Rockingham Flames go down to Knox Raiders in NBL1 National championship

Monday, 21 August 2023 09:28

By Monique Welhan

Devondrick Walker scored 37 points for the Flames. PIC: Sports Imagery

The Rockingham Flames have suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Knox Raiders in the NBL1 National championship on Sunday.

The Flames were looking to become back-to-back National champions but fell short by just five points at HBF Arena.

Rockingham also bowed out of the NBL1 West season in the preliminary final despite finishing on top of the ladder.

The Raiders arrived in Perth with just seven players, missing two of their stars, Deng Acouth and Mason Peatling, while the Flames were at full strength.

It looked promising for Rockingham in the first quarter, the Flames leading 14-2, but their Victorian opponents soon closed the gap.

Two-time NBL1 West MVP Devondrick Walker scored a whopping 37 points while Jeremy Combs ended up with 20 points but it just wasn't enough to get them over the line.

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