Week 5 Saturday night SBL wrap

THE Joondalup Wolves ended an unbeaten team's start to the season for the second straight week on Saturday night in the Women's SBL beating the Perry Lakes Hawks while the Kalamunda Eastern Suns just fell short of their first win in the Men's competition on the road to the Goldfields Giants.

There were four Women's SBL matches on Saturday night with the Joondalup Wolves beating the Perry Lakes Hawks 68-67, the Stirling Senators downing the Perth Redbacks 76-68, the Cockburn Cougars defeating the South West Slammers 98-67 and the Willetton Tigers prevailing over the Mandurah Magic 78-67.

There were then six Men's contests on the night starting with two regional thrillers where the Goldfields Giants beat the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 120-119 and the Geraldton Buccaneers defeated the Rockingham Flames 101-95.

The Joondalup Wolves also defeated the Perry Lakes Hawks 93-62, the Stirling Senators beat the Perth Redbacks 107-103, the Cockburn Cougars downed the South West Slammers 98-83 and the Willetton Tigers got the win 82-67 over the Mandurah Magic.

In the Women's action, the thriller of the night took place at Joondalup Basketball Stadium with the Lady Wolfpack hosting the unbeaten Hawks.

It was a tight affair in the first half with the Wolves leading 42-33 at the main break, but the Hawks hit back in the third quarter scoring 27 points after only hitting 33 for all of the first half.

It became a real grind in the fourth quarter with both teams looking to make an early season statement. In the finish it was the Wolves that prevailed by a point to improve to a 3-1 record and hand Perry Lakes its first loss of 2016.

Klara Wischer had another tremendous game for Joondalup with 20 points and 11 rebounds while Ellyce Ironmonger added 16 points, eight boards, five assists and two steals on the back of shooting 8-of-12 from the field.

Nikita-Lee Martin added 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Wolves while Amy Kidner contributed nine points and six boards.

Deanna Smith continued her terrific form for the Hawks with 28 points, seven rebounds and three assists while Sarah Donovan finished with 14 points and 10 boards, and Kate Anthony 12 points.

The Senators handed the Redbacks their second loss in as many weeks with an eight-point come from behind victory at Warwick Stadium.

The Redbacks held a slender 36-34 lead at half-time but the Senators responded with 15 points to 11 in the third quarter, and 27 to 21 in the fourth to win and improve to a 3-4 record.

Perth wasn’t able to get the win despite winning the rebound count by 16 and taking 20 more shots for the game. But they shot just 30 per cent from the field, made 1-of-14 from downtown and went 65 per cent at the foul line which cost them in the finish.

Taylor Bestry led the way for the Senators with 17 points and six rebounds with Amber Land contributing 13 points, 10 boards and three steals. Lyndal Gardner also had 11 points for Stirling.

Jess Jakens top-scored for the Redbacks with 18 points and 11 rebounds while Ashley Gilmore contributed 14 points and nine boards, and Rebecca Mercer 10 points. Lisa Wallbutton also finished with nine points and 15 rebounds for Perth.

The Cougars made the trip to Eaton Recreation Centre and continued the Slammers' winless start to the season with a 31-point victory.

Cockburn restricted South West to just the 23 first half points piling on 56 themselves to set up their second victory of 2016.

The Cougars dominated the glass with 52 rebounds to 33 while shooting an efficient 37-of-77 from the field and taking just five threes the entire night, making two.

Candace Williams had another big game for the Cougars with 30 points and 16 rebounds with Cherridy Thornton adding 19 points and 10 boards.

Taryn Priestly also contributed 15 points for Cockburn and Kristen Everard 12.

The Slammers lost their fifth straight match to open the season despite 21 points and 11 rebounds off the bench from Courtney Bayliss. Dena English also had 20 points and seven boards for South West.

The Tigers improved their winning run to start the season to five with an 11-point road win over the Magic at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

Willetton put the game out of reach of Mandurah in the first half with 25 points to 15 in the opening quarter, and 22 to 17 in the second.

The Tigers put the Magic under great pressure forcing them into 24 turnovers and combined with winning the rebound count and shooting slightly better, they were able to remain unbeaten this season.

Louella Tomlinson had another big game for the Tigers with 21 points, six rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals.

Kate Malpass contributed 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals off the bench for Willetton while Ebony Antonio had 13 points and Desiree Kelley 11 to go with four assists.

Rachel Halleen top-scored for the Magic with 19 points and eight rebounds with Adijat Adams adding 17 points, 11 boards, three blocks and two steals.

Bree Klasztorny also had 11 points, five boards and three assists off the bench with Annette Davis contributing nine points and five rebounds.

And then in the monster night of Men's contests, the Eastern Suns continued to score plenty in search of their first win of the season.

They delivered 40 fourth quarter points on Saturday night but fell just one-point short of what would have been a stunning comeback win on the road against the Giants.

The Giants held on to improve to a 5-2 record after shooting well going 52 per cent from the field and 46 per cent from three-point range.

They also won the rebounding count by 14 but had 27 turnovers. The Suns stayed in the contest through sheer volume of shots ending up making 42-of-102 for the night, and 18-of-53 from three-point territory.

Jerome Reid continued his emergence for the Giants top-scoring with 29 points, six rebounds and three assists shooting 12-of-21 from the floor, and 5-of-10 from three-point range.

Jacob Holmen contributed 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for Goldfields while Edin Zunic had 16 points and 12 boards, and Ezra Nikora 18 points, five assists and three steals.

Kenny Manigault had just seven points but contributed eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Italian import Jacopo Marsili delivered 26 points, six assists, four steals, three rebounds and two blocked shots for the Eastern Suns while Billy Grey added 19 points, Brandon McGill 18 points, five boards and four assists, Jarrad Prior 18 points and seven rebounds, and Ryan Blanchett 15 points.

And at Active West Stadium, the Buccs had to come from behind to beat the Flames at home by six points.

Rockingham got off to a strong start to lead 29-21 at quarter-time. Geraldton hit back to lead at the main break but again the Flames responded in the third quarter and scores were tied heading into the fourth.

But with 30 points to 24 in the final quarter the home team managed to score the six-point win with both the Buccaneers and Flames now holding 4-3 records on the season.

Maurice Barrow top-scored for the Buccs with 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while Matthew Adekponya added 22 points and nine boards.

Aaron Ralph contributed 23 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Buccaneers while Beau Samuelson finished with 19 points, and Mat Wundenberg pulled in 12 rebounds.

Cooper Land top-scored for the Flames with 31 points to go with 11 rebounds while Ryan Godfrey finished with 21 points. Taylor Land added 16 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Matthew Honey 12 points.

The defending champion Wolves sent an emphatic message against the Hawks on Saturday night at Joondalup Basketball Stadium with a 31-point victory. The Wolfpack were especially dominant in the second half outscoring Perry Lakes 48 points to 28.

That was despite the Hawks outrebounding the Wolves by nine but they did cough up 21 turnovers to 11. And Perry Lakes shot just 29 per cent from the field and only got to the line 10 times.

Joondalup, meanwhile, shot 33-of-82 from the floor for 40 per cent and did get to the foul line 34 times where they made 20.

Trian Iliadis top-scored for the Wolves with 23 points and five steals while Kevin Davis finished with 17 points and seven rebounds.

Sean Easther contributed 12 points, Rob Huntington 11 points and seven rebounds, and Bobby Evans nine points, 10 boards, three steals, three blocked shots and two assists.

The Hawks slipped to a 3-3 record with the loss despite 15 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals from captain Ben Purser. Josh Garlepp scored 10 points for Perry Lakes while Brian Carlwell pulled in 13 rebounds.

It was another thriller at Warwick Stadium with the Senators withstanding a Redbacks fourth quarter fightback to win by four points.

It was a see-saw contest right through the night with the Senators leading by eight points after the first period and just by two at the half. Stirling then pushed further ahead in the third period to lead 88-76 heading into the fourth.

But Perth refused to go away and put up 27 final quarter points but it wasn’t quite enough.

The Senators had a terrific shooting night nailing 42-of-84 from the field and 8-of-20 from three-point range. In the end that was the difference even though the Redbacks didn’t shoot badly hitting 40 per cent from the field, 30 per cent from three. But 19-of-36 at the foul line hurt.

Stirling improved to a 5-2 record to start the season with Cody Ellis top-scoring with 29 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Jayden Coburn contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Senators with AJ Majstrovich adding 16 points and eight boards, Kyle Lindbergh 14 points, 13 boards, eight assists and five blocked shots, and Corban Wroe 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.

The Redbacks slipped to 2-4 with the loss despite a big night from Jourdan DeMuynck who finished with 38 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Joel Wagner added 23 points for Perth, Lewis Thomas 13 (nine rebounds, three blocks) and Reed McConnell 13.

The Cougars continued their tremendous start to 2016 improving to a 6-1 record with a 15-point win over the Slammers at Eaton Recreation Centre. Cockburn pulled away in the second half with 49 points to 36.

Najee Lane led the way for the Cougars with 24 points and 22 rebounds along with four steals and three assists.

Rhett Della contributed 20 points off the bench for Cockburn as well while Daniel Thomas finished with 18 points and five assists, Marcus Goode 18 points, 15 boards and three blocked shots. Gavin Field also added eight points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Tre Nichols again top-scored for the Slammers with 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists while Royal Crouch finished with 18 points and 14 boards.

Corey Easley added 13 points, seven boards, four blocks and two assists for South West, and Trent Worthington 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Then at Mike Barnett Sports Complex, the Magic started well hosting the Tigers leading 48-36 at the half. But they managed just the 19 points in the second half while Willetton piled on 46 points to end up winning by 15 to improve to a 4-3 record while Mandurah slipped to 1-5.

Jay Bowie had a strong game for the Tigers with 28 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists while Damien Scott added 24 points. Josh Johnson also had 10 points, five boards and five assists for Willetton, and Nic Cody eight points, eight rebounds, four blocked shots, two steals and two assists.

Trevor Setty top-scored for the Magic with 20 points and seven rebounds while Taylor Mullenax contributed 16 points, 10 boards, four steals and three assists. Jarrad Jackson added 13 points and six rebounds, and Ben Smith seven points and 12 boards.

SATURDAY WOMEN'S SBL MATCHES
Joondalup Wolves 68 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 67
Stirling Senators 76 defeated Perth Redbacks 68
South West Slammers 67 lost to Cockburn Cougars 98
Mandurah Magic 67 lost to Willetton Tigers 78

SATURDAY MEN'S SBL MATCHES
Goldfields Giants 120 defeated Kalamunda Eastern Suns 119
Geraldton Buccaneers 101 defeated Rockingham Flames 95
Joondalup Wolves 93 defeated Perry Lakes Hawks 62
Stirling Senators 107 defeated Perth Redbacks 103
South West Slammers 83 lost to Cockburn Cougars 98
Mandurah Magic 67 lost to Willetton Tigers 82

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin




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