NBL1 West 2023: Flames spoil Wortho’s return on opening night of NBL1 West action

The Rockingham Flames spoiled Mark Worthington’s long-awaited playing return to the NBL1 West on Friday night at Willetton Basketball Stadium. Worthington, a decorated Olympian and NBL legend, elected to come out of retirement and suit up for the Willetton Tigers this season — and the crowd rose as one as he made his way on to the court early in the first quarter. Unfortunately for the home side, they were unable to quell returning men’s MVP Devondrick Walker (37 points) and Tom Jervis (10 points, 11 rebounds, three assists) who were ultimately the difference in their side’s 89-80 win. While Walker, who spent time in the NBL with Brisbane during the summer, shot the lights out late in the game, Jervis’ hustle on the boards at both ends of the floor was equally as valuable. Worthington played 23 minutes in his return, finishing with six points and three rebounds. On Saturday night in the Tigers’ 111-69 blow out win over the Cockburn Cougars, he scored 10 points despite reduced playing time. Elsewhere on Saturday, the Geraldton Buccaneers comprehensively spanked the South West Slammers 106-45 at Activewest Stadium, with Sydney Kings recruit Zac Gattorna (17 points, six rebounds, two assists) fitting in seamlessly despite having trained once since arriving in the Mid West. The Slammers, who travelled back to Bunbury immediately after the match by bus, will have no shortage of soul-searching following their harrowing performance — committing 16 turnovers in the second half and lacking overall offensive creativity. Stars also came out to play at the Mike Barnett Sports Complex when the Flames saw off the Joondalup Wolves 120-107 in a high-octane contest. In the women’s competition, the Warwick Senators’ title defence hit a speed bump on Saturday night at home, after they were pipped 71-70 by the plucky Kalamunda Eastern Suns. On a night when Jonelle Morley’s side were officially presented with their 2022 NBL1 national championship rings, the Senators were slugged early by the visitors and left their run too late, with Makailah Dyer and former UCLA star Natalie Chou making plenty of plays. Chou, who represented the US at under 17 level, put up solid numbers in her opening game with the Eastern Suns and is likely to feature prominently in the MVP race. The positive for the Senators was despite an out-of-sorts night offensively — particularly from beyond the arc — they did fight back in the face of adversity. Results Men: Rockingham Flames d Willetton Tigers 89-80, Perth Redbacks d Lakeside Lightning 103-60, Perry Lakes Hawks d East Perth Eagles 100-77, Geraldton Buccaneers d South West Slammers 106-45, Warwick Senators d Kalamunda Eastern Suns 104-75, Goldfields Giants d Mandurah Magic 112-67, Willetton Tigers d Cockburn Cougars 111-69, Rockingham Flames d Joondalup Wolves 120-107, Perry Lakes Hawks d Lakeside Lightning 89-76. Women: Willetton Tigers d Rockingham Flames 66-57, Lakeside Lightning d Perth Redbacks 74-68, East Perth Eagles d Perry Lakes Hawks 77-76, Kalamunda Eastern Suns d Warwick Senators 71-70, Mandurah Magic d Goldfields Giants 78-57, Cockburn Cougars d Willetton Tigers 97-55, Joondalup Wolves d Rockingham Flames 87-77, Perry Lakes Hawks d Lakeside Lightning 87-70.