Finals a Giant challenge for Goldfields (Round 16 MSBL Wrap)
SKILLED Goldfields Giants face an uphill battle to make the men's State Basketball League finals after losing 113-83 to Wanneroo Wolves in round 16.
Goldfields' seventh loss from its past nine matches left it one game outside the top eight and needing to win three of its last four games to ensure an eighth-straight finals appearance.
And Wanneroo virtually ensured a spot in the top two, which guarantees home-court advantage up to the Grand Final, after Greg Hire's triple-double (24 points, 22 rebounds and 12 assists) led the Wolves past the Giants.
Perth Redbacks took advantage of the Giants' defeat with their 125-86 thrashing of Mandurah Magic in Albany.
The Redbacks' third win from four games, which they achieved thanks to Adrian Majstrovich's 27 points, consolidated their spot in the top eight and left Mandurah in 12th spot.
Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers returned to form with a 90-81 victory against the struggling Cockburn Cougars, who fell to fourth place with their third-consecutive loss.
The Tigers had suffered two 60-point losses in as many weeks but bounced back through Robert Kampman (33 points).
Australian Central East Perth Eagles saw their impressive run come to an end with a shock 92-88 loss to the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers. But the Eagles remained in the top eight despite the defeat.
ATD Stirling Senators trailed the winless Southwest Slammers in the final quarter but came back to win 86-80, which saw them climb to sixth spot.
Kalamunda Eastern Suns' finals chances were dealt a massive blow with losses to top four sides Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks and Lakeside Lightning.
The Hawks climbed to third spot after Anthony Lee (28 points) helped them beat the Suns 104-83.
And after Kalamunda lost 101-89 to league leaders Lakeside, the Suns need to win three of their last five games to have any hope of making the playoffs.
The Lightning had to overturn a second-half deficit to beat the 13th-placed Rockingham Flames 100-86.
Import Luke Payne hit 11 of his 13 three-point attempts to finish with an incredible 50 points for Lakeside, which has won its past 12 games.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Travis Anderson (Andmedia/Sports Vision)
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