Round one WSBL wrap
Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers made a winning start to their women’s State Basketball League title defence with a 83-58 thrashing of Perth Redbacks.
The Redbacks pushed the Tigers to a deciding third game in last year’s semi-final series, but Willetton’s West Coast Waves star Melissa Marsh scored 22 points to ensure the opening round clash would be more one-sided.
Youngster Jasmine Hooper added 18 points for the Tigers, who led throughout, while Marita Payne and Brooke Hiddlestone had 12 points each for Perth.
Glasscraft Wanneroo Wolves lost in last year’s semi-finals to Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks but reversed that result with a 71-63 win on Saturday.
Rebecca Mercer led the Wolves to victory with 19 points, while Tegan Walker had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Hawks, who struggled to control the ball and finished with 25 turnovers.
Southwest Slammers recorded their only victory of 2010 in the last game of the season but they’ve already matched that win total after they beat Rockingham Flames 73-59.
Rockingham finished second last year but lost several star players in the off-season and were without injured WSBL Most Valuable Player Kaye Tucker, which the Slammers were able to take advantage of through Bianca Donovan (22 points) and Lavesa Glover (18 points and 15 rebounds).
Mandurah Magic produced a stunning comeback to beat Australian Central East Perth Eagles 66-63.
The Magic trailed by 14 points early in the fourth quarter and were still behind with less than two minutes left, but Casey Mihovilovich (23 points) helped them overturn that deficit.
Lakeside Lightning pipped Kalamunda Eastern Suns for a top eight spot last year but the Suns went some way towards making amends with a 64-56 victory.
Chelsea Armstrong scored 20 points and Melissa Moyle added 16 for Kalamunda, who trailed as late as the fourth quarter, while import Heidi McNeill top-scored for the Lightning with 15.
Metropolis Fremantle Cockburn Cougars beat Western Stainless Stirling Senators 61-51, led by Emma Pass and new recruit Courtney Hargreaves, who both had 13 points.
Rachel Watman scored 14 points for Stirling.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Mick Cronin
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