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Round 7 West Coast Classic Women’s Wrap
STACEY Barr produced 75 points in Round 7 of the West Coast Classic to deliver the Warwick Senators two more crucial wins while the Lakeside Lightning won twice and the Rockingham Flames and Kalamunda Eastern Suns split their double-headers.
Round 7 marks two weeks remaining now in the West Coast Classic before the top four teams compete in the finals weekend and now after the week, there are genuinely four clubs who can finish in the top two and earn a home court advantage while six teams are still real chances of reaching the top four.
There were some remarkable individual performances across the weekend too and none better than reigning SBL MVP Stacey Barr’s outings for the Senators.
She put up 26 points on Friday night in a win over Willetton and then 24 hours later, she delivered a remarkable 49 points on 12/20 shooting from three-point territory.
But Ash Isenbarger also combined for 40 points and 23 rebounds in two games for Lakeside, Paris Duffield put up 31 points and nine steals in two games for Rockingham, and Jessie Edwards combined for 30 points and 22 rebounds for Kalamunda.
Jess Jakens and Maddie Allen put up 33 points and 29 rebounds between for the Perth Redbacks but it wasn’t enough for the win to keep them in the finals hunt.
ROUND 7 SPOTLIGHT | SUNS STAY ALIVE WITH SUNDAY WIN OVER FLAMES
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ROUND 7 WOMEN’S WEST COAST CLASSIC PREVIEW
ROUND 6 WEST COAST CLASSIC WOMEN’S WRAP
Round 7 in the West Coast Classic got underway on Friday night with the Cockburn Cougars beating the South West Slammers 76-38. The Lakeside Lightning also won on the road 75-48 against the East Perth Eagles while the Warwick Senators overcame a spirited Willetton Tigers 87-76.
Then on Saturday evening, the Joondalup Wolves won big at home 74-51 against the East Perth Eagles while the Lakeside Lightning defeated the Mandurah Magic 65-53, the Warwick Senators thumped the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 110-69, and the Rockingham Flames won narrowly over the Perth Redbacks 64-60.
Then lastly on Sunday at Ray Owen Sports Centre, the Kalamunda Eastern Suns stayed in the finals hunt beating the Rockingham Flames 69-59.
The results mean that with two rounds remaining in the West Coast Classic, the Joondalup Wolves (7-1) sit on top of the standings with the Warwick Senators (7-1), Rockingham Flames (7-2) and Lakeside Lightning (6-2) rounding out the top four.
The Kalamunda Eastern Suns (6-3) and Perry Lakes Hawks (6-3) are both knocking on the door ahead of Perth Redbacks (6-4), Willetton Tigers (3-6), Cockburn Cougars (2-6), Mandurah Magic (2-6), East Perth Eagles (1-9) and South West Slammers (0-10).
WEST COAST CLASSIC 2020 – WOMEN’S ROUND 7
FRIDAY
COCKBURN COUGARS 76 defeated SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 38
The Cockburn Cougars recorded their second win of the West Coast Classic on Friday night keeping the South West Slammers winless with the 37-point win at Wally Hagan Stadium.
The Cougars have played some better basketball during the West Coast Classic than their one win suggested coming into this contest and they put together a strong four-quarter performance on their home court on Friday night.
The Slammers hopes of their first win of the competition weren’t helped by the absence of Ebony Bilcich, Kate Fielding and Courtney Bayliss, and the Cougars made a strong start to lead 18-11 by quarter-time.
To the credit of the Slammers, they played some good basketball in the second quarter scoring 15 points and limiting the Cougars to 18 to see Cockburn’s lead only grow to 11 by the half-time break.
But the Cougars turned things up another gear in the second half starting with scoring 20 points to six in the third quarter. Cockburn delivered another 19 points to just six from the Slammers in the fourth period to end up winning 76-38.
The Cougars ended the game with 18 more rebounds than the Slammers while taking 14 more field goal attempts and 17 extra free-throws. The Slammers also struggled with 30 turnovers and going 15/56 from the field and 2/20 from three-point territory.
Cockburn had 12 players all hit the court and play at least eight minutes for the game while 11 of those 12 managed to hit the scoreboard led by 18 points, three rebounds and two assists from Haylee De Sousa who nailed 3/5 from three-point land.
Jodee Sontay added nine points and seven rebounds, Tia Morgan eight points and six boards, Kahlia Morgan eight points and three steals, Tahlia Fejo seven points and five rebounds, Emma Burke six points and nine boards, and Matilda Muir five points and nine rebounds.
Bianca Donovan top-scored for the Slammers with 12 points and three rebounds with Zaya Black adding seven points, seven boards, three steals and two assists.
EAST PERTH EAGLES 48 lost to LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 75
The Lakeside Lightning made a strong start to their massive weekend with a 27-point victory against the East Perth Eagles at Herb Graham Recreation Centre on Friday night.
The Eagles have been vastly more competitive in 2020 than even their now 1-8 record suggests so the Lightning weren’t going to be handed anything especially on the road to open Round 7 in the West Coast Classic.
But Lakeside got off to a flying start to ensure they wouldn’t suffer any slip up as they attempt to qualify for the finals. The Lightning put up 26 points to six in a flying start to set up the eventual win.
East Perth did well to steady things over the next two quarters and the Eagles actually managed to outscore the Lightning 33 points to 26 over the second and third terms.
However, because of that monster opening quarter the Lightning still led by 13 heading into the fourth and then they asserted their dominance once more by putting up 23 points to nine to come away with the 75-48 win against the Eagles.
Ash Isenbarger continued her brilliant form in the West Coast Classic for Lakeside by delivering another 20 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots while shooting 8/15 from the floor and 2/4 from three-point land.
Mia Jacobs is one of the most exciting rising stars in the competition too and had another 16 points, seven steals and five rebounds with Kyrah Daniels contributing 11 points and four boards, Jae Flynn eight points and three rebounds, and Courtney Mansfield seven points, five boards, four assists and two steals.
Eryn Fisher fought valiantly for East Perth to finish with 15 points and 14 rebounds while Hannah-Rose Gillis added nine points, and Meg Ferraz seven points, three rebounds and two assists.
WILLETTON TIGERS 76 lost to WARWICK SENATORS 87
Stacey Barr and Desiree Kelley put on quite the show combining for 38 first half points at Willetton Basketball Stadium on Friday night, but it was the depth of the Warwick Senators that then came through in an 87-76 win over the Willetton Tigers.
Willetton started strongly on its home floor with Desiree Kelley opened up proceedings knocking down a three-pointer before Emma Gandini made it the first points, and when Kelley hit from downtown again, it was an 8-3 start.
Kelley knocked down another soon after to make it 11-5 for the Tigers but the Senators stuck with them and when Stacey Barr nailed her second three of the first quarter.
She then scored another five quick points in the next minute for the Senators and when she hit yet another three-point bomb, her team led 22-18 and she had 14 of those points with four minutes still left in the first period.
Willetton did well to hit back and were down just two by quarter-time thanks to a late Hayley Winter three and then things remained close right throughout the second period with Willetton going into half-time leading 50-49 after a pair of free-throws from Kelley.
Tayla Hepburn then got on a roll to start the second half for the Senators and they led by six but the Tigers soon steadied and while they never regained the lead, they got within a point on several occasions and trailed by just two at three quarter-time.
It was then all the Senators in the fourth quarter as they took another step towards a final appearance in the West Coast Classic. They outscored the Tigers 23 points to 14 to win the game 87-76 and improve to a 6-1 record.
Stacey Barr finished up top-scoring for the Senators with another 26 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals including knocking down 4/10 from three-point land.
Tayla Hepburn also proved tough to stop for the Tigers delivering 15 points, 10 rebounds and three assists while Mackenzie Clinch-Hoycard continued her emergence for the Senators with another 14 points, seven boards, three assists and two steals.
Jayda Clark is another exciting young talent for Warwick and she had another 17 points and six rebounds with Nicole Jorre De St Jorre contributing seven points and seven assists, and Chloe Forster six points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals.
The Senators now back up on Saturday night at Warwick Stadium hosting the fourth placed Kalamunda Eastern Suns in what should be a fascinating match up.
The Tigers were coached by Peter Cook on the night in the absence of championship winner Simon Parker, and they certainly pushed the league leading Senators all the way.
Desiree Kelley finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists while shooting 4/8 from three-point territory on the night.
Hayley Winter continued her impressive form for Willetton with another 13 points and seven assists with Sophie Doran contributing seven points and two steals, Sophie Maines seven points, five rebounds and four assists, and Emma Gandini seven points and 10 rebounds.
SATURDAY
JOONDALUP WOLVES 74 defeated EAST PERTH EAGLES 51
The East Perth Eagles had the tough ask of fronting up after a loss at home to Lakeside on Friday to play the Joondalup Wolves at HBF Arena on Saturday, and while the Lady Wolfpack won by 23 points, the Eagles did make them work for it.
It could have hardly been a more challenging 24 hours with two games for the Eagles but they did what they could to make the Wolves earn their victory at HBF Arena on Saturday night.
Joondalup was desperate for the win too coming off their first loss of the West Coast Classic the previous Saturday night in Rockingham against the Flames, but East Perth actually got off to a much better start than they did against the Lightning.
The Eagles were down 20 by quarter-time the night before, but this time around they actually went into the quarter-time break leading the Wolves by three.
It was the second quarter, though, in this game where East Perth’s opponents got on top of them and the Lady Wolfpack were able to score 24 points to just 10 from the Eagles and that saw the home team leading 40-29 by half-time.
It was more of the same in the third quarter with Joondalup scoring 17 points to just eight from East Perth with the Wolves going on to score the 74-51 victory and improve to a 7-1 record in the West Coast Classic with three games to go while the Eagles are 1-9.
It was the shooting and turnover count that stopped the Eagles from getting closer to the Wolves as they ended up going 12/55 at 21 per cent from the field.
They actually shot the three ball OK at 9/23 but it was inside the arc where they struggled going 3/32 to go with the 27 turnovers on the night.
Amber Land had a monster night for the Lady Wolfpack in the absence of Kayla Steindl to finish with 19 points and seven rebounds on 9/12 shooting from the floor.
Chelsea Belcher delivered 17 points and three steals too for the Wolves with Isabelle Miotti adding nine points and four assists, Alix Hayward eight points, six boards and three steals, Nes’eya Williams five points and nine rebounds, and Georgia Denehey five points and four assists.
Hannah-Rose Gillis had the best night of her short career for the Eagles delivering 21 points while hitting 5/9 from the land of plenty.
Bree Fisher also put up eight points and four rebounds, Ella Dimanlig six points and two boards, Bree Fisher eight points and four rebounds, and Eryn Fisher seven points, eight boards and two assists.
LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 65 defeated MANDURAH MAGIC 53
The Lakeside Lightning couldn’t afford a slip up at home to Mandurah on Saturday night and they got the job done in a hard fought affair to end up beating the Magic by 12 points.
The Lightning had beaten the Eagles the night before on the back of a hot start but if they wanted to play finals in the West Coast Classic they couldn’t afford to let up against the Magic at Lakeside Recreation Centre on Saturday with games to come next weekend against Joondalup and Warwick.
The two teams have had a strong rivalry in recent years including a cracking semi-final series in 2017 and then Grand Final of 2018 so no matter where they are positioned on the table, there’s always a fierce contest between them.
This was no different and it was a low-scoring first half with Lakeside only managing to lead by three points at quarter-time before extending that to 31-18 by half-time on the back of scoring 17 points to seven in the second term.
But Mandurah then really found some confidence and form in the third quarter to put up 22 points to 11 and suddenly it was game on heading into the fourth with Lakeside only leading 42-40.
Lakeside had too much to play for, though, and responded in the fourth quarter with 23 points to 13 to end up winning 65-53 and improving to a 6-2 record to return to the top four while the Magic are 2-6.
Ash Isenbarger was again outstanding for Lakeside delivering another 20 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots while shooting 8/13 from the field, 2/4 from three-point range and 2/2 from the foul line.
Courtney Mansfield hit some big shots for the Lightning too for 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals with Mia Jacobs contributing another nine points and five rebounds, Ellyce Ironmonger seven points and five boards, and Kyrah Daniels six points and nine rebounds.
Rachel Pettit top-scored for Mandurah with 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals with Kasey Miegel adding 10 points, six boards, four steals and three assists.
Kelly Bailey also had nine points and five rebounds for the Magic, Jaide Britton seven points and four boards, and Olivia Bassett-Scarfe six points and four rebounds.
WARWICK SENATORS 110 defeated KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 69
The Warwick Senators returned to their home floor on Saturday night with all signs pointing to a tremendous contest with the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, but Stacey Barr put that to bed exploding for 49 points in the eventual 41-point victory.
The Senators were coming off a strong win at Willetton on Friday night to open Round 7 while the Eastern Suns were playing their first game of the week but with both teams in the top four entering the round, it shaped as a fascinating contest.
It would prove to be the night of the best individual performance so far in the West Coast Classic, though, with the reigning SBL MVP Stacey Barr simply unstoppable in a game that shot the Senators back to second position in the West Coast Classic with two rounds to go.
Barr had threatened this type of performance on Friday night against the Tigers with 14 points in the opening seven minutes on the way to 26 for the game, and this time she never let up.
It wasn’t until she scored to put the Senators up 19-17 with three minutes left in the first quarter that Barr opened her account though. She only added two more free-throws for four points in the opening period with the Senators up 26-21.
Making Barr’s eventual 49-point game was the more remarkable considering she scored just two of her team’s 26 points in the second term as they led 52-34 by half-time.
She then began to warm up with her first three-pointer four minutes into the second half before adding two more free-throws, a jumper, her second triple and then two more three-pointers all in the space of a couple of minutes before three quarter-time.
That meant Barr had 17 points in the third to have 23 for the game, but there was still nothing to suggest what was to come.
Barr ended up having the most remarkable of fourth quarters scoring all but two of Warwick’s 28 points. In the final term alone, she went 9/14 from the floor and 8/12 from long-range for those 26 points.
She ended the night with a phenomenal 49 points to go with eight rebounds, four assists and two steals on shooting 16/26 from the field, 12/20 from three-point land and 5/6 from the free-throw line.
She got plenty of support too with Jayda Clark putting up 16 points, seven assists and six rebounds, Nicole Jorre De St Jorre 15 points, nine assists and seven boards, Chloe Forster 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Mackenzie Clinch-Hoycard 11 points and seven boards.
Jessie Edwards produced 17 points and 10 rebounds to continue her impressive form for Kalamunda with Denae Civich adding 14 points and three assists, Beige Harris 10 points, two boards and two assists, and Jewel Williams 10 points and three rebounds.
ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 64 defeated PERTH REDBACKS 60
The Rockingham Flames took a big leap towards a finals berth in the West Coast Classic and all but put the Perth Redbacks out of the hunt with a four-point home win on Saturday evening.
Rockingham were fresh off a huge win the previous Saturday night against the previously undefeated Joondalup Wolves but they did come into this weekend with star point guard Tayah Burrows unavailable after the hard hit she copped in that win over the Wolfpack.
And the Redbacks made the trip to Mike Barnett Sports Complex having won all their home matches at Belmont Oasis during the West Coast Classic but they did need to keep on winning to remain in the finals hunt with just two games remaining over the final three rounds.
It was a tight game the whole way through too between the two teams with plenty to play for as the West Coast Classic finals close in.
The Redbacks got off the best possible start on the road too starting with a couple of buckets to Jess Jakens and another Denielle Lipscombe.
Bri Bailey knocked down a three-pointer and then Jakens scored again inside and all of a sudden the Redbacks were leading the Flames 11-0 after three minutes.
Rockingham eventually scored thanks to a pair of free-throws to Chloe Napolitano before a couple of baskets to Ariana Hetherington before Maddie Allen got on the board to give Perth the 13-6 lead against the team she led to a championship in the SBL last year as Grand Final MVP.
Three-pointers before quarter-time for Rockingham to Christina Boag and then Ashlyn Lee cut Perth’s advantage to 15-14 even with the Redbacks hitting the game’s first 11 points.
The Flames then took the lead for the first time to start the second quarter thanks to a Paris Duffield three and she added another to put the home team up five shortly after.
When Napolitano hit from beyond the arc as well, Rockingham led by six points and then were up still 32-28 by the half-time interval on their home court.
The Flames still led by four heading into the fourth but then blew the game open to start the final period with the opening seven points to lead by 11.
But with two minutes to go the Redbacks had managed to close the gap to three again on the back of a pull up jumper from Lipscombe.
The Flames immediately responded thanks to Boag but again it was a three-point game with under 24 seconds left after Sarah Allen scored on the back of a blocked shot and assist from Maddie Allen.
Keegan Crawford called the timeout for Rockingham and eventually it led to a made free-throw for Duffield to put the lead out to four and the Redbacks couldn’t get a late shot to fall meaning Rockingham won 64-60.
The Flames still take on the Eastern Suns in another critical match up on Sunday in Round 7.
The loss could be the final blow, unfortunately, to the finals hopes of the Redbacks in the Women’s West Coast Classic with them now holding a 6-4 record ahead of the Round 8 bye and final round away clash to Lakeside.
Paris Duffield finished with 14 points, five steals and two rebounds for Rockingham including hitting 2/3 from downtown.
Ariana Hetherington added 10 points and five rebounds for the Flames, Christina Boag 11 points, nine boards, six steals and four assists, Tiana Wilson-Palmer seven points, Ashlyn Lee seven points and three rebounds, and Chloe Napolitano seven points, five boards and three assists.
Jess Jakens and Maddie Allen were tremendous inside for the Redbacks combining for 33 points, 29 rebounds, six assists and seven steals.
It wasn’t quite enough for the win but Jakens finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, six steals and two assists on 9/14 shooting with Allen adding 12 points, 20 rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots.
Denielle Lipscombe added seven points, five assists, four blocks and three rebounds as well for the Redbacks, Bri Bailey six points, six boards and three assists, and Ella Thornton-Elliott five points.
Sarah Allen also had four points and seven rebounds, Chanah Crugnale two points and two assists, Brooke Malone two points, two rebounds and two assists, and Shenae Hartree one-point, two steals and a rebound.
SUNDAY
KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 69 defeated ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 59
The Kalamunda Eastern Suns bounced back from a Stacey Barr onslaught on Saturday night to beat the Rockingham Flames at Ray Owen Sports Centre on Sunday to stay alive in the West Coast Classic finals race.
It was a significant game for both Kalamunda and Rockingham when they locked horns at Ray Owen Sports Centre with both aiming to play finals in the West Coast Classic, and both coming off playing on Saturday night.
The Flames pulled out a hard fought win over the Perth Redbacks on Saturday night while the Eastern Suns were blown away by Stacey Barr and the Warwick Senators.
So that stage for a crucial game with Rockingham needing to win and stay in touch for a top two spot and Kalamunda just needing to remain in contention for the top four.
Rockingham were again without star point guard Tayah Burrows after her heavy knock last Saturday night but Paris Duffield has had a standout West Coast Classic, and she opened the game knocking down a triple.
But Jewel Williams soon replied and then when Jessie Edwards scored inside, the home team led 8-5 which soon became 14-8 when Rebecca Motroni and Alecia Knowles connected from downtown as well.
The Eastern Suns had all the momentum up 18-9 but the Flames did well to stem the tide and then be only four points by quarter-time.
Rockingham then turned that into a four-point lead after four quick points to Zahli Jolly early in the second period. But Motroni was feeling it from beyond the arc and soon hit again to regain a lead for the home team.
The lead continued to change on a three-point play for Rockingham from Sarah McGowan before Duffield extended the edge to four despite a third three-pointer of the half for Kalamunda from Motroni.
Rockingham was threatening to blow the game open, though, and the lead was up to eight when Ashlyn Lee hit from beyond the arc. But the Suns finished the half on a 9-2 run and scores were all square by the break.
It remained a tight, tense and entertaining affair through the third quarter with the biggest lead being four points to the Eastern Suns after Williams a nailed a three-pointer, but by three quarter-time the Flames were up by one.
But with Rockingham missing Burrows and now Ariana Hetherington down with an ankle injury, Kalamunda worked on top and were up five when Sarah Lakay scored, and then seven after Edwards scored as well.
Christina Boag then picked up her fifth foul for the Flames and there would be no comeback with the Eastern Suns completing the job to win 69-59 and stay alive in the finals hunt in the West Coast Classic with two rounds remaining.
There was plenty to like from the Kalamunda performance to keep their finals chances alive and about the job done by coach Tom Knowles who managed to get big contributions from more than just his superstars Jewel Williams and Jessie Edwards.
Williams still put up another 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals while Edwards had 13 points, 12 boards, four steals and two assists, but they had plenty of help.
Rebecca Motroni knocked down 5/8 from three-point range for 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals while Beige Harris contributed 14 points and four boards, and Alecia Knowles six points.
It was a remarkably young Rockingham team especially when Ariana Hetherington went down injured and Christina Boag fouled out, and that includes the coaching staff of the day with Keegan Crawford, Chelsea Petrik and Tayah Burrows in the absence of Darcee Garbin.
Paris Duffield contributed her terrific West Coast Classic for the Flames with 17 points, six rebounds and four steals while Sarah McGowan contributed eight points and four boards, and Zahli Jolly eight points, five steals, five assists and four rebounds.
Boag also finished with nine points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals before fouling out.
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