WITH the Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Stirling Senators losing, the Cockburn Cougars grabbed the final Women's SBL playoff position over the last weekend of 2016 season while the top five teams all ensured they enter the finals in winning form.

The Eastern Suns, Cougars and Senators were all still in the race for eighth position heading into the final round setting up a thrilling finish to the regular season.

Cockburn had the chance to wrap up the spot but lost to the minor premier Joondalup Wolves on Friday. Given that, Kalamunda could have grabbed it but also lost to the fourth placed Perry Lakes Hawks.

That left it all up to the Senators on Saturday night with Stirling to finish eighth with a win over the Mandurah Magic but the fifth placed Magic proved too good meaning eighth went to the Cougars.

Also heading into the playoffs, the Lady Wolfpack, Flames, Tigers, Hawks and Magic all had impressive weekends to enter the finals on winning runs.

Friday's results to close the regular season saw the Perry Lakes Hawks defeat the P&J Financial Solutions Kalamunda Eastern Suns 94-72 and the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup Wolves down the Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars 90-71.

Then on Saturday night, the Mandurah Magic beat the Bethanie Stirling Senators 84-63, the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers defeat the Texture WA Perth Redbacks 77-65 and the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames down the Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 97-59.

The results mean the final standings for the 2016 Women's SBL season sees the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves finish on top with a 19-3 record ahead of the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames (18-4) and Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (17-5).

The Perry Lakes Hawks (15-7) finish in fourth spot with the Mandurah Magic (12-10), Lakeside Lightning (11-11), Texture WA Perth Redbacks (10-12) and Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars (9-13) rounding out the top eight.

That sets up the quarter-final match ups that sees the Lady Wolfpack play the Cougars, the Flames take on the Redbacks, the Tigers face the Lightning and the Hawks play the Magic.

The P&J Financial Solutions Kalamunda Eastern Suns (9-13) just finished outside the playoffs ahead of the Bethanie Stirling Senators (8-14), Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles (2-20) and Print Sync South West Slammers (2-20).

Week 20 Saturday night SBL wrap 
Week 20 Friday night SBL wrap 

There were plenty of standout of performers in the final round as well starting on Friday night with the Hawks beating the Eastern Suns by 22 points to knock them out of the playoff hunt.

Captain Kate Anthony top-scored for Perry Lakes with 19 points and five rebounds with Deanna Smith adding 18 points, nine boards and eight assists, Antonia Edmondson 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Lauren Jeffers 12 points, five boards and three assists.

The Suns weren’t able to cover the absence of the suspended Carley Mijovic with Stacey Barr doing what she could finishing with 29 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. Sarah-Jane McMahon added nine points and seven boards, and Melissa Moyle nine points and four rebounds.

The Wolves then proved too strong for the Cougars by 19 points in what proved to be a quarter-final preview.

Amy Kidner had a night out for Joondalup with 30 points while Nikita-Lee Martin added 15 points, Klara Wischer 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists, Shani Amos 10 points, eight assists and six boards, and Ellyce Ironmonger six points and 21 rebounds.

Candace Williams ended up with 27 points and 13 rebounds for Cockburn with Cherridy Thornton contributing 23 points and eight boards.

Then on Saturday night, the Flames beat the Eagles by 38 points with Sami Whitcomb leading the way with 32 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Darcee Garbin added 23 points and five rebounds for Rockingham and Ifunanya Ibekwe 18 points, five boards, five steals and three assists.

Nicole Jorre St Jorre did all she could for East Perth with 25 points, four steals and four rebounds with Gemma Houghton contributing 17 points.

The Senators missed out on the playoffs by losing to the Magic by 21 points with Annette Davis making up for the absence of the suspended Adijat Adams for Mandurah finishing with 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Casey Mihovilovich added 18 points and seven assists for the Magic, Rachel Halleen 15 points, Bree Klasztorny five points and seven rebounds, and Emma Klasztorny four points, 12 boards, six steals and three assists.

Kara van Dyke finished with 15 points for the Senators, Amber Land 11 points and nine rebounds, and Lyndal Gardner 11 points, three assists and two steals.

The Tigers then geared up for the playoffs with a 12-point win at home over the Redbacks with Louella Tomlinson again leading the way with 19 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots.

Kate Malpass added 19 points, five rebounds and five assists for Willetton, Zoe Harper 15 points and 12 boards, and Lara Napier 10 points.

Ajay Jones top-scored for the Redbacks with 17 points while Lisa Wallbutton finished with 14 points and 12 boards.

FRIDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Perry Lakes Hawks 94 defeated P&J Financial Solutions Kalamunda Eastern Suns 72
Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars 71 lost to Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves 90

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Mandurah Magic 84 defeated Bethanie Stirling Senators 63
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 77 defeated Texture WA Perth Redbacks 65
Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles 59 lost to Orange Autos Rockingham Flames 97

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by June Halliday