls kept doing their best on offence and taking the right shots even though they weren’t dropping. The real positive is our defence is always strong and getting better each week and all the girls supported their teammates.
Player of the game
Macee Rothnie. Macee had a good all round performance with her defence being the standout. She hustled for the ball and hit the floor a few times going after the loose ball. Her aggression on offence was a lot better this week and I’m sure she will only grow into a threat on offence as well for the rest of the season.
U18 Boys Team 1
Coaches: Ron Flores
Won against Hills Raiders (120 – 99)
Coaches notes
This was a real team win, we had so many contributors across the day that all impacted the result.
Offensively we’re starting to see some growth in the playing group identifying “advantage” plays and the evolution of one action into the next that creates for a teammate, with three minutes to go in the third the playing group set their defensive intentions, and from that point on they only gave up another 21 points for the whole game.
Player of the game
It’s a little cliche, but player of the round could have gone to all of the team given the impact each of them had on the result, some of their efforts may not show up on a stat sheet, but those efforts largely contribute to the overall result of a lot of games.
But it’s pretty hard to go past Cooper Hewer as this weeks player of the round, Cooper’s maturity and defensive effort from this game are what set him aside from the pack this week, this would have to have been his most complete game of the season, these are the types of games if he consistently hit these benchmarks are what will help his game grow and become a more complete player.
U18 Boys Team 2
Sponsored: IPI Packers
Coach: Michael Fido
Won against Warwick Senators (101 – 96)
Coaches Notes
From a team perspective, one of the most pleasing parts of the game was the way the lads stayed connected when the pressure came on. When the game tightened up, there was no panic, no individuals trying to do it alone, just trust in each other, sticking to what we do, and continuing to play team basketball.
It was outstanding to see everyone sharing the load, with 5 of our 8 players finishing in double figures. That speaks volumes about the way the group is playing, moving the ball, looking for each other, making good decisions and valuing the extra pass.
More than anything, this game was a great example of the identity we’re building as a group unselfish basketball, composure in key moments, and a genuine commitment to playing for one another. That’s the standard we want to keep building on. Let’s Go SUNS
Player of the game
Val Luboya. Player of the Round was a tough call this week because the boys were outstanding across the board and everyone played their role. This week though, the nod goes to our Captain, Val. Val delivers at a high level every week, but this round his impact stood out. His defensive pressure set the tone and his ability to shift momentum with big defensive plays was massive. Once again, his timing was exceptional, especially with his trademark chase-down blocks that continue to become a feature of his season. What stood out most wasn’t just the individual moments, it was the way he led through effort, energy and doing the team-first things that lift everyone around him.
U18 Boys Team 3
Sponsored by: DUG Technology
Coach: Doug Bainbridge
Loss against Joondalup Wolves (66 – 69)
Coaches notes
A tough result for our 18.3s this week, going down in a close contest after a hard-fought performance against an aggressive Joondalup side.
Joondalup applied strong defensive pressure throughout the game, and while our group had periods where they handled it well and showed patience in their offence, execution wasn’t always at the level needed to fully capitalise on those moments.
Despite that, the team stayed in the contest and showed great character late, with their trademark pressure helping spark a strong final push in the closing minutes. That effort nearly turned the game, and there were plenty of encouraging signs in the way the group kept competing right to the end.
While the result didn’t go our way, the game provided clear learning opportunities around composure, execution, and getting into our actions more consistently under pressure. A disappointing result, but one that gives the group valuable lessons to take forward as the season continues.
Player of the game
A well-deserved Player of the Game effort from Kobe, whose contribution went well beyond the scoreboard. Kobe brought real aggression to the game, made some excellent reads, and showed strong intent in the way he attacked the contest.
While the finishing around the rim didn’t quite fall for him on the day, Kobe’s willingness to play assertively, compete at both ends, and keep looking to impact the game stood out. It was a strong step forward in his development and a performance that reflected the type of intent and decision-making we want to keep building on. Some excellent contribution again from Raff 13,4,4 and Tom L (8,7 & 4 steals) in a tough day at the office
U18 Boys Team 4
Sponsored by: Shade Experience
Coach: Jasper Ferguson
Bye
U20 Boys 1
Coach: Louis Timms
Won against Hills Raiders (97 – 74)
Coaches Notes
This was a turning point for our defence this season. We are now starting to understand what is required on the defensive end to be competitive, and we are also building our team identity through our defence. It was great to see players taking ownership on defence and backing each other up. Our pressure and commitment to playing an up-tempo style of defence led to numerous steals and fastbreak opportunities. It was great to finally see the boys rewarded with a win.
Player of the game
This award was shared between Levi and Tomas Ortiz who were both outstanding. Their offensive contributions were excellent, but it was their defence that really got us going in this game.
U20 Boys Team 2
Sponsored by: ComWiz Computers
Coach: Dave Gan
Won against Mandurah Magic (66 – 65)
Coaches Notes
Being a 4pm game away in Mandurah there was a slight expectation we would start slow, however it was in fact the amount of fouls called against us in the first half leading to a really tough game to play and coach, but we tied the game at half time and felt ‘hey.. we just went 5v7 and still came out with a tied game’. we got the special mandurah treatment, and decided to just beat them on our on terms.
The second half was a little better, alot more physical, Deacon getting smacked, James getting grabbed it felt like a wrestling match.. and I LOVE IT! We embraced the world against us mentality and came out in the 2nd half running flex giving us a handy lead. But with Sam fouled out, and then Tom having bad ankle injury.. we saw our lead from 60-50 went to 64-65 with 24sec left. if there was a time to lose we rather get the mistakes now then later, on the run they made, we took two bad 3s, had a turnover mid court, going for a 3 down 1, probably better option somewhere, then James steal with 4 sec only to miss a layup so that he could setup the HERO of to save the day LINK with the put back. 2.5s left timeout later and advance later they missed a 3 (which is what we wanted a long shot) and we held on to start 5-0 for the season.
Player of the game
This was seriously a hard one to pick just ONE player. Everyone pitched in, if anything it was the intensity on the bench that felt like what really gave us the edge when everything was going against us. So with that said, I’m going to say this weeks player of the games were the 3 loudest on the bench that I noticed. Xavier, Deacon, Sam(once he was fouled out), and Coach Lawrence who was amped up. They will shoot out at training for that priced Grill Voucher at training!!
U21 Girls
Coach: Charlie Smart
Loss against South West Slammers (62 – 64)
Well done to all teams and we look forward to round 6!