NBL1 West: Magic celebrate elimination final win over Hawks

It was a massive weekend of finals for three local basketball teams in the NBL1 West.

A championship dream is still alive for the Mandurah Magic women after they defeated the Perry Lakes Hawks in an elimination final at home on Saturday night.

The Hawks were leading by five points at the end of the first quarter but Mandurah clawed their way back eventually winning by 20.

Coach Vlad Alava said he was very proud of his team's efforts.

"We took our chances and subsequently in front of a great home crowd yet again it was great to get up and keep the playoffs hopes alive," Alava said.

The victory sees the Magic advance to a semi final against the Joondalup Wolves on Thursday.

On Friday night, the Rockingham Flames men defeated the Perry Lakes Hawks 94-85 in a qualifying final at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

The Flames led by as much as 14-points in the second half before the Hawks fought back getting the game to within three-points with just four minutes to go.

But it was back-to-back MVP Devondrick Walker who sealed the win with a three-pointer.

Coach Ryan Petrik said Walker and Marshall Nelson were standouts.

"We've got two closers, two game finishers so to speak," Petrik said,

"When the game gets tight at the end, we've got two guys that can put the ball in their hands and let them go to work and drag us over the line." 

The victory means Rockingham advance straight through to a preliminary final on Saturday.

The Flames ended the 2023 regular season in top spot having won their last 11 games.

Meanwhile, the Rockingham Flames women suffered a 14-point loss to the Cockburn Cougars in their qualifying final on Saturday.

Coach Tom Knowles said it was disappointing.

"We probably didn't come out and throw the first punch which is what we intended to do," Knowles said.

"We shot very poorly...they probably played a little bit harder than we did."

They have one last chance to get over the line on Thursday against the Warwick Senators.