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West Men
Red-hot Senator Withers weathers Giants
Warwick's Todd Withers was red hot against Goldfields Giants. Photo: Vikki Edwards.
NBL1 West Conference Round 9 — May 31, 2025
- Tana Kopa's sizzling 7-from-13 shooting from three-point range powered Willetton to a 103-99 overtime victory
- Josh Keyes recorded a double-double for Geraldton with 26 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort
- How to watch every game of the 2025 NBL1 season LIVE and FREE
Geraldton vs Willetton — Watch the Replay
The Willetton Tigers (8-1) secured a thrilling 103-99 overtime victory against the Geraldton Buccaneers (5-4) at Willetton Basketball Stadium. Tana Kopa was outstanding for the Tigers, shooting a blistering 7-from-13 from beyond the arc en route to 25 points, while Thomas Gerovich dominated inside with 24 points and 8 rebounds on an efficient 11-from-17 shooting.
This back-and-forth battle featured 16 lead changes and five ties, with neither team able to build more than a 10-point advantage. Geraldton's Joshua Keyes recorded a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Verle Williams added 20 points and 5 assists. The Tigers' bench proved decisive, outscoring Geraldton's reserves 54-15, with Taeshon Cherry contributing 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals in just 22 minutes of action.
East Perth vs Goldfields — Watch the Replay
The East Perth Eagles (4-5) held on for a hard-fought 79-74 road victory against the Goldfields Giants (3-6) at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre. Lee Roberts led the Eagles with a stellar double-double performance, recording 16 points and 11 rebounds on an efficient 6-from-10 shooting from the field.
East Perth's defense was the difference-maker, holding Goldfields to just 43.1% shooting from the field. Matthew Lang added 15 points and 7 rebounds for the Eagles, while Max Rice contributed 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. De'Sean Parsons was the lone bright spot for the Giants, finishing with 16 points and 8 rebounds. East Perth dominated the glass with a 48-35 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive boards that led to 9 second-chance points.
Joondalup vs Eastern Suns — Watch the Replay
The Joondalup Wolves (7-2) claimed a solid 77-68 victory over the Eastern Suns (2-7) at Ray Owen Sports Centre. CJ Turnage delivered a standout performance with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, while adding 6 assists to lead the Wolves to their third consecutive win.
Joondalup's balanced attack featured Ethan Elliott contributing 17 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals, while Joey Baker added 16 points including 4-from-10 from three-point range. The Wolves' defense forced 18 turnovers, converting them into 11 points. Terrico White led the Eastern Suns with 15 points and 8 rebounds, but struggled from the free-throw line, shooting just 1-from-6. The Suns' Lewis Thomas recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in defeat.
Perry Lakes vs SW Slammers — Watch the Replay
Perry Lakes Hawks secured a comfortable 96-83 victory against the SW Slammers at Bendat Basketball Centre, powered by Luke Phillips' outstanding 27-point performance. Phillips shot an efficient 78.6 per cent from the field and added seven rebounds, while Jaden Stanley-Williams contributed 20 points with impressive defensive activity, registering four steals.
The Hawks built a commanding 14-point lead at one stage, using a 13-0 run to take control of the contest. Perry Lakes converted 21 Slammers turnovers into 22 points, showcasing their defensive prowess with 13 steals as a team. Devan Craig led the Slammers with 18 points, but struggled with ball control, committing six of his team's 21 turnovers in the defeat.
Geraldton vs Lakeside — Watch the Replay
Geraldton overpowered Lakeside 107-87 at Lakeside Recreation Centre behind a dominant inside presence that produced 58 points in the paint. Liam Hunt recorded an impressive double-double with 27 points and 12 rebounds, while Verle Williams added 17 points and eight assists in a stellar all-round performance.
The Buccaneers showcased exceptional ball movement, registering 33 assists on 41 made field goals, highlighted by Johny Narkle's double-double of 15 points and 12 assists. Despite Corey Shervill's 25-point effort and Joshua Davey's 16-point, 14-rebound double-double for Lakeside, Geraldton's superior shooting (53.2 per cent to 41.1 per cent) and fast break points (30-8) proved decisive in securing their commanding victory.
Cockburn vs Willetton — Watch the Replay
Willetton Tigers edged past Cockburn Cougars 99-98 in a thrilling contest at Wally Hagan Stadium that featured 22 lead changes and seven ties. Taeshon Cherry led the Tigers with 26 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while Michael Vigor added 16 points and seven boards in the nail-biting victory.
Josh Hunt's outstanding 27-point effort for Cockburn wasn't enough despite shooting 80 per cent on two-point attempts and adding three steals. Nathan Pond recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, shooting an efficient 71.4 per cent from the field. The game remained tight throughout with neither team leading by more than 10 points, but Willetton's bench outscored Cockburn's reserves 35-17 to help secure the crucial one-point win.
Goldfields vs Warwick — Watch the Replay
Warwick Senators survived a high-scoring thriller against Goldfields Giants 114-113 at Herb Graham Recreation Centre, powered by Todd Withers' incredible shooting display. Withers erupted for 34 points including 11-from-17 from three-point range, while Elijah Pepper added 24 points, seven rebounds and nine assists despite committing nine turnovers.
Goldfields received outstanding performances from Joshua Duach (33 points on 65 per cent shooting) and De'Sean Parsons (32 points, 12 rebounds), but ultimately couldn't overcome Warwick's three-point barrage. The Senators shot a remarkable 50 per cent from beyond the arc (23-from-46) while dominating time in the lead with nearly 31 minutes compared to less than five minutes for Goldfields. The game featured 30 lead changes and eight ties in an entertaining offensive showcase.
