Week 7 Men's SBL Wrap

BACK-to-back road wins led by Player of the Week Matthew Adekponya saw the Geraldton Buccaneers emerge as genuine threats to the Men's SBL championship but the two teams above them the Joondalup Wolves and Cockburn Cougars continued winning as well.

The action began on Friday night with the Perry Lakes Hawks defeating the Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles 115-85 and the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers downing the Print Sync South West Slammers 104-74.

There were then six matches on Saturday night with the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants defeating the Mandurah 105-100, the S&K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers downing the Perry Lakes Hawks 106-90 and the Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars beating the Textile WA Perth Redbacks 116-105.

The Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves prevailed over the Print Sync South West Slammers 115-83, the Bethanie Stirling Senators defeated the Lakeside Lightning 107-98 and the Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames downed the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 114-104.

The round concluded on Sunday afternoon with a tremendous contest that ended up seeing the S&K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers beat the Bethanie Stirling Senators 112-105.

Following seven rounds of the 2016 SBL season, the defending champion Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves (6-1) remain on top of the standings ahead of the Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars (8-2).

The S&K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers (7-3) sit third ahead of the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (6-3), Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames (6-3), Bethanie Stirling Senators (6-4), Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants (6-4) and the Perry Lakes Hawks (5-5).

The Lakeside Lightning (4-5) sit just outside the top eight followed by the Print Sync South West Slammers (4-5), Textile WA Perth Redbacks (2-6), Mandurah Magic (2-7), Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles (2-7) and Kalamunda Eastern Suns (0-9).

The Team of the Week is made up of Kenny Manigault and Jacob Holmen both from the Goldfields Giants along with Najee Lane from the Cockburn Cougars, Matthew Adekponya from the Geraldton Buccaneers and Cooper Land from the Rockingham Flames.

Adekponya was named to the Team of the Week for a second straight round and also awarded Player of the Week honours following 18 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals in Saturday night's win over the Hawks at Bendat Basketball Centre.

Then on Sunday in the win over the Senators at Warwick Stadium, Adekponya delivered 39 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals on 11-of-24 shooting from the field and 14-of-18 at the free-throw line.

Lane was named to the Team of the Week for a second time this season following 27 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals while shooting 12-of-17 from the field in Saturday night's win over the Redbacks.

The Giants beat the Magic by five points at Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium on Saturday night with Manigault named to the Team of the Week for a third time this season after 28 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and five steals on 13-of-20 shooting.

Holmen was also named to the Team of the Week for a third time following 32 points, 12 rebounds and three assists shooting 12-of-23 from the floor.

Land was named to the Team of the Week for a second time this season after delivering 28 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in Saturday night's 10-point win over the Eastern Suns at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

There were plenty more standout performances as well starting on Friday night with the Hawks beating the Eagles by 30 points with Ryan O'Sullivan leading the way with 27 points and four rebounds shooting 10-of-15 from the field and 7-of-12 from downtown.

Ben Dixon added 20 points and four assists for Perry Lakes, Brian Carlwell 18 points and eight rebounds, and Matthew Sellers 18 points, 15 boards and two blocked shots.

Then on Saturday night in the loss to the Buccs, Ben Purser top-scored for the Hawks with 18 points with O'Sullivan adding 14 points and six rebounds, Dixon 12 points, five assists and four boards, Sellers 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Carlwell 10 points, nine rebounds and three steals.

Thomas Korf top-scored for the Eagles with 22 points and six rebounds with Rhys Vague contributing 17 points and 13 boards, Drew Williamson 12 points and Amen Osayande 11.

The Tigers played their first game on Friday night under Stephen Black after his father Alan stood down, and his team delivered a 30-point win on the road over the Slammers with Damien Scott top-scoring with 26 points, five assists, four steals and four rebounds.

New import Charles Funches added 17 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks and two steals for the Tigers while Jay Bowie contributed 15 points and six boards, Josh Johnson 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Nic Cody 12 points, 15 boards and three blocked shots.

Tre Nichols top-scored for the Slammers on Friday against the Tigers with 23 points with Royal Crouch contributing 16 points and eight boards, and Teny Puot 10 points.

Then on Saturday against the Wolves, Nichols delivered 34 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Slammers, and Crouch 24 points and eight boards.

On top of the big games from Manigault and Holmen in Saturday night's win over the Magic for the Giants, Jerome Reid contributing 10 points and Daniel Florance nine to go with three rebounds and two assists.

Trevor Setty finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Magic with Ben Smith contributing 23 points, 13 boards, three assists and three steals.

Taylor Mullenax added 17 points and nine rebounds for Mandurah, Jarrad Jackson 14 points and seven assists, and Sam Julitz 10 points and four boards.

On top of Adekponya's performance for the Buccs on Saturday against the Senators, Aaron Ralph delivered 23 points, Maurice Barrow 25 points, Carter 21 points and nine rebounds, and Mat Wundenberg 13 points, 20 rebounds, five steals and five assists.

Then on Sunday, Ralph delivered 28 points for the Buccs to go with eight rebounds while nailing 8-of-13 from three-point range. Cook added 21 points and six boards, and Barrow 13 points, four rebounds and three assists.

On top of Lane's performance for the Cougars against the Redbacks, Gavin Field delivered 28 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, Julian Pesava 21 points and seven assists, Rhett Della 14 points and five rebounds, Marcus Goode 14 points and 12 boards, and Sheldon McIntyre 12 points, eight assists, seven boards and three steals.

Jourdan DeMuynck top-scored for the Redbacks with 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists with Lewis Thomas adding 21 points, 10 boards, four assists and three steals.

Reed McConnell also scored 15 points for Perth, Ben Smith 14 and Joel Wagner 14 to go with eight assists, three steals and three rebounds.

The Wolves maintained top spot beating the Slammers at home by 32 points on Saturday night with Seb Salinas leading the way with 24 points while Trian Iliadis added 17 points and four assists, Rob Huntington 16 points and six boards and Reece Maxwell 12 points.

Greg Hire marked his return to the Wolfpack after winning his second NBL championship with the Perth Wildcats by delivering eight points, nine rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes.

The Senators scored a hard fought win over the Lightning at Lakeside Recreation Centre on Saturday night with Cody Ellis top-scoring for Stirling with 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Jayden Coburn added 16 points, six rebounds and three assists for the Senators, Tom Witts 16 points, AJ Majstrovich 16 points and nine boards, Kyle Lindbergh 14 points, 16 boards and six assists, and Corban Wroe 13 points and three assists.

And on Sunday for the Senators, Ellis had 29 points, seven rebounds and three assists, Coburn 18 points and five boards, Lindbergh 13 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and four assists, Majstrovich 13 points and six boards, and Wroe 12 points and five assists.

Daniel Alexander had another strong performance for the Lightning with 28 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 10-of-19 from the floor and a perfect 7-of-7 at the line.

TJ Hallice added 27 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for Lakeside, Corey Shervill 16 points and six boards, and Hayden Bell 15 points and five rebounds.

On top of Cooper Land's game for the Flames against the Suns, Taylor Land delivered 24 points and seven assists, Ryan Godfrey 23 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, Nebojsha Franich 13 points and eight rebounds, and Matthew Honey 13 points and four boards.

Kerrod Horn top-scored for the Eastern Suns with 26 points and five rebounds while Brandon McGill added 23 points, five boards, two assists and two steals, and Jacopo Marsili 13 points, four rebounds and four assists.

WEEK 7 MEN'S TEAM OF THE WEEK
Najee Lane (Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars)
Matthew Adekponya (S&K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers)
Kenny Manigault (Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants)
Jacob Holmen (Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants)
Cooper Land (Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames)

WEEK 7 MEN'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Matthew Adekponya (S&K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers)

FRIDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Perry Lakes Hawks 115 defeated Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles 85
Print Sync South West Slammers 74 lost to Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers 104

SATURDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants 105 defeated Mandurah Magic 100
Perry Lakes Hawks 90 lost to S&K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers 106
Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars 116 defeated Textile WA Perth Redbacks 105
Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves 115 defeated Print Sync South West Slammers 83
Lakeside Lightning 98 lost to Bethanie Stirling Senators 107
Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames 114 defeated Kalamunda Eastern Suns 104

SUNDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Bethanie Stirling Senators 105 lost to S&K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers 112

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Sebpix Photography




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