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2020 promises to be a watershed year for the Rockingham Flames organisation. Through the generous support of the Commonwealth Government, we have installed new seating on the Travis Moore show court which brings our seating capacity to more than 1000. This, together with the backboards and rings recently installed by the City of Rockingham, will see many new events come to our facility including the BWA grading INDEX tournament for the fi rst time. Page 5 A word from the coaches, Ryan The City of Rockingham is also moving to replace the Petrik and Keegan Crawford lighting in the stadium, with effi cient LED lighting set to help us save on power costs and improve the lighting on our show court. Page 6 2019 women's championship The Flames organisation will also install a large screen on the show court, and we have review received part-funding from the Commonwealth Government. Page 7 Flames game night experience In sadder news, we recently lost two great ex-presidents of the club, Ken Cull and Mike Moore, who both passed away. the hottest ticket in town These amazing men were massive contributors to basketball in Rockingham and their legacies Page 8 2020 fi xtures are still evident in making the club what it is to this day. Page 9 Memberships and merchandise The Flames family also lost Jason Welch, former SBL team manager and WABL coach, to cancer. All three men will be sadly missed. range On the court, and Josh Ritchart return in 2020, while we have recruited Robert Page 10 Chris Boag ready to shoulder Heyer, Jackson Hussey and Travis Durnin to the Flames men's team. expectations However, we lost one of our great Flames juniors, Luke Travers, who has been recruited by . We wish Luke every success in his professional career and role with the  Page 12 New recruit Jackson Hussey's . career, in his own words Alex Ciabattoni returns to our women's team in 2020, as do Christina Boag, Tayah Burrows Page 13 Beard brothers attached to and Dena English, while Chelsea Roberts has been recruited from Forestville and Courtney Stothart from Dandenong. the Flames These players join an amazing group of local players including Chelsea Petrik, Ryan Godfrey Page 14 Travis Durnin hopes to put injury and many others. worries behind him at new club #FlameOn Warren Boucaut Page 15 Kids' fun page President RBRA

PICTURE / CREDITS Produced by Cover photo, page 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 and 13 all photos: Sports Imagery . Page 13 Robert Heyer photo: South Bay Lakers/Facebook. All stories by Stuart Horton

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The aim for 2020 is really quite simple for the 2019 was a whirlwind for myself and our Flames men’s SBL program - to win the club’s WSBL program. I went from coaching fi rst men’s championship. college basketball in Canada to having The harsh reality of the league, though, is 13 the privilege of holding up a WSBL teams lose while just one experiences the championship trophy. euphoria of bringing home that ‘chip each It was a big change of roles coming from year, so we’re more than aware of just how being an assistant in the program for six hard this thing is to win. years to all of a sudden leading it. The Despite our best efforts and having the talent culture, the girls and the community at our disposal in 2019, we just couldn’t get have always had a massive impact on everything together at the same time to truly my life. I grew up in this program and contend. this club raised me. The lead-up to the 2020 State Basketball Our group this year will look signifi cantly League season has probably been the most labour-intensive off-season of my 16 different to the girls who had the privilege of pulling on the Flames jersey last years involved in SBL. We had three clear areas of improvement we needed to year. address: personnel, playmaking, and three-point shooting. We will be without club legend Darcee Garbin as she chases her Opals Olympic After an intensive recruiting period, we’d like to think we’ve recruited to address dream and settles into having her fi rst WNBL offseason off in a long time. those areas by bringing in Travis Durnin, Jackson Hussey and Rob Heyer. Maddie Allen will also be wearing a different shade of red this year as she suits Travis comes to us from Mandurah, where he won their MVP award last season. up for the . We are very grateful to have had Maddie for the Travis fi ts in seamlessly with the group, is super long, and shoots the three ball at a last two years and will embrace her when she returns home when we play the clip of about 35 percent. Redbacks and raise our banner in round 1. We also sadly say goodbye to club Most WA basketball fans are familiar with Jackson Hussey’s resume, and he comes captain Ella Kennedy who has decided to enter retirement. to us after a solid season at Willetton. A guard who can play the 1 or 2, he is a jet and proof of that is his stint with the Perth Wildcats in 2016-17. He’ll help Ryan Godfrey But we are also extremely excited with the returning cast of athletes who are with playmaking duties, an area where we fi nished a disappointing 13th in looking ready for SBL 20. We will have some late additions to the roster as girls return after the ball in 2019. from overseas and professional playing commitments. As always, we will look to fi nd our form and play our best basketball in the business end of the season. Finally, Rob Heyer comes to us via the NBA’s G League. He’ll literally be fl ying in from Oklahoma City’s G League affi liate, after playing nearly 80 games for the LA Lakers’ We aren’t defending our title – we are fi ghting for another one. Our goal is a G League affi liate team in the two seasons prior to this one. championship, as anything less would be disrespectful to the club and the dedicated volunteers who run it. An elite 2 guard, he shoots the three at around 45 percent, is an elite rebounder for his position, and is someone I’m desperate to see play in the fl esh, after watching However, more importantly, we are obsessed with the process of becoming months’ worth of fi lm of him during the offseason. champions. After that, most of the main guys you’ll already know. Ryan Godfrey will again lead We are always working on player development and preparing Rockingham from the front and start at the point; Justin Beard is back again, shooting it better girls of the future for their 300th SBL game; we are building our identity as a than ever and locking down opponents’ best wing players each week; Callum Beard group, and developing championship habits to create sustainable success; we is starting to break out during pre-season and at some point this kid will explode onto are learning how to play as a unit and honouring the past and future women the scene; Josh Ritchart is back for his third year with the club, and if he ever gets a who have worn, and will wear, the Flames singlet. clean run at it, he’s the best import big in the league by far. We will play an exciting up-tempo brand of basketball this year; we will look And of course Greg Hire is back for his third season in black and orange, and will to exploit our speed and really use our defensive ability as a weapon; we look anchor the 4 for us and no doubt do all the little things Greg is best known for. forward to playing in the best game-day environment in WA for women’s Needless to say, we can’t wait to get started. basketball - the club, its volunteers and fans have turned the Hot House into As always, everyone involved with the men’s program thanks you for your support of one of the most dangerous home court advantages in the league. this great club and we hope to make you proud to be a Flames fan in 2020. Let’s bring on SBL 20. Ryan Petrik Keegan Crawford Men’s coach Women’s coach

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The 2019 SBL season will live long in “I thought straight away there was no reason this team the quarterfi nals, belief had built among the group that couldn’t be a team that contends, just with the talent no one could beat them at their best. the memory of everyone associated on paper. But basketball isn’t just about who wins it “I knew we had the talent from when I signed but it was with the Rockingham Flames club. on paper, that’s never worked out well for teams in the not until we beat Mandurah in the fi rst round of fi nals past, so we were always trying to tweak and fi x things.” that I truly believed we could go all the way,” Ciabattoni The men’s team promised so much and at times looked Undoubtedly of benefi t to the team’s upturn in fortunes says on page 12 of this magazine. the best team in the league, but they couldn’t keep was the addition of Ciabattoni coinciding with Crawford’s “To me they were the team to beat from the start, and enough healthy bodies on the fl oor and the season appointment, plus star recruit Darcee Garbin becoming ended in disappointment, while at the half-way mark of to knock them off in a series that could have gone either more familiar with her teammates and fi nding her way gave us the confi dence we needed.” the season the women’s team looked anything but title groove following her late arrival. contenders despite having the best roster in the league. And so it proved, with the Flames beating Perry Lakes Maddie Allen and Chris Boag both battled against illness On top of that, rookie coach Keegan Crawford had by 35 and 7 points in two semi-fi nals, and Boag and early in the season, which curtailed their talents and no parachuted into the head coaching role following the Allen running rampant on the way to a 29-point grand doubt contributed to a run of disappointing results, but mid-season departure of Craig Reynolds. fi nal win over the Senators. once they were fi t and fi ring, no one was standing in the While teams change and players come and go, those But then everything clicked: Alex Ciabattoni brought Flames’ way. a new edge and immediately gelled with her new who have an impact are remembered and held dear, “At the end of the year we were able to throw some teammates, which combined with new leadership off and whatever the likes of the departed Allen, Garbin, different line-ups on the fl oor that allowed players to the court saw the Flames come from seventh position Ella Kennedy and Janelle Adams achieve in their lives exploit the mismatches they had,” Crawford said. to a grand fi nal triumph on August 30 circa a nine-game on or off the court this year, their contributions to help end of season winning streak. “Chris was one player who benefi ted; she was able to bring a third fl ag to Mike Barnett Sports Complex won’t The 85-56 grand fi nal triumph over Warwick was the take guards inside and beat them up low, she was able be forgotten. culmination of a belief among the squad that it was to take bigs off the perimeter, and the line-ups we were But 2020 is a new season and history is there to be more than equipped to go all the way, despite the able to put together really emphasised the individual written, a task that now rests on the shoulders of hiccups along the way. ability of all fi ve girls on court at any time. Crawford, Ciabattoni, Boag, Chelsea Roberts, Ariana “I think you can approach a basketball team a variety “The line-ups that we had, especially in the play-offs, Hetherington, Chelsea Petrik et al. of different ways so there’s not necessarily a right or a we could adjust to whoever our best weapon was They’ve all tasted success before, and after the way wrong way to do things,” Crawford said of taking the that night.” 2019 played out, who would bet against them doing it head coaching reins last year. After twice fi ghting from behind to defeat Mandurah in again?

QUOTE “FLAMES20” TO RECEIVE YOUR DISCOUNT THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWNHOTTEST TICKET THE Anyone who has spent an evening executing perfect eye-catching routines during breaks in play. in the Hot House during the State For those arriving on an empty stomach, or who are just Basketball League season will attest a bit peckish, there are food trucks and bar facilities that the Rockingham Flames hosts offering more than the standard community stadium more than just a couple of basketball fare of chips and gravy and cans of Coke. There is also the chance to be part of the action, with fi xtures on game day. this season’s half-court shootout competition boasting An experience in and of itself, SBL game nights an eye-watering $30,000 prize; the Hank’s Bar and in Rockingham are an experience unlike anything Bistro cheerleaders inviting kids on court for a dance- regularly hosted, not just in Rockingham, but in semi- along; and to top it all off there are giveaways galore by professional sports across all of WA. way of McDonald’s, Zone Bowling, iPlay Rockingham and Ace Cinemas vouchers at each game. Setting the benchmark for SBL crowd numbers in recent years, the regular season attendance record (which is On the court, the Flames host former Perth Wildcats held by – you guessed it – the Flames) could again be favourite Greg Hire, US imports Robert Heyer and in danger of tumbling in 2020 thanks to the installation Josh Ritchart; national-level talent in Alex Ciabattoni, of new bleachers. Jackson Hussey and Chris Boag; and home-grown favourites including Ryan Godfrey, the Beard brothers, Courtesy of a $215,000 grant from the Federal Ariana Hetherington and Chelsea Petrik. Government, these new seats not only bring the total seating capacity at the centre to more than 1000, These elements all combine to create a sensory but will also see the Travis Moore show court arena experience that reaches out and compels all inside compressed to bring fans closer to the on-court action to get out of their seats and become more than mere than ever before. spectators, but participants in a celebration of sport and community. Adding to the experience is the Zippy Rentals Hot House 7 brass band, who switch the volume up to 11 to create “A night at the Flames offers a full basketball experience not just a wonderful atmosphere for those inside, but but at a price way less than the NBL,” Flames president also a little irritation and distraction to visiting teams. Warren Boucaut says. The Hank’s Bar and Bistro cheerleaders bring another “It’s the biggest regularly-hosted event in Rockingham dimension to the experience, dancing up a storm as and is packed with family entertainment. It’s all the they welcome the players on to the court, as well as things I love about basketball.”

Want to know what makes our Flames players tick? Step inside the Hall of Flame, the only podcast dedicated to Rockingham Basketball. LISTEN NOW AT: www.rockinghamfl ames.com.au/halloffl ame

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FLAMES 2020 BOAG RELISHING CHALLENGE A fair bit of expectation will rest players to make a push again. I know on the shoulders of Chris Boag to there will be pressure on me to step replicate the Flames’ 2019 success up a bit more but I know I’m good this State Basketball League enough and I think I proved that last CLUB season, especially with the loss year.” of two star players from last year’s A solid defender who utilises her championship side. size and strength to out-muscle GREATS But the 28-year-old forward opponents on the rebound, perhaps is comfortable with that extra Boag’s greatest asset is her ability to responsibility and undoubtedly has play both on the perimeter and as a REMEMBERED the talent to carry that burden – she dominant force in the paint. The Flames family has sadly lost two men who helped greatly shape the face of basketball averaged 13.2 points, 9.4 rebounds in Rockingham following the passing of ex-club presidents Ken Cull and Mike Moore in and 2 steals per game in 2019 and “I’m looking forward to being able January. to play outside and shoot from the was unlucky to miss out the grand Ken Cull played an instrumental role in the birth of the Rockingham District Basketball fi nal MVP award. perimeter, which I wasn’t really able to do with Townsville,” she said. Association in 1972 and served as president of the newly-formed association, which was a She has also been reinvigorated by a precursor to the Rockingham Basketball and Recreation Association, throughout the 1970s. season in the WNBL with Townsville “I played as a centre a fair bit, which A bastion of the Safety Bay Tigers club, Ken was “a fi erce and skilled competitor playing Fire, a second chance among the was a new role for me and took some beyond his stature” during his playing days, a great friend and mentor to many of the country’s top echelon of players that getting used to, and I guess when club’s old guard, and was truly at the heart of early Rockingham basketball from which our she thought had passed her by. you’re my size you’re going to get successful local competition and club has grown and blossomed. used in different roles. But I think I While things didn’t always go as Ken passed away on January 26 at the age of 77. planned in Townsville, with minutes play better when I’m able to get the ball outside as well and get up my Another former Flames president, and life member, Mike Moore lost his battle with on court hard to come by at times, lymphoma on January 12 aged 77. Boag proved her credentials with a 22 shots.” point and 15 rebound performance in Perhaps the most important element Mike’s son, former Flames captain Peter Moore, remembered his dad as “a very cheeky the Fire’s fi nal game of the season, for a successful 2020 is returning to bloke” who liked, and in turn was liked, by everyone, and someone who had a big impact on an 89-69 loss to Bendigo. familiar surrounds; Boag said she the Flames throughout his many years’ service to the club. Boag is hopeful that she will still loved her time in Rockingham in “Dad was one of those parents who got involved because his kids were playing, one of the have the wind in her sails to carry 2019 and that established familiarity blokes who stood up and helped out. He was a good supporter of the club and a good bloke that form into the coming season, with the people and places would be who was always around,” Peter said. and has her sights fi rmly set on an advantage. While his involvement started because of his son’s interest in the game, Peter said basketball leading the team to more success in “I’m kind of used to having to pack “got its hooks” into Mike and once he was involved it wouldn’t have mattered if he was her second season out west. up my life every six months or so to playing or not as he came to “love the place”. “The aim this season is to win the play this game, but being back in a “The club meant a lot to him. He thought it was an amazing place for sport, kids and the championship again, but it’s diffi cult place I loved and knowing the people community in general,” Peter said. to go back-to-back in any league,” already is great,” she said. “I believe it meant community to him as much as anything…it also meant the world to me she said. “It takes away all the worries off the having him involved and interested in what I was doing. Having him there to talk to after “Losing Darcee Garbin and Maddie court and allows me to fully focus on training and games, showing an interest and caring about what I did was the world to me.” Allen obviously hurts us talent-wise, basketball and hopefully winning on The Flames will hold each man dear to its heart and will endeavour to remember both, and but we have more than enough good the court.” the contributions they each made to the club, very fondly throughout 2020 and beyond.

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Anyone involved in sports or activities where collision or contact to For further enquiries the face is a legitimate risk should wear a mouthguard. P: 9527 1093 In fact, 50% of dental trauma is caused by sporting related injuries E: [email protected] from sports such as hockey, football and basketball. W: rockinghamdental.net It is mandatory for mouthguards to be worn by Junior Players at 57 Thorpe Street, Rockingham WA the Mike Barnett Sports Complex. We do all aspects of dental treatment including: - Sports Dentistry/Custom fit Mouthguards - Kids Dentistry - Treatment under sedation/in hospital - Wisdom teeth extractions - Invisalign - All health funds accepted - Emergency and Saturday appointments available.

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Anyone involved in sports or activities where collision or contact to For further enquiries the face is a legitimate risk should wear a mouthguard. P: 9527 1093 In fact, 50% of dental trauma is caused by sporting related injuries E: [email protected] from sports such as hockey, football and basketball. W: rockinghamdental.net It is mandatory for mouthguards to be worn by Junior Players at 57 Thorpe Street, Rockingham WA the Mike Barnett Sports Complex. THE DIFFERENCE MAKER In years to come, when the Rockingham appeared disconnected. Once that came Flames reminisce on their 2019 women’s together there was no doubt we could State Basketball League championship, make a run for the playoffs. there will be one fairly innocuous, but “I knew we had the talent from when vitally important, detail that will be I signed but it was not until we beat HUSSEY'S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY New men’s recruit Jackson Hussey is well injuries, performance slumps, etc. One of overlooked. Mandurah in the fi rst round of fi nals that I known in WA basketball circles, having my lowest points was breaking my left foot Alex Ciabattoni’s arrival at the club truly believed we could go all the way. To represented multiple State teams and SBL during State Under-20s as a top age. won’t be that detail, as her impact and me they were the team to beat from the start, and to knock them off in a series clubs, as well as spending time in the NBL “I pushed through the last three games on infl uence on that title run was plain to see for all who watched her play, and is now that could have gone either way gave us with the Perth Wildcats. what I thought was just a 'bloody sore foot,' recorded history. the confi dence we needed.” Since fi rst picking up a ball with friends, thinking it would pass. Although I was still But a simple dinner leading up to her Ciabattoni identifi es her main strength the 28-year-old guard has experienced a selected in the team, X-rays determined I as being able to give the ball to the lot of ups and his share of downs. Here, he would spend the next few months in a boot committing to play for the club perhaps changed the course of not just last right player at the right moment, but explains his journey in his own words. with a broken foot. season’s fortunes, but also that of possesses a toughness not often seen “Basketball has been an incredible “The team went on to win the gold medal seasons to come. in a ball handler, which she picked up while playing in Italy with Reyer Venezia, adventure that has provided me the at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament, which Coming off a nine-month season in Italy, Ponzano and, more recently, Treofan opportunity to travel around the world. This was a huge achievement, but was a tough Ciabattoni said she needed time off to Battipaglia. sport has given me some of my closest time for me as I was dealing with an injury. refresh her body and reset her mind after friendships and favourite memories. But it is through rough imes like these that arriving back in Perth, and as such, had “The game in Europe is a lot different; “I was initially convinced by my childhood athletes become mentally tough. no designs to play again in 2019. it’s a more physical half-court game that took time to adjust to,” she said. mates to play basketball. At the time, I was “The biggest motivation in my career has However, after being taken out for a meal heavily involved with soccer, but thought I been my dad. He is one of the hardest by Flames president Warren Boucaut, “I think being there has taught me a more would give basketball a try. At fi rst, I was working, quick-thinking problem-solvers Ciabattoni had a change of heart, and the physical style of basketball and to play within a structured offence and defence. introduced to ‘mini-ball’, where you were I’ve ever witnessed. Even when I think he’s rest is championship-winning history – We defi nitely have a more free style in only allowed three dribbles before you had in way over his head, he still fi gures a way cheers to that! both the WNBL and SBL, which made the to pass. I didn't like this, so I quit! to come out smiling saying ‘nothing to it’. “I wasn’t actually going to play until I transition initially diffi cult.” “A couple of years later, the same group of “I listen to country music when I’m getting spoke to Warren, who proceeded to invite As well as eyeing off another WSBL mates convinced me to fi ll in for a domestic ready to play a basketball game. I listen to me to a lovely waterfront restaurant for championship, Ciabattoni is focused local competition game, and I had so much country music when I’m happy, sad, angry… dinner, which involved a reasonable on continuing to improve as a player in fun that I decided to give basketball a if it’s not country music you hear coming amount of lovely red wine,” Ciabattoni her second season in Rockingham, and recalled.

serious second chance. from the dressing room, I’m probably not with the trust of her teammates and TRES HOMBRES EN FUEGO “Domestic turned into WABL, then into State the designated DJ. “I soon realised after speaking to some coach Keegan Crawford to take control of team representation, then to Australian "Last season I was preparing for it to of the girls and the coaches that the club games, both are achievable goals. Emus (underage) camps, and before I knew be my last. My wife and I decided we was a good fi t for me.” “After winning it wasn't a diffi cult it I was attending the AIS on a three-year would move back to the USA so she could Ciabattoni made her debut in round decision to re-sign with the Flames,” she basketball scholarship. continue her studies, while I would work 14 – a 93-52 win over the Slammers in said. “During that time, I was selected to in junior basketball development. But with which she dropped 15 points in just 21 “I really enjoyed the season and the team minutes on court – and the Flames lost represent Australia at the Under-19 World my US permanent residency taking a little last year, and loved playing for Keegan. longer than expected I reached out to Ryan just twice more on their way to lifting the I think as a club Rockingham is a great Championships, which is still one of my silverware. proudest moments. After my time at the Petrik to see if there was an opportunity in place to be and is continuing to grow. “The situation at the time honestly wasn’t AIS, I moved to the USA to play collegiate Rockingham. “I would love to win another terrible,” Ciabattoni said of joining the championship, which is always the basketball and earned three conference "I feel like joining Rockingham was a case then 7-7 Flames. championships. of everything being at the right time and goal, but currently I just want to continue “They already had all the talent, they just to work on expanding my game.” “After graduating, I was fortunate to the right place. I’ve only recently arrived come back to Perth and fi nish off the last back in town, so with the limited amount eight games of the 2016 season with the of planning on my end it was great to hear . It was after that from Ryan and the direction he was going. season I got the call up from the Perth "Joining a very talented team can be Wildcats as a couple injuries had happened challenging but I’m hoping to fi ll a fl oor to Damien Martin and . general position, making sure we are all “It was a dream come true to suit up for in the right spots, running the right actions, the Wildcats and to represent my family. and getting the ball to hot hands; possibly a Playing for my home city NBL team was a little mid-range game too. testament to my family for all their support "There’s no shortage of key players on through my decision to dedicate myself this squad. Each team is coached and put to the game. And while my time with the together differently, so I’m just excited to Wildcats was short-lived, I’ll never forget it. learn, grow, and play a fun brand of Flame “The basketball dream wasn’t always basketball. smooth sailing. As an athlete you encounter “The goal is to win a championship.”

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"I heard good things about the club from several people, me because he's played more than 1500 minutes over the Heyer and Ciabattoni were clubmates at the Hobart so I have a positive feeling going into the season." past two seasons for the Lakers in the G League and I just Chargers in 2017, and it was this relationship that made Heyer hopes his game, built around elite shooting - he's thought there was no way we’d get him,” Petrik said. Heyer familiar with the Flames and gave the club an a career 37 percent shooter from beyond the arc in the “But his agent said we were a real chance, and the more advantage in trying to sell Rockingham as a basketball G League - and experience in one of the world's most we dug on him the more we liked him. The coaches we destination. ruthless basketball pools will benefi t his new club. spoke to all spoke really highly of him as a player but also "One of the fi rst things I did was call 'Chiba' in Italy and "My game is largely based on perimeter shooting and I of his character; he's a high character and high culture guy. ask her what Rob was like and she said he was really, plan to bring that Rockingham. There are other aspects really good as a teammate and a fantastic player," Petrik "Obviously he can shoot and he's a very good rebounder for of my game that will show throughout the season as well. someone of his size but he can do a lot more than that. We said. I specifi cally take pride in defence and rebounding,” he were certainly desperate for his talent and his shooting... said. "I told her we really wanted him and asked if she could go his ability to shoot and play on a wing will really suit us." to work as a recruiting agent for us, and she helped out enormously.” "I plan to take full advantage of A 190cm shooting guard, Heyer has abundant experience in the NBA’s feeder system, the G League, having been a this opportunity in Rockingham. key player for the LA Lakers-affi liated South Bay Lakers Off the court I’d like to soak in as from 2017-2019, and also spent time with Canton Charge and Oklahoma City Blue. much of the culture as I can, I’d Adding to his familiarity playing at a high level in the US, like to see as much of the country the Boise State alumni spent two years in Tasmania, fi rst with the Latrobe Demons in 2016, and then in 2017 with as I can as well. the Chargers, where he and Ciabattoni met and the seeds “For the Flames, I have high expectations. If we as a team for a move he wouldn’t know of for several years were can come together and consistently work to improve, only fi rst planted. good things will come from that." "I didn’t know anything else about Rockingham other than Petrik was effusive in his assessment of Heyer and said Alex played there," Heyer admitted. while his shooting numbers initially jumped out to him, "But when my agent notifi ed me Rockingham had interest speaking to Heyer’s previous coaches confi rmed that not in me I recognised the club. I'm excited about playing in only was the club getting a solid ball player, but also a TRES HOMBRES EN FUEGO one likes to lose, and being brothers it was always more with taunts from their mum, who has two championship competitive with a lot of trash talking and hits. But it rings from her stint as team manager for the women. defi nitely helped all of us get better.” But as Justin was quick to point out, just one championship “It was brutal for me, being four years younger it was shared among the three would eclipse mum’s haul, and tough playing against them,” Callum, a hard-nosed guard, asked if they would rather win a title, say at another club added. without each other, or not win one at all and stay together “At home we’d be super competitive and if you lost one in Rockingham, Justin and Callum were steadfast in game it was like ‘nah, let’s go again!’ until you won a brotherly solidarity. game. It wasn’t the nicest competition but it was tough “Growing up we had aspirations to do this, to be It’s not unusual to see a pair of siblings share the same and I look at it as a good thing because now it translates to competing for championships together and nothing stage on a sporting team, and in 24-year-old twin brothers the style I play, a bit tough and gritty. That was all learned would mean more to me than winning a championship Kyle and Justin Beard, the Flames men have just that at home.” with them,” Callum said. combo. While Kyle, a forward who can pinch hit at centre, and “Going to another club and winning a championship What’s less common is having a third sibling in the mix, Justin battled it out side-by-side on competitive teams wouldn’t mean as much without Kyle and Callum,” Justin and with 19-year-old younger brother Callum also on the together, it was a few years before Callum could join them. said. roster, the Flames boast a trio of talented Beards. And though he hates to admit it now, he looked up to his older brothers and loved going to watch them play. “Winning a championship with three brothers has never Rockingham born and bred to their core, the Beard been done before and it would be something pretty special triumvirate gravitated towards basketball at early ages “Every Sunday I’d go to watch their WABL games and I for the club and even more so for us and our family.” thanks to the infl uence of older cousins, and soon a always looked up to them. I learned so much from that and it has shaped my game too. They both played different As for who’s the most talented of the three? That depends strong rivalry developed at home that set them on their positions but I watched how they both played and have on who you ask. way to the SBL. mixed that into my own game,” he said. “Defi nitely me!” Callum claimed, before adding, “but at “Always having someone to compete against at home, When the trio fi nally started playing on the same teams the moment, I hate to admit, it’s Justin. Give me a couple which is why I love having a twin, for sure helped my it strengthened their bond beyond that of siblings, and of years and I think I’ll defi nitely catch him; without a game,” Justin, a three-and-D style wing, said. Justin and Callum said if any of the three ever found doubt, 100 percent.” “At training we’d push ourselves a bit more and go at each themselves in a sticky situation against an opponent, the “Potential-wise, Cal would be yeah, but he’s got to improve other a bit harder because of sibling rivalry, getting angry other two would be fi rst to their side to bolster defence. some stuff before he’s better than me,” Justin said. and such that you wouldn’t get against a mate. This closeness has seen the brothers set a goal of winning Poor Kyle was on holiday at the time of this chat and “Games at home would end in tears a lot because no a championship together, but for now they have to put up couldn't speak for himself.

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After losing Luke Travers to Cockburn for the coming season, the wanted to get my knee right so I can be fully fi t for the whole season,” Flames wasted no time in announcing the signing of fellow young gun he said. Travis Durnin from Mandurah. “I’ve worked really hard with my physio in rehab, being in the gym Though not a like-for-like replacement, 22-year-old Durnin was highly and building up the muscle again. Once I got back on court I felt rated at the and followed up his 2018 SBL really good.” Most Improved Award by taking out the MVP gong in his fi rst season Durnin said the opportunity to develop alongside players such as with the Magic in 2019. Greg Hire, Jackson Hussey, Josh Ritchart and Ryan Godfrey were The 201cm forward adds extra scoring fi repower, the ability to stretch great attractions to joining the Flames, and denied he was slowly the fl oor, and more length to an already physically-big Flames roster. making his way up the freeway towards joining a Perth club. After committing to the Flames, Durnin was set to travel to Canada “I love that joke but it’s not true!” he laughed. to play college ball for Lethbridge College in Alberta, however a “I absolutely loved my time at Mandurah, but I was attracted to the trip to the doctor to check out some soreness in his knee curtailed Flames by their style of play, the culture they have, and I just felt for those plans. my development the Flames would make me a better player. “The issue with my knee was a complete surprise,” Durnin said. “I’ll bring some unselfi sh basketball to the group; I love to make the “I decided to get it checked out and had a MRI, and when I got the extra pass and fi nd the open guy or the hot hands. I will really space results back they had found a bone fragment roughly the size of a 5c the fl oor for the point guards to make plays and fi nd the shooters, and piece in my knee, which was locking it up and causing me problems. I will also bring some three-point shooting… I love to fi nd a wing and “I was all organised to play college before SBL and I was very close shoot the open shot when I can.” to leaving, but when I got my results back that all changed quickly. I And like everyone else at the Flames, he has his eyes on the ultimate was very disappointed; I had everything sorted and paid for and I was prize. set to roll straight into it.” “Personally one thing for me this year is trying to be the best The setback allowed Durnin time to focus on being fully fi t ahead of teammate I can; to move the ball, make the open pass and shoot his fi rst season with the Flames, which he admits has been a “very the ball when open,” he said. slow grind” at times but will hopefully bring out his best in 2020. “But the number 1 goal is to win the championship. That would “I was in no rush to get back to training. I hate sitting out, but I really be ideal.” WOMEN’S competition MEN’S competition Height Height No. Name DOB Position Junior Club No. Name DOB Position Junior Club (cm) (cm) Tiana 2 Robert Heyer 01/03/1992 193 Grd/Fwd USA 2 Palmer-Wilson 07/05/2004 167 Guard Rockingham 3 Chris Boag 04/09/1991 188 Grd/Fwd Tamworth 3 Ryan Godfrey 10/03/1990 188 Guard Rockingham 4 Jacob Heath 11/04/2004 196 Forward Rockingham 4 Ariana Wheki 18/11/1999 165 Guard Rockingham 5 Joshua Ritchart 11/03.1991 205 Fwd/Ctr USA 5 Ariana Hetherington 26/06/1999 179 Guard Rockingham 6 Travis Durnin 15/02/1998 201 Fwd/Ctr Mandurah 6 Paris Duffi eld 22/02/1995 172 Guard South West 7 Joshua Mills 30/10/2001 190 Guard Rockingham 7 Dena English 03/06/1994 171 Guard South West 10 Justin Beard 09/01/1996 196 Grd/Fwd Rockingham

8 Courtney Stothard 19/10/2001 170 Guard Willetton 12 Kyle Beard 09/01/1996 203 Fwd/Ctr Rockingham

9 Chelsea Petrik 15/02/1990 175 Guard Joondalup 13 Brendan Redhead 08/04/2003 177 Guard Rockingham

10 Rhianna Klisura 01/02/1999 178 Forward Rockingham 14 Callum Beard 08/05/2000 201 Guard Rockingham

11 Tayah Burrows 01/09/2001 179 Guard South West 15 Luke Roberts 01/07/1996 195 Guard Rockingham 16 Seth Matthews 04/12/1998 191 Forward Rockingham 14 Chelsea Roberts 18/08/1993 185 Grd/Fwd Forrestville 20 Travis Vogel 23/04/2000 204 Guard South West 20 Ashlyn Lee 25/12/1999 188 Centre Rockingham 21 Ben Johnson 05/06/2001 179 Guard Lakeside 21 Lily Fitzgerald 29/06/2003 180 Guard Rockingham 22 Jackson Hussey 24/01/1992 190 Guard Cockburn 22 Alex Ciabattoni 01/06/1994 183 Forward Adelaide 23 Greg Hire 19/09/1987 201 Grd/Fwd Joondalup

23 Chloe Napolitano 05/09/2002 169 Guard Rockingham 24 Kristian Ciabattoni 18/12/1999 185 Guard Adelaide

24 Alex Withnell 09/02/2004 169 Guard Rockingham 28 Dylan Gilbert 30/07/2003 185 Guard Rockingham

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