Latest news with #NBL1


West Australian
20-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Perth Wildcats guard Elijah Pepper sets NBL1 scoring record with 59 points for Warwick Senators
Perth Wildcats guard Elijah Pepper continued a dominant NBL1 West season by setting the competition's single-game scoring record with a 59-point performance on Saturday night. Pepper powered his Warwick Senators to a 51-point victory over last-placed South West Slammers with a phenomenal showing at Eaton Recreation Centre where connected on six of his nine three-point shots and was even more dominant inside the arc, where only six of his 22 attempts did not find the bottom of the net. In his side's 130-78 win, he also dished out nine assists, grabbed four rebounds and recorded two steals. The visitors held an insurmountable 38-point advantage at the final break but Pepper remained in the game and added another 14 points in the final frame to ensure he claimed the record. As well as the NBL1 West record, the showing saw Pepper claim the record across the entire NBL1, the NBL's second-tier competition which comprises of five leagues around the country. The performance has all but sealed the league's most valuable player award for Pepper, who has produced per-game averages of 36.3 points and 7.3 assists for the second-placed Senators this season. Remarkably, it was the fourth time the 24-year-old had scored more than 50 points or more in a game this year — three of which came within the opening four games of a white-hot start to his campaign where he fell only two points short of the mark in his other appearance. Pepper averaged 7.1 points per game in his first campaign with the Wildcats as he floated in and out of the rotation but is set for a bigger role this season due to the defection of superstar Bryce Cotton to Adelaide 36ers. He is one of two 2024-25 Wildcats on the Senators' roster, alongside Todd Withers, who spent last season as the club's nominated replacement player able to cover for their other imports when they were unavailable.


Perth Now
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Perth Wildcats guard Elijah Pepper sets NBL1 scoring record with 59 points for Warwick Senators
Perth Wildcats guard Elijah Pepper continued a dominant NBL1 West season by setting the competition's single-game scoring record with a 59-point performance on Saturday night. Pepper powered his Warwick Senators to a 51-point victory over last-placed South West Slammers with a phenomenal showing at Eaton Recreation Centre where connected on six of his nine three-point shots and was even more dominant inside the arc, where only six of his 22 attempts did not find the bottom of the net. In his side's 130-78 win, he also dished out nine assists, grabbed four rebounds and recorded two steals. The visitors held an insurmountable 38-point advantage at the final break but Pepper remained in the game and added another 14 points in the final frame to ensure he claimed the record. As well as the NBL1 West record, the showing saw Pepper claim the record across the entire NBL1, the NBL's second-tier competition which comprises of five leagues around the country. Camera Icon Elijah Pepper played his first season with Perth Wildcats in 2024-25. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images The performance has all but sealed the league's most valuable player award for Pepper, who has produced per-game averages of 36.3 points and 7.3 assists for the second-placed Senators this season. Remarkably, it was the fourth time the 24-year-old had scored more than 50 points or more in a game this year — three of which came within the opening four games of a white-hot start to his campaign where he fell only two points short of the mark in his other appearance. Pepper averaged 7.1 points per game in his first campaign with the Wildcats as he floated in and out of the rotation but is set for a bigger role this season due to the defection of superstar Bryce Cotton to Adelaide 36ers. He is one of two 2024-25 Wildcats on the Senators' roster, alongside Todd Withers, who spent last season as the club's nominated replacement player able to cover for their other imports when they were unavailable.

ABC News
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Basketballer Caitlin Cunningham is a 'health goth' and wants to show sport is for all
The emo/goth aesthetic isn't one usually associated with athletes, particularly not at an elite level. But that's never bothered Caitlin Cunningham, who's proof that the two seemingly opposite subcultures can coexist and flourish. "I was a Myspace kid. Emo music's a big part of my life and so the makeup has always been an expression, and I've always done it," Cunningham, who uses they/them/she pronouns, told ABC Melbourne's The Conversation Hour. They were also an early adopter of the health goth style — broadly speaking, a trend that originated around a decade ago, combining sport/working out with monochromatic athleisure, dark make-up and a general gothic look. The former WNBL player, who now plays semi-professionally for the Rockhampton Cyclones in the NBL1 North, has captured a lot of attention over the past week after pictures of her playing were posted on social media. They've earned them the moniker "Caitlin Dark", riffing off WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark. It's nothing new for the 39-year-old, who's also a musician and personal trainer. "I found an old article from when I was 21, when I was signed to the Canberra Capitals, playing in the WNBL," she said. "The journalist touched on my black shoes, my black socks, my goth looks. So it's always been a thing for me." The look has evolved since then — there are more tattoos, two teeth have been turned into fangs and the now increasingly famous make-up. "It's all tied into music for me. When I was young, I would look up to these artists and be mesmerised by their self-expression and their art form," Cunningham said. "And if people are looking at me like I looked at those people … you have a role to play in these young people's journey of self-discovery and I do take it seriously. The intersection of sport, fashion, beauty and music is well-established — and there is power in athletes using their platform and profile to showcase the many dimensions of human expression. Serena Williams was a trailblazer throughout her career, showing that you can be stylish, fashion-forward and one of the greatest players of all time. Brazilian football legend Marta first sported her trademark red lipstick at the 2019 Women's World Cup, saying: "The colour is of blood because we had to leave blood on the pitch. Now I'm going to use it in every game." American rugby player Ilona Maher wears her red lipstick to show femininity can coexist with peak athletic performance, saying, "it doesn't take away from your athletic ability if you wear make-up". The WNBA and NBA tunnels have become high-end fashion runways with athletes trading basketball singlets for haute couture. What does it all mean? Well, in short — that athletes are people too, with complex identities, interests and forms of expression. But for athletes competing in women's sport, and women and gender-diverse people generally, it goes deeper. They have always been policed over their appearance and faced constant contradictions. Too masculine/too feminine. Too muscular/too thin. Too concerned with their looks/not concerned enough. Trying too hard to fit in or too hard to stand out. Praised for fighting for equity, or being told to be grateful for what they've got. It's an exhausting dance, essentially all an encapsulation of the now well-versed Barbie monologue. To blend in is an easier existence, but as Cunningham — and so many others — show, to embrace yourself is a much more fulfilling one. "I might look quite intimidating, but I am probably one of the most softest, most gentle people and everyone knows that," they said. "Don't judge a book by its cover. I am such a contradiction of what I am perceived as to who I am." And with sport a central part of so many people's lives, whether as participants or spectators, Cunningham knows the impact of its influence. "There's so many sports that really like to put people in a box of stereotypes," she said. "And it's unfair because I think that turns away people who feel a little bit different, and that puts them off wanting to be in a team sport environment.


USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Harrison Hornery returns home to Australia to play professional basketball
Harrison Hornery returns home to Australia to play professional basketball Former Trojan Harrison Hornery follows a path to pro basketball in his home country, Australia Harrison Hornery is officially headed back home. Last week, it was announced that Hornery, an Australia native who spent the past four seasons with the USC men's basketball program, is returning to his home country to sign with the Rockhampton Rockets of the NBL1—the second level of professional basketball in Australia. Hornery spent the past four seasons with the Trojans. Although he never played huge minutes, he was a valuable presence for the program both coming off the bench and in the locker room. This past season, he was the Trojans' lone returning scholarship player from the year prior, providing some continuity as USC entered the Eric Musselman era. Following USC's senior day ceremony back in March, USC head coach Eric Musselman had high praise for Hornery. "When all this is said and done and you look back 20 years from now, it's not gonna be about who led us in scoring," Musselman said. "It's not gonna be about who played the most minutes. It's always about who you respect in that locker room and how they conduct themselves in the classroom, how they conduct themselves off the floor, how they conduct themselves behind closed doors in practice. "Harry, the way that he's exhibited himself, the way that he's represented himself is just as powerful as any guy who scores 30 points . . . we cannot thank him enough for the way that he's been a part of this thing even though the minutes are surely not what he would've wanted this season." It is great to see Hornery get a shot to play basketball professionally. USC fans certainly wish him nothing but the best moving forward.


West Australian
09-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Giants at home this weekend against Mandurah
Goldfields Giants' clash against Mandurah on Saturday is the remaining leg of a two-game NBL1 West home stand, before back-to-back road matches in Perth on the weekend of May 17-18. Victory this weekend is crucial for the Giants' men's squad, who are third but just one game clear of Mandurah. Sixth-placed Mandurah are among three teams with identical 4-2 win-loss records, alongside Geraldton and Joondalup. A favourable draw is looming for the Giants, who will play three consecutive games on their home court, on June 7, June 14 and June 21. The Giants' women are ninth, but are desperate to keep the momentum following last weekend's historic win against Rockingham. It was recorded against the reigning NBL1 champions and the 106-52 scoreline was the biggest winning margin in the local squad's short history. Mandurah are eighth — one game clear of the Giants. Saturday's program starts at 4pm with the men's D-League clash, followed by the women's NBL1 showdown at 6pm. The men's NBL1 game is at 8pm.