Suns shining once more (Round 16 WSBL Wrap)
Kalamunda Eastern Suns are all but guaranteed a place in the women's State Basketball League finals after two vital round 16 victories.
The Suns enter the last three rounds in sixth spot after upsetting the second-placed Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks 84-76 and beating Lakeside Lightning 70-66.
Before losing to Kalamunda, the Hawks had won 14 of their past 15 games, but their hopes of finishing second were dealt a massive blow as Leah Rush led the Suns to victory with 26 points and 15 rebounds. Gabby Clayton had 15 points for Perry Lakes.
And the Suns held off a late comeback from fellow top eight team Lakeside to extend their winning streak to three games. Melissa Moyle top-scored for the Suns with 19, while import Heidi McNeill had 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Lightning.
But Lakeside's 91-45 thrashing of bottom side Rockingham Flames on Friday ensured it finished the round in eighth place.
Courtney Byrnes and Laurianne Higgins helped the Lightning to their eighth win with 15 points each, while no Flames player reached a double-digit points total in their eighth-straight loss.
Perth Redbacks' much-needed 59-49 win against Mandurah Magic in Albany got last year's semi-finalists back into top eight contention.
Four-consecutive losses saw the Redbacks drop out of a finals spot but they're just one win outside the eight after Marita Payne had 16 points in her return from injury to lead them to victory.
And defeat continued a downward spiral for the Magic, who have fallen to fourth spot with three-straight losses.
Metropolis Fremantle Cockburn Cougars slid to seventh spot after their 95-77 defeat to local rivals Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers.
The Cougars have lost four of their past five after West Coast Waves star Kate Malpass carried the defending champions to their 16th win with 30 points, seven rebounds, four steals and four assists.
And Western Stainless Stirling Senators' slim finals hopes are still alive after they beat the 11th-placed Southwest Slammers 72-59.
Michelle Joy (24 points and 16 rebounds) ensured the Senators still have some chance of making the playoffs if they win their three remaining games.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Mick Cronin
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