Tough Easter for last year's grand finalists (Week 6 Men's SBL Wrap)

LAST year's men's SBL grand finalists Lakeside and Joondalup both suffered losses over the Easter Weekend, twice in the case of the Wolves, with Rockingham again winning two matches to maintain top spot.

There were eight men's SBL matches over the Easter Weekend starting on Thursday night with the Rockingham Flames beating the Cockburn Cougars 102-85, the Perry Lakes Hawks defeating the Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles 90-80 and the Stirling Senators downing the Joondalup Wolves 103-96.

Following a break for Good Friday, the action resumed on Saturday night with the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers defeating the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 102-84 in the battle of the regional powers.

Also on Saturday, the Willetton Tigers upset the Lakeside Lightning 112-104, the Mandurah Magic beat the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 116-95 and the Rockingham Flames downed the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 102-73.

Following a break for Easter Sunday, there was then the one match on Monday to close out the round and that saw the Perth Redbacks defeat the Joondalup Wolves 100-93.

The results from those eight matches leave the Rockingham Flames on top of the standings with an 8-1 record having now won eight matches on the trot since losing their opening game of the year.

The Geraldton Buccaneers (6-2) are now second followed by the Lakeside Lightning (5-2), Mandurah Magic (5-2), Perth Redbacks (5-3), Joondalup Wolves (4-3), Perry Lakes Hawks (4-3) and Stirling Senators (3-3).

The East Perth Eagles (3-6) are just outside the top-eight with the South West Slammers (2-4), Willetton Tigers (2-5), Goldfields Giants (2-6), Kalamunda Eastern Suns (2-6) and the Cockburn Cougars (1-6).

With Willetton's two imports leading the way in its win over Lakeside, there was some big individual performances across the Easter Weekend.

On Thursday night, Cooper Land starred for the Flames finishing with 27 points and 14 rebounds with Tom Remmerswaal contributing 22 points, five boards and four blocked shots.

Damien Scott top-scored for the Cougars with 21 points and nine rebounds with Gavin Field adding 18 points and eight boards.

Ben Purser led the way for the Hawks with 26 points, 12 rebounds and six rebounds with Justin Cecil adding 22 points.

Austin Kisselev scored 17 points to go with nine rebounds and six blocked shots for the Eagles with Kyle Armour adding 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Cory Cooperwood top-scored for Stirling with 22 points and 10 rebounds with Jordan Wild adding 18 points, Cody Ellis 17 (15 rebounds, four blocks), Josh Throns 12, Austin Bruton 12 and Nikolas Iliadis 10.

Seb Salinas was an unstoppable force for the Wolves finishing with 39 points and seven rebounds on the back of shooting 14-of-25 from the field and 4-of-8 from downtown.

On Saturday night, big man import Odartey Blankson was the star for the Buccaneers finishing with 37 points and 16 rebounds on the back of shooting 18-of-26 from the field. Bennie Lewis also added 21 points and nine rebounds.

Lordan Franich led the way for the Giants with 22 points and 13 rebounds with Duran Blue adding 21 points, Tommy Hannon 17 (13 rebounds) and Matthew Leske 15.

Willetton's imports were both outstanding with John Dickson finishing with 40 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocked shots on the back of shooting 15-of-26 from the field and 4-of-7 from downtown.

Quinn McDowell also added 38 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Tigers.

Brad Tinsley finished with 28 points and seven rebounds for Lakeside while Jesse Dixon contributed 17 points and six boards, Steven Butler 13 points and five assists, Caleb Palkert 13 points and six rebounds, and Jarrad Prue 12 points and 20 rebounds.

Paul Hafford starred for Mandurah with 32 points and nine rebounds with Taylor Mullenax finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds.

Playing-coach Ty Harrelson did all he could for the Slammers with 29 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Cooper Land led the way with 28 points and seven rebounds for the Flames on the back of shooting 10-of-18 from the field.

Ben Smith top-scored for Kalamunda with 20 points and Louis Timms added 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Then on Sunday, Stan Okoye was the star for Perth with 36 points, 12 rebounds and four steals on the back of 15-of-27 shooting from the field.

Joel Wagner contributed 19 points and nine assists with Jarrad Prior adding 13 points and Jamieson Lewis 10.

Seb Salinas continued his hot form and did all he could for the Wolves finishing with 28 points and 11 rebounds.

Rob Huntington also had a good game for the Wolfpack with 22 points and five rebounds but they were the only two Joondalup players to score in double-figures for the afternoon.

THURSDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Rockingham Flames 102 defeated Cockburn Cougars 85
Perry Lakes Hawks 90 defeated Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles 80
Joondalup Wolves 96 lost to Stirling Senators 103

SATURDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers 102 defeated Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 84
Willetton Tigers 112 defeated Lakeside Lightning 104
Mandurah Magic 116 defeated Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers 95
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 73 lost to Rockingham Flames 102

MONDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Perth Redbacks 100 defeated Joondalup Wolves 93

Article by Chris Pike




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