The Cockburn Cougars overcame a determined East Perth Eagles side, securing a hard-fought 109–104 road victory in NBL1 West action on July 24, 2026. The Cougars’ explosive second-quarter scoring spree and clutch free‑throw shooting in the final minute proved enough to hold off a furious Eagles rally.

Match Overview

East Perth entered the game with momentum, having won three of their last four, and they started aggressively. However, Cockburn’s depth and outside shooting eventually took over. The Cougars shot 14 three‑pointers at a 45% clip and forced 16 turnovers that translated into 21 fast‑break points. The Eagles countered with a relentless inside game, scoring 52 points in the paint, but could not contain Cockburn’s perimeter attack.

Turning Points

• Second‑Quarter Barrage: Trailing 28–26 after the first quarter, Cockburn erupted for 38 points in the second frame, including five three‑pointers from guard Liam Henderson, to take a 64–52 halftime lead.
• Eagles’ Comeback Push: East Perth cut the deficit to two points with three minutes remaining behind a 9‑0 run fueled by forward Jake O’Brien’s 10 fourth‑quarter points.
• Cougars’ Poise at the Line: Cockburn’s guards calmly sank 7 of 8 free throws in the final 90 seconds to seal the win.

Star Players

Liam Henderson was the Cougars’ catalyst, finishing with 31 points (7‑of‑12 from three), 5 assists, and 3 steals. Center Tom Carlisle added 22 points and 11 rebounds, dominating the glass. For the Eagles, Jake O’Brien registered a game‑high 34 points and 8 rebounds, while point guard Harrison Lee dished out 10 assists but also committed 5 turnovers under pressure.

Season Context

The victory improved Cockburn’s record to 16–7, keeping them firmly in contention for the top two seeds and a home playoff series. East Perth dropped to 12–9, still comfortably inside the playoff picture but missing a chance to gain ground on the league leaders. The Cougars’ high‑octane offense, which averaged 106 points per game, once again proved difficult to stop even on the road.